Winter RVing might seem like a counterintuitive proposition until you discover one thing — that an RV can effectively become a ski-in/ski-out condo if you play your cards right. That’s because there’s a mountain of ski hills out there that’ll let you park your rig right at the base for an affordable price.
That’s why we wanted to get you this post — so you’ll have all the insight you need to figure out the best places to ski bum it in your RV this winter. We dug into the resources out there and even quizzed our Outdoorsy team (many of whom actively ski-camp in their rigs every year) to get you the DL on the best RV/campervan-friendly ski resorts in the U.S.
Staying Warm In A Winter RV
Some people hold the misconception that you can’t winter in an RV. The truth is, you can winter in a properly equipped RV. In fact, four-season campers like these can get you through just about any punishment that Father Winter might throw at you.
We also put together this list of winter-ready RVs for your next ski trip to give you a head start.
And, last but not least, our fine friends on the Outdoorsy web team added filters so you can easily search for rigs with heaters and/or rigs with 4×4 to take you to the mountain.
The moral of the story is that with proper preparation and the proper rig, ski camping is very doable.
What Are SNO-Parks?
SNO-Parks are designated parking lots in range of ski hills where you can usually park your rig overnight. They can be found in California, Washington, and Oregon. They generally offer ample space, bathrooms, and easy access to the mountain.
SNO-Parks don’t offer hookups, so you’ll want to be ready to boondock. A SNO-Park permit is required to park at SNO-Parks.
Here’s info on SNO-Parks and permits for each state: California, Washington, and Oregon.
The Best RV/Campervan Friendly Ski Resorts In The U.S.
RV-friendly ski resorts offer things like easy access to lifts and affordable overnight parking.
Here’s what we came up with for the best RV/campervan-friendly ski resorts in the U.S. — broken down by region:
Pacific Northwest
- Crystal Mountain (Washington) — This iconic ski resort near Mt. Rainer offers skiing for all skill levels and is just a stone’s throw from Seattle.
You can RV camp at designated Crystal Mountain sites that’ll put you steps away from the lifts.
Hookups? 30 and 50 amp electric. No water or sewer.
Price: $65-$125/night - Steven’s Pass, (Washington) — This well-known ski spot near Seattle gets upwards of 490 inches of snow per year, making for a bunch of powder days.
RV camping at Steven’s Pass puts you right next to all the action:
Hookups? 20 and 30 amp electric. No water or sewer.
Price: Starting at $49/night.
- The Summit at Snoqualmie (Washington) — Known as Seattle’s home mountain, this spot offers fun for the whole family with nordic and alpine skiing, snowshoeing, and even snow tubing.
Overnight RV parking is offered by the resort and will put you right at the base of Alpental Mountain. You’ll be able to skin up in the morning and walk right over from your RV to the lift lines when they open in the morning.
RV camping at this resort is well-known in the region because of the fun community of people that camp there. Reservations to RV camp are required online so be sure to book well in advance.
Hookups? No.
Price: $35/night for a max of three nights. - Mount Bachelor (Oregon) — This powder pad near Bend, OR has one of the longest seasons of any ski spot, offers alpine and nordic skiing, and provides family fun for all ski levels.
Overnight RV camping is offered at the foot of Mt. Bachelor from late November through May so you can wake up to alpenglow in the morning. The Bend area also has several SNO-parks where you can park your rig if you’d rather be closer to town.
Hookups? Electric only.
Price: $40-$70/night + $10 for each additional car.
- Schweitzer Mountain Resort (Idaho) — Schweitzer is Idaho’s largest ski resort and it’s nestled in the picturesque Idaho Panhandle. You’ll ski to views of Lake Pend Orielle — Idaho’s largest lake.
Schweitzer is a family-friendly spot that’s considered by many to offer some of the best skiing in Idaho.
Hookups? No, but it’s free for up to three nights! Be sure to ask the parking attendant where you should plant your RV for the night.
Price: Free for up to three nights. - Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort (Montana) — This iconic spot offers world-class skiing and close proximity to Glacier National Park. Contrary to popular belief, Glacier NP is open and quite spectacular during the winter, so it’s a worthy addition to your Whitefish ski itinerary.
Camping trailers and RVs are allowed in the Aspen Lot for a maximum stay of 3 days. There are limited camping spots and availability is first-come, first served.
Pro tip: You can RV camp at Whitefish RV Park for full hookups and easy access to the town, Glacier, and the entire Flathead Valley. Take the S.N.O.W. bus from the RV park to the mountain if you opt for this route
Hookups? Nope, unless you stay at the RV park in town.
Price: $25 (plus tax) per day for a max of three days. Whitefish RV park is $80/night for full hookups.
- Grand Targhee Resort (Wyoming) — What’s not to love about this ski spot? It’s got deep powder, beautiful nature, and Teton views. Oh, and did we mention that it’s almost never too crowded?
Overnight RV parking happens in the Lot 3 parking area and the lifts are an easy walk from there. If your camper set up is more than 25 feet combined length you’ll be required to pay for two camp spots.
Hookups? Electric coming soon, dry camping for now.
Price: $28/night for dry camping, $50/night when electric hookups arrive.
West
- China Peak Mountain Resort (California) — China Peak is located in the Sierra National Forest and provides a less crowded alternative to the packed resorts around Lake Tahoe. China Peak offers a variety of terrain for all skill levels with some runs spanning up to 2 miles.
The resort offers 16 overnight RV spots that’ll put you within walking distance to the mountain. Sites must be reserved in advance and a two-night minimum stay is required on weekends.
Hookups? 30 amp electric. No water or sewer.
Price: $49/night. - Lake Tahoe Area — The Lake Tahoe region offers some of the best skiing in the country. California manages a network of SNO-Parks that’ll allow you to park overnight in one of several lots around Lake Tahoe.
Be sure to have your SNO-Park permit so you can enjoy the epic views and clean bathrooms at these RV parking locations. The SNO-Parks near Lake Tahoe will give you access to ski hills like Palisades, North Star, and Heavenly.
Hookups? SNO-Park locations are parking only and don’t have hookups.
Price: A SNO-Park permit costs $40/season and will allow you to park in California SNO-Park lots.
- Mammoth Mountain — This spot is known for some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the U.S. It’s also home to the highest lift-served summit in California at 11,053 feet. At those altitudes, the ski season rolls on longer than most.
While overnight parking isn’t allowed at the resort itself, area SNO-Park lots will put you in range. - Big Bear Mountain Resort — This place packs two ski resorts into one for epically diverse skiing. Whether you check out the 12 and 18-foot halfpipes or the backcountry and canyon terrain, you’re sure to have snow-packed adventures at Big Bear.
Overnight parking isn’t allowed right at this resort either, but area SNO-Park lots will get you quickly from your RV door to the slopes. And check out this guide for some other cool camp spots in the area.
Southwest
- Powderhorn Mountain Resort (Colorado) — Situated along Colorado’s Grand Mesa, this spot offers epic views and is one of the most family-friendly resorts in the state. 70% of the runs are beginner to intermediate, so this is the perfect place to go for a low-key ski weekend.
Powderhorn offers free (dry) overnight RV parking in designated lots so you can camp and walk right up to the lifts.
Hookups? Nada.
Price: Free. Call ahead to check availability and stay limits. - Wolf Creek Ski Area (Colorado) — Wolf Creek gets the most snow of any other Colorado ski resort so you’ll never be want for that fresh powder. Much of the resort is family-friendly with a large number of green runs, snowshoeing trails, and cross-country ski areas.
Overnight RV parking is offered in designated Wolf Creek lots.
Hookups? Negative.
Price: Free for up to three nights. - Sipapu Ski Resort (New Mexico) — Sipapu is a fun ski spot north of Santa Fe that’s known for its tree skiing — technical runs where your steering needs to be on point. Sipapu offers several traditional runs as well.
This resort is unique because it has an on-site RV park for your ski-camping needs.
Hookups? 30 amp electric only.
Price: $28/night.
Northeast
- Gunstock Mountain Resort (New Hampshire) — This picturesque New England ski mountain offers 48 different runs for all skill levels. It’s also situated in New Hampshire’s lakes region so you’ll see splendid water views everywhere you ski.
Gunstock Campground is the resort’s onsite campground and is the only designated overnight area because you can’t overnight in parking lots.
Hookups? Full hookups are offered in certain sites. Up to 50 amp electric. Bathroom and shower houses are available on-site.
Price: $35-$65/night depending on site and season. - Mount Snow Resort (Vermont) — This low-key and super fun ski hill features four unique mountain faces for your skiing enjoyment. It’s also nestled in an area of Vermont that’s packed with quaint New England towns, so be sure to check these spots out once you’re off the mountain.
Overnight RV parking is quasi-unofficial but generally allowed in their parking lots. Be sure to call ahead and confirm you’re good to park it.
Hookups? Negatory.
Price: Free. Call to confirm availability and maximum nights.
Southeast
- Appalachian Ski Mountain (North Carolina) — While the Southeast might not be a common skiing destination, this mountain in Appalachia serves up a ton of family fun along its many runs.
This resort features 12 slopes, snowmaking equipment, and a fun lodge. RV camping is offered in their gated parking area, but there are only six available RV spots. You can also dry camp in the regular parking lot Monday-Thursday.
Hookups? 30 amp service at the six RV spots within the gated parking area. Dry camping only in other areas.
Price: $30/night - Ober Gatlinburg (Tennessee) — As the only ski game in the state, this place really puts on. It’s both an amusement park and ski hill, meaning you can partake in activities like skiing, ice skating, an alpine slide, ice bumper cars, and more. Gatlinburg is a vacation destination where musical shows, great food, and fun activities abound.
While you can’t RV camp at the mountain itself, you could post up at places like the Smoky Mountain KOA or the Adventure Bound Camping Resort for full-hookup adventure.
Hookups? Yes, at surrounding RV parks.
Price: $35-$85/night depending on RV park and season.
Winter RVing is a blast — especially if you couple it with a ski-venture. As more and more resorts get wind of skiing campervanners, the number of ski-in/ski-out RV spots will only increase.
The resorts we’ve shared above are all chill spots where you can park it and become part of a fun community of RVers who are tackling the powder from a convenient location.
And if you don’t have an RV but want to ski camp, don’t worry — we’ve got plenty of them for rent right here.
