Ski Road Trips Through North America
North America’s ski regions are uniquely suited for road trips, with clusters of world-class mountains just a few hours apart. Along the way, you’ll discover diverse terrain, charming ski villages, and breathtaking winter scenery, from sweeping mountain vistas to winding rivers and snowy forests.
Because these routes travel through high mountain passes, be sure your vehicle is winter-ready: winter tires and chains are required, and it’s always wise to check the forecast before you go. If you're renting a vehicle, it should already come with winter tires on, but always double-check with the booking agent.
Now buckle up, it's time to discover our favourite ski road trips in North America for intermediate and advanced skiers.
The Powder Highway (BC, Canada)
The Powder Highway is a legendary ski road trip through BC’s Kootenay Rockies, renowned for having some of the deepest, driest powder in North America. This circular route connects seven world-class ski resorts, charming mountain towns, and the most heli-, cat-, and backcountry ski operations in the world.
If you’re flying in, the closest international airport is Cranbrook (YXC), from which you can drive to your first stop, Fernie.
Other options include flying into Vancouver or Kelowna and starting at Revelstoke, or flying into Calgary and starting at either Fernie or Panorama.
Fernie Alpine Resort
The Drive: From Cranbrook to Fernie, your drive will take about 1 hour on highway BC-3 E, winding through forested valleys between the Purcell and Rocky Mountains.
Terrain: 2,500 acres
Best For: Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced
Known For: Being a haven for powder hounds with up to 11m of snowfall, 5 alpine bowls, and a large beginner’s area.
Must-Do: Explore the town’s local charm. Fernie’s main street (2nd Ave) has a lively atmosphere and shops with beautiful mountain views.
Kimberley Alpine Resort
The Drive: From Fernie to Kimberley, travel time is around 1.5 hours via BC-3 W. You'll head back through Cranbrook before going east through the Purcell Range.
Terrain: 1,800 acres
Best For: Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced
Known For: Being the most family-friendly stop on the Powder Highway, with 20% beginner terrain. Kimberley is also home to BC's largest tree skiing area: the Black Forest, featuring steep glades in deep powder.
Panorama Mountain Resort
The Drive: From Kimberley, your next destination will be about 1.5 hours north. Along the way to Panorama, take in the views of the Hoodoo rock formations and big blue Columbia Lake.
Terrain: 2,847 acres
Best For: Intermediate, Advanced & Expert
Known For: A big-mountain resort with varied expert terrain and a cozy slopeside village.
Must-do: The Taynton Bowl, a backcountry-like alpine experience accessible by lift.
Photo Credit: Panorama Mountain Resort
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
The Drive: Next stop, Kicking Horse: 2h north, past Radium Hot Springs and Golden. Follow the Columbia River through mountain valleys, then into the Kootenay Rockies.
Terrain: 3,486 acres
Best For: Intermediate & Advanced
Known For: The "Champagne Powder Capital of Canada", with top-notch powder, endless chutes, and 1,315+ metres of vertical.
Must Do: As much terrain as possible.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort
The Drive: 3 hours west through Rogers Pass, on a high mountain road through the Selkirk and Purcell mountains. Follow the Illecillewaet River through forested valleys to get from Kicking Horse to Revelstoke:
Terrain: 3,121 acres
Best For: Intermediate & Advanced
Known For: Having the highest vertical drop in North America (1,713m), with powdery glades and the famous North Bowl.
Must-Do: Go heli-skiing, and explore 500,000+ acres of pristine wilderness, including glaciers, meadows, and old-growth forest glades.
RED Mountain Resort
The Drive: The journey from Revelstoke to RED clocks in around 4 hours. Head south through the Kootenays, following Highway 23 to the unique (and free) ferry crossing of Upper Arrow Lake, and then south towards Rossland.
Terrain: 3,850 acres
Best For: Intermediate & Advanced
Known For: Being the oldest resort in Western Canada (and Canada’s #1 Ski Town two years in a row) with 5 skiable peaks.
Must-Do: Experience the world’s largest cat-skiing operation, Big Red Cats, with 20,000 acres of terrain to explore.
The Epic Pass Circuit (Colorado, USA)
Of all the Colorado ski road trips you could do, here’s our favourite: a powder-packed route with classic resorts, big mountain terrain, and historic mountain towns, all within a few hours’ drive of each other and the city of Denver. Bonus: You can use your Epic Pass at every resort.
Keystone Resort
The Drive: Denver > Keystone: 1.5h west, winding along the I‑70 through the Rocky Mountains, passing picturesque towns like Idaho Springs and Dillon. Enjoy mountain valleys, pine forests, and the Snake River and Dillon Reservoir along the way.
Terrain: 3,149 acres
Best For: Intermediate & Advanced
Known For: Being home to 3 mountain peaks—Dercum Mountain, North Peak, and The Outback—with 3,000+ acres of diverse terrain and a convenient, all-in-one base village.
Must Do: The high-alpine terrain off the Bergman Bowl Express.
Vail Resort
The Drive: The drive from Keystone to Vail takes about 30-45 minutes, traveling west along I-70 over the picturesque Vail Pass of the Rocky Mountains.
Terrain: 5,317 acres
Best For: Intermediate & Advanced
Known For: Being the second-largest single-mountain resort in North America, with groomed cruisers, challenging back bowls, glades, and expert chutes. With three different villages—Vail, Lionshead, and Cascade—Vail is as well-known for its culture as for its terrain.
Must Do: The famously thrilling 7 Back Bowls: Powder-filled alpine basins stretching across 2,785 acres.
Photo Credit: Vail Resorts - Vail
Beaver Creek Resort
The Drive: Winding through the Eagle River Valley framed by forested mountain views, it takes less than 30 minutes west along I-70 to get from Vail to Beaver Creek.
Terrain: 2,082 acres
Best For: Beginner & Intermediate
Known For: Luxury on and off the slopes, with perfect corduroy groomers, plenty of glades, and unbeatable service.
Breckenridge Resort
The Drive: The journey from Beaver Creek to Breckenridge takes about 1 hour through Vail Pass and the mountain town of Frisco
Terrain: 3,000 acres
Best For: Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced
Known For: Spanning 5 different peaks, with high-alpine, above-treeline terrain and North America’s highest chairlift, the Imperial SuperChair.
Must Do: Explore the town of Breckenridge, the largest historic district in Colorado.
The California Road Trip (California, USA)
Explore the beautiful Tahoe Lake region, and discover four of California’s best ski resorts, all within two hours of each other. Journey through a variety of landscapes, from the Sierra Nevada to the shores of Lake Tahoe, and into the Eldorado National Forest. Start at Northstar Ski Resort and fly in from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport (only 1h away).
Northstar Ski Resort
The Drive: This adventure begins in Reno, California, with your first stop being Northstar. This leg takes about 1 hour going west along I-80 through the desert and into the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Terrain: 3,170 acres
Best For: Intermediate & Advanced
Known For: Having a large diversity of terrain, from wide, beginner-friendly groomers to progression-friendly parks voted Top 10 in North America.
Must-Do: Tōst, a daily slopeside champagne toast.
Palisades Tahoe Resort
The Drive: From Northstar to Palisades Tahoe, it's only about 45 minutes in good conditions. Head south through Truckee toward Olympic Valley, a scenic route with views of the mountains and the Truckee River.
Terrain: 6,000 acres
Best For: Intermediate & Advanced
Known For: Its Olympic heritage (Palisades Tahoe hosted the 1960 Winter Games), vibrant ski culture and après-ski events, and massive terrain.
Must Do: Ride the Aerial Tram to High Camp for panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and its surrounding peaks.
Heavenly Ski Resort
The Drive: The drive from Palisades to Heavenly takes under 1.5 hours along the scenic west shore of Lake Tahoe. Pass through Tahoe City and Emerald Bay, with stunning lake and mountain views on the way.
Terrain: 4,800 acres
Best For: Intermediate & Advanced
Known For: Its location on the border of California and Nevada, breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe, and a large variety of terrain, from smooth groomers to steep glades and bowls.
Must Do: Experience the vibrant nightlife in the town of South Lake Tahoe.
Kirkwood Ski Resort
The Drive: To get from Heavenly to Kirkwood head west via US-50 West and CA-89/CA-88, a scenic forested mountain route. It should take a little over an hour, in good conditions.
Terrain: 2,300 acres
Best For: Intermediate & Advanced
Known For: Having some of the highest snowfall in the region (9 metres per season!), hardly any lift lines, varied expert terrain from cliffs to cornices, and laid-back mountain vibes.
Must Do: Ski the famous Wall chairlift, which gives you access to some amazing expert ski trails, including fast downhills and chutes with views of the village.
Photo Credit: Vail Resorts - Kirkwood
Whether you’re exploring BC’s Powder Highway, the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, or California’s Lake Tahoe region, turning your ski vacation into a road trip lets you ski more runs, experience a variety of terrain, and take in all the beautiful scenery in between.
Though planning a ski road trip can feel daunting, The Lodging Company is here to help you. Let the experts take all the stress out of planning your trip so you can focus on what matters–enjoying your time on the roads and on the slopes.
With the right route and a little preparation, a ski road trip comes together easily, but if you’d prefer an expert to handle the details, our team can build a custom itinerary and match you with the best stays along the way.
Marina is a skier, adventurer, and professional writer living in Vancouver, BC. She fell in love with skiing at the age of 3, and hasn’t stopped since.