10 Best Family Friendly Ski Resorts In The United States

Skiing solo as an adult is much different than skiing with your spouse and kids. When you’re on your own, you’re primarily focused on snow quality and the challenge of the runs. But once you have children, your priorities shift. 

You start considering factors like affordability, lodging, beginner slopes for the little ones, family-friendly winter activities besides just skiing or snowboarding, and easy access to the mountain. And that’s just the beginning. If you’re searching for the best family-friendly ski resorts in the US, this list has you covered.

1. Keystone Resort, Colorado

I love visiting Keystone. It’s a big-name resort, but it often doesn’t get the attention as its neighbors, Vail and Breckenridge, so you can generally expect fewer crowds on the slopes and at the lift lines. This is especially nice for families with small children. 

Aside from the small crowds, Keystone Resort is a great family-friendly ski resort because of its terrain. The resort boasts 3,149 skiable acres of terrain with 12% beginner runs, 39% intermediate, and 49% advanced. This distribution is nice for children just starting, those who have been skiing for a few years, and for experts in the family. 

Last but certainly not least, we must talk about the activities families can enjoy when not strapped into their skis or boards. Keystone has countless things for people young and old to enjoy together, including its snow fort, snow tubing, ice skating, sleigh rides, scenic gondola rides, and more! Families will love skiing here.

2. Big Sky Resort, Montana

Next up on the list is Big Sky Resort in Montana. This is the place to go if you are looking for a week-long ski trip with family because there’s so much to do at the ski resort and surrounding areas. You’ll want at least a week to soak it all in and explore. 

Big Sky Resort is one of the largest ski resorts in North America, so you can expect plenty of great ski runs, awesome restaurants, countless accommodation choices, a beautiful village area, and plenty of activities besides skiing or snowboarding. 

While I could talk all day about the different ski terrain and how incredible it is for everyone, from those just starting out to those who have been skiing for a lifetime, what I really love for families is the different options to keep everyone entertained off the slopes. 

My favorite is the Enchanted Forest. During the winter, from Thursday to Sunday, people of all ages can enjoy a little less than a mile-long snowy trail where the trees are illuminated with over 10,000 lights. You’ll want to make sure everyone is bundled up before heading here, but the experience is truly magical, and your kids will be talking about it for days on end. 

3. Breckenridge Ski Resort, Colorado

Breckenridge Ski Resort is next on the list. Because of its popularity, this resort is one of the most crowded in Colorado, but you know they are doing something right if so many people are flocking to it. While you’ll have to deal with more crowds and longer lift lines, it’s genuinely a great place to bring the family. Let me explain why. 

For starters, I absolutely adore the town of Breckenridge. While most ski resorts only have traditional villages, Breckenridge is actually a local town, so you’ll find local businesses, restaurants, shops, and even residential housing for those who live here year-round. It’s a much more local experience, and families will love being able to walk down Main Street and visit the stores and tasty restaurants. 

Another reason families will love visiting Breckenridge is its incredible ski slopes and world-class ski school for those who need to take lessons. Aside from that, it offers fun winter activities besides skiing and snowboarding, like its gold runner coaster and the mountaintop children’s museum for little ones interested in art and science. 

4. Steamboat Ski Resort, Colorado

Another Colorado resort to mention is Steamboat Ski Resort. This resort is a little further from Denver and requires a 3-hour drive, or you can fly to Denver and take a smaller regional plane to the airport at Steamboat. While it does require a little more effort than some of the I-70 resorts in Colorado, it’s well worth the venture for families looking for the ultimate ski trip away from all the crowds. 

The main reason families will love it here is because of the town of Steamboat Springs. While you could easily stay slopeside and enjoy the traditional village, I love downtown Steamboat because it is walkable and full of restaurants, shops, and local businesses to explore. 

Aside from the charming town, Steamboat is a great place for families because of its variety of terrain and exceptional powder. There’s nothing quite like skiing here when there’s a fresh snowstorm, and everyone in the family is sure to love it. And when you are ready for a break from the slopes, Steamboat has countless activities for you to enjoy, like scenic gondola rides, snowmobiling tours, hot air balloon rides, horseback riding, snow tubing, and more. 

5. Northstar California Resort, California

Northstar California Resort is one of the best California resorts for families. If you don’t know much about Northstar, it sits near the northern part of Lake Tahoe, not far from the town of Truckee, so it’s a great location for families wanting a variety of places to explore. 

Besides its location, Northstar is a great place for a family friendly skiing experience because of the resort itself. Not only is the actual skiing and snowboarding epic with plenty of runs for beginners, intermediates, and experts, but the resort prides itself on being very family friendly.  This is because they have easy transportation services for those not wanting to rent a vehicle, a great ski school for those who need lessons, and countless options for family-friendly dining and accommodations. 

Top these things off with fun winter activities like shopping, ice skating, tubing, and simple things like making s’mores, and you will have the recipe for the best ski resort in California for families. 

6. Jay Peak Resort, Vermont

Jay Peak Resort is next on this list. It is in the state of Vermont, super close to the Canadian border. Because of its overall resort atmosphere, it is up there with one of the best family-friendly resorts in the country. 

Like the other resorts on this list, Jay Peak offers incredible skiing and snowboarding for families with varying levels of riders. However, Jay Peak stands out for all the activities it offers besides skiing. Here, you can enjoy indoor and outdoor activities ranging from its incredible indoor waterpark to a climbing gym, arcades, shopping, and more. Kids and adults won’t get tired of the many options here. 

Thanks to the countless fun activities and excursions you can enjoy together, every family member will leave wanting to come back here as soon as possible.

7. Park City Mountain, Utah

We can’t talk about the best family-friendly ski resorts in the United States without mentioning Park City Mountain, the largest resort in Utah. As the largest resort in the state, you can expect terrific terrain, fun village areas, and plenty of things to do. 

Similar to Big Sky, in a way, I suggest planning a family vacation here for a whole week because you’ll want plenty of time to explore all that the area has to offer. Park City’s terrain is what really sets the resort apart from others because of its massive size, including 7,300 skiable acres of terrain. Families will have a ball here exploring new terrain all week. 

Aside from the great skiing and snowboarding, families will love the different activities here. Some of the activities include sleigh rides, the flying eagle zipline, scenic gondola rides, the mountain coaster, the shopping, and that’s just the beginning of what everyone in the family can enjoy. 

8. Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado

Are you surprised that yet another Colorado ski resort is included on this list? I’m not! Colorado is the best state to go skiing because of its countless resorts that cater to everyone. The state is notorious for its high elevation, great snow, fantastic terrain, and amazing ski resorts, including Beaver Creek Resort. 

I love this resort because it doesn’t get all the attention as Breckenridge or even Keystone so that you can expect fewer crowds here. This is lovely for families because it gives you more room and less stress, having to worry about big lift lines and navigating the mountain as a family. It also goes without saying that Beaver Creek Resort has incredible terrain for the whole family to enjoy. 

But my favorite part about Beaver Creek is how it goes the extra mile to make its guests happy. Families will love the resort’s daily tradition of serving warm chocolate chip cookies at 3:00 PM. There’s nothing better after a long day on the slopes, and your kids are sure to be excited! Another thing families will love is all the activities you can enjoy together on and off the mountain, including kids’ activity zones, ice skating, shopping, and different parks.

9. Deer Valley Resort, Utah

If your family is a skiers-only family, meaning you don’t have any snowboarders in the group, then I would definitely check out Deer Valley Resort. This resort is located in Utah, about 45 minutes from Salt Lake City, making it super convenient for families to get to. 

While Deer Valley Resort is notorious for being upscale and attracting celebrities, many people don’t realize it’s also an excellent place for families. While the resort is famous for its high-end accommodations, fancy dining options, and lavish shopping, it also has more family-friendly places to stay, laid-back restaurants, and boutiques. It’s a great balance for families wanting a mix of experiences. 

For those looking for a resort with kids’ programs, Deer Valley offers several different options, including ski schools and child care.

10. Stowe Mountain Resort, Vermont

Another one of the best family friendly ski resorts in the US is Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont. This is a great option for those on the East Coast and one of my personal favorite mountains in the state. 

Stowe is a great place for family-friendly experiences because of its incredible terrain. The resort is fairly small, with just 485 skiable acres of terrain, with 16% beginner, 55% intermediate, and 29% advanced. I love this as a mom because it doesn’t make me feel completely overwhelmed when trying to navigate thousands of acres of terrain with little ones in tow!

Another reason Stowe is incredible for families is its incredible village area. It’s perfect for walking around, shopping, dining, and enjoying the scenery. It also has plenty of great family-friendly accommodation options right by the ski slopes. 

What’s Your Favorite Family Friendly Ski Resort In The United States?

Let us know in the comments!