Rankings
Best Ski Resorts for Families
Finding a resort that keeps the 5-year-old happy AND doesn't bore the adults into a coma? That's the real double black diamond of ski trip planning. We crunched the data on terrain variety, beginner access, and overall vibe to find the resorts where everyone actually has fun.
Snowmass
IkonColoradoSnowmass combines 3,332 acres of terrain with a welcoming atmosphere for all ability levels.
Vail
EpicColoradoVail combines 5,317 acres of terrain with a welcoming atmosphere for all ability levels.
Deer Valley
IkonUtahDeer Valley combines 4,300 acres of terrain with a welcoming atmosphere for all ability levels.
Northstar California
EpicCaliforniaNorthstar California combines 3,170 acres of terrain with a welcoming atmosphere for all ability levels.
Park City
EpicUtahPark City combines 7,300 acres of terrain with a welcoming atmosphere for all ability levels.
Okemo
EpicVermontOkemo combines 632 acres of terrain with a welcoming atmosphere for all ability levels.
Mount Snow
EpicVermontMount Snow combines 600 acres of terrain with a welcoming atmosphere for all ability levels.
Beaver Creek
EpicColoradoBeaver Creek combines 1,832 acres of terrain with a welcoming atmosphere for all ability levels.
Sun Peaks Resort
IndependentBritish ColumbiaSun Peaks Resort combines 4,270 acres of terrain with a welcoming atmosphere for all ability levels.
Keystone
EpicColoradoKeystone combines 3,148 acres of terrain with a welcoming atmosphere for all ability levels.
Silver Star Mountain Resort
IndependentBritish ColumbiaSilver Star Mountain Resort combines 3,282 acres of terrain with a welcoming atmosphere for all ability levels.
Steamboat
IkonColoradoSteamboat combines 3,668 acres of terrain with a welcoming atmosphere for all ability levels.
Big White Ski Resort
IndependentBritish ColumbiaBig White Ski Resort combines 2,765 acres of terrain with a welcoming atmosphere for all ability levels.
Copper Mountain
IkonColoradoCopper Mountain combines 2,465 acres of terrain with a welcoming atmosphere for all ability levels.
Grand Targhee Resort
IkonWyomingGrand Targhee Resort combines 2,602 acres of terrain with a welcoming atmosphere for all ability levels.
How We Score
Each resort gets a 0-100 score based on weighted attributes specific to this category. We pull from real data: average annual snowfall, skiable acres, vertical drop, summit elevation, pass coverage, proximity to major airports, and editorial “best for” tags from our resort profiles.
Scores are normalized so the best resort in each attribute gets 100 and the rest scale proportionally. The final score is a weighted average -- heavier weights go to the attributes that matter most for each category.
This isn't pay-to-play. No resort can buy a higher ranking. It's math, data, and a little editorial judgment.