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Grand Isle VT Real Estate: Island Homes and Camps on Lake Champlain

By Tony Walton, Principal Broker, New England Landmark Realty

Quick Answer

Grand Isle is a Lake Champlain island town of about 2,090 people in Grand Isle County, between South Hero and North Hero. More than half its area is water. It has a year-round, 24-hour ferry to Plattsburgh, New York, Grand Isle State Park, with 117 campsites and 36 lean-tos, and the Hyde Log Cabin, built in 1783. Grand Isle School serves PreK through grade 6 for the Champlain Islands district. Current Grand Isle listings appear at the bottom of this page, and our Grand Isle market report shows recent sales and prices.

Grand Isle at a Glance

• County: Grand Isle
• ZIP code: 05458
• Population: 2,086 (2020 Census)
• Area: about 35.1 square miles, of which about 16.4 are land and 18.7 are water
• Communities: Grand Isle, Adams Landing, Gordon Landing, Grand Isle Station, and Pearl
• Ferry: Grand Isle to Plattsburgh, NY, year-round, 24 hours a day
• Schools: Grand Isle School (PreK-6), Champlain Islands Unified Union School District

Living in Grand Isle

Grand Isle is in the middle of the Champlain Islands, with US Route 2 running through town. On the western shore, the ferry at Gordon Landing crosses to Cumberland Head near Plattsburgh, New York, around the clock, all year, in about 15 minutes.

Grand Isle State Park covers 226 acres on the lake, with 117 tent and RV sites, 36 lean-tos, cabins, a boat launch, a nature center, and ranger programs. The Ed Weed Fish Culture Station, opened in 1991, raises trout, landlocked salmon, and walleye to stock Lake Champlain and has a visitor center with large aquariums open daily.

History runs deep here too. The Hyde Log Cabin, built in 1783 by Jedediah Hyde Jr., is believed to be one of the oldest log cabins in the United States; it's a state-owned historic site on Route 2, open on weekends from May through October.

Schools

Grand Isle is in the Champlain Islands Unified Union School District. Grand Isle School serves PreK through grade 6 and, since North Hero School closed in June 2025, is the district's elementary school for both towns. The district doesn't have its own middle or high school, so it pays tuition for older students to attend schools elsewhere in Vermont or in New York. Check current options with the Grand Isle Supervisory Union.

Homes and Camps in Grand Isle

Buyers in Grand Isle find lakefront homes, seasonal camps and cottages, year-round homes with lake views, and land. See what's for sale now in the listings below, and check recent sale prices in the Grand Isle market report, which updates as homes sell.

Buying on the water? Check:

• Year-round use: many island camps are seasonal; ask about heat, insulation, and water lines.
• Water supply: some lake properties draw water from the lake; ask how it's treated and test it.
• Septic: older camp systems may not meet current rules; get them inspected.
• Shoreline and flooding: read the flood disclosure and check the flood zone, and remember that clearing or building within 250 feet of the lake may need a state shoreland permit.

Our Lake Champlain waterfront guide and second home guide cover more.

Getting Around

• US Route 2 runs through Grand Isle, south through South Hero toward Burlington and I-89, and north to North Hero and Alburgh.
• Lake Champlain Ferries run from Gordon Landing to Plattsburgh, NY, 24 hours a day, year-round.

Costs to Plan For

Vermont's property transfer tax, paid by the buyer at closing, is 0.5% on the first $200,000 of a primary residence and 1.47% above that; 3.62% for a second home suitable for year-round use; 1.47% for camps not suited to year-round use and land; and a VHFA-financed primary residence is exempt on the first $250,000. Estimate your costs with our Vermont Home Cost Calculator, and see our Vermont home inspection guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Grand Isle, VT in?

Grand Isle County, in the Champlain Islands.

What is the ZIP code for Grand Isle, VT?

05458.

Does the Grand Isle ferry run all year?

Yes. The Grand Isle–Plattsburgh ferry runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, and the crossing takes about 15 minutes.

What schools serve Grand Isle?

Grand Isle School for PreK through grade 6. Older students are tuitioned to other schools by the Champlain Islands district.

How do I see recent home prices in Grand Isle?

Our Grand Isle market report lists recent sales, prices, and days on market, and updates automatically.

What to Do Next

Call our office at 802-253-4711, reach Tony Walton directly at 802-233-4107, or contact us.

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• Lake Champlain Waterfront Homes
• Nearby: North Hero, South Hero, Isle La Motte

Sources

• Grand Isle, Vermont (county, population, area, ZIP code, communities, ferry landing)
• Lake Champlain Ferries, Grand Isle–Plattsburgh
• Grand Isle State Park
• Vermont Fish & Wildlife, Ed Weed Fish Culture Station
• Hyde Log Cabin
• WCAX, Champlain Islands district votes to close school; VTDigger, school district and high school tuition
• Vermont Department of Taxes, Property Transfer Tax