Everything you need to know about riding the Stowe Gondola in Stowe, VT
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Year visited: 2024
Time of year: October
One of the absolute most popular things to do in Stowe, VT (especially in the fall) is to ride the Stowe Gondola up Mount Mansfield.
This Stowe Gondola guide will go over the cost and hours of the ride, if it’s worth it, what to expect, and other things to do while you’re there!
Watch a video of Smuggler’s Notch Drive, just past the gondola!
About the Stowe Gondola Skyride
The Stowe Gondola is an enclosed gondola ride from Stowe Mountain Resort up Mount Mansfield.
During the winter it is used as a ski lift, but in the summer and fall the ride brings guests up to the restaurants and scenic viewpoint at the top.
The gondola does not go all the way to the very top of Mount Mansfield. The ride will take you to the bottom of the “lower lip,” one of the smaller peaks just before the “chin,” or highest point.
Stowe Gondola Hours
The gondola ride is not open all year. Check their website for the most accurate hours, but typically you can expect it to be open mid-June to mid to late October.
The ride is open from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. The last tickets are sold at 4:15 pm, and the last ride back down the mountain is at 4:30.
Stowe Gondola Cost
The gondola skyride in Stowe is not cheap. The 2024 prices were:
$40 per adult
$26 per child (age 5-12)
Free for kids 4 and under
$113 for a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids)
You can buy tickets in person when you arrive (credit cards only), or you can pre-book your tickets online.
Tips and Frequently Asked Questions
I had a lot of questions before visiting Stowe, so here are some answers to frequently asked questions about riding the gondola in Stowe, VT:
Is the Stowe Gondola scary?
The Stowe Gondola ride is not terribly scary. You are in a fully enclosed cab that takes you up the mountain at a slow, relaxed pace. The cab shakes a little bit, but not too much.
That being said, if you are afraid of heights, you might get scared on this ride. In my experience, the ride was stopped often as I went up and down. I did not enjoy just hanging there as the ride was temporarily stopped. I can see how it would be very difficult for people with strong fears of heights.
However, I do not think overall that this is a very scary ride.
Can you ride the Stowe Gondola if you are not staying at Stowe Mountain Resort?
Yes! The Gondola Skyride is operated by Stowe Mountain Resort, but you do not have to be a guest of the resort to take advantage of it. Everyone is welcome on the Stowe Gondola.
Do you have to pay for parking?
There is plenty of parking available for the Stowe Gondola ride. You do not have to pay for parking.
Use the first parking lot, once you turn off of the main road for the skyride. If that is full, there is more parking available further up. I went at about 2:30 pm on a weekday afternoon in early October, and I had no trouble finding a spot.
Parking lot for the Stowe Gondola Skyride.
Do you have to book your gondola tickets ahead of time?
No, you do not have to book tickets for the Stowe Gondola ahead of time.
You can book tickets online ahead of time, if you would like. But you can also buy tickets at the window in person on the day of.
I personally bought tickets at the window when I arrived, and I got right on the gondola with no wait. Again, I was there about 2:30 in the afternoon on a weekday in early October.
Is the Stowe Gondola crowded?
Another common question is how crowded the Stowe Gondola and views at the top are. This is definitely one of the most popular things to do in Stowe, so there will be crowds.
However, when I was there, the crowds weren’t too bad. There were a lot of people, but not so many that I felt crowded or couldn’t find a place to sit by myself. I also had no trouble getting on the gondola ride.
Can you hike to the top of Mount Mansfield from here?
The gondola ride does not take you to the top of Mount Mansfield. The summit is the “chin,” at 4,395 feet above sea level. The gondola will stop at the “lower lip,” 3,625 feet up.
There is a hiking trail (the Cliff Trail) you can take from here to access the Long Trail, which goes to the chin. However, it is not highly recommended, as the trail is very steep and requires climbing to get up to join the Long Trail.
You can access the Long Trail from the top of the Auto Toll Road, further down the mountain.
This map shows the Toll Road route, the gondola route, the hiking trails, and each point of the Mount Mansfield “face.”
Where to go to the bathroom at the Stowe Gondola?
This is always my number one question when traveling anywhere (especially having just come from the Toll Road, where the only bathrooms were 3 porta potties at the top).
There are plenty of porta potties in the parking lot when you first get to the Stowe Gondola. Not knowing what was at the top, I used the porta potty before I went up.
However, there are actual bathrooms in the building at the top of the Gondola Skyride, so you can skip the porta potties and go up there!
Bonus Tip: If you take the free gondola ride (more info below) to the Village at Spruce Peak, there are nice (single person) bathrooms available there.
What to Do at the Top
Now that we’ve reached the top of the Stowe Gondola ride… what is there to do???
Cliff House Restaurant
If you would like to grab lunch with a view at the top of the mountain, be sure to visit the Cliff House Restaurant. They serve lunch from 11:00 am - 2:30 pm.
Tip: Make sure you make reservations ahead of time if you want to eat here!
Even if you have a dining reservation, you still need to buy a gondola ticket.
The Waffle
You can also indulge in waffles and hot chocolate with a gorgeous view at this little quick service stand. The server asked if I wanted chocolate syrup, maple syrup, or both. Both, obviously! Delicious!
The Waffle is open 11:00 am - 3:00 pm.
Summit Gift Shop
There are lots of cute and cozy things to buy in this little gift shop at the top of Mount Mansfield.
Take in the Views
Obviously a ride on the Stowe Gondola is to see the views at the top! There is a little observation tower you can climb up on, lots of picnic tables, and some Adirondack chairs, if you can snag them.
Hike to the Summit
As I said above, you can hike to the summit of Mount Mansfield from here, but it is a very challenging hike.
Some people also choose to walk up or down the access trail that runs beneath the gondola ride, so feel free to do this if you’re feeling up for some exercise.
Bonus: If you hike up the access trail, you can ride the gondola back down for free!
Questions about the Summit:
Are there bathrooms at the top?
Yes, there are bathrooms available at the top of the Stowe Gondola.
Is it colder at the top of the mountain?
It can be. When I visited, it was about 60 degrees (F) and sunny. I was perfectly comfortable at the top of the mountain. However, I know people who visited during the first snowfall, when the bottom of the mountain was comfortable, and the top was covered in snow. So it can be colder at the top, but not always.
How long do you need at the top?
There is not a whole lot to do at the top of the Stowe Gondola, but of course you want to make sure you spend enough time for it to be worth the cost! I would say about 30 minutes to an hour for eating a snack, browsing the gift shop and enjoying the view. Longer if you have lunch reservations.
Is the Stowe Gondola ride worth it?
It is a fairly expensive activity, so a good question is if this is worth the views/activities at the top?
I would say that it was a fun thing to do (especially in the fall), and I really enjoyed the experience. However, it wasn’t a “must-do” for me. It’s not so bad for one person, but since the cost for a whole family can get pretty steep (no pun intended!), don’t feel bad if you decide to skip it.
For me, honestly, I think it’s a good thing to do and you will enjoy it, but you also shouldn’t feel bad if you skip it.
The FREE Stowe Gondola Ride!
What many people don’t know is that there is actually a second, free gondola ride available at Stowe Mountain Resort!
You access the Over Easy Gondola from the same parking lot as the Stowe Gondola Skyride. But instead of getting on the Stowe Gondola, keep going ahead and to the left.
You will find a much smaller gondola that you can just hop on and ride over the road to the Spruce Peak Village area of Stowe Mountain Resort.
Over here you will find several shops and restaurants, as well as bathrooms. You can also feel free to explore the lovely lobby area of the resort.
I will say that by the time I took this over, most of the cafes were closed, and the stores I could wander in were all selling highend winter gear. So not exactly my go-to style… but it was still fun to ride the gondola and wander around a bit.
You can also participate in activities or events, like a guided fall foliage hike. But do keep in mind that some of these activities require a paid reservation.
Compare to the Stowe Auto Toll Road
You can actually see the Gondola Skyride building in the distance.
I read as much as I could about the Mount Mansfield Auto Toll Road and the Stowe Gondola Skyride before I visited Stowe.
What I read about the toll road was intimidating, and I decided that I personally did not want to do it, when I could just take the easy gondola ride to the top instead.
However, in order to actually see if the toll road was worth it, I decided to do both activities and compare them!
Toll Road Cost
The cost for both the Auto Toll Road and the gondola ride are about the same for one person, but it does start to add up to take multiple people on the gondola!
The toll road cost is $35 a car, and $13 for each additional passenger. So for a family, the toll road is significantly cheaper than the gondola.
How scary is the Auto Toll Road?
The Auto Toll Road is definitely more stressful than taking the gondola up the mountain. In one, you just sit back and relax and enjoy the views. In the other, you are constantly watching where the road is turning, if more cars are coming, and how to not drive off the side of the cliff!
So stress-level wise, the gondola is MUCH better!
Toll Road Views
I do think the views along the Auto Toll Road are much more impressive than those from the gondola. In fact, I was kind of underwhelmed with the gondola views, having just been on the toll road.
It was stressful, but those views were STUNNING!
Hiking Trail to the Summit
The other thing that is better on the toll road than the gondola ride is that you can easily access the Long Trail to hike from the parking lot to the highest point in Vermont (the chin).
The hike from the gondola is shorter, but it is steeply uphill to reach the Long Trail, while the toll road takes you right to the Long Trail. You can even hike part of the way out for amazing views, without going all the way to the chin.
Other Things to Do in Stowe
There are plenty of fun and unique things to do in Stowe besides the Auto Toll Road and the Gondola Skyride. Here are some other things to do in the area:
Drive Smuggler’s Notch
Another beautiful drive (and just past the gondola entrance) is the scenic Smuggler’s Notch drive. This beautiful road winds around the mountain through tight corners and foliage covered lanes. I highly recommend it. And the best part is, it’s free!
Hike to Sunset Rock
An easy hike right from downtown Stowe takes you to Sunset Rock, where you’ll get a great view over the cozy downtown area.
Shop Downtown
Of course no trip to Stowe would be complete without browsing some of the local shops and restaurants lining the main street. There are plenty of places to pop in and explore.
Visit the Trapp Family Lodge
The von Trapp family settled here after fleeing from Austria, and you can visit their beautiful Austrian inspired lodge. There are guided tours, several restaurants, and lots of other things to do at this resort.
Cold Hollow Cider Mill
One of the absolute most popular places in possibly all of Vermont is Cold Hollow Cider Mill. A 15 min. drive from Stowe will bring you to this iconic spot where you can watch them make cider, try their famous donuts, and browse their (crowded) gift shop.
In my personal opinion, the donuts weren’t that great, but they had the best merchandise around.
Tour Ben and Jerry’s Factory
I actually planned my trip to Vermont because I like ice cream… and I wanted to tour the Ben & Jerry’s Factory! Which worked out for me, since it is so close to Stowe, and so many great things to do!
Where to Stay in Stowe, VT
There are a ton of options for where to stay in Stowe. Try to book your accommodations about a year ahead of time, as Stowe is a very popular destination.
The Brass Lantern Inn
I booked a room at the Brass Lantern Inn in November, almost a year before my trip in October. Already things in Stowe were pretty full, so I decided to snag it! It’s a bit pricier than I would normally do, but I really enjoyed my stay with them!
The bed and breakfast is perfectly adorable, with lots of free snacks, homemade breakfast, and a hot tub with a view. Plus the owners were very friendly. It was definitely a great place to stay in Stowe.
Stowe Village Inn
Now that I’ve been to Stowe, I think my second choice for where to stay is the Stowe Village Inn. It looked adorable, and was in a perfect location to walk around downtown, and even cut out some of the crazy traffic if you’re heading out to Stowe Mountain Resort and the Gondola Skyride.
Stowe Mountain Resort
If you would like to stay at Stowe Mountain Resort, where the skyride and toll road are, you can stay at the Lodge at Spruce Creek (this is where the Over Easy Gondola ride takes you).
I hope this guide to the Stowe Gondola ride is helpful. Be sure to check out my other Stowe guides to help you plan the perfect trip!
Any more questions?
If you have any questions about visiting or Stowe (or comments you want to share), be sure to email me or comment below.
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