From the Rockies to Big Sky: The Best Ski Resorts in the U.S. for the Ultimate Snowy Getaway

Aspen, Colorado

Think of Aspen as the St. Tropez or St. Barth of the skiing world in the U.S.; it’s one of the most well-known (and perhaps the flashiest) ski resort towns in the country, perhaps because of the frequent celebrity visitors and extremely Instagrammable après-ski and nightlife. Situated in the Rockies, the glitzy town does, in fact, offer very good skiing and snowboarding terrain, with no less than four mountains: Aspen Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk. The variety of beginner and challenging runs is great for when you’re traveling on a snowy getaway with skiers of all levels, and you can’t beat the luxurious hotels, including The Little Nell and the St. Regis Aspen, which has two on-site restaurants, plus the shopping. Aspen has always had an impressive dining scene, but it’s only improved as of late, with recent newcomers like HaSalon and Sant Ambroeus, alongside longtime favorites like members-only Caribou Club and Ajax Tavern.

Park City, Utah

Park City is another glamorous ski standout, and not just because it’s the backdrop of the Sundance Film Festival. Park City is home to two major resorts: Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley Resort. Park City Mountain is the largest ski resort in the USA, offering over 330 trails on 7,300 alpine acres, including eight terrain parks and two halfpipes. While Park City Mountain is open to skiers and snowboarders, Deer Valley, located just a few minutes drive away, is accessible exclusively to skiers. There are quite a few luxe, five-star Park City hotels, but you can’t go wrong with the award-winning, European-style Stein Eriksen Lodge, a ski-in ski-out, chalet-inspired property with easy access to the slopes, thanks to its own personal chairlift . Park City also has the added bonus of being one of the more reachable ski resorts, as it’s just over a 30-minute drive from the Salt Lake City airport.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

There’s something for everyone in Jackson Hole, but expert skiers are sure to be especially fond of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, which has over 100 runs and is widely considered to be one of the most challenging mountains in the country—it’s best for advanced skiers and snowboarders. It’s also home to the infamous Corbet’s Couloir Run, seen as quite possibly the most difficult run in the United States. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is also the site of the largest vertical drop in the country, at a staggering 4,105 feet. Don’t worry if you’re more of a beginner skier—just head to the nearby Snow King Mountain, which is smaller and a bit more beginner- and family-friendly, with less challenging runs. There are quite a few chic, high-end hotels in the area, including Caldera House in Teton Village, the Four Seasons Jackson Hole and Amangani.

Big Sky, Montana

Big Sky is in no way new; it’s long been popular with snowbirds drawn to the region’s nearly 6,000 skiable acres. Over the past several years, however, the locale has become much more well-known as one of the top luxury ski resorts. There are technically three main mountain resorts in the area: Big Sky Resort, Lone Mountain Ranch and the more low-key Bridger Bowl, which also has more backcountry ski area access. Big Sky Resort is the winner when it comes to sheer size and number of runs, which are less crowded due to their vastness as some of the other options. Plus, there are about 2,300 acres of beginner and intermediate runs. Big Sky Resort also boasts around 400 inches of annual snowfall, which is a major asset for the ski season.

When it comes to opulent ski hotel options, it’s hard to beat the Montage Big Sky, which opened in winter 2021. The property is located less than an hour from Yellowstone National Park and about 20 minutes from the Big Sky base area as well as the ski town, but you won’t have to go all the way there to hit the slopes, as the hotel has direct ski-in, ski-out access. Soon there will another luxury property in the area, as the One&Only Moonlight Basin, Montana is expected to open in summer 2025.

Stowe, Vermont

Those who are based on the East Coast don’t have to head all the way out to the American west for a top-notch ski vacation, as there are a few quality ski spots just a roadtrip away. Stowe Mountain Resort is about a five-and-half hour drive from New York City, and is surely one of the top resorts in the northeast, offering 116 trails for all ski levels. The resort offers a high-speed, six-passenger chairlift, the Sunrise Chair, for its beginner and intermediate runs, and is a part of Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass program, which offers discounts on food, drinks, ski rentals, lift tickets and more. Those that just want to embark on a snowy getaway without embarking on a western adventure will adore the charming New England town, with its adorable shops, restaurants and bars. For accommodations, try The Lodge at Spruce Peak, a Hyatt Resort.

Sun Valley, Idaho

For a much more low-key and relaxing ski trip, look no further than Sun Valley Resort. The locale has a long, celeb-filled history, as during the 1930s, frequent visitors included Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe and Ernest Hemingway (he finished work on For Whom the Bell Tolls while in the ski town), and more recently, Demi Moore, Tom Hanks and Mark Zuckerberg, among others. Even so, Sun Valley is a comparatively more rustic and unpretentious option from some of the other glitzy ski towns in North America, with comfortable, unflashy hotels.

Sun Valley Resort is made up of two main mountains, Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain, the latter of which is mostly easier runs. The resort is anchored by the quaint town of Ketchum, and while there’s not much in the way of nightlife, there are adorable local shops, bars and eateries, including Gretchen’s and the Ram.

Lake Tahoe

You can’t go wrong with a ski trip to Lake Tahoe, which is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range and sits between California on one side and Nevada on the other. There are quite a few choices as to where to hit the slopes here, with about 15 ski resorts in total, including Palisades Tahoe (formerly known as Squaw Valley), the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. There’s also Heavenly Ski Resort (at 113 trails, it’s the largest in Lake Tahoe, and offers a great ski school for those just learning the slopes), though if you’re looking for something more petite, there’s the ultra-family friendly Diamond Peak Ski Resort in Incline Village, on the Nevada side. For lodging, book a guest room at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe.

Taos, New Mexico

Traveling to New Mexico isn’t just about desert getaways—there’s also an impressive ski scene in the state. More specifically, Taos Ski Valley, which offers 110 trails and is one of the most eco-friendly alpine options out there, as it’s the first major ski resort to be awarded B Corporation certification. If you’re planning a ski adventure with beginner or even intermediate skiers, though, you might want to skip Taos Ski Valley, since over half of the runs are deemed advanced, it’s best for those at a more experienced level. Instead, head about 45 minutes away to Angel Fire, which has more beginner-friendly runs.

Vail, Colorado

You can’t talk about the best ski resorts in the U.S. without taking a moment to mention Vail. There’s no shortage of well-equipped ski escapes in Colorado, but Vail Ski Resort is the largest in the state, with over 5,000 skiable acres of terrain. There’s a nice range of beginner, intermediate and advanced runs, and there’s always something to do in the Bavarian-style Vail Village, whether you’re looking to peruse stylish boutiques, relax with a cup of hot chocolate or book a spa treatment and relax in the sauna in one of the luxurious hotels. There are quite a few indulgent accommodation options, from the Four Seasons Resort and Residences to the Hythe. It’s also relatively close to a few other popular ski resorts, including Beaver Creek, Bachelor Gulch and Breckenridge.