7 East Coast Ski Resorts Rank Among Nation’s Top 30 in the Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards 2025

Condé Nast Traveler asked its readers to weigh in on which United States ski resorts are the best in its 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards: Top 30 Ski Resorts in the US. Since it was first published in 1987, Condé Nast Traveler has become a global authority on luxury travel. Seven ski resorts in the East made the list by the readers who voted them as one of the best in the country.

Although only seven resorts from the East made the list of the top 30 ski resorts in the United States, numerous ski resorts on the East Coast are top-notch. Ones that missed the list, which could have easily been included: Jay Peak, Smugglers Notch, Sugarloaf, Sugarbush, Gore, Sunday River, Stratton, and many more. The ski resorts that were voted by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler that made the list might come as a surprise to some, but to the ones who have skied them, it shouldn’t be a surprise at all.

• Related: The 9 Most Scenic Resorts on the East Coast

The top seven resorts from the East according to Condé Nast Traveler: 

#7 Snowshoe Mountain, West Virginia

Snowshoe Mountain Resort is located in the mountains of West Virginia and is a gem for skiers and snowboarders who happen to live close enough to go there. Snowshoe ranks number seven on this list and number 27 on the top 30 ski resorts in America, with a score of 84.51.

The mountain is dispersed into three zones, with Snowshoe Basin being the main domain. Snowshoe Basin features six of the 14 lifts, 41 trails, and two terrain parks. The Western Territory is on the backside of the mountain, which only offers advanced terrain containing one lift and two trails, both 1.5 miles long with 1,500 feet of vertical drop. On days when Snowshoe Basin may be packed, you’ll find a much thinner crowd in the Western Territory, no matter the day. Silvercreek is the third area and offers 17 trails, two terrain parks, and is the only section of Snowshoe with night riding.

#6 Camelback Mountain Resort, Pennsylvania

Camelback Resort is easy to spot just south of Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania, about an hour and a half from New York City and two hours from Philadelphia. Camelback ranks number six on this list and number 21 on the top 30 ski resorts in America, with a score of 87.39.

Camelback Mountain has trails for all levels of skiing and snowboarding, from beginners to experts. It has 16 ski lifts, 39 trails, and 100% snowmaking and night skiing. There is also a 170,000-square-foot indoor adventure building with tons of activities, such as a 125,000-square-foot indoor waterpark, indoor climbing wall, indoor ropes course, and over 100 arcades and rides for the whole family to enjoy. Camelback Lodge offers 452 rooms and is connected to Aquatopia Indoor Water Park. Camelback Resort is the largest in the Poconos in terms of its terrain, activities, amenities, and facilities.

#5 Whiteface Mountain, New York

Whiteface Mountain once again shows why it’s regarded as one of the premier ski destinations in the nation. Known for its Olympic experiences, history, and a steep, vertical drop, Whiteface attracts skiers and snowboarders from across North America. Whiteface ranks number five on this list and number 16 on the top 30 ski resorts in America, with a score of 89.57. The nearby village of Lake Placid was also recently nominated by USA Today for its 2025 Readers’ Choice 10 Best Award for top ski towns in the country.

Whiteface Mountain is nestled in the northern Adirondack Mountains and is in the town of Wilmington. It hosted the 1980 Winter Olympic Games for alpine skiing and has the largest vertical drop in the eastern United States. Whiteface Mountain is surrounded by history, with Lake Placid only minutes away, along with all the Olympic venues as well. Whiteface has that big mountain feel to it and provides some of the steepest terrain in the East.

The mountain is also home to the Slides, which are considered some of the most difficult terrain to hit in the East and are accessible by the Summit Lift and Lookout Mountain. There is a little bit of a hike to reach the top of the Slides, but it is not a lot. However, first-time and beginner skiers do not have to worry because the mountain has its own designated beginner area. Whiteface Mountain has 24% of its terrain designated as beginner as well. 

#4 Stowe Mountain Resort, Vermont

Stowe Mountain Resort is situated on Mt. Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak, and provides some incredible views of the rocky headwall of the mountain as well as the surrounding peaks. Its northern Vermont location means it experiences fewer freeze-thaw cycles than other competitors further south, but requires a longer drive from most northeast metropolitan areas. That being said, Stowe is only a 45-minute drive from Burlington, Vermont, and a 2-hour drive from Montreal. Stowe Mountain Resort ranks number four on this list and number 14 on the top 30 ski resorts in America, with a score of 89.66.

While there are some beginner options on the Mansfield side of the resort, most of the beginner terrain can be found off of Spruce Peak. If you are a more advanced guest, it is worth checking out Stowe’s famous Front 4: Starr, National, Goat, and Liftline. These runs test the skills of even the most seasoned skiers with long, steep fall lines littered with moguls that test skiers’ endurance.

#3 Killington Resort, Vermont

Vermont’s Killington Resort is the largest ski and snowboard destination in the East. It is known for its long seasons with being one of the first and last resorts to close not only in the East, but in the country each season. Killington Resort ranks number three on this list and number 12 on the top 30 ski resorts in America, with a score of 90.13.

The resort hosts the Stiefel Killington Cup every Thanksgiving weekend; however, due to the construction of the Superstar Chairlift this offseason, the race has been moved to Copper Mountain, Colorado. The World Cup race is planned to return to Killington for the 2026-27 season.

Killington is big and also consists of another ski area, Pico Mountain. The two resorts together offer an impressive combined total of 1,977 skiable acres, with Killington contributing 1,509 acres and Pico Mountain adding 468 acres. The two resorts feature 92 miles of trails, with Killington providing 73 miles across 155 trails and Pico offering 19 miles across 58 trails, resulting in a total of 213 trails. The trail difficulty breakdown shows Killington with 17% easier, 40% more difficult, and 43% most  difficult trails, while Pico has 18% easier, 46% more difficult, and 36% most difficult trails. Together, the resorts boast 27 lifts, including 3 gondolas (all at Killington), 1 six-pack (at Killington), 11 quads (10 at Killington, 2 at Pico), 4 triples (2 at each resort), 3 doubles (1 at Killington, 2 at Pico), 3 carpets (2 at Killington, 1 at Pico), and 2 surface lifts (1 at each resort).

Even though the resort is already the largest in the East, plans have been approved for an additional $22 million for on-mountain improvements, marking its second consecutive year of significant capital infusion under its independent ownership group. This move brings total investment at the resort to $60 million over two years, following the $38 million allocated the previous year, which included the addition of the Superstar Six chairlift.

#2 Blue Mountain, Pennsylvania

Home to Pennsylvania’s highest vertical at 1,082 feet, the most varied terrain in the region, and one of the largest snowmaking systems on the East Coast, Blue Mountain delivers unmatched conditions all season long. The resort is located in the Pocono Mountains and is less than two hours away from both Philadelphia and New York City. Blue Mountain ranks number two on this list and number 10 on the top 30 ski resorts in America, with a score of 90.39.

Blue is generally the first and last ski resort to close each season in Pennsylvania and offers 40 trails for every skill level, epic terrain parks, 16 lifts, and a 56 Lane Snowtubing Park (Largest in the U.S.). The resort has two lodges, one at the summit and one at the base, with the lodge at the top being the newest. Blue Mountain Resort also boasts one of the East Coast’s best snow-making systems and takes pride in it. The resort is so confident in its snowmaking capabilities that Blue Mountain announced its 2025-26 opening day on July 1, which was 150 days before its scheduled opening day of Friday, November 28.

#1 Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

As New Hampshire’s largest ski area, Bretton Woods offers 464 acres of skiing and snowboarding, 63 trails, 36 glades, and nine lifts—including BEQII, the resort’s new high-speed quad and high-speed gondola. The resort is known for its excellent snow conditions, grooming, lifts, lodging, dining, and family fun. Bretton Woods ranks number one on this list and number three on the top 30 ski resorts in America, with a score of 91.69.

Bretton Woods has been operating for 52 years in the heart of the White Mountains and is located about two and a half hours (160 miles) from Boston. The mountain offers 464 acres of skiing on 63 trails and 35 glade runs, and has one of the longest seasons in New Hampshire. It season usually starts in early November and runs to mid-April, due to its 92 percent snowmaking coverage and an annual snowfall average of 200 plus inches. Bretton Woods also has New Hampshire’s only eight-person gondola, the Bretton Woods Skyway Gondola.

This list of seven mountains provides an elite group of Eastern resorts that offer top-tier ski experiences across the region. From the rugged peaks of New Hampshire’s Bretton Woods to the accessible slopes of Pennsylvania’s Blue Mountain, these seven Eastern ski resorts have earned their place among the nation’s finest, as recognized by Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. Each resort offers a unique blend of terrain, amenities, and charm, catering to skiers and snowboarders of all levels while showcasing the diverse beauty of the East Coast’s mountain landscapes.