$2 Route 12 is the cheap way out of BTV
Green Mountain Transit Route 12 runs from Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport to downtown Burlington and South Burlington for a $2 regular one-way fare. The bus stop sits on Airport Drive just outside the terminal serving both North and South concourses, so you’re on the local bus network within a short walk of the arrivals area. One Redditor summed it up as “totally usable if you’re not in a rush,” which matches how the printed timetable looks.
Typical ride time runs 20–30 minutes from the airport to downtown Burlington, depending on traffic and how long the neighborhood loop takes. GMT’s own Route 12 map shows the bus working through South Burlington streets before heading toward UVM and downtown, which is why it feels slower than a straight cab hop. Another rider said it was “fine, just slower than you’d think because it does the neighborhood loop first,” especially during busy weekday afternoons.
On weekdays, Route 12 is scheduled roughly every 30–60 minutes, with noticeably wider gaps later in the day and fewer trips on Saturdays. The current GMT winter timetable lists no Sunday service at all on Route 12, so late-weekend flyers need a backup plan like rideshare or a pickup. Several locals on r/burlingtonvt also point out that last trips wind down by early evening, so this is not a late-night option.
GMT interlines Route 12 with other South Burlington services at downtown and around UVM, which can introduce minor delays even when the paper schedule looks tight. One winter complaint on Reddit mentioned that snow plus these interlined connections can make the airport leg “kind of dicey” if you cut it close. Build a 1–2 bus cushion if you’re catching a fixed departure like a 6:00 p.m. flight out of BTV.
Step-by-step from terminal to bus:
- 1. After collecting bags in BTV’s arrivals, exit to Airport Drive outside the North/South terminal area.
- 2. Walk 2–3 minutes along the signed walkway toward the Green Mountain Transit stop on Airport Drive.
- 3. Check the posted Route 12 timetable or pull up the current schedule from ridegmt.com on your phone.
- 4. Have $2 cash or the applicable fare product ready; GMT lists reduced fares for seniors, youth, and other categories.
- 5. Board Route 12 toward downtown/UVM, stow your luggage away from the aisle, and expect a 20–30 minute ride.
- 6. Get off at your chosen stop, typically downtown Burlington, UVM, or University Mall, all shown by name on the Route 12 map.
Regulars on r/burlingtonvt say they often ride Route 12 to daytime departures but switch to Uber, Lyft, or a friend for late-night returns because the last bus leaves too early. Some also plan ahead by boarding Route 12 at UVM or University Mall to grab a seat before bags fill the aisles. One final tip: in winter or after dark, add 5–10 minutes to find the exact stop on Airport Drive and stand where the driver can see you.