Vermont is the mecca for East coast skiing, home to major ski destinations such as Killington, Stowe and Okemo. Whether you are looking for a laidback ski area with affordable lift tickets to a huge multi-mountain resort, there is something here for everyone. To help you pick the right resort, our local ski travel specialists have put together a curated list of the best ski resorts Vermont has to offer.
7. Smugglers' Notch Resort
Why Ski Smugglers’ Notch Resort
As a family-owned and operated resort, Smugglers' Notch has well-earned its reputation for being family-friendly. There are endless kid-friendly activities, including laser tag in the FunZone, nightly family events and a tubing hill. Smugglers’ Notch also has one of the best ski schools in the area. However, unlike Okemo (another Vermont family favorite), Smugglers’ Notch is harder to reach from New York City and Boston.
The Mountain
With 78 trails across three interconnected mountains, Smuggler’s Notch offers plenty of diverse terrain paired with picture-perfect mountain views. Morse Mountain serves mostly greens, while Madonna and Sterling Mountain offer blue and black trails over a vertical drop of 2,610 ft. For those who are up for a challenge, head to ‘The Black Hole’ which is the only triple black diamond in the East! Plus, there is an additional 750 ac of glades that even beginners can test out! Overall, the layout of the resort is great as each mountain caters for a different ability level. Check out the official trail map to find your best starting point.
Where to Stay
Village Center is located at the base of Morse Mountain and has a variety of restaurants and activities. Stay in one of the lodging communities surrounding the Village Center to be close to the beginner slopes and ski school.
Accommodation is also available in the Village East and Village West Communities which are just a short walk away, while the North Hill and West Hill Communities are located a shuttle ride away. The Highlands Hill Community is further from the Village Center and is served by a separate lift. Get familiar with the base areas by checking out the official resort map.
Getting Around
The resort offers an on-call shuttle service within the Village area. It runs between 8 AM and 10:45 PM every day. There is also an Upper Mountain Shuttle to transport guests from the Village to the Upper Mountains.
6. Mount Snow
Why Ski Mount Snow
Mount Snow is the closest big ski resort to Boston and New York City. There are four distinct areas spread over 601 ac, each featuring different skiing or riding abilities. Head to Main Face for cruisers, North Face for steeps and glades at a summit elevation of 3,600 ft or Sunbrook for scenic runs. On the other hand, Carinthia is an entire section of the mountain dedicated to 10 terrain parks and a superpipe! With that being said, Mount Snow’s strength lies in its abundance of intermediate terrain.
The resort also has some great après and dining options on-mountain and across the Carinthia, Sundance and Main Base Lodges. You’ll have the most choice near the Main Base Lodge.
Where to Stay
For easy access to beginner and intermediate runs, we recommend staying at the Sundance and Main Base Lodges. The tubing park and family adventure zone are also located here. Otherwise, you’ll find more lodging around the access road to the resort and are about a mile from the slopes. West Dover is a village located a 5 minute drive from the resort, where you’ll also find lodging and more choices for dining.
Getting Around
The MOOver Shuttle offers a free service that travels around the Mount Snow Base Area and nearby West Dover and Wilmington.
5. Sugarbush Resort
Why Ski Sugarbush Resort
Sugarbush doesn’t try to be a glitzy ski resort and just sticks to what it does best, which is pure, authentic, East Coast skiing. Spread across two mountains and six peaks, Sugarbush is home to 484 ac of skiable terrain plus 2,000 acres of backcountry skiing. It has some serious steeps, gentle greens and extensively wooded ski areas over a vertical drop of 2,600 ft.
Down in the base area, there’s a genuine rustic feel with some luxurious accommodation and plenty of dining options. Overall, Sugarbush is quite comparable to Killington or Stowe, except without the crowds. It’s also a notch cheaper than nearby resorts without the sacrifice of luxury or amenities.
Where to Stay
If you want to be close to the slopes, we recommend staying in one of the two base areas, Lincoln Peak Village or Mt Ellen Lodge. Lincoln Peak Village is popular due to its proximity to a larger beginner area and children’s ski school. It’s where you’ll find lodging, dining and amenities, particularly in the Historic Sugarbush Village. Cheaper alternatives such as The Warren Lodge can be found along the Sugarbush access road leading into Lincoln Peak Village. These lodging options can be up to a mile away from the slopes and are serviced by a shuttle.
Getting Around
To travel between the two mountains, you can ride the Slide Brook Express Quad, which is the longest and fastest detachable quad lift in the US. Alternatively, the Green Mountain Transit - Mad River Valley (GMT-MRV) bus offers free transportation between the Lincoln Peak and Mt Ellen base areas. It comes approximately every 20-30 minutes and travels to nearby areas including Waitsfield where you’ll find dining and shopping options.
4. Jay Peak
Why Ski Jay Peak
Nestled way up north, just a few miles from the Canadian border, Jay Peak is widely regarded as Vermont’s snowiest ski resort. Its terrain is spread across two base areas, Stateside and Tramside with an elevation of 3,968 ft. With 385 ac of skiable land and 81 trails, the resort offers gentle glades for intermediates, and steep tree-packed trails for experts to bounce through.
Jay Peak is a family favorite, with plenty of activities including ice skating, a climbing gym and The Pump House - a huge indoor waterpark complete with slides, hot tubs and even a FlowRider!
Jay Peak can be a long drive from major cities on the Northeast coast which means fewer crowds compared to other Vermont resorts. The one thing that's missing here is the nightlife.
Where to Stay
There are heaps of lodging options across the two base areas. Stay in the Tramside base area for easy access to restaurants, the waterpark, ice skating rink and the only aerial tram in Vermont! About a 5 minute drive away is the Stateside base area, which has better access to the beginner zone.
Getting Around
It’s best to have a car as the resort is far from major towns.
3. Okemo
Why Ski Okemo
Okemo makes a family ski trip fun and easy with convenient on-mountain lodging and excellent kids ski school programs. 122 trails over 632 ac of skiable terrain means there are runs for all abilities. For terrain parks, newbies can try out Boulder Park with its mellow rails and kickers, while big air experts should head straight to the Superpipe (the longest superpipe in the East). While there are not many extreme steeps and bumps to bounce off, its 2,200 ft vertical drop is sure to get those thighs burning. View the official trail map to see what we mean.
Okemo is also quicker to reach from major population hubs and airports compared to other Vermont resorts, so expect crowds on a powder day.
Where to Stay
Base
Okemo has two main base areas, Clock Tower and Jackson Gore, with lodging and dining options at both. Lodging in the Jackson Gore base is popular among families as it is close to kid-friendly activities. Alternatively, the Clock Tower base area is great for accessing beginner slopes and some ski school meeting points. Stay in either of these areas to be close to the slopes.
Town
The resort is complemented by the charming Ludlow village down the road, with casual local dining and shopping. The base areas are a 3 to 5 minute drive away from Ludlow.
2. Stowe
Why Ski Stowe
Stowe is known for its indulgent hospitality and gnarly skiing spread across two mountains. With 485 ac and 116 trails, more than half the mountain is covered in intermediate runs. Mt Mansfield, which is the highest peak (4,395 ft) in Vermont, has plenty of blue and black runs, while Spruce Peak is good for beginners and families. Being located in northern Vermont and combined with an extensive snowmaking operation, the quality of the snow here is some of the best in the state. However, with all it has to offer, Stowe can get crowded and expensive.
Where to Stay
Base
The Lodge at Spruce Peak is the only ski in ski out hotel option. Stay here to be amongst the restaurants and shops in the Spruce Peak base area.
Town
Lodging in downtown Stowe is a 10 to 15 minute drive from the slopes, but there are plenty of places to dine and drink. Mountain Road which connects the resort and the town is lined with lodging options too. The town has a vibrant local brewery scene and an old-world New England charm.
Getting Around
The Spruce Peak base area is easy to walk around and is connected to the Mt Mansfield base area via a gondola. To head downtown, the Mountain Road Shuttle is a free service that runs every 20-30 minutes from 7 AM to 9 PM.
1. Killington Resort
Why Ski Killington Resort
At 4,241 ft and 1,977 ac of skiable terrain, Killington is quite rightly nicknamed ‘The Beast of the East’. Its 213 trails are spread across six mountain peaks (seven if you include Pico Mountain which is connected via a shuttle bus) and five base areas. Be sure to check out the official trail map before navigating between the ski areas as the layout can get tricky.
It is a great choice if you want to experience après-ski with countless places to eat and drink along the access road leading to the resort. Tubing and snowmobiling are also available, perfect for those rest days in between skiing and snowboarding.
Where to Stay
There are a range of condominiums spread across the five base areas. That said, Killington Grand Resort Hotel is the only full-service hotel located at the resort. It is next to Snowshed Lodge, where you’ll find a food court, pub and the ski lesson meeting area. For more affordable options, consider lodging along Killington Road, with many properties less than 5 miles away from the resort.
Getting Around
Resort shuttles operate on a loop between all open base lodges and parking areas, from 30 minutes before the lifts open until 5 PM. Some properties along Killington Road also offer their guests a shuttle service to the slopes. To travel between Rutland and the Killington Ski Area, a paid service is available called The Rutland Killington Commuter, which is operated by The Bus.