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Analyzing snow forecasts and chasing powder might be a skier’s dream, but it tends to fall short when it comes to the pile of other things that matter: our families, our jobs, and the responsibilities of everyday life. For this reason, most of us—whether we like it or not—are tied to the desk, relegating our powder-chasing dreams to the weekend.
If you live in Denver or Salt Lake City, good skiing is practically on your doorstep (although traffic has a way of interfering). But what about weekend warriors in the Midwest and East Coast? What ski spots are close enough for a day trip, have a fair amount of terrain, and aren’t overly crowded?
We reviewed ski areas near the regions’ major metros and checked drive times to come up with a list of day-trip-ready ski spots. The idea is that if you live in one of the cities below you can hit the road at 6 a.m. and be on the mountain by 9 a.m. (if not earlier) before wrapping the day at 3 p.m. and making it home in time for dinner. Not bad for a weekend warrior.
Ski Areas Within a Few Hours of 5 Metro Centers
New York City
Belleayre Mountain, N.Y.
- Drive time: 2.5 hours
- Terrain: 171 acres, 62 trails
Around 96 percent of Belleayre has snowmaking, which means that the runs should have good coverage regardless of snowfall totals. It also helps that the mountain has a vertical drop of 1,404 feet, providing a higher number of steep or semi-steep runs; the mountain is comprises 58 percent blue runs and 20 percent black trails.
Plattekill Mountain, N.Y.
- Drive time: 3 hours
- Terrain: 75 acres, 41 trails
The last family-owned and -operated ski area in the Catskills is also one of the best within 3 hours of New York City. At Plattekill, you’ll find 1,100 feet of vertical, with 80 percent of the terrain rated blue or black.
Hunter Mountain, N.Y.
- Drive time: 2.5 hours
- Terrain: 320 acres, 67 trails
Hunter has the most skiable acreage, the most trails, and the most vertical on this NYC-centric list. But, it’s also on the Epic Pass, which means it tends to get crowded.
Philadelphia
Elk Mountain Ski Resort, Pa.
- Drive time: under 3 hours
- Terrain: 180 acres, 27 trails
Most Philly skiers agree that when it comes to in-state skiing, Elk Mountain, north of the Poconos, is the best bet. The ski area has 1,000 feet of vertical and more black runs than blues or greens.
Camelback Ski Resort, Pa.
- Drive time: just over 2 hours
- Terrain: 166 acres, 39 trails
Camelback is just barely over 2 hours drive from Philly and is a good choice if you’re planning to bring the family. The skiing at Camelback is complemented by Aquatopica, the resort’s impressive waterpark. (It’s worth noting that Camelback is also around 2 hours from NYC by car.)
Blue Mountain, Pa.
- Drive time: under 2 hours
- Terrain: 171 acres, 40 trails
Blue has one the region’s longest ski season thanks to a robust snowmaking system that covers the entire mountain. It also remains fully open after the sunset, allowing for after-dark laps nightly.
Boston
Waterville Valley Resort, N.H.
- Drive time: 2.5 hours
- Terrain: 265 acres, 62 trails
Waterville has one of the biggest vertical drops on the East Coast at just over 2,000 feet. That means you can expect to find some steeper terrain along with a good selection of glades. Waterville isn’t on a mega pass, which typically makes for shorter lift lines and less-crowded runs, and has 100 percent snowmaking coverage.
Cannon Mountain, N.H.
- Drive time: 2.5 hours
- Terrain: 287 acres, 98 trails
Cannon is unique in that it’s owned and operated by the State of New Hampshire as part of Franconia Notch State Park. The ski area has a more expert vibe than most ski areas on the East Coast and the biggest vertical drop in the state (2,180 feet).
Bretton Woods, N.H.
- Drive time: under 3 hours
- Terrain: 464 acres, 98 trails
Bretton Woods is the largest ski area on this list, in addition to being the largest in New Hampshire. It’s known for its grooming, has 35 glades, and snowmaking covering 92 percent of the mountain.
Pittsburgh
Seven Springs Ski Resort, Pa.
- Drive time: under 1.5 hours
- Terrain: 285 acres, 33 trails
Due to its proximity to Pittsburgh and its Epic Pass credentials, Seven Springs tends to get busy—especially on the weekends. But it’s still worth a visit, especially if you like riding park or are a beginner-to-intermediate skier who wants to limit drive time.
Hidden Valley Resort, Pa.
- Drive time: under 1.5 hours
- Terrain: 110 acres, 26 trails
Hidden Valley is Seven Springs’ closer, smaller sister. Both resorts are on the Epic Pass and both are under 1.5 hours from the city center. If you’ve got kids or newbies on board, Hidden Valley is the better choice.
Wisp Resort, Md.
- Drive time: under 1.5 hours
- Terrain: 132 acres, 33 trails
Wisp is just over the border in Maryland and is not on the Epic Pass (a blessing or a curse, depending on your pass preference). Most of the skiing at Wisp is considered intermediate and around 90 percent of the terrain remains open for night skiing.
Chicago
Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort, Wisc.
- Drive time: just over 1 hour
- Terrain: 120 acres, 25 trails
Wilmot is just over an hour from Chicago making it an easy choice for anyone living in or around Chi-town. Its proximity to the city (and Epic Pass status) means it can get busy, especially on weekends, but day passes tend to be relatively affordable and they have a separate tubing park for the kids.
Cascade Mountain, Wisc.
- Drive time: under 3 hours
- Terrain: 176 acres, 48 trails
If you live in Chicago and want to ski a bigger mountain that’s still under 3 hours from the city, Cascade is your best bet. The ski area has 100-percent snowmaking coverage, 48 ski runs, and three solid terrain parks.
Alpine Valley Resort, Wisc.
- Drive time: under 2 hours
- Terrain: 100 acres, 20 trails
If you want to cut an hour off your drive and avoid Epic Pass crowds, Alpine Valley is for you. The family friendly ski area has three terrain parks and a well-regarded ski school.
