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Unfortunately, overnight parking and camping are not allowed at many ski areas, but there are some according to Roadtrippers.com. With slopeside rooms costing hundreds of dollars, or even $1,000 or more in some locations, skiing can be a pricey pastime. However, with a good sleeping bag and reliable transportation, you may find a new favorite hidden gem to save money on lodging. Whether it’s in the back of a Subaru, a travel trailer, or a Sprinter van, here is a list of resorts that allow camping. Each resort is different and permission may need to be obtained beforehand, use the links provided to get in touch and check first.
Washington State
Washington is one of the most camp-friendly states on this list. It is worth checking out, as it also receives huge amounts of snow each season, accompanied by radical terrain. The northern reaches of the Cascade Mountain range can be found in “The Evergreen State.”
- Crystal Mountain
- Mount Baker
- Stevens Pass
- The Summit at Snoqualmie (Alpental and Summit Central)
- 49 Degrees North
- Mission Ridge
Idaho
Idaho receives plenty of beautiful Rocky Mountain powder, with great terrain to back it up. This state is rich in skiing history but short on crowded slopes. The proximity of the Northern Rockies keeps this powder cold and dry in “The Gem State.”
- Schweitzer Mountain Resort
- Brundage Mountain Resort
- Bogus Basin Ski Area
- Pomerrelle Mountain Resort
- Silver Mountain Resort
- Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area
British Columbia, Canada
British Columbia is well known for the “Powder Highway” and ample snow conditions. The “Great White North” offers incredible terrain choices, with some of the tallest vertical rises in North America. These are bucket-list ski destinations in the Canadian Rockies that offer overnight parking.
Oregon
Oregon is known for its incredibly long ski season and chill vibes. It receives plenty of coastal snow each season in the Cascade Mountain range. Nicknamed “The Beaver State,” it is one of the few places in North America where you can ski on a Volcano.
Montana
Montana is well known for steep, aggressive terrain without the liftlines. With a cold continental climate, snow here stays dry long after storms, locally called “Cold Smoke.” Load up the van because extra insulation is needed, as temperatures can stay sub-zero for much of the winter. Below are a few resorts that allow camping within “The Treasure State.”
Colorado
Colorado is known for its beautiful ski scenery and 300+ days of sunshine annually, making it a prime location to catch a bluebird powder day. With generally high elevations at most resorts within the “Centennial State,” seasons can run long with great coverage. While there are many resorts to choose from here, only a few allow camping at the resort.
Utah
Utah is known for “The Greatest Snow On Earth” and lots of it. This unique geographic location allows snow to pile up consistently each winter. The “Beehive State” has many offerings to ski along the Wasatch Front, but only the minority offer camping slopeside.
New Mexico
New Mexico is known for “Hatch” green chiles and has a vibrant art scene. The “Land of Enchantment” provides outstanding extreme skiing in the southern reaches of the Rocky Mountains, and there is free camping.
Wyoming
Wyoming is well known for its national parks, including Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. A sub-range of the Rocky Mountains, the Teton Range receives amazing quantities of dry powder and has world-class terrain to match. The “Cowboy State” is also the least populated state in the U.S. and the 10th largest in size.
East Coast
A handful of resorts are also available throughout the East Coast and beyond. New Hampshire has two parking lots to offer, including the historic locations of Cannon Mountain and Gunstock Mountain Resort. Maine offers camping at two local favorites, Sugarloaf Mountain and Sunday River. Vermont makes the list with camping provided at the historic Killington Ski Area. Michigan has one option in Great Lake Country: Snowriver Mountain Resort in the North. Skiing world-class powder can come with a high price tag, especially in the destinations listed. A huge resource to save money can be to opt out of nice, cozy accommodations and opt into roughing it. Ski gear is expensive enough—save money and stay for free today with this list as a resource.
This is a very misleading article. For all the Washington listed ones is not allowed to camp in your car at those resorts at all!
Kicking Horse doesn’t allow camping at the resort, but you can camp basically anywhere 10 minutes away.
https://bridgerbowl.com/mountain/getting-here
Camping & Trailers
Parking trailers and camping is not allowed in the Bridger Bowl parking lot unless prior authorization is obtained. Please contact transportation@bridgerbowl.com for possible permission.
Overnight camping is prohibited May through November.
This article is very misleading. The majority of the resorts listed require reservations to camp and the camping typically isn’t free. Definitely do more research and absolutely don’t plan to just roll up to the resorts listed and camp in the lot. Camping gets more and more restricted each year and this article and the misinformation contained within sure isn’t helping.
You forgot about Killington in VT…