The Black River runs through the heart of the main business district. Quiet residential neighborhoods surround a busy main street that is also a major connecting route to communities north and west in Vermont. A National Historic District, Main Street is lined with several large historic blocks and a natural scenic site, the Comtu Falls, where the Black River drops 110 ft in an eighth of a mile. This, too, is downtown Springfield, and easily viewed from the Park Street Bridge.

Outdoor recreation opportunities abound with two rivers, acres of forests and trails and Vermont's Green Mountains only a short drive away. Hoyt's Landing, at the junction of the Connecticut and Black Rivers is popular for boating, fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and water skiing. Nature enthusiasts also enjoy the North Springfield Bog, Springweather Nature Area, Hartness Park and Stoughton Pond. Several full service campgrounds are located in and around Springfield. Forests and trails offer hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Outdoor ice rinks are maintained during the winter months. Toonerville Trail, a bicycle/pedestrian path runs along the Black River nearly four miles to Hoyt's Landing on the Connecticut River. Several mountain resorts, including Ascutney Mountain, Okemo, Killington, Stratton, Bromley and Magic Mountain, are close. Golf enthusiasts can play and dine at Springfield's 18-hole championship Crown Point Country Club, with numerous other courses in nearby towns.

The Springfield Art and Historical Society is located above the head of the square in the Miller Art Center. A movie theatre, Gallery at the Vault art gallery, a mix of restaurants and three churches are all located in downtown. On route 11 the Eureka Schoolhouse and 'town lattice type' Baltimore Covered Bridge offer a taste of the 18th century. Local forestry students cleared land to provide scenic outlooks and built picnic spots. Out on the Old Connecticut River Road, the Mollica's grow 70 acres of trees for Christmas-time sales. They even open the Christmas Cottage, nestled among the 65,000 fir trees, for guests during summer, foliage and Christmas seasons. The porch offers great views of the Connecticut River Valley.

Springfield is known for its inventors and creative spirit. The Machine Tool Trail, showcasing many inventions that began in Vermont, passes through Springfield. Hartness House Inn showcases the Hartness Equatorial Turret Telescope, built in 1910, one of the first tracking telescopes in America. Springfield emerged as a machine tool center due largely to the visionary daring and inventiveness of James Hartness. From 1886 to 1933 he patented 120 different machines, from the flat turret lathe and optical comparator to a safety razor and a telescope. Springfield became such a major manufacturing center that it was listed as number seven on Hitler's list of cities to bomb during World War II.

Annual events include the River Valley Home Show, Windsor County Agricultural Fair in late July, Stellafane Amateur Telescope Makers Convention, several other summer events and Apple Festival in autumn.