Ski near NYC with these day trips

2 hours away
Open to season pass holders late November, others welcome starting early December, tickets must be purchased in advance

This Catskills ski area offers Friday and Saturday night-skiing until 9pm on eight of its 49 trails, ensuring that you'll spend less time traveling to the mountain and more time on it. While terrain ranges from 12 novice-appropriate trails to seven satisfyingly steep double-black runs, nearly half the runs are rated intermediate, making the mountain a great place for those who know what they're doing but want to avoid frequent face-plants. The mountain also offers ice skating, snowboarding, tubing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and more. Mon–Fri 9am–4pm; Sat & Sun 8am–4pm. Lift tickets: Starting at $71 per day. Equipment rental: starting at $65. 105-minute group lesson $99-325.

Getting there:
There are several bus packages available through Windham (windhammountain.com/groups-weddings/tour-operators), including Island Ski Tours' Windham Shuttle, which departs from the Grand Hyatt Hotel next to Grand Central Terminal, and Urban Sherpa Travel, which picks up both in downtown and uptown Manhattan.

Where to stay:

Save: Rooms at the budget-friendly Cave Mountain Motel (10978 Rte 23, Windham, NY; 518-734-3161, cavemountainmotel.com; $109-$129 per night for two) have a lived-in, country-cabin appeal. A basic complimentary Continental breakfast served each morning by the kitchen's wood-burning stove (and the fact that the motel is just one-and-a-half miles from the mountain) only sweetens the deal.

Splurge: Choose between standard hotel rooms and one- to two-bedroom condos at the Winwood Inn (5220 Rte 23, Windham, NY; 518-734-3000, windhammountain.com; $129–$629 per night) and you'll get access to the free mountain shuttle, not to mention a rec room stocked with throwback video games and a foosball table.

2 hours away
Open starting in December

Even the Shaun Whites and Lindsey Vonns of the world had to start somewhere, and this easily reachable Poconos spot is a great place to test your chops on 34 snowmaker-covered trails. While the eight "advanced" (but often short and crowded) slopes are no match for hard-core skiers, boarders should fare better with the 20-acre revamped terrain park, which features a 50-square-foot airbag so you can try out Winter X tricks with a soft landing. Either way, no one can complain about the resort's extended hours: Every single trail is open until 10pm on Friday and Saturday nights, when the tubing park (One-day lift tickets start at $62; the new Triple Ticket Pass is $139; and the Super Season Pass is $629; a Value Season Pass is available for $399).

Mon–Thu 9am–9pm, Fri 9am–10pm, Sat 8:30am–10pm, Sun 8:30am–9pm. Lift tickets: weekdays $60-$78, weekends and holidays $78. Equipment rental: day $39, night $29. 90-minute group lesson $35.

Getting there:
OvRride (347-559-1787, ovrride.com; $59–$165) offers day trips to Camelback that include a round-trip bus ride from several locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and the option to add lift ticket, lessons and/or equipment rental.

Where to stay:

Save: Eleven of the rooms at the Days Inn Tannersville (Hill Lodge Rd, Tannersville, PA; 570-629-1667, daysinntannersville.com; $79 per night and up) boast perfect-for-aprs-ski Jacuzzis; all 72 include a Continental breakfast and are just three miles from the mountain.

Splurge: Located at the base of Camelback Mountain, The Chateau Resort (300 Camelback Rd, Tannersville, PA; 800-245-5900, chateauresort.com; $119 per night and up) offers 152 modern rooms—including 39 loft-style, bi-level suites–and views of the Poconos. Thaw out and ease slope-weary muscles in the poolside Jacuzzi or the sauna before dining by the fire.

2 hours away
Opens the second week of December, weather-permitting

Just a short trek away from the city is this family-friendly ski resort that offers something for every member of the family, even kids and grandparents, so it’s perfect for those big group getaways. The mountain’s 22 trails will keep novice skiers safe and adventurous skiers happy and challenged. It also offers twilight and nighttime skiing. Check out the newly-revamped terrain park to flex your skills, or retreat to the cozy lodge after your first lesson.

Mon-Fri 10am-9pm; Sat 9am-9pm; Sun 9am-5pm. Lift tickets: full day $45, Fridays $59, Saturday-Sunday and holidays $69. Equipment rental: $52. 75-minute group lesson $50-57.

Getting there:
Take the Metro-North Ski Train from Grand Central to Patterson, NY, and receive a free shuttle from Patterson to Thunder Ridge with the purchase of the Thunder Ski package (around $62). Package deals and add-ons are available.

Where to stay:

Save: Retire from your day on the mountain in the Holiday Inn (80 Newtown Rd, Danbury, CT; 203-792-4000, igh.com, from $127 per night).

Splurge: Select a Metro-North Overnight Ski and Stay Package at the Hilton Garden Inn (119 Mill Plain Road, Danbury, CT; 203-205-2000, $132 per night and up) and receive transportation to and from the mountain, a stocked kitchen and cozy bed to help you recover from your day on the slopes, and breakfast for two in the Garden Grille.

2 hours away
Opening depends on snowfall

New Jersey’s all-season resort is a Manhattanite’s easiest answer for a day trip on the slopes. Mountain Creek is the state’s largest ski and snowboard area with four mountain peaks to be enjoyed by snow-lovers of all skill levels. Choose from one of three terrain parks or 46 trails, or venture out at night for a moonlit ride. Over a thousand snow guns keep the terrain covered and ready to shred from the first to last day of your stay. It’s also the NJ place to be for ski racing; it’s home to the region’s largest USSA racing venue. Lift tickets: $99. Twilight hours 3pm-close: $60. Equipment rental: $50. 90-minute group lesson $139.

Getting there:
The NYC SnowBus (917-524-2421, nycsnowbus.com) makes the 47-mile trip from Union Square. Right now it's only making private trips.

Where to stay:

Save: Pick a no-frills room at the Appalachian Motel (367 NJ-94, Vernon Township, NJ; 973-764-6070, appalachianmotel.us; $92 per night and up) when you plan to soak up all the time you can on the slopes.

Splurge: Stay slope-side and enjoy direct access to the mountain at the Appalachian & Black Creek Sanctuary (200 State Rt 94, Vernon, NJ; $169-$469 per night), where you can book studio, one- or two-bedroom condos that feature heated pools year-round, hot tubs, and a rustic-inspired decor and vibe.

2 hours 45 mins away
Opens early December

Gorgeous gorges and stunning peaks make the Great Northern Catskill Mountains prime terrain for skiers. Plus, Hunter Mountain (64 Klein Ave; 800-486-8376, huntermtn.com; one-day lift ticket starting at $17) is pretty damn close to New York, and it’s studded with 58 trails, ranging from breezy to bold, serviced by 12 lifts, a ratio that keeps everything running smoothly. The 240-acre grounds are also home to North America’s highest, longest zip-line canopy tour located 600 feet above the ground.

Where to stay:
Brooklyn designers flipped a 1960s-style motor lodge into Scribner’s Catskill Lodge (13 Scribner Hollow Rd; 518-628-5130, scribnerslodge.com; $295–$675/night), a bespoke nook with tiny, cozy AF fireplaces. Its new après-ski menu includes fondue and deluxe hot chocolate from Brooklyn chocolate purveyor Raaka.

What else to do:
Throughout the season, Scribner’s hosts a Winter Market with Phoenicia Flea (phoeniciaflea.com), a nomadic pop-up with crafts made mostly in the Catskills and the Hudson Valley. Want to be a nomad yourself? Scribner’s Mountain Concierge leads wintry hikes (and strolls!) for a break from cruising the ski runs.

3 hours away

Go big at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort (37 Corey Rd; 413-738-5500, jiminypeak.com; lift ticket $49-$99), which is one of the largest ski resorts in New England, with 45 trails and 9 lifts. The super-groomed mountain has a vertical rise of 1,150 feet with views of the soft peaks of Jericho Valley. Beyond its tree-lined trails, one feature sticks out: a giant wind turbine near the summit, as white as snow and with 123-foot-long blades that generate almost half of the resort’s energy needs.

Where to stay:
Nearby in downtown Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the Hotel on North (297 North St; 413-358-4440, hotelonnorth; $213+/night) recently opened inside an 1880s building. Forty-five stylish rooms embrace quirky decor—the spot is big on vintage furniture paired with modern touches. The stunning 644-square-foot Library Suite, complete with 125 bookshelves and a panoramic mountain vista, is worth a splurge.

What else to do:
Head to gastropub District Kitchen & Bar (40 West St, Pittsfield, MA; 413-442-0303, district.kitchen) for playful, soul-warming eats like smoked-Gouda mac and cheese and blueberry cream puffs, as well as bold whiskey-soaked cocktails. Outdoor dining and takeout are currently available.

3 hours away

The least crowded of the Catskill resorts, this state-run mountain is a convenient, wallet-friendly choice—especially for those freaked out by the idea of mobbed slopes and long lift lines. Belleayre's 47 trails cater to a range of skill levels: Expect 11 beginner-friendly slopes on the bottom half of the mountain, nine tricky double-black runs at the top and 27 satisfying intermediate trails in between. Boarders will dig the recently improved terrain park, two progression parks, full of jumps, boxes and rails, plus a rails-only park. But for a more serene way to experience the pristine surroundings in the Catskill Forest Preserve, strap on a pair of cross-country skis or snowshoes and traverse Belleayre's nearly six miles of quiet trails. Daily 9am–4pm. Lift tickets: $95. Equipment rental: half-day $42, full-day $47. 90-minute group lesson $99-$119.

Getting there:
Adirondack Trailways bus line (800-858-8555, trailwaysny.com; Mon, Fri–Sun) offers a weekend $103 round-trip service from Port Authority to Belleayre, which includes the price of a lift ticket.

Where to stay:

Save: At the charmingly old-school Delaware Court Motel (1141 Main St, Fleischmanns, NY; 845-254-5090, delawaremotelcatskills.com; $65–$200 per night), two miles from the resort, 12 of the 17 rooms are "efficiencies," complete with small, fully equipped eat-in kitchens. There are also six one- and two-bedroom cottages on the two-acre property.

Splurge: Offering indulgences ranging from Jacuzzi tubs in two of the seven jewel-tone-accented rooms to a hot breakfast cooked by the Culinary Institute of America–trained owner, cozy B&B Alpine Osteria (32 Galli Curci Rd, Highmount, NY; 845-254-9851, alpineosteria.com; $159 per night and up) encourages you to relax after a long day on the slopes—located just 30 seconds away (the hotel is situated at the base of Belleayre Mountain).

3 hours away

Set in the postcard-perfect Berkshires, this family-friendly resort might look like a bunny hill compared with its expansive New England neighbors, but in terms of value, it can't be beat. Perfect for skiers who would describe themselves as "works-in-progress," Catamount features 33 trails (11 of them easy), a terrain park full of jibs and jumps well suited for intermediate boarders and the Berkshires' longest run, totaling solid two-and-a-half miles. (Fun fact: The resort straddles the New York–Massachusetts state line, making it possible to ski through both states on one slope.) With 15 trails plus the terrain park open until 10pm on weekends, it's possible to keep working on your parallel turns long after your pals have fled the mountain for an après-ski buzz. Mon–Fri 9am–4pm; Wed till 8pm; weekends and holidays 8:30am-10pm. Lift tickets: from $35; weekends and holidays $72. Equipment rental: day $65, night $40. 90-minute group lesson $55.

Getting there:
Since there are no direct buses to Hillsdale, your best bet is hopping on a Peter Pan bus (888-751-8800, peterpanbus.com; round-trip $108) out of Port Authority to Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and taking a roughly 20-minute cab ride to Hillsdale.

Where to stay:

Save: Each of the 15 clean and quaint rooms at the no-frills Holiday House Motel (2871 Rte 23, Hillsdale, NY; 518-325-3030, holidayhousemotel.com; $85–$120 per night) features a microwave, refrigerator and individually controlled thermostats, and the price is hard to match.

Splurge: Starting at $225 per night, the resort's lodging includes four rooms to choose from that boast a beautiful view of Catamount's mountain and just a three-minute walk from the Catamount Base Lodge. (413-528-1262; fareharbor.com)

3 hours away

A great option for a daily trip or short weekend getaways, Mohawk Mountain will keep beginners feeling safe and sound and excited to learn the ropes, while still offering the trail space and steep slopes to keep a more seasoned skier satisfied. From the 3,000-foot summit tower and points below, skiers and boarders can look forward to a range of difficulty and plenty of places to work on their shred game. Uphillers and snowshoers are welcome to trek too!

Mon noon-8pm, Tuesday-Thursday 10am-8pm, Friday 10am-10pm, Sat 8:30am-10pm, Sun 8:30am-4pm. Lift tickets: midweek $35, weekends $70. Equipment rental: $50, helmet $13. 75-minute group lesson: $58.

Getting there:
It’s roughly a three-hour trip from the city by car, with no major transport hubs along the way. Your best bet is a friend with wheels or a rental. Ample parking is available at the mountain.

Where to stay:

Save: A little ways down the road but at an unbeatable price point, pick the Days Inn Torrington (492 E Main St, Torrington, CT; 860-496-0811, wyndhamhotels.com; $80 per night and up) to relax, unwind and enjoy free breakfast daily.

Splurge The Amselhaus (6 Rug Road, Cornwall, CT; 860-248-3155, $175-200 per night) is the perfect place to recover from a day on the slopes, with cozy beds, private entrances and a fully-equipped kitchen for every suite. Stunning views at sunrise and sunset complement the trip.

4 hours away

The closest big Vermont mountain, Mount Snow has more going for it than mere proximity to NYC: It offers 80 trails spread across four mountain faces in the gorgeous Green Mountain National Forest and, in addition to 467 skiable acres of developed terrain, all of the woods within the resort's boundaries are open for tree-skiing. A whopping 40 intermediate runs make it a great choice for confident-but-leisurely shredders. While first-timers will appreciate gentle slopes, like the popular three-mile Long John trail, adrenaline junkies needn't feel left out—there's plenty of ungroomed tree terrain on North Face and, in the consistently top-ranked Carinthia (the only all-terrain-park mountain face in the east), ten parks full of rails, jumps and pipes. If you're still looking for thrills after the lifts stop running at 4pm, consider some evening tubing at Mount Snow's ten-lane park.

Mon–Fri 9am–4pm; Sat, Sun 8am–4pm. Lift tickets: weekdays $33 and up, weekends and holidays $51 and up. Equipment rental: full-day $54 and up. Half-day group lesson $99 and up.

Getting there:
A round-trip ticket with OvRride (347-559-1787, ovrride.com). Buses depart from several locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Where to stay:

Save: At the homey 24-room B&B Big Bears Lodge (344 Rte 100, West Dover, VT; 800-388-5591, bigbearslodge.com; $85–$217 per night), you can fill up on hearty country fare like homemade blueberry pancakes, French toast and bacon before hopping on the free shuttle for the quarter-mile ride to the lifts.

Splurge: You can't get any closer to the slopes than at the Grand Summit Resort Hotel (89 Mountain Rd, West Dover, VT; 800-462-4780; $343–$623), a full-service ski-in/ski-out beauty at the base of the mountain. Nearly half of the 198 rooms and suites feature kitchenettes and all have access to the health club and a luxe spa for post-ski pampering.

4 hours away

Even well-traveled snow snobs can't complain about the top-notch grooming and quality of the white stuff at this south-central Vermont favorite. High-powered snow guns cover 96 percent of the 119 trails and glades that span the resort's five mountains, and with terrain evenly divided among novice, intermediate and advanced levels, there's something for everyone (including stunt-loving boarders, who can perform tricks on six terrain parks and a 500-foot-long superpipe). Those looking for more of a cardio challenge shouldn't miss the extensive network of sweat-inducing trails, manicured especially for Nordic skiing and snowshoeing (combination equipment–trail pass $37). Mon–Fri 9am–4pm; Sat, Sun 8am–4pm. Lift tickets: weekdays $72, weekends and holidays up to $258. Equipment rental: full-day $88. Two-hour group lesson: beginner $132

Getting there:
Okemo Mountain Resort offers round-trip shuttle service from two transportation hubs: the Southern Vermont Regional Airport and the Rutland Amtrak Terminal in Rutland, VT.

Where to stay:

Save: Cash-strapped groups will appreciate the Timber Inn Motel (112 Rte 103 South, Ludlow, VT; 802-228-8666, timberinnmotel.com; starting at $169 per night). Many of the 18 basic rooms sleep up to five people, and a two-bedroom apartment can accommodate six. Widespread wood paneling makes a stay here feel like a throwback to sleepaway camp—one with a hot tub and sauna.

Splurge: The 300 modern, country-chic rooms, studios and condos at Jackson Gore Village (480 Ranta Rd, Ludlow, VT; 866-538-0187, okemo.com; $298–$1,500 per night) are mere steps from the lifts, making the afternoon trek back to its heated outdoor pool, ski storage and in-house tavern a breeze.

4 hours away
Tickets must be bought ahead of time

Stratton might boast the highest peak in Southern Vermont—making for some sick steep runs—but with 36 of its 92 trails designated green and 41 novice, it's a great choice for neophyte snow bunnies too. Plus, thanks to its four high-speed lifts, everyone spends less time waiting in line (and more time carving down the well-groomed slopes) than at other area resorts. That's especially good news for snowboarders, who have six top-rated terrain parks at their disposal, including the home of the U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships. If you and your buddies can pull yourself away from the 625 acres of skiable terrain, there's plenty more winter fun to be had nearby: Try the on-mountain tubing park (one hour $20) or guided snowshoeing tours (90 minutes plus rental $60), or cruise around the shops and restaurants of the picturesque base village.

Mon–Fri 9am–4pm; Sat, Sun 8:30am–4pm. Lift tickets: weekdays starting at $119. Equipment rental: starting at $52.

105-minute group lesson: from $189

Getting there:
OvRride (347-559-1787, ovrride.com) will get you there and back, including your lift ticket, on Saturdays. Adventure Northeast (917-861-1800, adventurenortheast.com) runs a daily bus service from the Upper West Side.

Where to stay:

Just a five-minute walk from the lifts is Long Trail House (5 Village Lodge Rd, Stratton Mountain, VT; 800-787-2886, stratton.com; $119–$749), a collection of well-appointed studios and one- to four-bedroom condos, each equipped with a full kitchen and gas fireplace, along with hotel-caliber amenities like a guest concierge.

5 hours away

This town hosted the Winter Olympics. Twice. Whiteface Lake Placid (2634 Main St; 518-946-2223, whiteface.com; one-day lift ticket $47–$104) measures up to its reputation with the most awe-inspiring vertical drop in the Eastern United States (3,430 feet). The best of its 87 trails are lined with evergreens choked with snow, and 53 of its 288 skiable acres are glades (off-trail skiing through trees). Bob and weave through a winter wonderland of snow-blasted Adirondacks, and if you’re up to it, try the Slides, 35 acres of off-piste double-black-diamond terrain, open only for skilled skiers when conditions are safe.

Where to stay:
Opt for the Lake House at High Peaks Resort (1 Mirror Lake Dr; 518-523-4422, highpeaksresort.com; From $149/night), which overlooks Mirror Lake and is the hippest of High Peaks’ hotels. In the comfort of snug, cabinlike digs with tasteful midcentury decor, guests can luxuriate in bougie amenities like Pendleton throws.

What else to do:
It looks like a generic pub, but Liquids and Solids (6115 Sentinel Rd; 518-837-5012, liquidsandsolids.com) is all substance. The bonkers menu touts everything from andouille charcuterie to buffalo cauliflower and octopus with sausage. Almost every dish is full of surprises.

5 hours away
Reservations required.

Sometimes size does matter—at least when we're talking about Killington, the East Coast's largest ski resort with 71 miles of terrain spread over six mountains. A whopping 140 trails and six terrain parks are sure to keep even the most ADD adventurers happy—especially those of the daredevil variety, who will love the 65 black-diamond runs and 500-foot-long superpipe, on which borders and free-skiers alike can catch major air. While newbies and casual skiers can coast down the array of three- to four-mile-long cruiser trails, thrill-seekers of all skill levels can count on the resort's "snow guarantee" program, allowing you to exchange your lift pass by 10am for a return-visit voucher if the powder isn't up to par—which wouldn't be a bad thing, considering the selection of equally fun nearby activities, including Nordic skiing (802-775-0166, xcskiing.net; trail pass and rentals $19 each), guided snowmobiling (802-422-2121, killingtonsnowmobiletours.com; one hour $119, double snowmobile $179) and the town's lively aprs-ski scene.

Mon–Fri 9am–4pm; Sat, Sun 8am–4pm. Lift tickets: $149-$169, discounts available with online booking. Equipment rental: full-day $72, helmet $38.

Getting there:
OvRide (347-559-1787, ovrride.com) will get you there and back. Multiple departure areas around Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Where to stay:

SAVE Four miles from the slopes, the Hillside Inn (375 Killington Rd, Killington, VT; 802-315-0039, hillsideinnkillington.com; $80–$199 per night) offers gratis breakfast and is a stop on the bus route for Killington's resort shuttle ($2).

SPLURGE The full-service Inn at the Six Mountains (2617 Killington Rd, Killington, VT; 800-228-4676, sixmountains.com; $149–$259) keeps weary skiers happy with 99 country-quilt-bedecked rooms, a complimentary shuttle to the mountain, and a hot breakfast buffet complete with home fries and French toast included with your stay.