Best Ski Resorts on the East Coast

The best East Coast ski resorts are often cheaper than their Western counterparts, and they can deliver plenty of sporty fun for all ski levels, from beginner to advanced. You'll find colder weather the farther north you go, but a few mid-Atlantic resorts might surprise you.

These are some of the best ski resorts on the East Coast to visit this winter.

1. Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada

By going north — far north — Mont Tremblant in Quebec provides some of the best East Coast skiing around. With an average of 174 inches of snow per year, Mont Tremblant offers a good chance to find fresh powder across its 755 acres of terrain during the winter months. The summit of the mountain is nearly 3,000 feet high and offers panoramic views of the Laurentian mountain range.

This ski destination has more than 100 ski trails on a quartet of slopes, and it also boasts 1,200 snow guns to produce snow when Mother Nature does not cooperate. A pair of gondola systems and six high-speed lifts are a few of the ways skiers can get to the top.

Fairmont Tremblant is one of the most famous properties in the area, and guests can earn or redeem Accor Live Limitless points. Accor does not use an award chart but instead exchanges points for a cash equivalency that can be redeemed like cash on property, with 2,000 Accor points equal to the equivalent of about $44 (40 euros).

Nearest airports:

• Mont-Tremblant International Airport (YTM), about 45 minutes away.

• Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL), 90 minutes away.

2. Killington, Vermont

Known as the biggest ski resort on the East Coast, Killington is a popular destination for skiers, snowboarders and snow bunnies. With nearly 2,000 acres of terrain and an altitude that reaches over 4,200 feet, Killington has slopes for every skill level.

Killington Peak is the second-highest mountain in the state. The resort has also grown its variety of dining, hotels and nightlife to give visitors plenty of fun beyond the ski trails.

Killington Mountain Lodge, Tapestry Collection by Hilton is a popular property for Hilton Honors fans. Since Hilton Honors uses dynamic pricing for its rewards stays, a redemption night will vary based on the time of year.

On the dates we checked, the cheapest price we found was around 57,000 points. And no matter when you stay, you can always earn points when paying an eligible rate (and bonus points when using a Hilton Honors co-branded credit card).

Nearest airport:

• Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV), about two hours away.

3. Stowe, Vermont

Stowe is another ski mecca for East Coast winter athletes and is well regarded for the 4,395 feet in altitude at its summit. The resort is part of Vail Resorts and now participates in its Epic Pass, which means travelers can buy an annual pass and use it at all of the resorts in the collection (or just buy one for the days or regions they prefer).

The mountain is divided into two separate zones (Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak, the latter of which is more for those learning to ski or in ski school).

With so many ski runs and a diverse network of ski lifts at Stowe, some skiers warn that it is possible to get lost or ski down to an area where you may not have intended if not paying attention. But this also means that there are so many options that Stowe is a great choice for those who want to maximize their time on the slopes. This is one of only two resorts in the East to feature alpine terrain.

Among the many hotel options here is The Lodge at Spruce Peak, which is a Category 8 hotel in World of Hyatt’s award chart. This makes it easy for members to understand the range of points needed for a redemption night. A redemption night at The Lodge at Spruce Peak costs between 35,000 and 45,000 points.

Nearest airport:

• Burlington (BTV), about 40 minutes away.

4. Sugarloaf Mountain, Maine

Within northern Maine’s Carrabassett Valley, Sugarloaf looks more like a volcano than a traditional ski mountain given its vertical angle. It has one of the largest continuous verticals along the East Coast at almost 3,000 feet. Rare for its alpine ski terrain, this mountain is the second tallest in the state and has 1,360 skiable acres of terrain.

Locals call it “The Loaf,” and it is a crowd-pleaser for those who like cold weather (being so far north means the snow is less likely to thaw compared to resorts farther south), challenging terrain and a mix of traditional slopes and backcountry runs. The SuperQuad lift takes skiers to the top in a jiffy.

Sugarloaf Mountain Hotel is the closest to the SuperQuad lift. When paying with a credit card that earns bonus points on travel, you can rack up rewards to redeem later faster than when paying with other cards.

Nearest airport:

• Portland International Jetport (PWM), about 3.5 hours away.

5. Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont

Another of Vermont’s numerous ski resorts, Smugglers’ Notch earns accolades for its family-friendly atmosphere and variety of ski slopes for all levels. There is no big conglomerate behind this resort. It is privately owned and works with a lot of local providers. This is perhaps one of the reasons it has resonated so much with area skiers.

You won’t find high-speed lifts that carry four to six skiers at a time, but you will find great views and an old-school base village with modest prices. Unlike Stowe, this is not a late-night, apres-ski kind of town.

Most of the accommodations here fall into the condominium and home rental category. Consider looking for a deal with Airbnb and linking your account with Delta SkyMiles to earn miles for your stay.

Nearest airport:

• Burlington (BTV), about one hour away.

6. Winterplace, West Virginia

For beginners, Winterplace is a popular resort in the mid-Atlantic and has been named one of the best places to learn to ski by prominent publications. With more than one-third of its slopes labeled as beginner, this is a great place for families to try skiing for the first time. That said, more experienced skiers have plenty to keep them busy, too.

The largest tubing park in the region is also here for those who want to go down the mountain without wearing skis.

There are a variety of hotels and vacation rentals near Winterplace, and many travelers may find an Airbnb to be the most convenient option if traveling with kids.

Nearest airport:

• Beckley, West Virginia (BKW), about 20 minutes away