Saved Account Join
A dirt road winding through a hardwood forest carpeted in fallen leaves, birches along its edge.

The Overland Directory

Overland outfitters in Vermont

Stores where you can see the gear before you buy it, and talk to someone who has used it.

Get free quotes

We’re working on adding the latest overland outfitters in Vermont here.

In the meantime, tell us what you are outfitting and we can get you connected with outfitters and installers for free quotes.

Tell us what you are outfitting List your business

Vermont by the numbers

of Vermont is federal land 1
8%
474,866 of 5,936,640 acres, and none of it Bureau of Land Management
of Vermont road is dirt 24
8,517 mi
Against 7,239 miles paved, of 15,756 miles of public road statewide
of class 4 town highway 24
1,576 mi
The class no town is obliged to keep passable, by 19 V.S.A. 310
acres of Green Mountain National Forest 5
400K+
The forest’s own figure. The Congressional Research Service puts Forest Service land in Vermont at 414,099 acres
Mount Mansfield, the state high point 2
4,393 ft
USGS. The low point is Lake Champlain at 95 feet. Our own reading of the elevation surface at its map point gives 4,381
most forest roads are shut 7
Dec 15 to May 1
The Green Mountain National Forest states the dates plainly, with some exceptions
federal campgrounds a vehicle can reach 4
7
6 Forest Service and 1 Corps of Engineers; our build of the federal recreation database
the limit through Smugglers Notch 25
40 ft
45 feet for a combination. Fines begin at 1,000 dollars and pass 4,000 for a second offence
acres of state land in 200 towns 27
360K
Managed together for timber, trails, roads, habitat and prescribed fire
developed state parks 36
55
The parks division’s own count, welcoming over a million visitors a year
Burlington’s mean seasonal snowfall 44
72.7 in
The Weather Service’s own table, running from the winter of 1892-1893 to the present
of Appalachian Trail in Vermont 42
150 mi
Managed by the Park Service, the Forest Service, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, state agencies and volunteers

Kitting out for Vermont

The gaps in Vermont are services, not distance. The Nulhegan Basin has forty miles of gravel roads and no facilities on them, and the roads go unplowed from mid-December. Most of the national forest is the same picture at a smaller scale.

Carry water, a full-size spare, and enough recovery kit to get yourself off a road without calling a truck that cannot reach you. Untreated firewood is worth leaving at home: only dead and down wood may be burned on state land.

The full guide to overlanding Vermont

What an outfitter does

An outfitter is the difference between reading reviews and opening the tent yourself. The good ones stock what works, install what they sell, and will tell you what they took off their own trucks.

What they carry

  1. 01Roof tents, awnings and shelter
  2. 02Fridges, kitchens and water systems
  3. 03Racks, drawers and storage
  4. 04Recovery gear and compressors
  5. 05Power stations, batteries and lighting

How to choose an outfitter

Look for people who use what they sell.

  1. 01Ask whether they install what they sell, and whether the installer is on staff.
  2. 02Ask what they run on their own vehicles, and what they stopped running.
  3. 03Compare weight as well as price. It all rides on your suspension.
  4. 04Ask about returns and exchanges on large items such as tents and fridges.
  5. 05Check that they know your vehicle. Fitment is where online orders go wrong.

What to have ready before you ask for a quote

Dimensions prevent returns.

  1. 01Vehicle, and rack or bed dimensions if you know them
  2. 02How many people travel and sleep
  3. 03The kind of trips you take, and how long
  4. 04What you already own
  5. 05A budget range

Questions people ask

What gear should I buy first?

A way to sleep well, a way to keep food cold, water storage and basic recovery gear. Everything else can wait until a few trips show you what you miss.

Is it worth buying from a local outfitter instead of online?

For anything that has to fit your vehicle or be installed, yes. Fitment mistakes on racks, tents and fridges are expensive to ship back, and an installer who sold you the part will stand behind the install.

Can I try before I buy?

Some outfitters rent roof tents, fridges and even vehicles. Say so in the form if that is what you are after.

How high is Vermont?

From Burlington at 195 feet to Mount Mansfield at 4,393. Altitude decides what your engine, your brakes and your lungs have to work with, and how late in the year the passes open.

Towns

  1. Wilmington The east end of the Molly Stark byway, near Somerset Reservoir 1,496 ft
  2. Danville More unpaved road than any other town in Vermont 1,412 ft
  3. Island Pond The last real services before the Nulhegan Basin gravel 1,187 ft
  4. Lincoln The west foot of the gap that carries its name 973 ft
  5. Warren The east foot of Lincoln Gap, in the Mad River valley 923 ft
  6. Rochester A ranger station, and the turn for the Bingo Road 875 ft
  7. Manchester Center Services beside the Manchester Ranger District and Lye Brook 750 ft
  8. Stowe The south side of Smugglers Notch and Mount Mansfield State Forest 720 ft
  9. Jamaica The village by Ball Mountain Lake and the state’s only Corps campground 720 ft
  10. Bennington The southwest corner, and the west end of the Molly Stark byway 679 ft
  11. Rutland The largest services in central Vermont, near the forest headquarters at Mendon 648 ft
  12. Arlington The western approach to Kelley Stand Road 645 ft
  13. Waterbury Interstate services, Waterbury Reservoir and the Camels Hump trailheads 441 ft
  14. Brandon The west foot of Brandon Gap on Route 73 430 ft
  15. Middlebury The west end of Middlebury Gap and the way in to Moosalamoo 390 ft
  16. Burlington The largest city, on the lake that is the state low point 195 ft

Passes, high roads and summits

  1. Mount Mansfield The state high point, as USGS publishes it. Our own reading of the elevation surface at its map point gives 4,381 4,393 ft
  2. Killington Peak Our own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, in Rutland County 4,206 ft
  3. Mount Ellen Our own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, above the Mad River valley 4,080 ft
  4. Camels Hump Our own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, in the 21,258-acre state park of the same name 4,076 ft
  5. Stratton Mountain Our own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, north of Kelley Stand Road 3,940 ft
  6. Jay Peak Our own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, near the Canadian border 3,848 ft
  7. Glastenbury Mountain Our own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, inside the Glastenbury Wilderness 3,750 ft
  8. Mount Ascutney Parkway lot Mount Ascutney Parkway 2,800 ft
  9. Mad Tom Notch Mad Tom Notch Road, Forest Road 58 2,439 ft
  10. Lincoln Gap Lincoln Gap Road: Warren and Lincoln 2,419 ft
  11. Roxbury Gap Our own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, on a gravel town road east of Warren 2,397 ft
  12. Appalachian Gap Our own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, on Route 17 between Fayston and Buels Gore 2,371 ft
  13. Brandon Gap Brandon Gap, VT Route 73: Brandon and Rochester 2,184 ft
  14. Smugglers Notch VT Route 108 through Smugglers Notch 2,160 ft
  15. Middlebury Gap Middlebury Gap, VT Route 125: Hancock and East Middlebury 2,133 ft

Pass, road and summit elevations are the figures published by the agency that manages them. Town elevations are the town’s or county’s own figure where it publishes an exact one; the rest are from the U.S. Geological Survey (3D Elevation Program at the place’s official coordinates), retrieved September 18, 2026. Every source is listed at the foot of the page.

Free build quotes

Looking for overland outfitters in Vermont? Tell us about the project and get free quotes.

Tell us what you are outfitting

Free build quotes

Tell us what you are outfitting

What are you building on?

Do you have it yet?

What do you want done?

Choose everything that applies.

What are you working with?

Budget for this work

When you want it done

A range is enough. It tells a builder which conversation to have with you.

Where should the shop be?

How far will you go for the right shop?

Where should the quotes go?

Best way to reach you

Free, and no obligation. We use these details only to connect you with builders. See our privacy page.

Sources for this page

48
  1. Congressional Research Service. Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data (R42346), Tables 1 and 2, data as of September 30, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey. Elevations and Distances in the United States, online edition. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  3. U.S. Geological Survey. Geographic Names Information System and 3D Elevation Program point query. Elevation of the 3DEP surface at the GNIS coordinates of the named place, rounded to the nearest foot. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  4. Recreation.gov. Recreation Information Database (RIDB) full export, the site’s own build of it. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  5. USDA Forest Service. About the Area, Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  6. USDA Forest Service. Camping and Cabins, Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  7. USDA Forest Service. Current Conditions, Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  8. USDA Forest Service. Driving on Forest Roads, Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  9. USDA Forest Service. Scenic Drives, Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  10. USDA Forest Service. Forest-wide Occupancy and Use Restrictions, Order R9-20-24-01, Green Mountain National Forest. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  11. USDA Forest Service. Forest-wide Development Roads Restrictions, Order R9-20-24-02, Green Mountain National Forest. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  12. USDA Forest Service. Hiking, and the eight wilderness areas of the Green Mountain National Forest. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  13. USDA Forest Service. Green Mountain, Manchester District. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  14. USDA Forest Service. Green Mountain, Middlebury and Rochester District. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  15. USDA Forest Service. Grout Pond Recreation Area. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  16. USDA Forest Service. Hapgood Pond Recreation Area. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  17. USDA Forest Service. Chittenden Brook Campground. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  18. USDA Forest Service. Silver Lake Campground. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  19. Vermont General Assembly. 19 V.S.A. 302, Classification of town highways. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  20. Vermont General Assembly. 19 V.S.A. 310, Maintenance of highways, bridges and trails. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  21. Vermont General Assembly. 23 V.S.A. 3501, definitions, including all-terrain vehicle. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  22. Vermont General Assembly. 23 V.S.A. 3506, operation of all-terrain vehicles. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  23. Vermont General Assembly. 23 V.S.A. 1092, injury to highway surface, with the proviso on studs and cleats. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  24. Vermont Agency of Transportation. General Statistics: paved and dirt road totals statewide, mileage by highway class, and the towns with the most unpaved road. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  25. Vermont Agency of Transportation. Scenic VT Route 108, the Smugglers Notch length restriction. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  26. Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Municipal Weight Limits. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  27. Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. State Lands Management. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  28. Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. Primitive Camping on state lands. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  29. Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. Mt. Mansfield State Forest. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  30. Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. Long Trail State Forest. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  31. Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. Camel’s Hump State Park. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  32. Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. Groton State Forest. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  33. Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. Do I need a permit to open burn outdoors, and Monitoring Fire Danger. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  34. Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. Monitoring Fire Danger, the five-class National Fire Danger Rating System in Vermont. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  35. Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. Rules and Regulations: Visitor Conduct and Fees and Charges for State Park Services and Commercial Activities on Department Lands, effective 08/24/2022. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  36. Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. Who We Are, Vermont State Parks. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  37. Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. Mount Ascutney State Park, and the Mount Ascutney Parkway. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  38. Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Authorized and Prohibited Activities on Fish and Wildlife Lands. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  39. Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Primitive Camping on Wildlife Management Areas. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  40. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Vermont Divisions and Units, Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  41. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  42. National Park Service. Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  43. National Park Service. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  44. National Weather Service, Burlington. Historical Monthly Snowfall, Burlington, Vermont, period of record 1892-1893 to present. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  45. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, on Recreation.gov. Winhall Brook Camping Area, Ball Mountain Lake, Jamaica, Vermont. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  46. Vermont General Assembly. The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, Inc., overview updated January 2026, published to the House Committee on Transportation. VAST is a private non-profit, not an agency. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  47. Vermont General Assembly. 23 V.S.A. chapter 29, snowmobiles, including the trails maintenance assessment. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
  48. Vermont Agency of Transportation. The Vermont Byways Program, Program Manual. Retrieved September 25, 2026.

Reviewed September 25, 2026. Conditions, closures and rules change; check with the managing agency before you travel.

More in Vermont

Keep going

Join Overlanding Life
Saved Account

Start with a region

Browse the directory