Mount Mansfield Auto Toll Road

Built in 1870, the Mount Mansfield Auto Toll Road is a 4.5-mile climb to Vermont’s highest summit at 4,393 feet. The narrow, winding dirt road gains 2,500 feet of elevation as it switchbacks through dense hardwood forest before breaking into alpine tundra near the summit ridge. The Nose—the mountain’s distinctive profile feature—looms overhead as you navigate tight turns with steep drop-offs into Smugglers’ Notch below.

This is a moderate trail requiring careful attention to weather conditions. The road closes from November through May due to snow, and afternoon thunderstorms can make the exposed summit dangerous. Any vehicle with good brakes and decent ground clearance can make the climb, but the descent tests your brake fade management. The $28 toll gets you access to hiking trails, summit views across four states, and bragging rights for driving Vermont’s highest motor road.