The resort that owns Liberty also has a 34 slope ski resort on the shores of Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland. Whitegrass (cross-country): If you’re looking for a very different experience, nearby Whitegrass offers $25 one-day passes and a wholesome, natural foods cafe. 40+ trails and beautiful scenery (and the $60 lift tickets) make this a good pick if you’re up for the 3-hour, 180 mile drive. While the down-rent resort has seen better days, the snow is unmatched in the DC region. The last time I visited Canaan, it felt a bit like I’d just entered a hot tub time machine. But with strong snow and thin crowds, this is well worth the 2 hour drive. The tiny resort has fewer than 10 trails and they’re all easy-peasy, so Bryce is not the place for you gnarly thrill seekers. Would that everything in life were this easy. Bryce ski resort 2hĪs I explain to James, the trick to getting off the chair lift is to … stand up. The Hampton Inn and Hagerstown Inn are also affordable options nearby. We recently stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, which is about 10 minutes away and has clean rooms, a heated pool and a legit complimentary breakfast. Lodging: This place is so close to DC that you really don’t need a room, but if you’re not an early riser and still want to get the best snow, there are plenty of cheap, hotels nearby. When you arrive, simply show them your bar code, grab the provided tube, and take the magic carpet up to your allotted lane. To go tubing, you must buy your ticket at least a week in advance using the link above, and you must commit to your two hour slot then. It’s also the one thing you absolutely need to reserve in advance on-line. Snow Tubing is $35 for a two-hour slot and is not included in your ski tickets. Snow Tubing: Also worth exploring is the snow-tubing at White Tail, which is on the right as you turn into the lot. The Terrain Park - the base of which is pictured above - has ample opportunities for skiers and snow-boarders to practice their rails and get some big air. The White Tail Trail Map shows two additional cool features worth exploring. With the new TechnoAlpin snow guns, White Tail has great snow from morning til thaw, every day.

We find the snow here to be the best on the East Coast, with fresh, dry, sandy-crunch snow, even on mornings following a big melt and overnight freeze. White Tail doesn’t make snow on all 23 trails, though, so it’s worth calling ahead and listening to the snow report before making the trip.Īs a Vail Resort, White Tail benefits takes the Epic Pass and also has the benefit of the latest snowmaking technology.

Although tickets usually run $84 per day, you can sometimes score a 1-day lift ticket online for under $60. The White Tail ski resort is larger than Liberty and has a bigger drop, which makes it well-worth the only modestly farther drive, and experienced skiers can skip the lines by riding the express quad to the more advanced trails. Liberty is open from 8a – 10p, so you can avoid the crowds by hitting the road early or joining late for the night-skiing. There are only 16 trails (as you can see on the Liberty Trail Map), but the gentle grade (plus the ability to snow tube if the skiing fails) make this an ideal place to learn your little ones. If your goal is a short drive, look no further than Liberty Mountain Resort. Even on a day with no snow on the ground and steam rising off the streets, you can still find ample skiing options within a two hour drive of Washington, DC Liberty ski resort 1.5h Liberty is a great place to learn to ski and, best of all, it’s close. Also check road conditions: if the snow is so great that you can’t get out of your driveway, you may want to find a good sledding hill nearby instead. The season open of all of these ski resorts varies based on the weather and rentals sometimes sell out, so be sure to check the resort website before you go. YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A WINTER SOMEWHERE, and with new snowmaking techniques at some resorts, you can experience west-coast snow conditions whenever the temperature falls below 32°.