Even the most die-hard urban dwellers could use an escape to the mountains from time to time. Luckily, for many people who live in East Coast cities like Boston and New York, numerous ski resorts are a short drive away. You can be skiing down early-morning corduroy or ripping through powder just a couple of hours after getting in your car. What’s more, many ski areas near New York City have their own accommodations, or are located near towns with great lodging options. Below, find our top picks of ski resorts within about a three-hour drive of New York City (traffic dependent, of course), including several you can reach without a car.
Ski Resorts Near New York City
Windham Mountain Club, New York
Located in the Northern Catskills, about two hours from New York City, Windham Mountain Club offers 54 trails and 285 acres of skiable terrain served by 11 lifts, with 97% snowmaking coverage. Formerly known as Windham Mountain, the resort rebranded as Windham Mountain Club, a public-private model that pairs a members-only club with skiing that remains open to the public. Windham caps daily lift ticket sales to keep slopes uncrowded, so book tickets online in advance, especially for weekends and holidays. Our users have ranked it one of the top resorts in New York for beginner terrain, although skiers and riders of all abilities can appreciate Windham’s range of trails and terrain parks.
Coming from New York City without a car? No problem. Adirondack Trailways runs buses from Port Authority to the Windham bus stop, and charter services like OvRride and Comfort Ski offer round-trip packages from the city that include lift tickets. Amtrak also runs from Penn Station to the town of Hudson, about a 40-minute drive from the mountain.
Hunter Mountain, New York
The Northern Catskills provide incredible outdoor experiences, and Hunter Mountain is no exception. Just under a three-hour drive from New York City, Hunter Mountain boasts terrain across three separate mountains, and it’s on the Epic Pass. Hunter’s 66 trails and 320 acres of skiable terrain mean there is truly something for everyone, from beginners to advanced skiers.
Hunter has an award-winning learning center at its beginner-only mountain, Hunter One. On the opposite side, Hunter West boasts some seriously expert terrain. Hunter Mountain is also home to one of North America’s highest, longest, and fastest zipline canopy tours, making it a great four-season destination in New York. High-tech snowmaking and a variety of lodging and dining options give you everything you need for a great getaway. The New York Ski Bus runs periodic trips to Hunter from multiple locations in the city, with round-trip packages available.
Camelback Mountain, Pennsylvania
Camelback’s roughly 40 runs and 166 acres of skiable terrain make it a top ski destination for New Yorkers. Located about two hours from New York City in the Poconos, Camelback has trails ranging from beginner to expert, served by 16 lifts, plus terrain parks. Many New York and New Jersey skiers learn to ski at Camelback thanks to its family-friendly nature and top-notch ski school. Guests can also enjoy Aquatopia, the resort’s 125,000-square-foot indoor water park, which you can read more about in our article on ski resorts with indoor water parks. Aquatopia has a long list of slides, cabanas for rent, and poolside dining, making it a one-stop shop for fun after the lifts close. Camelback is also a great four-season destination, with an outdoor water park, ropes courses, and ziplining in the warmer months.
Mountain Creek, New Jersey
Voted by OnTheSnow users as the top family-friendly resort in New Jersey, Mountain Creek is a perfect option for a day trip from New York City. Less than a two-hour drive from the city, Mountain Creek is the state’s largest ski area, spread across four peaks. It attracts riders of all levels but particularly caters to those learning to ski or ride. Mountain Creek has 46 trails, terrain parks, night skiing, and extensive snowmaking to maximize coverage.
Check out The Appalachian, located at the base of Vernon Peak, a condo-style hotel with cozy rooms, a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, and sweeping mountain views. It makes Mountain Creek a great weekend ski getaway from New York City. For those who don’t have a car, the New York Ski Bus runs periodic trips to Mountain Creek from multiple locations in the city.
Belleayre Mountain, New York
Belleayre Mountain Ski Center, located in Highmount, is about three hours from Manhattan. The resort is owned by New York State and operated by the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), which also runs Whiteface and Gore. Belleayre is the only Catskills ski resort with a gondola, and it’s home to 170 acres of skiable terrain. It’s primarily known as a family-friendly mountain, with terrain ranging from long cruisers to bumps to park skiing. Belleayre is also the best ski area on this list for cross-country skiing, with trails ranging from wide historic carriage roads to narrower, steeper runs.
Belleayre is a convenient weekend trip from New York City. Because it’s a little farther from the city, it’s often a little less crowded than other ski areas. Adirondack Trailways offers bus service from Port Authority to Belleayre, with packages that have included lift tickets.
Thunder Ridge, New York
Thunder Ridge Ski Area in Patterson, about an hour from New York City, is the closest ski area on this list and the easiest to reach by public transportation. It has 100% snowmaking coverage and is open day and night. If you don’t have a car, take Metro-North’s Harlem Line from Grand Central to Patterson Station, where a free shuttle runs to the ski area on weekends and holidays. Metro-North has also offered discounted train-and-lift-ticket packages through MTA Away. Thunder Ridge is a great place to learn, with gentle beginner slopes and a strong ski school, plus terrain park features for more adventurous riders. Make a weekend of it and stay at one of the many lodging options about 20 minutes away in Danbury, Connecticut.
Jiminy Peak, Massachusetts
Located about an equal distance from Boston and New York City, Jiminy Peak has been rated the top ski area in Massachusetts by our users. A roughly three-hour drive takes you from the bustling city streets to the serene Berkshires. The largest ski area in Massachusetts, Jiminy Peak has some of the best beginner terrain in the country and has been named the Best Ski Area for Beginners in OnTheSnow’s Visitors’ Choice Awards.
Jiminy Peak has a slopeside village full of lodging, so it’s easy to make it a full weekend getaway. It’s also one of the few resorts in the country that runs largely on renewable energy, and its giant wind turbine, with 123-foot blades, can be seen from the summit. Skip the crowds at the big pass resorts and head to Jiminy Peak for shorter lift lines and tons of fun.
Blue Mountain Resort, Pennsylvania
Blue Mountain Resort is located just over two hours from New York City and boasts the highest vertical in Pennsylvania at 1,082 feet. Intermediate skiers and riders can enjoy plenty of trail options, while advanced and expert skiers will appreciate the amount of vertical. Blue Mountain has 39 trails served by 13 lifts, plus terrain parks and a big snow tubing park, and it’s on the Epic Pass. Bonus: It offers night skiing. The summit provides picturesque views of the Lehigh Valley, right beside the Pocono Mountains.
A few honorable mentions are Mount Snow and Gore Mountain. Mount Snow, in West Dover, Vermont, and Gore Mountain, in North Creek, New York, are a bit more of a haul, at roughly four hours by car from New York City, but they remain popular with New Yorkers for weekend trips or longer stays. Other well-known ski areas, like Bristol Mountain in the Finger Lakes region and Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid, host of the 1980 Winter Olympics, are farther away and better suited to a longer trip.
There’s no denying that New Yorkers have a lot of ski areas to choose from as they plan their winter ski trips. See more East Coast ski resorts here.
Header image: ©Camelback Mountain Resort
