Tunbridge, Vermont: Follow Route 110 Through a Town That Still Feels Like Vermont

There are faster roads through Central Vermont.

Route 110 isn't one of them.

That's precisely why I'd take it.

Follow the First Branch of the White River north from South Royalton and the road leads you through Tunbridge, a town of roughly 1,000 people, three villages, farms tucked into the hills, and more covered bridges than you might expect to find in one small Vermont community.

Then, every September, something remarkable happens.

For four days, this quiet valley becomes home to one of Vermont's great traditions.

But before we get to the World's Fair, you should meet the town that created it.

Start With Route 110

Route 110 and the First Branch of the White River run together through much of Tunbridge.

That geography shaped the community.

The river once powered grist mills, sawmills, an iron foundry, a woolen mill, and a factory that produced thousands of wooden tool handles.

The hills told another story.

During the 1800s, sheep covered many of them. Beginning in the late 19th century, dairy farming became increasingly important, and at one point Tunbridge had roughly 200 dairy farms.

Those numbers have changed dramatically.

The imprint hasn't.

Drive the back roads and you can still understand why agriculture became such an important part of life here.

The Covered Bridges Tell Their Own Story

Tunbridge's official town website identifies five surviving covered bridges, placing it among a small group of Vermont towns with that many still standing. The town's historical community goes even deeper: a 2026 Historical Society tour covered nine bridge sites, including bridges that no longer survive.

That's the Tunbridge outing I'd recommend.

Don't hunt for one covered bridge, take the photograph, and leave.

Follow Route 110 and the back roads.

Find the bridges.

Notice the river beneath them.

Look at the farms, old roads, cemeteries, churches, and hills between them.

The spaces between the landmarks are part of the experience.

A Town That Had to Begin Twice

Tunbridge was granted in 1761, but permanent settlement came later.

Moses and Susannah Ordway are generally recognized as the town's first year-round settlers, arriving around 1775. Their family story alone sounds almost unbelievable today: they were parents to 22 children, 18 of whom lived to adulthood.

Then came October 1780.

A British-led force from Canada attacked communities in the White River Valley. In Tunbridge, four men were killed and roughly 30 males were taken prisoner.

Settlement remained difficult until the Revolutionary War ended.

Tunbridge rebuilt.

By the 1791 census, about 900 people were living here.

That means this little Vermont town recovered remarkably quickly from one of the most violent events in its early history.

Then September Arrives

Most of the year, Tunbridge is rural and quiet.

Then the fairgrounds wake up.

Trailers arrive.

Livestock fill the barns.

The midway lights come on.

Farm families bring animals they've worked with for months. Vegetables, maple syrup, flowers, quilts, baked goods, photographs, crafts, and other exhibits begin appearing in the halls.

And suddenly people from all over Vermont are driving Route 110 into a town of about 1,000 residents.

The Tunbridge World's Fair isn't separate from the town's agricultural history.

It grew from it.

⭐ Nathan's Hidden Gem: See Tunbridge Before Fair Week

Here's my suggestion.

Drive Route 110 through Tunbridge before the fair.

See the valley when it's quiet.

Explore the covered bridges. Notice the farms. Follow the First Branch. Look at the fairgrounds before tens of thousands of visitors arrive.

Then come back during fair weekend.

You'll understand the event differently.

The Tunbridge World's Fair isn't a festival that happens to be located in Tunbridge.

It's an expression of the community around it.

What Does Living in Tunbridge Feel Like?

Tunbridge remains genuinely rural.

There isn't a large commercial center waiting around the corner. Many residents commute elsewhere for work, and owning a rural property can mean thinking carefully about private roads, wells, septic systems, internet availability, winter maintenance, and travel time.

But the tradeoff is easy to see.

The First Branch.

The hills.

Old farms.

Covered bridges.

Neighbors who still gather for community events.

And every September, a fair that has been bringing generations back to this valley since 1867.

Some places tell you about their history.

Tunbridge still lives alongside its own.

Thinking About Tunbridge, Vermont?

If you're considering a home or land in Tunbridge, spend some time driving beyond Route 110.

Real estate here can vary enormously—from village homes to old farmhouses, large acreage, mountain properties, and secluded back-road parcels.

The house matters.

But in a town like Tunbridge, understanding the road, the valley, and the community around it matters just as much.