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11 Best Vermont Ski Resorts for Families (2023)

Ski resorts in Vermont come in a wide variety, and most of them have all the amenities that small and big families need for a perfect winter vacation. 

Whether you are looking for a ski area with high-quality daycare services or a mountain with an excellent ski school, you can always be sure of finding a perfect match for your needs. 

Vermont skiing is legendary, so is the entire state with myriad of activities, and boasts some of the best family-friendly ski resorts in the US. 

Many ski resorts in Vermont provide various winter sports, including skiing and snowboarding, but if you are eyeing the premier Mad River Glen, you should keep in mind that it doesn’t allow snowboarders

Even so, this shouldn’t worry you as you still have plenty of ski resorts to choose from for your next family ski vacation.

Keep reading to find out the 11 best ski resorts in Vermont for families 2023. 

11 Best Family Ski Resorts in Vermont 

#1. Stratton Mountain Resort

Stratton Mountain Resort
  • Vertical Drop -2003 feet 
  • Skiable Terrain – 670 acres 
  • Ski Lifts -11 

With over 40% of its trails being beginner-friendly, Stratton is an excellent family-friendly ski resort. It’s located on Southern Vermont’s highest mountain and has reliable snow conditions. 

What makes this mountain a family-friendly ski resort is its countless accommodation and dining options on-site. This can be very convenient for large families since you don’t have to travel miles to find a place to stay after skiing.

It actually favors those planning a ski vacation for several days more than a day it does for day skiers.

Stratton Resort has plenty of beautiful views to behold when riding lifts and skiing downhill. 

Your teens will have a lot of fun in Stratton as they can perform tricks and enjoy freestyle riding on the resort’s five terrain parks

If they are learning to ski and snowboard, they can start practicing in the Progression Park, which is designed for beginners, and then move up as they gain confidence in the snow. 

While a large percentage of the ski terrain in Stratton is beginner-friendly, there is still plenty of trails for intermediate and experienced skiers. 

So, you don’t have to worry about your teens maximizing their vacation while you remain bored on easy slopes, especially if you are an experienced rider. 

Stratton’s self-contained slope side complex provides an alpine village feel with all the luxury facilities you need, from spas and fine dining to a well-equipped fitness center. 

Apart from skiing and snowboarding, you can also have fun with your kids at the Coca-Cola Tube Park when spending time at Stratton Mountain Resort

Other winter activities to engage in while vacationing in Stratton include ice skating, fat-tire biking, snowmobile tours, and snowshoeing

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Kids’ Fun

For younger kids who cannot ski, Stratton Resort has a childcare program that accepts children from six weeks old, and those under three years old can enroll for ski lessons. 

The learning groups are usually kept small to ensure that the instructor pays attention to the individual needs of every child when training them. 

If you have kids four years and under who know how to ski, Stratton allows them to ride for free. 

#2. Okemo Mountain Resort

Okemo Mountain Resort
  • Vertical Drop – 2,200 feet 
  • Skiable Terrain – 669 acres 
  • Ski Lifts – 20 

Boasting a high vertical drop of 2,200 feet and five diverse alpine areas, Okemo Mountain Resort is a world-class and well-managed ski area.

Not only is this resort family-oriented, but it is also operated by a family. Okemo Mountain Resort has a skiable terrain of over 600 acres and focuses on family or kid-friendly fun. 

Those who have visited Okemo several times will praise it for its constant updates that aim at improving the skiing and boarding experience for guests of all ages and abilities. 

It’s not surprising that the popular ski resort wins top awards and is highly-rated for quality grooming, excellent terrain parks, diverse family fun, fine dining, and wonderful customer service. 

You don’t have to stress about the snow conditions on this mountain since the resort has an extensive snowmaking system, covering 98% of the slope. 

The resort’s 20 lifts make it easy for skiers and snowboarders to navigate the mountain regardless of where they choose to stay. Those staying at Jackson Gore Inn will benefit from the newly installed high-speed chairlift

For a magical après-ski experience, you can engage in several activities with your loved ones, such as ice-skating, snow tubing, and taking a ride on the resort’s Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster. 

Depending on your family size, you can stay in a two or three-bedroom unit at the Winterplace, which gives you easy access to the superpipe and terrain parks

Better still, you can enjoy high-quality yet affordable accommodation at Jackson Gore Inn, which has various options from standard hotel rooms to 4-bedroom suites.

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Kids’ Fun 

Kids aged six years and under are allowed to ski free in Okemo Mountain Resort. Those who don’t know how to ski can join the ski and snowboarding school, which accepts kids aged three years and above.  

Along with skiing and snowboarding, kids will also enjoy other winter activities offered in Okemo from snowcat tours to snow tubing

 #3. Killington Ski Resort 

Killington Ski Resort
  • Vertical Drop – 3,050
  • Skiable Terrain – 1526 acres 
  • Ski Lifts – 22

While its nickname, ‘The Best of the East’ may give the perception of a scary mountain with the most challenging terrain, Killington is actually a family-friendly ski resort. 

Being the largest ski area on the east coast and having the highest vertical drop in New England, this resort is a fantastic mountain to ski. 

Killington has a vast ski terrain of about 1526 acres, which ensures that families get good value for their money. 

What’s more interesting about this ski resort is that its terrain covers six interlinked mountains with different types of slopes. This makes it a perfect destination for families with varying skill levels and skiing styles. 

If you have younger kids who cannot get their feet on the snow yet, Killington Mountain Resort has a daycare for kids as young as 12 weeks old. 

Skiers looking to take an extended vacation will get the best value for their money since the resort’s lift pass gives access to the nearby Pico Mountain, which is accessible via a free shuttle ride. 

And when you need a break after skiing the mountain for a while, there are lots of exciting activities to engage in, from snow cat tours and snowmobiling to sleigh riding and dog sledding.

Families can also maximize their mountain adventures by visiting the resort’s 500-foot superpipe and the six terrain parks for freestyle riding. 

When it comes to accommodation, the Killington Grand Hotel is the most convenient option, but you can also choose a private condo or cozy inn that suits your needs and style. 

But before you go to your hotel room, you can head out with your loved ones to one of the museums and shopping centers. 

Most of the lodges and hotel rooms in Killington Resort offer stunning views of the mountain and have all the amenities you need for your next ski trip.

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Kids’ Fun 

Killington Mountain Resort accepts kids from 2 years into the ski school, and they learn with optimum attention from the trainer. 

Kids can also have unmatched fun at the resort’s snow tubing park, which has multiple lanes. 

#4. Stowe Mountain Resort 

Stowe Mountain Resort
  • Vertical Drop – 2,360 feet 
  • Skiable Terrain – 485 acres 
  • Ski Lifts – 12 

Established in the 1930s, Stowe is one of the US earliest resorts and the most luxurious Vermont ski resorts that offer quality skiing for all ages and abilities. 

This resort is famous for its strategic location that allows skiers and boarders to enjoy riding two mountains with one lift ticket. 

Stowe Mountain Resort nestles at the Peak of Mount Mansfield, the highest mountain in the green mountain state, and Spruce Peak

What makes Stowe one of the best family ski resorts in Vermont is its vast terrain that offers more than 80 ski trails that are suitable for intermediate skiers. 

Beginners and experienced skiers also have plenty of slopes to explore when vacationing on this mountain. 

Stowe has three terrain parks that allow freestyle skiers to enjoy practicing moves and performing tricks with ease. There is even an adventure zone designed with freestyle terrain and gentle slopes for learning and practicing. 

Families with disabled members will love spending time in this ski area, as there is an adaptive school program with modified lessons to cater to special needs. 

With several high-speed lifts serving the mountain as well-separated ski slopes, efficiency and safety are guaranteed in Stowe Mountain for all skiers and snowboarders

Other fun winter activities in Stowe include cross-country skiing, dog sledding, ice skating, gondola Skyride, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and zip tours. 

If luxury accommodation and dining are a priority for your family, Stowe is your perfect destination in Vermont. You’ll find deluxe lodging options with spas, and heated pools on this ski mountain. 

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Kids’ Fun 

Stowe Mountain Resort offers several training programs for skiing lessons to kids and adults. Depending on your kids needs, you can enroll them in group and private lessons. 

If your kids are too young to ski or snowboard, you can take them to the resort’s daycare facility, which accepts kids between 13 months and 3 years. 

#5. Bolton Valley Resort

Bolton Valley Resort
  • Vertical Drop – 1,704 feet 
  • Skiable Terrain – 300 acres 
  • Ski Lifts – 6

Are you looking for a ski mountain that will unlock your adventurous traits and challenge your riding skills, Bolton Valley has a huge backcountry ski area. 

The year-round resort is a perfect destination for families looking to take an extended ski holiday due to its close proximity to other quality resorts like Stowe and Mad River Valley. 

Located in the gorgeous Green Mountains, Bolton Valley has a vertical drop of more than 1600 feet. It offers about 71 trails that are easily accessible with the six ski lifts featured on this mountain. 

Its diverse slopes are well-lit for night skiing from Tuesday to Saturday, allowing skiers and snowboarders to maximize their money. You can ski up to 13 hours a day except on Sunday and Monday. 

Bolton Valley Resort boasts three terrain parks suitable for skiers and riders of different levels and abilities. Your teens can have a lot of fun in these parks while you enjoy riding the thrill-inducing runs. 

If you are skiing with your friends or have found a new company on the slope, take a day off from the groomed slopes and head to the 12,000 acres of untouched terrain for backcountry skiing

For lodging options, Bolton Valley Resort offers a 60-room hotel, and skiers who reside here for their holiday gain free access to a pool, hot tub, sauna, bike park, skating park, and a fitness center for adults. 

Dining options are endless at Bolton Valley, from the ski-in or ski-out waffle shack to the base lodge café. 

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Kids’ Fun

Children five years and under can ski free in Bolton Valley, while those who wish to learn to ski and snowboard will benefit from group and private lessons. 

The ski school offers lessons to kids aged 4 to 12 years and adults (13+ years). 

Other activities to engage in for more fun in Bolton Valley include snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, indoor skating, and riding in the bike park. 

#6. Jay Peak 

Jay Peak
  • Vertical Drop – 2,153 feet 
  • Skiable Terrain – 385 acres 
  • Ski Lifts – 9

Known for its excellent ski terrain that spreads around the resort, Jay Peak Resort is a great destination for an enjoyable family ski trip.

If you buy a Jay Peak Season Pass, you’ll have access to five other incredible ski mountains. 

What makes Jay Peak a strong contender among the best Vermont family ski resorts is its top-notch accommodation and limitless dining options. It’s what you definitely want when traveling with your entire family.  

It’s the most northern ski resort in Vermont that receives a reliable natural snowfall and boasts incredible tree glades, well-groomed trails, and fantastic backcountry terrain. 

When visiting this ski resort, skiers and boarders should never worry about the snow conditions as the mountain has a long ski season backed by an extensive snowmaking system that keeps 80% of the slopes all snowy. 

Its updated lift system makes it easy to navigate the mountain regardless of where you start skiing or riding. 

Jay Peak Resort nestles south of the Canadian border in the Green Mountains of Vermont. It has varied trails that suit different skiing levels and abilities. 

When it comes to family entertainment, you’ll have a lot of activities to do with your kids, from fat biking and visiting the arcade to having fun in the indoor water park. There is also ice skating and sleigh rides.

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Kids’ Fun

Your kids can join the ski school to learn the skiing and snowboarding basics as you ride downhill or relax in a beautiful spa. 

If you are traveling with younger kids who cannot ski, you won’t have to worry about their safety since Jay Peak has a licensed childcare center to take care of your little one while you hit the slopes. 

#7. Smugglers’ Notch

Smugglers’ Notch
  • Vertical Drop – 2,610 feet 
  • Skiable Terrain – 1,000 acres 
  • Ski Lifts – 8 

Smugglers’ Notch Ski Resort is a self-contained ski destination that focuses on family-friendly fun and inclusivity. 

Its 1,000 acres of skiable terrain spread across three mountain peaks, featuring about 78 trails with something enjoyable for skiers and riders of all levels. 

This resort is the only ski mountain on the east coast with a triple black diamond ski run. So, experienced and expert skiers looking for more challenging terrain can have a lot of fun here. 

Smugglers’ Notch has six terrain parks where guests can practice and perform tricks. What’s more fascinating is that one of these terrain parks is fully dedicated to serving kids aged three to five years to enjoy freestyle skiing and snowboarding

The popular family resort offers a wide array of dining and accommodation options for its guests, and you can always be sure of getting something that suits your family and budget. 

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Kids’ Fun 

Kids will have unlimited fun at the indoor FunZone, which has climbing inflatables, a slope side nursery, and an indoor pool. 

If your children want to learn to ride on the snow, Smugglers’ Notch has a series of age-appropriate ski and snowboarding lessons. 

There is also an adaptive program that ensures that even kids with special needs can learn to ski and snowboard in this resort. 

#8. Mad River Glen

Mad River Glen
  • Vertical Drop – 2,037 feet 
  • Skiable Terrain – 115 acres 
  • Ski Lifts – 5 

Is your family made of true skiing enthusiasts? You might want to take them to a tranquil mountain with the most conducive skiing environment. 

And there is no better place in Vermont for purist skiers to enjoy riding on quiet and calm slopes than Mad River Glen.

Unlike many ski resorts in New England, Mad River Glen relies almost 100% on natural snowfall. 

Mad River Glen is a snowboarder-free ski area that provides excellent space for skiers of all abilities to hit the slopes. 

While this resort is a small ski area whose terrain is mainly aimed at experienced and advanced skiers, it does have a few areas where guests can learn to ski. 

If you are getting started in skiing, Mad River Glen offers a few green runs where you can learn and practice to ski. 

And the good thing is that all ski trails lead back to the mountain’s base camp, so it will be much easier for you to meet up with your loved ones despite riding different runs. 

When you are not hitting the ski slopes, you can visit the Mad River Glen small village that will give you a vibe of a small community. 

There is no on-slope accommodation , but you’ll find plenty of lodging options nearby, from the Mad River Barn and the Hyde Away Inn to condo units. 

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Kids’ Fun 

Kids between six weeks and six years can spend time at the Cricket Club Childcare Center to join ski and snowboarding lessons at the resort’s ski school. 

#9. Sugarbush Resort

Sugarbush Resort
  • Vertical Drop – 2,600 feet 
  • Skiable Terrain – 581 acres 
  • Ski Lifts – 16 

If you love skiing and snowboarding in a ski mountain with fewer crowds and quieter, Sugarbush is a wonderful place to visit with your family. 

The resort’s terrain spreads across two mountains and features over 100 trails with something for skiers and riders of different ages and abilities. 

And that’s not all! If you like more challenging adventures, you can head on to the 2000 acres of the resort’s untouched wilderness after riding on groomed trails

Another plus for this ski mountain is that it’s the only ski resort that offers cat skiing on the east coast. So, you can spend a whole day with a friend or partner riding the incredible deep powder with an expert guide. 

If you want to go with your kids for extra adventures, but they can’t ski in the backcountry, you can do a snow cat tour or engage in snowshoeing

For accommodation options, you can stay at the Sugarbush Inn and experience its charm or get the vibe of a luxury hotel at the Clay Brook Hotel.

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Kids’ Fun 

Sugarbush has a ski school that offers ski and snowboarding lessons for kids aged three years and above. Those aged between 7 and 15 years can hone their riding skills at the resort’s advanced camp. 

For families traveling with young kids who cannot ski, there is a daycare that accepts kids aged 6 weeks to 4 years. 

#10. Bromley Ski Resort

Bromley Ski Resort
  • Vertical Drop – 1,334 feet 
  • Skiable Terrain – 178 acres 
  • Ski Lifts – 9 

Compared to its surrounding resorts like Stratton and Okemo, Bromley is a smaller ski resort. But this isn’t a downside since it makes a perfect mountain for skiers who want a calmer atmosphere. 

The southern Vermont resort is a great destination for skiers looking for a warmer and sunnier skiing environment. 

It features 47 runs that cut across all levels and abilities to ensure that everyone in the family has something to enjoy.

And all the ski runs meet at the base lodge, so it’s easy to connect with your loved ones after skiing.

Bromley offers some ski-in ski-out accommodation on the slope side, but you can find more options at Manchester town. The resort dining is also classy, with five exclusive options that include a bar. 

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Kids’ Fun 

Bromley has several award-winning kid-specific programs to help your kids learn the skiing and snowboarding basics and build confidence in the snow. 

Kids can also have a lot of fun at the family-friendly progression park and participate in other activities at Bart Adaptive Sports Center. 

#11. Mount Snow Resort

Mount Snow Resort
  • Vertical Drop – 1,700 feet 
  • Skiable Terrain – 600 acres 
  • Ski Lifts – 20 

Another excellent ski resort for family skiing in Vermont is Mount Snow. This ski resort features the best artificial snow making facilities in the northeast, so the snow conditions are always reliable. 

Beginners and intermediates don’t have to worry about the terrain since there are plenty of easy runs, and about 42% of the resort’s slopes are intermediate trails.

The double black diamond trails give advanced skiers an exciting place to ride, but they can take on a challenge at the superpipe and expert terrain parks

Boasting no less than 10 terrain parks, Mount Snow is a perfect destination for big families with teens who want to ride freely and perform tricks. 

When skiing at Mount Snow Resort, you’ll have various ski-in and ski-out lodging at the mountain base. You can also stay at the nearby Snow Lake Lodge, which offers more affordable rooms. 

Overall, Mount Snow Ski Resort is a combination of great skiing, quality accommodation, and incredible entertainment for families.

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Kids’ Fun 

Kids can learn how to ski and snowboard at the resort’s ski school. Other family activities include dog sledding, snowshoeing, tubing, and snowmobiling

FAQs

FAQs

Q: What Month is the Best Skiing in Vermont?

A: February and March. If you are looking to ski in Vermont, the snow conditions in most ski resorts are usually the best in February and March. 

But you need to check the particular ski resort you want to visit since other factors like après-ski events determine the best time to visit a ski mountain.  

Q: What Ski Resort Has the Most Snow in 2023?

A: Mount Baker Ski Area Washington is currently the snowiest ski mountain in the world. Other ski resorts that receive heavy annual snowfall include Alyeska, Alaska, Crystal Mountain, Washington, Alta, Utah, Kirkwood, California, and Niseko, Japan. 

Q: Is Stowe or Killington Better?

A: Both Stowe and Killington are great ski resorts for skiing and snowboarding. They are also perfect destinations for family skiing.

However, if you want a resort that has more challenging runs and the most reliable snow, Stowe is your best bet. 

On the other hand, Killington offers more diverse trails for all abilities and better nightlife than Stowe. 

Q: Does Stowe Have Ice Skating?

A: Yes, Stowe offers ice skating in its Spruce Peak Village Center, and there is a rental shop where you can rent skates.

Conclusion 

Conclusion

If you are wondering whether Vermont is a good place to ski with your family, the answer is yes. Vermont has some of the best ski resorts focusing on family-friendly fun, from slopes to après-ski activities.  

Hopefully, this guide has given you the inspiration you needed to plan for your next ski trip!

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Lisa Hayden-Matthews

Lisa Hayden-Matthews

An avid Skier, bike rider, triathlon enthusiast, amateurish beach volleyball player and nature lover who has never lost a dare! I manage the overall Editorial section for the magazine here and occasionally chip in with my own nature photographs, when required.

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