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Ski Holidays in USA
From skyscrapers to hamburgers, the USA has a reputation for going large and America ski holidays are no different. With enormous ski areas, extensive lift systems, extreme snow parks and exceptional ski schools, we love skiing with team America – flip yeah!
- Flight Time
- 9 hours
- From London
- Nearest Airports
- Denver
- Jackson Hole, etc.
- Time zone
- GMT -5 to -8 hours
- Language
- English
- Currency
- US Dollar
- Ski Season
- Dec - April
USA Ski Stats
Overall: Breckenridge
Why Go Skiing in USA
The Sierra Nevada and Rocky mountain ranges bless America with some of the best snow conditions on the planet. Utah sees a massive average of 12m of snow in a season, Colorado is famed for its dry and fluffy ‘champagne powder’ and California is all about skiing under glorious sunshine. Add miles of varied terrain and the US has you covered - gorgeously long blues for racking up the miles, fast red descents for hitting top speeds and monstrous moguls for a technical challenge. The best bit? With such an expanse to explore, it’s equally easy to find quiet pistes and short lift queues.
Fantastic groomers aren’t the only reason USA ski holidays are so popular. From fine dining in exquisite restaurants, to lively slopeside parties, mesmerising mountain views, and awesome activities like the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, it’s no surprise skiers make the trip across the pond.
Visa: An Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to travelling
Closest Airports: Denver, Jackson Hole, Salt Lake City International, Burlington International, Glacier Park International, Bishop
WHERE TO BOOK YOUR SKI HOLIDAY IN USA
With a whopping 480 ski resorts spread across the country, skiers are spoilt for choice, so we’ve narrowed it down for you with advice on choosing the best. We recommend high-end resorts like Beaver Creek for a luxury retreat, cowboy towns like Jackson Hole for some rootin-tootin’ après ski and famously chic destinations like Aspen for world-class skiing and hospitality. Whatever your style, America is sure to have a ski destination that fits the bill.
We’ve traversed the ‘Land of the Free’ tasting the best America has to offer and compiled our findings into these ‘top ten’ guides. From beginner-friendly to powder paradise, use our guides to divine your dream destination.
WHICH ARE THE MOST POPULAR SKI RESORTS IN USA
The most popular destinations for a American ski holiday are Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek and Aspen.
USA Ski Resort Guide
Best Ski Resorts in America
Attentive service, comfy accommodation and great grub come as standard in America, but the best resorts also have miles of terrain to explore and plenty of off-slope activities. Breckenridge is a SNO favourite with with the giant motorway pistes being where SNOman first went over to the dark side (snowboarding). We love the large town full of colourful buildings housing bars, restaurants and shops and access to an expansive ski area covering 3,000 acres across other top resorts including Vail and Keystone. Beaver Creek is another contender for the title of best ski resort in America with slopes that range from cruisy blues to hair-raising double diamonds, a sophisticated atmosphere and a conveniently short 30 min transfer time from Eagle County Airport. Also high on the list is world-renowned Aspen twinned with Snowmass, where there’s 4 ski areas to choose from and a seriously glamorous town to enjoy.
Best Après Ski in America
America’s après scene mostly consists of craft beers and cocktails in a relaxed atmosphere but there are definitely all night parties if you know where to look. For a more typically European experience of live music and boot-stomping, Breckenridge is your best bet, where parties begin on the slopes at T Bar and continue well into the night in spots like Angel’s Hollow and Cecilia’s Martini Bar. For après ski with a distinctly cowboy flavour head to Jackson Hole where bars like The Mangy Moose and Million Dollar Cowboy Bar have a western, gun totin’, saloon drinkin’ feel. On the swanky end, toney Aspen is a top American resort for après ski where you can rub shoulders with the rich and famous in cocktail lounges like J-Bar in Hotel Jerome, frequented by A-list skiers like Cameron Diaz and Bill Murray.
Most Snow Sure Resorts in America
High altitude resorts and sky-high mountain peaks mean good conditions are reliable across American ski resorts between November and April. Sitting at 2,926m and rising to a lofty 3,915m Breckenridge consistently offers snow sure conditions well into spring with the season often extending into May. With heavy dumps of snow and the highest summit elevation in California, Mammoth Mountain is another top snow-sure destination in America. Jackson Hole also offers snow-surety thanks to its northern location and Winter Park consistently gets more than 9m of snow a year which often remains on the upper slopes until as late as May.
America’s Luxury Ski Destinations
Often catering for the hottest celebs and the uber rich, America’s luxury ski resorts offer fine dining, exquisite accommodation and seamless service. In beautiful Vail, Austrian inspired architecture encloses elegant boutiques and five-star restaurants and, for an extra touch of luxury, the streets are heated to keep snow clear. The Little Nell hotel in Aspen has catered for the likes of Britney Spears and you’ll find designer shops like Prada and Gucci as well as Michelin-starred restaurants like Prospect here. We love Beaver Creek where 150km of immaculate piste is complemented by by fine dining right on the mountain in restaurants like Allie’s Cabin - the level of service epitomised by the complimentary cookies which are handed out every day at 3pm.
Family Friendly American Ski Resorts
Snow-sure slopes, no language barrier, child-friendly dining - the list of reasons why families love American ski holidays goes on and on. Top resorts include Winter Park where the whole family is catered for with ski schools and ice bumper cars for littlies and a medley of swishy blues and thrilling blacks for mum and dad all within an easy 90 minute transfer from Denver Airport. With the slogan “families and kids are Steamboat’s speciality”, it’s no wonder that Steamboat is a top USA ski resort for families. There’s slow zones and kids-only areas, husky sledding and tubing for after the lifts close, and a Kids’ Adventure Club at Night where 5 to 12 year olds watch films and play games whilst parents enjoy adult time.
America Group Ski Destinations
America has all the ingredients for a brilliant group ski holiday from terrain for all abilities to lively bars and all-inclusive group accommodation. We recommend Lake Tahoe where the Gunbarrel moguls and Killebrew canyons entertain energietic skiers while more laid-back friends cruise the Galaxy and Perimeter runs, before all meeting for a jolly knee’s up to live music in Tamarack. With tonnes of great restaurants, bars and post-ski activities like hot air balloon rides and husky tours, Aspen is also a top American ski resort for groups. Thanks to its vast size, buzzing town and huge range of accommodation choice, Vail is one of our destinations that every group can agree on.
Food in the American Mountains
You won’t be short of options for food in America’s ski resorts.. There’s a range of cuisine too so even the fussiest eater will be satisfied. From classic burgers and fries served up in all-American style diners like Flipside in Breckenridge to slabs of steak in western themed restaurants like Million Dollar Cowboy, we love the hearty American approach to refuelling. There are gourmet restaurants like Piñons in Aspen and Blue Lion in Jackson Hole for a sophisticated dining experience. Often served in large proportions with outstanding customer service and not a bad price tag, good food is a big part of American ski holidays.
American Ski Resorts for Beginners
With excellent ski schools and no language barriers, America is a fantastic place for learners to take to the slopes. In Winter Park there’s a dedicated beginner’s zone and newbies can experience the whole mountain with a complete route of beginner runs from the top of the Hi-Lonesome Express down to the village. In Steamboat, the Headwall area is reserved for beginners and ski schools provide high quality of tuition plus the resort receives plenty of powder so there’s no need to worry about difficult icy conditions. Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen is also a top American ski resort for beginners with a fantastic ski school and a large proportion of beginner slopes like the gentle Homestead Road perfect for building confidence.
America Resorts for Intermediate Skiers
The best ski resorts in America for intermediates offer miles of varied terrain. America’s largest ski area, Park City spans 7,300 acres and contains six terrain parks, 330 pristinely groomed runs as well as tonnes of off-piste trails - plenty to keep intermediates busy all holiday. We love Breckenridge where Peak 7 and 9 have a wide assortment of blues superb for easing you back in, the Crescendo run has gentle bumps for practising your mogul technique and there are plenty of blacks higher up if you’re keen for a challenge. In Vail, intermediates can enjoy schussing down Bwana and Born Free, and Riva Ridge is a blue with a few single-black-diamond sections (like a red run in Europe) for steady progression.
American Resorts for Advanced Skiers
Experts get their adrenaline kicks in the best American resorts for advanced skiers where steep drops, narrow chutes, untamed backcountry and fierce double-black-diamonds push you to the max. In Jackson Hole speed demons rack up serious MPHs racing down Dick’s Ditch whilst powder hounds love the 3,000 acres of backcountry. There are over 100 advanced pistes in Aspen and the Highland Bowl is something of a right-of-passage for experts involving almost 2,500 feet of steep bowl skiing. In Vail, the Blue Sky Basins provide some extreme off-piste and the Forever Trail drops an adrenaline-inducing 1,850ft.
Best Off-Piste Skiing in America
Land of dry, fluffy ‘champagne snow’, America is paradise for powder lovers. Vail is home to seven legendary Back Bowls with miles of ungroomed terrain to explore. Hit up the North Rim which is often overlooked in favour of the Back Bowls, meaning some great powder stashes. In Lake Tahoe off-piste aficionados can glide through knee-deep powder surrounded by scenic trees and test their nerve in steep, untamed chutes. Jackson Hole and Aspen also make the top ten best resorts for off-piste skiing in America, thanks to the sheer size of their backcountry.
Best Snowboarding in America
Snowboarders are well taken care of in the USA with epic backcountry for off-piste adventures, wide groomers for cruisy carving and snow parks aplenty. Park City is one of the best American resorts for snowboarders with 330 trails, 14 bowls, no less than 8 terrain parks including an Olympic-sized halfpipe. As the name suggests, Mammoth Mountain is huge, meaning there’s plenty to keep boarders of all abilities entertained, from the gentle Sleepy Hollow run for beginners to scenic tree-lined trails for intermediates and endless backcountry itineraries down Mammoth and June Mountain for experts. Freestyle lovers should head to Breckenridge where there’s 4 different snow parks with features that range from entry level rails to huge kickers and a 22-foot Superpipe.
Pettiest American Ski Resorts
You’ll want your camera at the ready in America’s prettiest ski resorts where picture postcard buildings sit amidst jaw-droppingly gorgeous landscapes. Overlooking the spectacular Lake Tahoe and bathed in 300 days of sunshine a year, aptly names Heavenly enjoys stunning scenery in every direction. Don’t miss the Skyline Trail for majestic mountain vistas and lake panoramas from the slopes. The beautiful Victorian architecture and breathtaking views of the Rockies in Aspen proffer endless Insta-worthy photo opportunities. Tucked in the Yampa Valley, Steamboat was ranked as the 10th most beautiful town in all of America in 2016 thanks to its groves of aspen trees, natural hot springs and rustic buildings.
Best Ski Holidays in America on a Budget
American offers premium skiing but that doesn’t mean you have to pay through the nose. The size of Steamboat means there’s a wide range of accommodation available including plenty of budget-friendly options like the Holiday Inn Hotel and the Steamboat Spring Suites and the town is full of affordable bars and restaurants so you can still enjoy nights out. Winter Park is a great value place for excellent snow and terrain but a down-to-earth town with plenty of options to keep costs low. Package deals can often put Vail and Breckenridge among the cheapest ski resorts in America. To really bag a bargain, browse our USA Ski Deals or call us.
Hotels are the most popular choice in America with a truly welcoming atmosphere and first-class customer service. Most have an on-site restaurant and some rooms include a kitchen so you can prepare your own meals. There are options to suit a range of budgets from homely options to luxury pads with incredible spas, indoor pools and glamorous bars all attached.
There aren’t very many European style chalets in the USA, instead they have lodges and cabins. These offer a similar feeling of intimate privacy and are often self-catered. Talk to our team to help you find the cosy cabin of your dreams.
Known as ‘condos’, these are usually larger than the European equivalent and are a great choice for groups or families with a kitchen and lounge for time together and separate bedrooms for when you need some space. Luxury condos come with extras like hot tubs, sauna access and roaring log fires.
Biggest Ski Areas in USA
Spreading across Colorado, Utah and California, America has some of the biggest and best ski areas in the world. A medley of pristine groomers and wild off-piste as well as spectacular mountain scenery and welcoming towns, our favourite supersized ski areas are:
Stay in one of America’s biggest ski resorts to explore these areas.
Covering 5,500 acres and comprising 4 mountains, Aspen has mixed terrain for all abilities. Beginners are well looked after on Buttermilk Mountain, while Aspen Mountain has no green runs, Snowmass Mountain has long pistes and vast backcountry and Aspen Highlands is a playground for experts with highlights like the Highland bowl.
Situated on the California and Nevada border, Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America and it is renowned for its spellbinding scenery. Here you’ll find exceptional resorts like Heavenly and Mammoth. View Lake Tahoe ski holidays.
Hogging 7,300 acres of skiable terrain, the largest ski area in the USA has modern lifts that unlock 330 trails ranging from wide nursery slopes to narrow, nerve wracking couloirs. The area can be accessed from Park City, its swanky neighbour Deer Valley, and the more budget friendly Kimball Junction.
BEST TIME TO GO ON SKI HOLIDAY TO USA
Ski Conditions & Snow Record
The USA has reliable skiing conditions thanks to the high altitudes of its resorts and storms off the Pacific which bless the slopes with serious snowfall. Colorado’s Winter Park consistently enjoys some of the best snow conditions in North America and Vail receives an average of 9m of snow per year (that’s higher than two double decker buses!) Get a clearer idea of snow conditions in a specific resort by looking at the America snow report. If your holiday is in the next few weeks, check the America snow forecast to see what snow’s on the horizon.
America Ski Deals & Last Minute Holidays
If America’s majestic mountains are calling you but you’re worried about the price of a transatlantic trip, check out our USA Ski Deals. With offers on lift passes and rentals as well as some serious savings on hotels, we can help you ski America’s best slopes whilst keeping costs down.
It’s never too late to book a Last Minute American Ski holiday. Talk to our experts to find a faff-free package holiday. You’ll be shushing through champagne powder in SNO time!
Summer Ski Holidays in America
The main American ski season runs between November and April but there are some destinations where you can top up your goggle tan in summer. With the highest summit elevation in California, Mammoth Mountain has one of the longest seasons, sometimes stretching as late as July, and many professional teams come here for their spring training. Aspen is a top destination for summer skiing in America thanks to high altitudes which hold onto snow until mid-July - super advanced skiers should head up to Grizzly Peak’s north couloir at 4,266m.
USA Peak Date Holidays
All USA Ski Holiday Destinations
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Aspen
- Bucket list resort
- 4 mountains
- As classy as it gets
-
Breckenridge
- Huge ski area
- Picturesque historic town
- Great non-skiing activities
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Jackson Hole
- World class skiing
- Wild West après
- Superb ski school
-
Mammoth Mountain
- Snow Sure
- Awesome terrain parks
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Park City
- Award winning resort
- Dry, plentiful powder
- Large and varied town
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Steamboat
- Legendary Champagne Powder
- Friendly town
- Quieter Colorado resort
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Vail
- World class resort
- 2nd largest ski area in the US
- Diverse non-skiing options
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Winter Park
- 7 interlinked ski areas
- Peaceful, authentic town
- Easy transfer from Denver
American ski resorts FAQ:
Start with the search bar at the top to find packages that fit with your preferred dates and group size. You can select any ‘must-have’ features (such as swimming pools, spa, ski in/out location) to view the packages that best suit you. Generally, these come with flights, transfers and room-only accommodation included.
On our USA ski deals page. The best bargains are usually on last minute packages, where often a long haul ski holiday can cost similar or less to a short haul one. You can sort the holidays on our page by ‘biggest discount’ or ‘price low-high’ depending on how you prefer to see them listed.
Hotels are the most popular accommodation for skiers in America and range from basic no-frills lodgings to utterly dazzling resorts. Some will be ski-in ski-out next to the slopes, and others in the heart of the town. Apartments, often called ‘condos’, usually come on a self-catered basis and suit a range of budgets and group sizes.
The Little Nell in Aspen is the USA’s creme-de-la-creme of ski hotels. It’s home to a fine-dining restaurant (Element 47) and a lively après bistro bar (Cloud 9) with cocktails, live music and DJs night after night. An outdoor pool & hot tub, scenic terrace and fitness suite are some of the things that give this property its five-star fame.
Tasty! You’ll find burger and grills galore, plus internationally influenced dishes like Mexican burritos, Italian pastas/pizzas and Bavarian bratwurst. Drinks will include things like craft beers, whiskeys and elaborate cocktails.
- Park City, Deer Valley, Alta and Snowbird resorts are all within an hour’s reach of Salt Lake City International Airport.
- Aspen is near Aspen County Airport which can be reached via Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, LA, Dallas and several other American international airports.
- Jackson Hole has its own airport that is reached via Denver, New York, Atlanta and several more international airports in the USA.
- Mammoth Mountain is about 30 minutes from Mammoth-Yosemite Airport which you can fly to from Denver, San Francisco, LA and other big airports.
- Denver, Colorado
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Boston, Massachusetts
- San Francisco, California
These are closest to some of the major ski resorts but there are plenty more besides, seeing as there are ski resorts in 38 US states...
- Winter Park resort can be reached by train from Denver (with a journey time of roughly 3 hours)
- Whitefish Mountain resort is on the Amtrak train route between Seattle and Chicago, although the ride would take around 13 hours from Seattle and 30 hours from Chicago - a scenic but very lengthy journey.
Vail (Colorado) is America’s most-visited ski resort. The town is dripping in luxury and has been known to attract many rich and famous guests. The pedestrianised main village has no shortage of classy hang-out spots, and there are just shy of 200 ski runs to keep you busy for the rest of the week too.
Vail is the single most expansive with 5289 acres of ski terrain. That said, Lake Tahoe gives skiers access to more than 20,000 acres of terrain if you count the surrounding cluster of resorts. See our 10 biggest resorts in the USA page for more.
Aspen for decadent good-vibes (Cloud 9 is a favourite), or Jackson Hole for cowboy hoedowns and tasty steak at the Mangy Moose saloon. Our USA après-ski page is where to find the best mountain towns.
- Steamboat
- Winter Park
- Breckenridge
- Lake Tahoe
- Taos
Our USA top cheap resorts page gives the full detail about the cheapest 10 USA resorts.
- Jackson Hole
- Breckenridge
- Steamboat
- Winter Park
- Park City
…vie for top spot each year, depending on snowfall. Read about more snow sure USA resorts here.
Aspen is a prestigious treat offering plush accommodation and top-shelf skiing to go with it. Aspen’s town features historic landmarks from its mining days back in the 1880s, and is in no short supply of fine dining spots and boutique shops. Here’s our page spilling lots more detail on America’s top-10 luxury ski destinations.
- Steamboat
- Park City
- Winter Park
- Aspen
- Beaver Creek<p/>
The top 10 family resorts in the USA are discussed in detail here.
- Breckenridge
- Mammoth
- Park City
- Steamboat
- Vail
Here’s our snowboarding USA top-10 page for the full lowdown.
- Aspen
- Jackson Hole
- Lake Tahoe
- Park City
- Vail
Our top 10 USA off-piste resorts are listed here.
- Aspen
- Vail
- Steamboat
- Sun Valley
- Telluride
Plus a whole load more.
Yes - though not everybody does, it’s definitely a good idea. Wearing helmets has become the norm in most resorts, especially for children – most ski schools will insist they’re worn. Our mountain safety and advice page has lots more safety tips for your ski holiday.
Green runs are the easiest, then blue runs are for intermediate skiers, black diamond for advanced and double black diamond for experts only. Ski areas in America don’t have red runs like ski areas in Europe.
There are lots of fabulous American resorts on the quieter side, such as:
Aspen has a certain ‘love is in the air’ feel about it. The town’s Victorian architecture provides an ideal setting where you can wander around interesting shops and indulge in scrumptious nosh. Impress your other half on challenging ski slopes aplenty - 65% of the resort is considered expert terrain. Or, enjoy gliding side by side down some of the cruisiest groomers on the planet.
Aspen is a real sought-after stunner, attracting all kinds of rich and famous guests year upon year. The town is covered in elegant buildings, such as the St Regis Hotel. It’s hard to beat the scenery on a Colorado bluebird day and you can try an activity like paragliding to see the surroundings from a new perspective.
Snowbird in Utah probably wins that name. There’s not much by way of quaint, pine-clad constructions but the obtrusive, avalanche-proof buildings shouldn’t put you off - the skiing is really rather decent. Powder is plentiful in this neck of the woods, and double black diamond runs can keep you busy for hours, if you feel so inclined… (SNO pun intended!).
- Aspen
- Vail
- Breckenridge
- Jackson Hole
- Killington
Their ski seasons usually start in November, giving an opportunity for Autumn skiing.
November to April in most resorts. These resorts are known to have longer seasons:
- Killington (Oct - May)
- Mammoth Mountain (Nov - June)
- Telluride (Nov - May)
- Squaw Valley (Nov - May)
- Snowbird (Nov - May)
Sun Valley, Idaho, is thought of as the first winter resort, having installed the first chairlift in the USA in 1936. Howelsen Hill near Steamboat, Colorado, opened the first ski jump in the USA in 1915.
There are roughly 480 operating ski resorts in the USA, across 38 states.
(this information was accurate when written)
38 out of the 50 US states have ski resorts, and you can find holidays to many of these right here on this page.
Almost 500, as the majority American ski resorts are stand-alone ski areas. Aspen-Snowmass in Colorado, Alta-Snowbird in Utah and Lake Tahoe in California/Nevada are examples of the few clusters of American resorts that can be accessed with one lift pass.
Park City, Utah, is the biggest lift-linked skiable area in the US, covering around 7,300 acres of mountain.
- Lake Placid, New York (the 1932 III Winter Olympics and the 1980 XIII Winter Olympics)
- Squaw Valley (the 1960 VIII Winter Olympics)
- Salt Lake City (the 2002 XIX Winter Olympics)
See our best Winter Olympics resorts page for details about other Winter Olympics host resorts.
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