Burlington International Airport (BTV) serves Vermont's largest city on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, and it is a full-service regional airport with car rental counters from international and local companies located on-site, making it the natural starting point for exploring both Burlington itself and the wider Green Mountain State. Downtown Burlington, with its lakefront and pedestrian marketplace, sits only a short drive from the terminal, while the lake itself opens up scenic driving options along its shoreline in both directions.
From BTV, Vermont's ski country is within comfortable reach for a winter rental: Stowe lies less than an hour to the east, and other resort towns throughout the Green Mountains are reachable within one to two hours depending on the destination, making the airport a common pickup point for ski and snowboard trips through the colder months. In warmer seasons, the same roads open up access to Vermont's covered bridges, farm stands and lake towns, with Lake Champlain's ferries offering a scenic way to cross into New York State for those extending their trip.
Driving is on the right throughout Vermont, and the state's roads are toll-free, though rural mountain routes can be narrow and winding compared to the interstate corridors near Burlington itself. Winter driving is the defining consideration for much of the year: snow, ice and reduced daylight are routine from late fall through early spring, and many rental agreements at BTV include or strongly recommend winter tires or all-wheel drive for anyone heading into the mountains. Fuel stations are plentiful near Burlington and along the main highways but can be sparser on smaller roads leading into ski towns, so topping up before the final approach into the mountains is a good habit for any Vermont winter road trip starting at BTV. Booking ahead is worthwhile during peak ski weeks and the fall foliage season, when demand for vehicles at Burlington International Airport tends to outpace supply among visitors converging on Vermont from across the Northeast.