The coldest, snowiest days of winter have arrived. Whether you’re happy about that or not, there are plenty of ways to get in a little sunshine, fresh air and exercise—all within a 4-hour drive of the DMV. Ski and snowboard season is underway, and there are plenty of other options for frosty fun. If precipitous drops and moguls aren’t your thing, leave the slopes to the speed demons and opt for bucolic cross-country skiing or low-key snowshoeing. Or get your thrills with snow tubing, sledding and snowmobiling. Here are our top picks for places to enjoy powder on a quick day trip or weekend getaway.
Blackwater Falls State Park
Race down a quarter mile of fresh mountain snow on the East Coast’s longest sled run at Blackwater Falls State Park in West Virginia. Half the fun of the sledding experience is the ride on a Magic Carpet conveyor belt along a picturesque wooded incline. Once you reach the top, let gravity do the work as you race down more than a quarter mile of fresh mountain snow. (The park provides the sleds and all the necessary equipment.) Kids 8 and under must ride with an adult. Open Thursday through Sunday until mid-March, this sled run is near the Canaan Valley and Timberline ski resorts (more on those below), making it a nice side trip if you’re in those areas for skiing. For a more docile winter outing, try renting cross-country skis or snowshoes and tackling some of Blackwater Falls’ 10+ miles of groomed, snow-covered trails. The park has a full-service cross country skiing and snowshoeing center that offers lessons and equipment rentals. You can make a weekend of it by renting a cozy cabin. Drive time from Arlington: 2 hours 45 minutes 1584 Blackwater Lodge Road, Davis, West Virginia
Bryce Resort
Cozy Bryce Mountain has fewer skiing and snowboarding runs than most other mid-Atlantic resorts (12 runs with five lifts, including two Magic Carpet areas for beginners), but the upside is a more intimate experience. The family-friendly, 400-acre resort calls itself a “little mountain with big character.” All the trails feed down to one main gathering area at the base, so it’s easy to keep an eye on little ones. Join the parents-with-bags brigade at the bottom of the slopes, where you can enjoy music, hot food, snacks and drinks (both alcoholic and non). Bryce also offers snow tubing and ice skating, and hosts one of the largest children’s ski racing teams in the Southern Region, with more than 80 racers. Check the resort’s events page for festive happenings and seasonal entertainment. Drive time from Arlington: 2 hours 1982 Fairway Drive, Basye, Virginia
Canaan Valley Resort
This mountain offers 26 trails with snowmaking machines on 75% of them. Of course, the terrain is at its skiable best after a natural snowfall—particularly the longest run, which covers 1.25 miles. For beginner skiers, there are two Magic Carpet conveyors. This resort has a little something for every snow lover, so if skiing and snowboarding are not your jam, try tubing, ice skating, cross country skiing or snowshoeing. Canaan Valley Resort State Park offers more than 19 miles of marked, ungroomed cross country trails with cross country ski and showshoe rentals ($20), lessons and guided tours. (Be sure to check ahead for cross country skiing or snowshoeing as these are dependent on natural snow.) Drive time from Arlington: about 3 hours 230 Main Lodge Road, Davis, West Virginia
Liberty Mountain Resort
Located just over the Maryland line in Adams County, Pennsylvania, Liberty is easily doable as a day trip, but because of that it can get very busy. (If you can manage to play hooky for a weekday visit, the payoff will be more time on the slopes and less time waiting in lift lines.) The resort’s modest size—100 acres—makes it easy to navigate with large groups or young kids, and there are snowmaking machines on 100% of the terrain. Liberty, owned by Vail Resorts, also offers night skiing starting at 3 p.m., on-site lodging and an indoor pool. Their tubing area is open Thursday through Sunday for those 42 inches and taller. Drive time from Arlington: 1.5 hours 78 Country Club Trail, Fairfield, Pennsylvania
Massanutten Resort
After an upgrade about a year ago, Massanutten now offers 83 skiable acres, 23 runs and 7 lifts. A new high speed chairlift, Peak Express, keeps the lines moving and the resort added new snow guns to boost snowmaking capacity. The ski and snowboard slopes are just one part of a 6,000-acre resort that also offers snow tubing (day and night) and an indoor water park for those who’d rather slip and slide in H2O that isn’t frozen. If you can get there mid-week, take advantage of the Last Chair Special: discounted lift tickets ($27) Tuesday through Thursday from 3-5 p.m., and Monday Night Madness: a discounted $35 lift ticket and $25 equipment rental from 4-9 p.m. Drive time from Arlington: 2.5 hours 1822 Resort Drive, Massanutten, Virginia
Omni Homestead Resort
Ten ski trails here offer challenges for all levels of skiers. A teaching area with gentle terrain helps new boarders and skiers get their snow legs. Advanced skiers and snowboarders can take to the intermediate trails: The Glades, Escape, and Upper Main, while the most seasoned can test their skills on the Nose Dive or The Chute. The resort also has ice skating and tubing. After a brisk day outside, warm your bones with a dip in the area’s natural hot springs. Drive time from Arlington: 3 hours 45 minutes 7696 Sam Snead Highway, Hot Springs, Virginia
Roundtop Mountain Resort
Another popular destination for day-trippers, Roundtop, with a top elevation of 1,340 feet, boasts “more snow for longer” thanks to its north-facing slopes. The resort that first opened in 1964 with just one lift, two rope-tows and four slopes has since grown to offer 22 runs, nine lifts, four terrain parks and snow tubing. Today the property is owned and operated by Vail Resorts. Be sure to check the events calendar for fun activities all winter long, including the Friday Night Lights glow-up party, live bands and discounted lift tickets ($39) on Wednesday nights. Drive time from Arlington: about 2 hours 925 Roundtop Road, Lewisberry, Pennsylvania
Seven Springs Mountain Resort
This all-season resort has an elevation of about 3,000 feet with 285 skiable acres, including 33 trails serviced by 10 chairlifts, two of which are high-speed six-seaters. Newbies can ride up the bunny slopes via a rope tow and three Magic Carpet areas. Seven Springs also offers night skiing and tubing. Staying overnight at the resort? There’s no shortage of apres ski activities, including swimming, axe throwing, mini golf and a spa. Refuel at any of the 14 restaurants, including the upscale Helen’s, family-friendly Slopeside or casual Foggy Goggle and Mountain Pizza. Stop by Gingerbread Dreams for a baked treat or ice cream, and fuel up in the morning at the Wagner Run Coffee House. Seven Springs became part of Vail Resorts in 2021. Drive time from Arlington: 3.5 hours 777 Water Wheel Drive, Seven Springs, Pennsylvania
Snowshoe Mountain Resort
You’ll find 60 ski and snowboard trails crisscrossing 244 acres, plus two terrain parks and snow tubing at this popular ski resort equipped with 14 lifts, including two high-speed quads. Two trails, Shay’s Revenge and Cupp run, have a 1,500 foot vertical drop—the highest in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic. At dusk, 12 trails open up under the lights for night skiing. Another option? Book a daytime or nighttime backcountry snowmobile tour. The 1.5-hour adventure takes you deeper into the mountain’s wilderness and through a variety of terrain, including narrow hill climbs, old growth spruce forests and frozen creek crossings. Shorter evening rides are also available, and children are permitted to ride as passengers on some of the tours. For family apres ski fun, head to The Bear’s Den for arcade games, pool tables and axe throwing, and ride a Gyro Extreme. Drive time from Arlington: 4 hours 10 Snowshoe Drive, Snowshoe, West Virginia
Timberline Mountain
If you haven’t been to Timberline Mountain in a while, it might be worth a fresh visit. The resort was auctioned off in 2019 and is now owned by the Perfect family, which has invested more than $15 million to improve snowmaking, extend the season and install a high-speed, 6-person ski lift (the first of its kind in West Virginia). Timberline offers terrain parks, night skiing, two carpet lifts for beginners and 20 runs with a peak elevation of 4,268 feet—one of the highest elevations in the East. Drive time from Arlington: about 3 hours 254 Four Seasons Drive, Davis, West Virginia
White Grass Ski Touring Center
No reservations are needed for this cross country or snowshoeing adventure, open December through March in West Virginia’s High Alleghenies. Explore 30 miles of maintained trails and rolling hills that range from 3,220 feet below the lodge to 4,463 feet at Tucker Couty’s high point atop Weiss Knob. That’s more than 1,200 vertical feet to traverse. Then fuel up and recharge at touring center’s White Grass Cafe. Drive time from Arlington: 3 hours 643 Weiss Knob Ski Road, Davis, West Virginia
Whitetail Mountain Resort
Another mountain on Vail’s Epic Pass (which also covers Liberty and Roundtop locally), this four-season resort has 23 trails, 120 acres of skiable terrain and 100% snowmaking coverage. About 50 percent of the trails are ranked intermediate, with about 25% beginner and 25% advanced. You’ll also find two terrain parks, night skiing and snow tubing. Drive time from Arlington: 1 hour 45 minutes 13805 Blairs Valley Road, Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
Wintergreen Resort
Wisp Resort
Tucked away on the northern edges of Deep Creek Lake, Maryland’s only downhill ski resort has 137 acres of skiable slopes with 34 runs and 12 chairlifts. This year the resort is investing $2.5 million to add snowmaking guns and improve trail openings, connectivity and flow. Wisp also offers a terrain park, snow tubing and one bowl, which is only open if it receives enough natural snowfall. Yet another way to get your thrills? Book a ride on Wisp’s Mountain Coaster—a cross between an alpine slide and roller coaster that allows you to control your own speed with hand brakes (max is 28 mph) through 3,500 feet of corkscrews, dips and plunges. Drive time from Arlington: 3 hours 296 Marsh Hill Road, McHenry, Maryland