Family-Friendly Ski Resorts Near Charleston

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Looking to plan a family-friendly ski or snowboard trip? Consider one of these six mountains, all within a six-hour drive from Charleston. Load the gear, pile in, and hit the road for a snow-filled winter adventure! No flying required.

ski resorts: a family of four ski down a snowy mountainFamily-Friendly Ski Resorts

Cataloochee Ski Area
Location: Maggie Valley, NC
Distance from CHS: Just under 5 hours
Closing Day: Late March (estimated)
Why Go: One of the closest ski resorts to Charleston, Cataloochee is the first ski area in the state of North Carolina according to its website. It offers 50 skiable acres, night skiing, and snow tubing at nearby Tube World.
Plan Ahead: Put your littles in ski and ride full- or half-day programs and private or group lessons. Online reservations are required. Ski passes and Tube World tickets can be purchased up to two weeks in advance.

Hatley Pointe Mountain Resort (formerly Wolf Ridge Ski Resort)
Location: Mars Hill, NC
Distance from CHS: Just under 5 hours
Closing Day: Mid-March (estimated)
Why Go: At 4,700 feet elevation, the newly rebranded Hatley Pointe offers 54 acres of skiable terrain with night skiing and snow tubing options. Located five miles off of I-26 and just 40 minutes north of Asheville.
Plan Ahead: New additions for the 2023-2024 season will include an updated lodge, enhanced rental equipment, and greater snowmaking capabilities according to the resort’s website. Ski and snowboard school is offered as private, semi-private, or in group lessons.

Sugar Mountain Resort
Location: Sugar Mountain, NC
Distance from CHS: 5 hours
Closing Day: Late March (estimated)
Why Go: With a 1,200-foot vertical and 21 trails, Sugar is the largest ski and winter sports area in North Carolina and the only one to feature a double black diamond run. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, guided snowshoeing, tubing, and ice skating are also available.
Plan Ahead: Daily childcare is available for children 1-9 years of age at the Drop-Off Child Care Center. Children ages four and under can also receive a free lift ticket accompanied by a ticketed adult when purchased at the administration office and/or ski school office. Advanced reservations are recommended.

Beech Mountain Resort
Location: Beech Mountain, NC
Distance from CHS: 5.5 hours
Closing Day: Mid-March (estimated)
Why Go: Standing tall at 5,506 feet, Beech Mountain is the highest ski resort in the east and the second largest in North Carolina. The resort offers a variety of daily youth group and private lessons, full-day ski and snowboard programs, as well Snow Kamp daily childcare for ages 3-5, and tubing.
Plan Ahead: Advanced registration for Snow Kamp is required as space is limited.

Appalachian Ski Mountain
Location: Bowling Rock, NC
Distance from CHS: just under 5 hours
Closing Day: March 17 (estimated)
Why Go: Family-friendly and easy to navigate, Appalachian Ski Mountain offers 27 skiable acres, late-night skiing, and ice skating. There is an on-site nursery open seven days a week for children ages 1-4. Advanced online reservations are required.
Plan Ahead: Be sure to reserve your lift tickets and rentals before you go. The resort has also recently gone cashless for the 2023-2024 season and will accept all major credit cards and other forms of cashless payments. Cash can also be converted to Visa debit cards for free using the resort’s reverse ATM kiosks.

Winterplace Ski Resort
Location: Ghent, West Virginia
Distance from CHS: 6 hours
Closing Day: Mid-March (estimated)
Why Go: A great option for beginners with over 90 acres of skiable terrain and 27 trails, Winterplace is West Virginia’s southernmost ski resort located just minutes off of I-77.
Plan Ahead: Winterplace has the largest snow tubing area in West Virginia and offers a SkiWee and Snow Explorers half-day learn to ski/board programs for children ages 6-12. Advanced online purchase of lift tickets is recommended and includes discounted fares.

Do you have a favorite ski resort in the southeast that we missed? Drop it in the comments below!

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