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Air travel can be unpredictable, especially during the winter, when snowstorms and icy conditions can cause delays. The good news is that in Canada, many of the best ski resorts are a short drive from the airport. In some cases, you can be on the ski slopes in as little as an hour after leaving the airport. Below, we highlight some of the best Canada airports with easy ski resort access.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Travelers heading to North America’s largest ski resort, Whistler Blackcomb, will fly into Vancouver International Airport, which is two hours from Whistler. YVR is one of Canada’s busiest and most connected airports, offering direct flights from cities across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Airlines that fly into Vancouver include Air Canada, WestJet, Alaska, American, Delta, United, British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, Cathay Pacific, and Air New Zealand. You don’t even need a car to get to Whistler, since convenient shuttle services run between Vancouver and Whistler, dropping travelers off right at their hotels.
Whistler Blackcomb, which hosted numerous events at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, is well known for its 8,000-plus acres of diverse terrain and the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, which connects Whistler Mountain to Blackcomb. The vibrant base village, featuring tons of dining, luxurious hotels, and shops, is easy to get around on foot.
If you want to be on the slopes even quicker, then check out Grouse Mountain, Cypress Mountain, or Mount Seymour, all of which are about an hour from Vancouver International Airport. You could fly out on the first flight in the morning from a number of cities and be skiing by lunchtime.
Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
Montreal-Trudeau International Airport is a convenient launch point for skiers eager to explore the snowy landscapes of Eastern Canada. Several major airlines, including Delta, United, KLM, and Air Canada, offer regular routes in and out of Montreal. It’s a short flight— around an hour and a half—when you fly direct from numerous East Coast cities, including Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.
It’s then just 90 minutes or less to several ski resorts from Montreal. For those arriving on late-morning flights but still itching for a few laps, Sommet Saint-Sauveur is the perfect choice. Well-known for its night skiing, Sommet Saint-Sauveur is only an hour from the airport. Tremblant, one of Eastern Canada’s headlining ski resorts, is an hour and a half away. It’s home to 102 trails, state-of-the-art snowmaking, and the type of picturesque pedestrian village that you won’t find in many Canada ski destinations. Mont-Tremblant Express travels between Montreal and Mont Tremblant multiple times a day during the ski season. Mont Sutton, another favorite among Quebec skiers, is about 90 minutes from Montreal. Discover more ski resorts near Montreal here.
Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB)
Just northeast of Montreal, Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport serves as a strategic entry point for skiers heading to two of Quebec’s most popular ski resorts, Le Massif de Charlevoix and Mont-Sainte-Anne. YQB is served by major airlines that include Air Canada, WestJet, and United.
Located just 1 hour and 15 minutes from the airport, Le Massif’s steep vertical drop and challenging terrain make it a favorite among more advanced skiers. It’s also at Le Massif de Charlevoix where you’ll find Club Med Québec-Charlevoix, Club Med’s first North America Mountain Resort. Mont-Sainte-Anne is even closer, just a 45-minute drive from Quebec’s airport. It’s known for its well-balanced mix of alpine and cross-country skiing, with 71 downhill trails and 184 kilometers (114 miles) of Nordic trails winding through forested landscapes. Mont-Sainte-Anne also has night skiing, family-friendly zones, and a reputation for reliable snow conditions throughout the season.
Calgary International Airport (YYC)
Calgary, which hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics, is your gateway to the Canadian Rockies. Many U.S. airlines, including American, Delta, United, and Alaska all fly into Calgary, along with Canada’s major carriers. Flying from Seattle or Vancouver will get you to Calgary in less than two hours, while several other U.S. hubs have direct flights.
This is your chance to visit the Skibig3 resorts of Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise, and Mt. Norquay. Banff Sunshine and Mt. Norquay are about an hour and a half from Calgary International Airport, while it’s two hours to Lake Louise. Don’t sleep on Nakiska, built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, and which is just over an hour away from Calgary.
Kelowna International Airport (YLW)
As you’ve probably gathered, many of Canada’s biggest airports are relatively close to ski resorts. However, don’t overlook some of the smaller airports, like Kelowna International Airport. A great mix of U.S. and Canadian airlines fly into Kelowna, including Delta, Air Canada, WestJet, and Alaska. Kelowna International Airport is convenient to two of British Columbia’s best ski resorts, Big White and SilverStar, both of which are about an hour from the airport.
Big White, just an hour east of Kelowna, boasts night skiing, a large ski-in/ski-out village, 118 runs, and several terrain parks. While most people think Whistler Blackcomb when they think British Columbia ski resorts, don’t overlook Big White, which is the province’s second-largest resort village mountain and has the most ski-in, ski-out accommodations in Canada. SilverStar, located an hour north of Kelowna, is the perfect blend of alpine skiing and nordic skiing, home to 3,200 acres of skiable terrain, more than 130 trails, and 55 kilometers (34 miles) of cross-country terrain.
October 15, 2025
