Best Ski Resorts in America

The top ski resorts are calling this winter—and with a variety of Choice Hotels locations located near these popular ski areas, it’s easy to find affordable accommodations close to the action. Whether you want to test your skills on the slopes or hang out with your friends and enjoy the view, check out our list of the best ski destinations in the country.

Park City Mountain, Utah: A Party On and Off the Mountain

Head southeast from Salt Lake City for about 35 minutes and you'll find yourself in Park City, a small mountain town surrounded by some of the most outstanding ski country in America.Staying at a hotel just a short drive away from Park City Mountain Resort can help you save money while still providing easy access to more than 7,300 acres of skiable terrain. You'll find ample skiing and snowboarding opportunities for any skill level. Park City Mountain Resort is linked to the neighboring Canyons Resort, and the two combine to form the largest ski area in America. The slopes can get a little rowdy during peak season—so can the bars in town, for that matter—so expect the fun to continue after you put your skis away for the night.

Whiteface Mountain, New York: Slopes Fit for the Olympics

Make your way to the Adirondacks and test your skills at Whiteface Mountain, one of the top ski destinations on the east coast. Located just outside a village of Lake Placid, Whiteface Mountain was the site of the alpine ski races in the 1980 Winter Olympics (Lake Placid hosted the games in 1932 and 1980). Start your ski adventure with a visit to the Olympic Museum. Then, take your pick of the destination’s 86 trails and a variety of off-mountain activities, including bobsledding!

Heavenly Mountain, California: One Resort, Two States

With perfect powdery white slopes that offer a birds-eye view of Lake Tahoe, Heavenly Mountain Resort lives up to its name on scenery alone. Its landscape is nothing to sneeze at, with the greatest acreage and highest elevation of any ski resort in the area. And, while Heavenly Mountain Resort is headquartered in California, many of its slopes dip across the border into Nevada, so you can essentially ski two states in one day before heading back to your cozy Lake Tahoe hotel.

Breckenridge, Colorado: A Local Frontier Ski Adventure

About 10 miles south of Silverthorne, Colorado's Breckenridge Ski Resort spans five interconnected peaks with steep runs, challenging moguls, miles of cross-country trails and adventurous slopes that begin well above the tree line. Year after year, Breckenridge-area hotels and vacation rentals are some of the most in demand ski accommodations in America. With 187 trails, 300 inches of annual snowfall and a summit that tops out just shy of 13,000 feet, it's not hard to see why. The town of Breckenridge itself is one of the main appeals of this ski area, with friendly locals and brick storefronts that exude frontier charm.

Stowe Mountain, Vermont: Beautiful Skiing Among the Spruces

With more than 35 skiable miles that meander and plummet down the craggy slopes of neighboring Spruce Peak and Mount Mansfield, Stowe Mountain Resort's status as one of the best ski resorts in America is beyond dispute. The snowy, spruce-covered peaks and valleys of the Green Mountains are simply gorgeous, and when you throw in the quaint atmosphere, friendly hospitality and charming accommodations in northern Vermont, you have a truly unforgettable experience.

Alta Ski Resort, Utah: Classic Mountain, Epic Terrain

Book a hotel in the Salt Lake City area to enjoy Alta Ski Resort—one of the oldest ski destinations in America. Since it opened its first lift in 1939, its reputation as one of the best has been firmly established. The Wasatch Mountains around the ski area provide a rugged backdrop for this world-class ski destination, where a localized microclimate brings 500 inches of fresh snow—think about that number for a second— every year. A 2,020-foot elevation gain, incredibly varied terrain and a rich sense of history make this one ski destination you do not want to pass up.

Mt. Hood Meadows, Oregon: Volcano Skiing, Anyone?

Mt. Hood Meadows is one of three major ski resorts on Mt. Hood—the others are Timberline and Ski Bowl. Mt. Hood is a great mixed-ability mountain with lots of top-notch novice terrain and a few slopes that provide more of a challenge for advanced skiers. About a 90-minute drive from Portland, you can book a hotel nearby and stay close to the action. Mt. Hood Meadows packs a lot into a relatively small area with open, tree-lined trails on the mountain's northern face. By the way, the mountain is a dormant volcano, so if you want to tell your friends you went skiing on a volcano, this is the place for you.