18 Best Ski Resorts for Teens and Families (US Edition)

A ski vacation for your family is the perfect way to celebrate winter and most ski resorts have it all – downhill skiing, cross country skiing, skating, and activities for all ages! The best ski resorts for teens include all the fun activities within walking or bus distance to give them some independence and providing the perfect environment for a fun family vacation.

If you’re looking for more information about skiing with your teen, check out: Everything you Need to Know to Make Your Teen Ski Experience Epic

I’ve spent decades exploring family adventures, epic hikes, and National Parks across the world. For more inspiration, check out my National Parks Page or see some of my favorite destinations to plan your next adventure and make sure to join my weekly newsletter.

Selecting the Best Ski Resorts for Teens

When you are selecting which mountain to visit from the list of best ski resorts for teens, you will want to ask yourself a few questions. Obviously the best ski resort for your family depends of the type of vacation you and your teen are looking for, as well as the cost and the travel it will take to get there. Below are a few questions you will want to consider:

• Are you new to skiing? You should consider which mountains are the best ski resorts for beginners. These will likely have a large amount of beginner or intermediate terrain. Every resort will offer some type learn to ski package or beginner ski lessons. You may also care less about the best snow since you will be skiing groomed trails
• Do you need a mountain with expert terrain and bowls? If you or your teens are expert or even intermediate skiers, you will likely want to look at mountains with a range of expert terrain to keep you challenged.
• Do you want a terrain park? For many kids and teens, it is really fun to ski in the terrain park and do jumps and tricks. If this is important, look for a mountain with a terrain park
• What other activities will you want to do at the resort? Most ski resorts have so much to do. This might include other outdoor activities like snowshoeing, hiking, skating, cross country skiing and even dog sledding. There may also be indoor activities like a game room, après ski scene, pool, hot tub, bowling, movies and more. What is important to you and your family to make this ski trip a success?
• How hard is the ski resort to get to? If you are going to fly to the resort, you will need to decide how to get your skies and other equipment to the mountain, or decide if you will rent. It is also likely you will have to deal with winter weather, so how flexible is your travel?
• Are you new to skiing? You should consider which mountains are the best ski resorts for beginners. These will likely have a large amount of beginner or intermediate terrain. Every resort will offer some type learn to ski package or beginner ski lessons. You may also care less about the best snow since you will be skiing groomed trails
• Do you need a mountain with expert terrain and bowls? If you or your teens are expert or even intermediate skiers, you will likely want to look at mountains with a range of expert terrain to keep you challenged.
• Do you want a terrain park? For many kids and teens, it is really fun to ski in the terrain park and do jumps and tricks. If this is important, look for a mountain with a terrain park
• What other activities will you want to do at the resort? Most ski resorts have so much to do. This might include other outdoor activities like snowshoeing, hiking, skating, cross country skiing and even dog sledding. There may also be indoor activities like a game room, après ski scene, pool, hot tub, bowling, movies and more. What is important to you and your family to make this ski trip a success?
• How hard is the ski resort to get to? If you are going to fly to the resort, you will need to decide how to get your skies and other equipment to the mountain, or decide if you will rent. It is also likely you will have to deal with winter weather, so how flexible is your travel?
• How much money for a ski vacation for a family cost? Skiing can be an expensive vacation by the time you add up transportation, lift tickets, lodging, food and activities. If you are travelling on a budget, consider package deals or staying outside of the resort where you can cook your own food. There are amazing passes (like the Epic Pass) that you can buy in the summer to save you money on lift tickets. Especially if you’re just learning to ski, finding cheap ski resorts for beginners will be important.

Best Ski Resorts on the East Coast

Whiteface Mountain, NY

• Nearby Olympic sites have bobsledding and other facilities
• Fun dining and shopping option at Lake Placid
• Great expert terrain

One of the best ski resorts in New York, White Face also offers the novelty of Olympic facilities. You can stay right in Lake Placid and check out the nearby bobsled course. Whiteface also offers trails for everyone from beginner to advanced so is great for the whole family.

Stowe, VT

• Quaint downtown with stores and dining
• Challenging east coast terrain
• New and updated equipment

This mountain has a great nighttime scene and plenty of challenging terrain for teens and families. Covering two mountains there is a lot of skiing to be had at Stowe. Stay at the Lodge at Spruce Creek, or any of the other options along Mountain Road on your way to the Stowe.

Jay Peak, VT

• Most snow on the east coast
• Lots of activities beyond skiing, including rock climbing, skating and an indoor water park.
• Great terrain for everyone

There is so much to do at Jay Peak beyond skiing and since this mountain is so far north it gets excellent snow! There is excellent skiing in the trees and enough to do for the whole family. This is a great mountain if you’re looking for less distractions. With less to do in town, you can enjoy a rental house with movies and game nights!

Waterville Valley, NH

• Excellent trail layout with intermediate slopes from the top of the mountain
• Free shuttle that makes the off slope activities easy to get to
• Lots of off slope activities, including tubing, skating and dog sledding
• A fun, small Town Square are for shopping or dining

Nestled in a valley of the White Mountains in NH, this mountain and resort feel self contained with lots of options for on and off the slope activities. Intermediate skiers will find trails right from the top of this 4,000 foot peak and there are lots of options for the whole family in town and in nearby National Forest.

Bretton Woods, NH

• Terrain for all levels
• 62 miles of cross country ski trails
• Gorgeous view of Mount Washington

A classic New England ski Mountain with 92 trails and night skiing. Nestled in the White Mountains, with beautiful views of Mount Washington, this is considered one of the classier resorts, especially on the East Coast, you can book a stay at the Omni Mount Washington Resort or rent a nearby ski condo.

Loon, NH

• Easy to get to up route 93 from Boston
• Great intermediate terrain
• Excellent terrain park
• Lots of off slope activities

Loon Mountain offers excellent intermediate skiing with some options for beginners and advanced making this a good mountain for the whole family. There are lots of off slope activities including tubing, skating, snowshoeing, ziplining and an indoor pool.

Sugarloaf, ME

• Trails for every level on this large resort including expert terrain
• Great place for ski in and ski out lodging
• It’s all about skiing at this tucked away resort

Sugarloaf is one of the best east coast ski mountains with a huge amount of terrain and a great small resort with everything you need. The well organized base offers easily accessible hot tubs, dining, and shopping. Since it is a bit harder to get to, it also offers a great destination to get away from it all.

Sunday River, ME

• Big Mountain with lot of terrain
• Fun off slope activities like biking, tubing and skating
• Great grooming

Sunday River ski resort has it all – good skiing, fun nightlife, and other winter activities. The village has lots to offer in terms of both lodging and dining and the ski mountain has terrain for everyone. An iconic Maine ski Mountain, Sunday River is one of the best ski resorts for teens on the east coast.

Best Ski Resorts in the Midwest

Boyne Mountain, MI

• Great starter Mountain with lots of terrain for every level
• Lots of outdoor off slope activities
• Great snowmaking

Boyne Mountain has something for everyone to do with great skiing on the mountain and off slope activities like Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, ziplining, nightlife, as well as the state’s largest indoor waterpark. This is a perfect destination resort for families, especially if you life in the mid-west.

Best Ski Resorts for Families: Colorado and the Rocky Mountains

Breckenridge, CO

• Great resort town with lots to do after skiing
• Excellent skiing for everyone on 5 mountains
• Nearby options for dog-sledding, nordic skiing, and snowmobiling

Breckenridge is a fun mountain with a great ski vibe and a bustling, fun town. There are so many places to stay both in town and on some of the peaks. You are also in close proximity to a number of other ski mountains and nordic ski centers which makes it easy to stay and ski in a few different places. Since it’s just over 2 hours from the airport in Denver it easy to get to up the highway.

Copper, CO

• Large ski resort for every level
• Slightly less expensive tickets and scene
• Off-slope activities including tubing and an indoor training facility

Copper Mountain is a slightly more ‘local’ mountain and a bit more budget friendly than other options like Vail and Aspen. There is plenty to do here and lots of places to stay and eat in the Villages right at the base of the mountain. Copper is also easy to get to right off the highway.

Aspen Snowmass, CO

• Get access to several ski mountains for the price of one ticket with lots of options for every level
• A fun, active town with an upscale feel
• A quintessential Colorado scene both on the mountain and off

This is really 4 ski mountains in one with loads of terrain for everyone. There is so much to do including places to stay and awesome places to eat. You can stay in Snowmass Village or the town Aspen and easily get around to each ski mountain.

Vail, CO

• Huge Ski area with lots of terrain options
• The pedestrian town feels almost European
• Lots of high end, luxury options for dining and lodging

Vail is a classic ski destination with everything you and your teen need to a wonderful ski vacation. With excellent groomed trails on the front of the mountain and gorgeous bowls on the backside, Vail is worth the visit. With a slightly more luxury appeal than other destinations you can find many options of places to stay right in town.

Park City, UT

• The largest ski mountain in the United States
• A great ski town with lots to do for everyone
• Stay in the historic downtown

 This is an especially good beginner and intermediate mountain, but there is plenty of skiing for every level. Combine this with a fun and action filled ski town and you’ve got one of the best ski resorts for teens. Activities include sleigh rides, tubing, and bobsledding.

Best Ski Resorts in California

Squaw Valley – Palisades Tahoe, CA

• Well known for massive amounts of snow
• Excellent Grooming
• Trails for everyone with beginner-expert terrain (with lots of blues and blacks)

You get two mountains for one at this fun resort. This classic ski resort comes with a great scene downtown all within easy walking distance. This is a wonderful California destination for your whole family.

Best Family Ski Resorts Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming

Big Sky, MT

• Great accommodations right on the the slopes
• A huge resort with lots of terrain
• Less crowds than other places

This is one of the biggest resorts in the United States and comes with less crowded lift lines. There are lots of outdoor activities in addition to skiing and Montana is a wonderful winter wonderland to explore with your entire family. Montana makes a great place to ski with your teen.

Jackson Hole, WY

• Excellent terrain for experts
• Fun and active downtown
• Great places to stay right in Teton Village

Jackson Hole is a great ski destination with challenging slopes and a fun scene downtown in both Jackson Hole and Teton Village. The wild west vibe dominates here and gives this iconic resort it’s own special feel. Jackson Hole definitely deserves a spot of the list of the best ski resorts for teens.

Sun Valley, ID

• A huge amount of terrain
• Beautiful scenery
• Upscale town

A beautiful and classic resort that dates back to the 1930’s, Sun Valley had the first ski lift. Today Sun Valley offers a range of off slope activities to complement the excellent skiing on the mountain. With a more upscale feel, Sun Valley has something for everyone and it the best Idaho ski resort to visit with your teen.