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How To Get Here

Thousands of people visit Burlington for the Independence Day Celebration.

Plan carefully to avoid long wait times when departing the event.

INDEPENDENCE DAY TRAFFIC AND TRANSIT MAP.png

Recommended Parking: UVM's
Gutterson Fieldhouse Garage for GMT Waterfront Shuttle Bus

Parking by the Waterfront is limited and will result in 1 hour + wait at the end of the evening.
Don't want to deal with stressful downtown traffic? Here's the fastest way in and out of the Burlington Waterfront: 

Take the GMT Shuttle Bus Service from UVM's Patrick Gymnasium to 1 Main Street, operated by our event partner,
Green Mountain Transit.


How to take the shuttle:
Park at UVM’s Gutterson Fieldhouse parking garage for free and catch the shuttle bus in front of Patrick Gymnasium. Buses will run from 3 p.m. to 11:15 p.m., with the last departing shuttle from UVM leaving at 8:30 p.m.
Visit GMT's website for more details.

Additional Parking

If you park at the Waterfront, be prepared to wait at least one hour from the end of the fireworks to leave the parking areas due to priority pedestrian and bus traffic.

  • City Garages - Downtown (Lakeview / College Streets) & Marketplace Garage: standard rates apply, see rates here

  • Skate Park Lot (at the end of Lake Street): Reserved for Authorized Personnel and Vendor parking only

  • Perkins Pier Parking: $3 / hour ($12 max) for cars and $12 for boat trailers

  • Waterfront Pease Parking Lot (bottom of College Street): Reserved for ADA parking and seasonal boaters (first-come, first-served basis)

  • ​The Meadow at Foam Brewers (Lake St): public parking, $20 / day

  • Oakledge Park Lots (Flynn Ave): $3 / hour

  • North Beach Park Lots (off North Ave): $3 / hour ($12 max)

    • Parking is limited at these lots, we advise riding or walking if possible.  

Accessible Parking

Accessible parking spaces are available at Perkins Pier Lot and the Waterfront Pease Lot. Please keep in mind all parking is limited and space is not guaranteed later into the evening.

Driving

  • Vehicular traffic will be detoured around Main St. from 9 to 11:30 pm (buses only). ​

  • Vehicles exiting the Waterfront, heading north or south will be held at Main St. until 11:30 p.m.

Biking

You are encouraged to cycle to the event, if possible! Free valet bike parking by Local Motion is available at Lake and College Streets. Please proceed with caution on the Burlington Greenway as large crowds will be present. 

Boat Traffic

U.S. Coast Guard will enact a full harbor closure at 8:00 p.m. when all boat traffic in the harbor will end. We recommend boaters plan to arrive at their destinations by 6 p.m. at the latest. ​The harbor reopens when the harbormaster give the all clear, please tune into Marine VHF22 for updates. 

  • Boat traffic from King Street Dock or Perkins Pier should exit to the south only. A No-Boat-Traffic-Zone has been extended to include the entire inner harbor. This safety zone is strictly enforced. The Perkins Pier and Waterfront boat ramps will be closed during this time.  

  • All watercraft, including canoes and kayaks, must have working lights if they are on the water after dusk. 

  • Boaters can expect crowded conditions in Burlington Bay throughout the day of the event. Please proceed with caution while traversing. 

Train

Take the train to Waterfront Park from Vergennes​

  • To the fireworks – Boarding Begins 5:30 p.m. – Depart Vergennes: 6:00 p.m. – Arrive Burlington: 7:15 p.m.

  • From the fireworks – Boarding Begins 10:00 p.m. – Depart Burlington: 10:30 p.m. – Arrive Vergennes: 11:15 p.m.

*Boarding is located at the Ferrisburgh/Vergennes Amtrak Station located at 49 Park Ln., Ferrisburgh, VT 05456

What to Expect:

  • 1 Hour 15 Minutes Each Way with a 3 Hour Layover

  • No traffic or stopping at other stations

  • Traditional rail travel seats four guests at a table

  • Refreshments and snacks will be available for purchase on the train (cash only)

  • Seating will be automatically assigned to avoid separation of parties

  • Items may not be left on board the train during the layover in Burlington.

  • All passengers will disembark the train once it arrives in Burlington

Find tickets and more info at: rails-vt.com/independencedayflyer

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