The 10 best ski resorts in the US

Let’s dispense with the superlatives right here and admit that “best” means something different to everyone, depending on priorities and preferences. What wows an extreme skier looking for bragging rights isn’t necessarily going to provide the most pleasant experience for families or those looking to learn the sport.

And there are other criteria as well — some of the best ski resorts in the U.S. win accolades for luxurious accommodations and white-glove service while others thrill with wild scenery or an exciting apres-ski scene.

Then there’s geography — most of America’s world-class ski resorts are found in the West, simply because that’s where the highest mountains are. But those on the Eastern Seaboard have some classics among them as well.

Here is a general guide to some of America’s top ski resorts and the reasons each might be the best choice for you.

Aspen Snowmass Resort

From the expert runs of Aspen Mountain and Aspen Highlands to the expansive and family-friendly terrain of far larger Snowmass, this 5,500-acre complex encompassing four skiing and snowboarding areas lives up to its reputation as the definitive all-in-one ski destination and one of the best Colorado ski resorts. And thanks to the addition of a new high-speed quad and a significant terrain expansion on Aspen Mountain, there will be even more to explore this winter.

Despite its tony image, there’s plenty of rowdy fun to be had here, like tubing and snow biking under the stars at Elk Camp or ice-karting around a frozen lake in nearby Roaring Fork Valley.

What to know

Each of the four Aspen Snowmass ski resorts has its own personality. Aspen Mountain is known for its challenging terrain and easy access to town and nightlife, while Aspen Highlands is famed for its expert runs. Families and beginners can’t do better than the gentle slopes of Buttermilk, especially the tot-friendly Panda Peak and the teenager favorite X Park.

Snowmass offers equally easy access while still pleasing thrill-seekers with its 4,400-foot rise. Speaking of thrills, no other resort offers an experience like the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, which whizzes through the forest on an elevated track.

Where to eat

Hit up Aspen Public House for burgers and truffle potatoes or Spring Cafe for soups, salads and creative breakfast scrambles. For something more celebratory, try the French bistro cuisine at Betula or the prime rib at Catch Steak.

Where to stay

Where you stay will depend on the mountain resort that you want to spend time at as well as your budget, but there are plenty of choices. And luckily, Aspen has some of the best ski hotels in the U.S.

The Mollie Aspen, which is slated to open toward the beginning of the 2023-24 ski season, is a great option for those looking for a quieter, simple boutique hotel in the center of town, while The St. Regis Aspen Resort is ideal if you’re hoping for a dose of luxury just a few steps from the lifts at Aspen Mountain.

Rates start at $1,567 or 116,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during ski season on select midweek dates, although weekends can exceed $2,000 per night. Depending on the number of nights booked and specific dates, nights can be as low as 76,800 points.

Rates start at $1,273 per night during ski season and $600 per night off-peak, or from 890,500 Marriott Bonvoy points per night, all plus a $50-per-night resort fee.

Rates start at around $1,800 per night midweek during ski season, but are often closer to $2,700.

Rates start at $664 or 64,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during ski season. Depending on which and how many nights you book, points rates as low as 52,800 can be found.

Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley Resort

With the 2014 addition of the Canyons ski resort increasing its size to 7,300 acres, Park City arguably became the largest ski resort in America and second only to Whistler Blackcomb in North America.

Deer Valley Resort, which is just 3 miles away, provides a premium experience with high-touch service for skiers to enjoy; snowboarders are still banned from the impeccably maintained slopes.

Alterra Mountain Company, which owns Deer Valley, recently announced a historic expansion that will incorporate the Mayflower Mountain Resort into Deer Valley, more than doubling the skiable terrain and adding 16 new lifts and a 10-passenger gondola to the slopes.

What to know

A new eight-person gondola now connects Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons from peak to peak, making access easy. Snowboarders are out of luck at Deer Valley, which is one of the three last American resorts open only to skiers. Luckily, Park City and Canyons are snowboarder favorites.

Where to eat

As one of the best ski towns in the U.S., Park City has no shortage of terrific dining options. You’ll find plenty of chef-driven culinary haunts along Main Street, including Riverhorse on Main, Grappa and Chimayo. You’ll pay handsomely for the scenery and prime location, though. A younger, lively crowd flocks to places like High West Saloon and No Name Saloon, and locals tend to frequent places off the tourist trail, such as Five5eeds, purveyors of fresh, healthy fare, or Sammy’s Bistro, a local institution.

The Swiss Alps come to Utah at Deer Valley Resort’s Fireside Dining, where you can feast on warm raclette cheese and classic fondue after arriving by horse-drawn sleigh.

Where to stay

There are plenty of fabulous lodges where you can park your skis at the end of a day out on the slopes. The big decision to be made here is whether to stay closer to Deer Valley or Park City. For snowboarders, or families with snowboarders, the decision is easy since they aren’t welcome at Deer Valley.

But for skiers, the decision is less straightforward. Regardless of where you’re skiing, staying close to Park City Mountain Resort or Canyons is an option, since they are quite literally side by side and connected by the Quicksilver gondola once you are on the mountain.

Staying at Deer Valley is a better option for those looking for a more luxurious, secluded, high-end vibe, while Park City lends itself to a more laid-back, casual experience. If you’re looking for the option to walk from bar to bar, or explore different restaurants by foot, staying closer to Park City is a better bet.

Winter rates at The St. Regis Deer Valley start at $1,861 or 96,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Winter rates at Montage Deer Valley are around $1,350 per night on select midweek dates.

Rates start at $365 per night in low season, or around $1,400 in high season, or 110,000 Hilton Honors points.

Breckenridge, Colorado

A Western-chic vibe still pervades this historic 19th-century mining town, where the resort’s Five Peaks frame a bustling main street lined with gingerbread-bedecked clapboard buildings.

An all-season destination known almost as well for mountain biking and hiking as it is for skiing, “Breck” hosts a year-round roster of festivals and events, including the International Snow Sculpture Championships, which turn the town into a magical fantasyland of ice during the last week of January every year.

The fun vibe continues from town to slopes with plentiful connections, including the free BreckConnect gondola and trails directly from the slopes into town from the top of the highest chairlift in North America, the Imperial SuperChair, which sits at 12,840 feet above sea level.

What to know

At 9,600 feet above sea level, Breck is among the highest-altitude towns in the U.S. and, as such, has become known for early fall color and snowfall and late snowmelt, with good snow conditions typical into late spring. And with such a wide variety of lodging around town, it’s no surprise that Breck has some of the best ski lodges in the U.S.

Where to eat

Dine on elk and buffalo while listening to jazz and blues at Blue River Bistro, known for its three-hour happy hour, or class it up at Legends Steak & Seafood, where the butcher’s cut of the day is reliably excellent. The restaurant at Breckenridge Distillery is almost as beloved for its celebratory atmosphere and eclectic menu of small plates as it is for its world-class whiskey.

Tip: Take a distillery tour if you have time.

Where to stay

More casual than some of Colorado’s glitzy ski destinations, Breckenridge still has some wonderful places to stay. Hotels like the Residence Inn are perfect for enjoying the town as a whole, with its location on Main Street making it the perfect place to enjoy the nightlife after a long day of skiing or riding. And with the number of restaurants, shops and bars in Breck, it’s definitely worth leaving the slopes and spending some time wandering around town.

Rates from $371 or 54,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during ski season.

Rates from $389 per night during ski season.

Rates from $452 or 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night during ski season.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

Yes, Jackson Hole is a bucket list destination for expert skiers looking to prove themselves on its craggy slopes and famously steep chutes like the infamous Corbet’s Couloir. That said, beginning and intermediate skiers will also find some gentler trails as well as recently expanded intermediate terrain.

What to know

It’s only a 15-minute ride up the mountain on the aerial tram affectionately dubbed Big Red, but get there early during peak times to avoid lines. Families and beginners will love the recently opened Solitude Station ski school and learning hub offering lessons, rentals and fire pits to make waiting more pleasant.

Where to eat

There’s no lunch spot like Piste Mountain Bistro at the top of the Bridger gondola, where a wall of glass showcases mountaintop views. Local favorite Gather serves up modern American comfort fare in an unusual round dining room surrounded by a spacious patio. The top-of-the-world waffles at Corbet’s Cabin are a must.

Where to stay

Rustic-chic is the name of the game when it comes to luxurious lodges in this former frontier town. Many of the lodging options, like the Caldera House and the Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Teton Village, are higher-end properties that put a focus on the amenities and a luxurious off-slope experience. There are also more affordable options, like the Snake River Lodge and Spa, which is still a luxury mountain resort — just slightly less high-end than some of the other properties.

Rates start at $409 per night.

Rates start at around $1,420 per night in high season.

Rates start at around $2,400 per night in high season.

Palisades Tahoe

As you’d expect from a resort that hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics and trained 1998 gold medalist Jonny Moseley, Palisades Tahoe is the resort of choice for expert skiers drawn to extra-steep runs, including several newly designated as double black diamonds. But it might come as a surprise to learn that the terrain at today’s resort is almost evenly divided among beginner, intermediate and expert.

Palisades Tahoe has recently undergone several major improvements, including a multimillion-dollar renovation of its Gold Coast midmountain lodge.

What to know

Two base areas, the Village and Alpine (the former Alpine Meadows, now part of Palisades), are linked by a brand-new base-to-base gondola, making it possible to ski both in one day. Unlike most resorts, Palisades has beginner areas at the top of the mountain at the 8,200-foot High Camp, accessed by an aerial tram.

Related: From hidden gems to big names: Here are 11 of California’s best ski resorts

Where to eat

Take a lunch break with 8,200-foot views at High Camp’s Granite Bistro, which overlooks the pool and hot tub, or savor kebabs and other Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare at Mogrog Cafe in the Alpine base camp. Off-resort on the banks of the Truckee River, the River Ranch Lodge serves elk ribs, bison chops and seafood like scallops, calamari and ahi poke alongside more conventional pub-style fare.

Where to stay

More casual and laid-back than some other ski resorts, Palisades Tahoe has plenty of accommodation options for travelers of various inclinations.

Unlike destinations like Aspen, where luxurious rooms and top-notch spa treatments are just as (if not more) important than the skiing itself, the Tahoe area has accommodations that lend themselves to being places to wind down between long days of skiing. That’s not to say there aren’t some nice places to stay, like North Tahoe’s PlumpJack Inn — they’re just a bit more casual than the hotels frequently found in some of the higher-end destinations.

Rates start as low as $150 per night for a studio, midweek, during ski season.

Rates start at around $470 per night during ski season.

Sun Valley Resort

Ernest Hemingway finished “For Whom the Bell Tolls” there; Tom Hanks, Ashton Kutcher and Jamie Lee Curtis own homes there; and so many Hollywood celebrities vacation there that it’s known as New Hollywood North. Yet Sun Valley, Idaho, has plenty to offer the rest of us, from the beginner terrain on Dollar Mountain to the pristine and well-groomed trails on Bald Mountain — plus, it gets over 250 days of sunshine a year.

What to know

Dollar Mountain lures beginners with easy-to-navigate trails while experts head for Bald Mountain, or “Baldy,” for black diamond runs. Sunrise, a new 380-acre terrain park that opened in 2020, expands the resort’s skiable acres by 20%. New for December 2023, Sun Valley is improving the Warm Springs part of the resort with several new lift installations and an additional 54 acres of gladed terrain.

Related: Sleigh rides and snowball fights: Top 8 ski resorts for people who don’t like to ski

Where to eat

Pub-style food and a convivial atmosphere make Warfield Distillery & Brewery a good place to chat with locals and catch the occasional live band.

Where to stay

Sun Valley gets a lot less recognition than some of the other major ski destinations throughout North America, so naturally the accommodations will be quite a bit more laid-back and affordable than the higher-end inns and lodges at places like Breckenridge and Jackson Hole.

That said, Limelight does have a location in nearby Ketchum, which emulates its successful property in Aspen. And just because it gets less recognition (although that seems to be changing recently) doesn’t mean the skiing or lodging experiences are any less noteworthy!

Rates start at around $519 per night.

Rates start at around $499 per night.

Rates start at around $211 or 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Steamboat, Colorado

Located in Colorado’s Yampa Valley, the town now known as Steamboat Springs served as an important hunting ground for the Ute tribe, while the area’s natural springs were culturally significant for the Yampatika Ute and Arapaho tribes. When a railroad was built in the early 20th century, the region became important for ranching, but it wouldn’t be long before skiing followed.

Today, the ski area pays tribute to its past with events like the Cowboy Downhill race, which is exactly what it sounds like — a rowdy time with professional rodeo cowboys competing in a race that includes slalom, a jump, lassos and horses.

What to know

The resort is set to complete a $220 million, three-year development project in time for the 2023-24 ski season — the largest in resort history.

The final phase of the project adds 655 acres of skiable expert terrain, bumping Steamboat up to the second-largest resort in the state. The installation of the upper section of the Wild Blue gondola will make it the fastest and longest 10-person gondola in North America. Steamboat is approximately a four-hour drive from Denver, but there is flight service to nearby Yampa Valley Regional Airport from 15 major cities nationwide.

Where to eat

There is no shortage of options for food around Steamboat, from casual spots like TBar, which is set in an old ski patrol building and offers snacks like empanadas and sandwiches like the pork belly BLT, to higher-end culinary experiences like Laundry Kitchen & Cocktails, which specializes in smoked and cured foods.

Where to stay

Steamboat has plenty of lodging options to choose from. Gravity Haus now has a ski-in, ski-out location at Steamboat for those who don’t want to waste time before getting to the slopes in the morning. Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas is also an on-mountain hotel with great access to and views of the slopes.

Rates start at $303 per night during ski season, and Bonvoy points bookings are typically unavailable during high-demand times, like ski season.

Rates start at around $565 per night during ski season.

Rates start at $359 per night.

Big Sky Resort

Halfway between Bozeman and West Yellowstone in Montana’s Madison Range, Big Sky is the out-of-the-way destination every skier dreams of.

The resort became another contender for one of the largest ski resorts in the U.S. with the 2013 addition of Moonlight Basin, bringing the total skiable acres to 5,850. There are even lifts and runs connecting Big Sky to the privately owned 2,200-acre Yellowstone Club, open only to those owning property or staying there.

Big Sky is also nearing the end of a 10-year upgrade project, which includes a new network of lifts, new food and beverage options, and a new Lone Peak tram with an all-glass viewing platform at the offload point (and glass floors in the tram itself).

What to know

Four connected mountains and seven terrain parks give Big Sky a huge variety of runs and conditions. It also boasts the second-longest vertical drop in the U.S., an adrenaline-surging 4,350 feet from the top of Lone Peak.

Where to eat

Fuel up for the day at Blue Moon Bakery, which also serves up a mean pizza. Celebrate a special occasion — or just a successful day on the slopes — at Alpenglow, the Montage’s swanky brasserie.

Where to stay

Thanks to cozy town hotels and new over-the-top luxury lodges, Big Sky is quickly becoming one of the country’s premier ski resorts to visit. Despite Big Sky being less crowded and popular than some of North America’s megaresorts, there are still plenty of lodging options, from high-end resorts like Montage Big Sky to the Summit Hotel, which has a bit more of a “standard” hotel feel.

Rates start at around $1,200 per night.

Rates start at around $500 per night.

Rates start at around $392 or 90,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

Killington Resort

Living up to its nickname of the Beast of the East, Killington boasts the most trails and terrain parks of any resort in New England. The 3,000-acre resort in the Green Mountains also prides itself on being the first to open and last to close, often keeping the snow on at least one trail as late as June.

What to know

The Snowshed base area is the perfect starting point for beginners, while Ramshead is Killington’s playground, making it one of the best family ski resorts. Serious skiers head for Killington Peak, known as K-1, which has the resort’s most challenging terrain, including the second-largest vertical drop on the Eastern Seaboard.

Where to eat

Pizza and calzones from Domenic’s will fill up the family while The Foundry is the local hot spot for a festive meal. The Lookout Tavern is a lively spot for beer and the family basics, including a large, well-priced kids menu.

Where to stay

Even in a little ski destination like this, your hotel points could come in handy at places like the Killington Mountain Lodge, which is a Hilton property. Killington is known for its lively nightlife (check out the Wobbly Barn for an iconic apres-ski scene), but since the town is relatively small, it’s pretty quick and easy to get around regardless of where you stay.

Rates start around $381 per night.

Rates start at around $170 or 48,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

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