The thought of sleeping in your car at a ski resort might make some folks cringe at first. After all, some of the novelty of skiing is that you’re *choosing* to be cold and wet, knowing you won’t be at the end of the day. Hear me out, though—if you sleep AT the resort, the commute from bed to drinking coffee in the lift line to get first tracks on a powder day is way shorter.
Whether or not you’re the type of person that would need convincing to do this, there’s a bunch of resorts that allow camping in the lot overnight so you can get to the lifts faster and cut costs on your ski vacation.
In the day and age of the expensive ski town and paid parking, there are actually a lot more resorts that allow this than you’d think. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but here are a few of the best ski resorts to car camp at, where spending a few days as a lot lizard might pay off.
Photo: Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock
1. Mt. Baker, Washington
Just east of Bellingham, technically located in Deming, Washington is Mt. Baker. Known for having the highest annual snowfall in the continental US, Mt. Baker is definitely a spot where it’s worth crashing in the lot for first chair.
You can park in the Heather Meadows and White Salmon lots overnight from opening day until April 22. There’s no RV hookups so you have to be self contained while camping, and reservations are required. Mt. Baker is known to have a pretty lively lot camping scene too, so there’s a good bet you’ll make a new friend to ride with.
Anecdotally, I did this in college once at Baker, and overnight, it snowed enough to bury my Subaru Outback up to the door handles. Some guys next to us had an oyster bake, which they graciously offered to share with us.
2. Summit at Snoqualmie, Washington
Another Washington spot where you’re really gambling on your gear drying overnight is Summit at Snoqualmie, just east of Seattle. Vans, RVs and trailers are permitted to camp in Alpental Lot 3 at the base of the Alpental side of the mountain or Summit Central.
You have to make a reservation, and spots are $30 a night. Pro tip: The Chevron gas station across the street has some of the best tamales ever, but don’t drink a Buzz Ball after you eat them because there’s a 100% chance you’ll puke.
Photo: Izzy Lidsky
3. Mt. Bachelor, Oregon
Add parking lot camping to the list of reasons Mt. Bachelor is one of the coolest things in Central Oregon skiing. You can shack up in the West Village Parking lot right at the base of the mountain and steps from Red Chair and Pine Marten lifts.
The lot has twenty spots with electric hookups for $65 a night, parking available without hookups for $45 a night, and reservations are required for both. There are also showers and restrooms available in the lot for when you need a hot shower after a cold day of volcano skiing. Mt. Bachelor also has a pretty long season and the spring skiing there is an amazing time to camp in the lot and really enjoy your après in that high desert sun.
Photo: Matt Roebke
4. Mt. Hood Meadows, Oregon
One of the best spots in the PNW for spring and summer skiing, it’s a real bonus that Mt. Hood Meadows allows lot camping! There are no hookups, so your vehicle must be self-contained, but there’s also no fee or reservation required. You do have to have a Sno-Park pass, which you can purchase from Mt. Hood or other local outdoor shops usually have them. You also have to register when you get there and can only stay up to three nights, but for free camping at one of Oregon’s best ski spots, that’s a pretty sweet deal. Pro tip: If you go in the spring or summer, bring your mountain bike too; there’s some amazing biking in the area as well.
Courtesy: Brundage Mountain Resort
5. Brundage, Idaho
Just up Highway 55 from Boise, Brundage Mountain, in McCall, Idaho, allows lot camping in the Cenntenial lot. There’s no charge, but you must have a self-contained vehicle (no tents allowed!) and register at Guest Services day of. You can stay for up to seven nights, but Brundage doesn’t allow camping during busy holiday periods due to limited parking. There are quite a few good hot springs in the area as well, so if you need a spot to warm up after a chilly day of skiing, definitely look into some of these.
Photo: Izzy Lidsky
6. Grand Targhee, Wyoming
If you want to camp in the Targhee lot in the winter for fresh tracks, man do I applaud your gusto. Just over Teton Pass from Jackson Hole, Targhee has some of the best skiing in the west and gets crazy storms due to its location. There are both electric hookups and dry camping available starting at $30 a night with reservations. It’s well worth enduring the cold to get first tracks on one of those epic Teton storms, and if you like camping at the ‘Ghee, check out the bluegrass festival held there in the summer for three days of camping, music and mountain biking.
Photo: Justin Cash
7. Sipapu, New Mexico
Unlike other mountains that allow ski bums to crash in their parking lots, Sipapu, southeast of Taos in Vadito, New Mexico, actually has a dedicated ski resort campground. A short walk from the mountain’s base, the site has three RV hookups and a few more spots where you can car or tent camp. Sites start at $25 a night, and reservations are required. Sipapu is already the most affordable ski resort in New Mexico, and the campground really reiterates their commitment to affordable skiing.
Photo: Noah Clayton/Getty Images
8. Whitefish, Montana
Whitefish, a staple of RV-friendly Montana skiing, allows lot camping in the Aspen lot. No tents are allowed, but you can park your RV or camper on a first-come-first-serve basis for up to three nights. There’s a $ 25-a-night fee, and you must register at the resort’s lodging check-in. Waking up to a fresh few of Whitefish’s 300 annual inches of snow a year and a view of Glacier National Park? Twist my arm.
Photo: Kari Medig
9. Whitewater, British Columbia
If you’re looking to take your ski-bumming international, look no further than Whitewater Ski Resort in Nelson, British Columbia. Whitewater has 10 RV sites with hookups and more without that, starting at $35 a night. Reservations are required, and there’s a maximum stay of 14 nights (if you can do that much skiing!). Whitewater also has heated bathrooms, showers, and a dishwashing area available for folks lot camping. Pretty cushy if you ask me!
Photo: Chris Pearson/Ski Utah
10. Brian Head, Utah
Brian Head is holding it down for Utah ski resorts with camping. Brian Head is in southern Utah, north of Zion National Park, but that doesn’t stop it from being a great ski destination. With the highest base area of any mountain in Utah at 9,600ft, it stays cold enough for the mountain to get 360 inches of snow annually. The upper level of the resort’s Navajo Lodge parking lot allows folks to camp there for free. On weekends, camping is also available in limited capacity in the Giant Steps lot with approval from the reservations department.
Related: The 7 Most Popular Ski Resorts in the U.S.
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