The Vermonter
The Vermonter runs through the heart of Vermont with stops in Brattleboro, Bellows Falls, Windsor, White River Junction, Randolph, Montpelier, Waterbury, Essex Junction and St. Albans. The route originates in Washington D.C. and passes through several major cities including Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York City. The train runs daily and passes through with stops in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. Total trip time from Washington, DC, is 13 hours 45 minutes.
Several of the Vermonter's stops are convenient to some of Vermont's best resorts. The Waterbury stop provides access to a number of resorts including Bolton Valley (10 minutes), Stowe (15 minutes) and Sugarbush (30 minutes). St. Albans in northern Vermont is just 45 minutes from Jay Peak. Ascutney Mountain Resort is just 10 minutes from the Windsor station. In the south, visitors can access Mount Snow from the Brattleboro station within about 50 minutes.
Ethan Allen Express
The Ethan Allen Express runs daily trips between New York City and Rutland, Vermont. It passes through Yonkers, Schenectady, Albany and other New York stations on the way. Rutland is one of only two stops in Vermont. The full trip lasts 5 hours 30 minutes.
Rutland neighbors Killington, Vermont's largest ski resort. The resort is about 25 minutes from the train station. Skiers can access southern resorts like Mount Snow from the Albany train station, though this will be a relatively long car ride. As mapped on Google, the ride to Mount Snow from the Albany train station is nearly 70 miles and nearly a two-hour drive.
Planning Your Ski Vacation
When planning an Amtrak ski vacation, consider the cost of renting a car or taking a cab from the train station to the resort. Make these arrangements ahead of time to save trouble and frustration on your trip. Many of the resorts can help you arrange transportation from the train station to the resort. Check the "Getting Here" section of the resort's website for available ground transportation to your specific destination. If you don't plan to rent a car, reserve lodging within walking distance to the lifts, restaurants and shops.
When traveling on the train, a padded bag will help you to carry and protect your skis/snowboard and other equipment. A wheeled bag will make travel through the train stations easier.
