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If your idea of a perfect winter weekend involves fresh powder but not gridlocked highways, you’ll soon have a favorite new way to hit the slopes. A new car-free ski bus service is officially running from Manhattan to some of the area’s most popular mountains, which means you can trade the stress of driving and parking for a direct ride to the snow.
Intercity travel company OurBus has launched seasonal ski routes connecting New York City to Windham, Hunter and Belleayre in the Catskills, plus Camelback in the Poconos. It’s always one bus, no transfers, no rentals and no fighting for a parking spot in a snowy lot at 7 am. You just board in Manhattan, stash your gear and wake up in ski country.
Round-trip fares start at $69, not including fees, which makes a day on the slopes feel way more doable, especially if you don’t own a car or just don’t want to deal with congestion pricing, tolls and winter driving drama. Camelback service runs daily, while Windham, Hunter and Belleayre are covered on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, making the routes ideal for both quick midweek escapes and classic weekend trips. The buses themselves are premium motorcoaches with room for skis and snowboards, along with road trips comforts like Wi-Fi, charging ports, onboard restrooms and live GPS tracking.
Three of the Catskills routes are operated in partnership with Urban Sherpa, a longtime ski travel outfit known for getting New Yorkers to the mountains in one piece. The collaboration means more predictable schedules and a smoother experience for riders who just want to focus on the fun part: actually skiing.
And while the pitch is convenience, the timing feels right too. More New Yorkers are opting out of car ownership and winter travel is getting pricier by the year, so a straight-shot bus to the slopes is the perfect sweet spot between adventure and practicality.
If you’ve ever skipped a ski day because the logistics felt like too much work, this might be the season you finally go for it, no keys required.