8 Best Places to Ski in Pennsylvania With Kids This Winter For An Epic Family Vacation

An adult looks at a young skier on a sunny day at Bear Creek Mountain Resort.
Photo Courtesy: Bear Creek Mountain Resort

Searching for the best places In Pennsylvania to ski with kids? Look no further! From The Poconos to southwest Pennsylvania, the sprawling state features some of the greatest destinations for families to visit during the winter. Whether you’re planning to ski with kids for the first time or need more challenging terrain for your advanced adventurers, you’ll find it at one of these locations. Plus, they’re all within convenient distance of the tri-state area! Once you’re on-mountain, choose from private or group lessons, activities for non-skiers such as tubing, and family-friendly accommodations. All you’ll need to start planning your next family ski vacation is to pick an option on our parent-approved list! Without further ado, here’s our list of the Best Places in Pennsylvania to Ski with Kids!

Best Ski Resorts in the Poconos for Families

The Poconos is one of the most family-friendly places to visit in Pennsylvania, so it’s no surprise this area houses most of the best places to ski in Pennsylvania with kids. Need a few suggestions for your excursion? Here are a few recommendations for family ski resorts in the Poconos!

Use our Ultimate Guide to Ski Gear for Kids to outfit your kids this season!

Blue Mountain Resort

1660 Blue Mountain Dr, Palmerton, PA

A young boy sits in the snow on a slope at Blue Mountain, one of the best places to ski in Pennsylvania with Kids.
Photo Courtesy: Meg Bull

Expect exciting terrain for all skill levels at the Blue Mountain Resort! Boasting the highest vertical drop in Pennsylvania, this Poconos ski area offers a great mix of beginner and intermediate slopes. You’ll find forty trails spread across five terrain parks, plus sixteen chair lifts!

Private skiing or snowboarding lessons are available for kids ages four and up, customizable by time slot or instructor. Little skiers looking for a more in-depth learning experience can enroll in one of the Blue Mountain Youth Programs, which trains kids between the ages of four and fourteen in a group setting. They also offer Winter Camps for several weeks for kids between six and fourteen. Adaptive skiing lessons are also available.

For families with non-skiers, the Blue Mountain tubing hill is home to the longest and fastest lanes in Pennsylvania!

Lodging options include camping, glamping, and more. Book your stay at indoor water parks like Great Wolf Lodge Water Park, Pocono Mountains, or Kalahari Resorts & Conventions – Poconos to double the fun! 

Blue Mountain Resort offers discounts on advance purchases of lift tickets. Learn more about purchasing tickets online here.

RELATED: Best Ski Resorts Near NYC For Families (All Under 3 Hours)

Jack Frost Ski Resort

434 Jack Frost Mountain Rd, White Haven, PA

A family sits around a fire bin at Jack Frost Ski Resort.
Photo Courtesy: Jack Frost Ski Resort

Families love the Jack Frost Ski Resort! Located in the Pocono Mountains, this Pennsylvania ski resort sits near its sister mountain Big Boulder. With two terrain parks, twenty slopes, and runs for every skill level, it’s also a perfect place to go skiing with kids!

Families can enroll little ones at the Jack Frost Ski School, one of the best ski resorts for beginners in the Poconos. The school offers private skiing or snowboarding lessons for ages five and up. Night skiing is also available at Big Boulder, and the ski school has an Adaptive Skiing Program too.

Plus, when you want some winter fun off the slopes, the resort’s tubing hill features beginner and intermediate lanes.

There are also plenty of lodging options, including Split Rock Resort.

Jack Frost Ski Resort belongs to the Epic Pass Program, but you can buy a multi-day pass to make your visit worthwhile. Remember to book your tickets ahead of time since lines can get long! Jack Frost Ski Resort lets kids four and under ski free! Plus, discounted prices on lift tickets for ages five to twelve years old. Learn more here.

Learn about the 12 Ways To Plan A Family Ski Trip On A Budget!

Shawnee Mountain Ski Area

 401 Hollow Rd, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301

A young boy wearing a large yellow coat skis on a trail at Shawnee Resort, one of the best places to ski in Pennsylvania with Kids
Photo Courtesy: Amanda Donnelly

Skiing at the Shawnee Mountain Ski Area guarantees non-stop snow! Located in the Poconos, it’s an easy trip from NYC, NJ, and Philly. Plus, with 23 trails, two terrain parks, affordable lodging options, and a huge snow tubing area, it’s no wonder it’s one of the best places to ski in Pennsylvania with kids!

Skiers and snowboarders of all ages will feel welcome here, but it’s an especially great location for little kids. For kids between four and six, there are small group Children’s Programs in the morning and afternoon to introduce them to the slopes. Families can even invest in a beginner’s package, including group lessons for kids six and up. Skiing group lessons are available for ages six and up, and snowboarding for ages seven and up. Private lessons cater to kids ages six and up. Adaptive skiing lessons are also available by reservation.

Shawnee Mountain Ski Area offers free lift tickets to kids under 46″ inches, accompanied by a paying adult. Learn more here.

RELATED: Best Ski Resorts With Snow Tubing Near NYC For Families

Montage Mountain Resorts

1000 Montage Mountain Rd, Scranton, PA 18507

Sever skiers enjoy the slopes at Montage Mountain on a sunny day.
Photo Courtesy: Montage Mountain

Montage Mountain is a must-visit Pennsylvania ski resort for families! Situated in the scenic Pocono Mountains, this winter paradise also doubles as a summer getaway, thanks to its waterpark. When families want to hit the slopes, there are many lodging options, and the skiing terrain ranges from beginner to expert. Advanced skiers especially love the challenging slopes, as the resort is known for housing the second steepest slope on the East Coast – “White Lightning.”

The Montage Mountain Ski School offers private lessons for kids ages three and up and group lessons for kids five to eleven. They can teach a group of six members from the same family. Confident skiers should test their skills by training on the competitive Montage Mountain ski racing team! As one of the best family ski resorts in Pennsylvania, Montage Mountain also showcases night skiing and air boarding, two unique activities the family can enjoy.

Long lines form in the busy tubing area, but it’s worth visiting to experience the fastest lanes in Pennsylvania! 

Montage Mountain Resorts sells lift tickets for an affordable price. Learn more here.

Camelback Mountain

301 Resort Dr, Tannersville, PA 18372

A young child slowly goes down a run on a snowboard, with their ski instructor coaching them each step of the way.
Photo Courtesy: Camelback Resort

Camelback Mountain is renowned as one of the best places for families to ski near NYC with kids! Located in the heart of the Pocono Mountains, this kid-friendly area is known for housing the largest snow tubing park in the United States. It’s also a popular spot for more advanced skiers or snowboarders, as families can discover over 35 well-groomed trails and more than a dozen lifts.

Kids four and up can also take group lessons at the Camelback Ski School, either for a half-day beginner lesson or a ninety-minute session. There are also early-bird private lessons, an Adaptive Skiing program, and family lessons. Teens older than thirteen have their own separate class options.

Nearby accommodations provide plenty of ski-in/ski-out suites, with multiple restaurants on-mountain to help little skiers maximize their time. If your kids ever get tired of the slopes, Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark even features an indoor waterpark!

Camelback Mountain offers families a value pack to save on skiing during the week. Learn more here.

Here are the 12 Of The Best Ski Resorts In America For Families Of All Ages!

Elk Mountain

344 Elk Mountain Rd, Union Dale, PA 18470

A young child wearing a bright orange helmet, green coat, and blue snowpants skis at Elk Ski Resort, one of the best places to ski in Pennsylvania with Kids
Photo Courtesy: Elk Ski Resort

Families seeking more challenging slopes are a fan of Elk Mountain. This kid-friendly ski resort located in Pennsylvania’s Endless Mountains is never too crowded for families who want a more low-key vacation experience. With 27 trails varying from green to blue or black diamond, skiers and snowboarders of all ages will find something great throughout the two terrain parks.

Private or group lessons from the Elk Ski School are available for kids ages six and up, but grab your reservation fast as they sell out quickly during busy periods. There’s also a variety of racing programs for kids with various abilities; this includes a Junior Racing program for kids ages nine to nineteen, and a Cruiser Racing Program for kids ages eight through twelve years old.

There are also plenty of affordable lodging options.

Elk Mountain offers a complimentary lift ticket for kids five and under skiing with a qualifying adult, plus discounts for little ones between six and fourteen years old. Learn more here.

More of the Best Ski Resorts in Pennsylvania for Families

If you’re searching for family ski resorts outside of the Poconos, don’t worry! There are just as many options catered to your family. For a few recommendations, here’s what we recommend for the best ski resorts outside of the Poconos for families.

Wondering Where to Ski in DC with Kids? Read this article to learn more!

Seven Springs Mountain Resort

777 Water Wheel Dr, Seven Springs, PA 15622

A ski instructor stands with four kids on skis at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, one of the best places to ski in Pennsylvania with Kids
Photo Courtesy: Seven Springs Mountain Resort

Seven Springs Mountain Resort is one of the best places to ski in Pennsylvania with kids! Located in southwest Pennsylvania, this sprawling ski resort is an ideal destination for families with mixed abilities. Big enough to offer something for everyone, it showcases plenty of lodging options and over 33 trails for beginners, intermediate, and advanced skiers alike. Plus, it’s also part of the Epic Pass Program!

Seven Springs Snowsports School offers private lessons for kids ages three and up, and herd lessons for four participants if families want to ski together. Group lessons are available to anyone four years or older. For older kids between ages seven and fifteen, the Junior Development Program is a multi-week program that fosters a lifelong love of skiing and snowboarding.

You’ll find many dining options or amenities nearby when you’re off the slopes, including indoor activities. Remember to visit the snow tubing hill, take a snowmobile tour, or go snowshoeing

Seven Springs Mountain Resort lets children five and under ski for free with a paying adult. Learn more here.

Bear Creek Resort 

101 Doe Mountain Ln, Macungie, PA 18062

An ariel view of Bear Creek Resort, featuring sevel skiers on the slopes, as well as the on-mountain buildings.
Photo Courtesy: Bear Creek Resort

Bear Creek Resort is another one of the best places to ski in Pennsylvania with kids! Located in the Lehigh Valley, this small but mighty mountain features three terrain parks: Cascade, Black Bear, and Family Park. The first two are freestyle parks! Some advanced skiers may not find the runs challenging enough, but this ski resort is great for beginners or families with young children.

Private lessons are available for kids four and up, with four and five-year-olds placed in separate groups. Families can also take a private group lesson together. Skiers between ages eight and fifteen can hang out at the Bear Creek Polar Bear Club instead, where they’ll be divided into small groups for two-hour lessons. When little ones are ready to show off their skills, Bear Creek Resort even hosts annual NASTAR racing!

Snow tubing sessions provide fun for non-skiers too. 

Bear Creek Resort lets kids five and under ski free with an accompanying adult! Learn more here.

Also, Read: 13 Best Resorts In Pennsylvania For Families

Happy Skiing!

A mom and two kids take a selfie on the chair lift at Bear Creek.
Photo Courtesy: Julie Mylnarsky

We hope you found this article on the best ski resorts in Pennsylvania for families helpful in planning a ski getaway with your kids! Whether you’re in the Lehigh Valley or the Pocono Mountains, we know you’ll have a blast making memories on the slopes with kids. Don’t forget to use our Ultimate Ski Trip Packing List For Families This Winter to prepare for your trip!

A special thank you to the Families Who Love to Travel Facebook community, who generously shared their travel advice and top picks for this list of the Best Places in Pennsylvania to Ski with Kids!

*Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the attractions, accommodations, or things to do on this list may be closed. Please ensure availability before making your decision. 

*This post may contain affiliate links that may earn us a small commission at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links in no way inform the hotels, sights, products, or other recommendations included in our articles. All opinions and recommendations expressed here are compiled from submissions submitted by the generous members of our Families Who Love To Travel community.

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