Winter getaways from NYC for families

Travel time: 2 hours and 20 minutes by car

Camelback Resort is the ultimate winter wonderland twofer: you can hit the slopes and tubing park for snowy fun outdoors, or splash around in the massive indoor waterpark for some tropical fun. The water park is complete with tube slides, the adventurous Venus Slydetrap, the gnarly Bombora Flowrider—it's worth the hype, and a nice change of pace from chillier activities. Soak up the 84-degree temperature as kids choose which one of the 13 slides suits their needs. There's also a lazy river for those who want to take things slow. If you have tots in tow, not to worry—kiddie slides are at the ready. Good news for moms and dads: In the off-chance the youngsters allow for a bit of alone time, grab a cocktail at the swim-up bar.

Travel time: 1 hour and 40 minutes by car

You visit Rocking Horse Ranch in the winter for the indoor water park, horse-drawn sleigh rides and a bunny slope perfect for first-time skiers. But that's not all: The Winter Fun Park has skiing, snowboarding and tubing, while the Fun Barn is an indoor playspace complete with climbing walls, giant Nerf cannons and bouncing structures. Don’t forget the scavenger hunts and bingo. Day camp and nursery programs are also available for when you want a little grown-up time to attend wine tastings or try a spa treatment.

Travel time: 2 hours by car from NYC

Butternut has been the bunny slope of choice for generations of New Yorkers and New Englanders. One of the best family mountains in the East, it has a terrific ski school for the kids, plus adult lessons if you need them—it's never too late to learn the basics. The First Timer Package includes a beginner lift ticket, rentals and a 90-minute lesson. The package is for skiers ages 4 and up—start 'em young, and your little skier will always be a natural on the slopes.

Travel time: 1.5 hours by car from NYC

It's hard to believe you're only a short distance away from NYC when you pull up to this vast Victorian pile that opened in 1869. Mohonk is a winter wonderland for kids and parents alike, a private paradise the size of a state park. The ice rink is legendary, and older kids will love the tubing and snowshoeing—all of which are included in the price of your stay. When the weather is too cold or the crew's had enough activity, head to the fireplace for a mug of cocoa.

Travel time: 1 hour by car from NYC

Bear Mountain State Park is fun no matter the weather. It has great hiking in warmer months, and solid cross-country skiing when snow blankets the countryside—not to mention the ice skating at outdoor rinks. Not feeling athletic? No sweat. The neighboring Trailside Museums & Zoo make for a fun afternoon of learning. Best of all, you can feel as though you're in another world, then return home to NYC and spend the night in your bed—the park is only one hour away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Travel time: 2 hours by car from NYC 

Regardless of the time of year, a trip to Woodloch Pines is always a good idea. Visitors can get into the holiday spirit by taking in the annual Festival of Lights, an epic display of Christmas decorations that will convince you it really is the most wonderful time of the year. Kids will love chowing on Christmas cookies and sipping eggnog while participating in the Yule Log Hunt. But for those in search of competition, there's good news. Families battling over victory will be overjoyed with the seasonal offerings during the Winter Olympics. Win or lose, adult visitors will want to take advantage of the spa after outdoor festivities and wind down their day with a fun family dinner with a variety of a la carte dining. 

Travel time: 2 hours by car from NYC

This Pocono Mountains ski area is a favorite with NYC fams for good reason. You can ski beginner-level green trails all the way from the peak to the base, making it one of the most accessible spots around. Take advantage of 90-minute beginner lesson package for the kiddos that includes a lift ticket and rentals (ages 4–12, $95). Not into the slopes? Camelback sports the title of the country's largest snow-tubing park. But if you're set on skiing or snowboarding, here's arguably the best news of all: The trails are lit for nighttime skiing. No one has to miss out on the fun when the sun goes down.

Travel time: 1 hour and 45 minutes by car from NYC

Get in tune with the gorgeous surroundings at this Colonial Dutch–style resort which calls an unspoiled forest its home (a true NYC escape if you ask us). Skytop Lodge certainly offers picturesque views in the winter, but make no mistake: The grounds' 5,500 acres are begging visitors to take advantage of its adventurous offerings. From skiing and tubing to snowshoeing and ice fishing, there's something on the menu for all those in search of an entertaining experience. Winter is the perfect time to book a stay at Skytop, as visitors will be treated to a tree-lighting ceremony, arts and crafts and story time for the kids and more Yuletide goodness. (Did we mention there's a life-sized gingerbread house?).

Travel time: 2 hours 30 minutes by car

This is the People's Mountain—this large ski area is owned by New York State, and it feels like a well-run park. The ski school has programs for kids, teens and adults, while more advanced skiers can sign up for group or one-on-one lessons. Once you’re ready to hit the slopes, you’ll find 50 trails of varying degrees of difficulty, five glades, a terrain park, a progression park and nearly six miles of cross-country skiing trails covered in natural snow. 

Travel time: 2 hours by car from NYC

The only thing better than a family mountain is two family mountains. Jack Frost has a vertical drop of 600 feet, with 20 trails and 12 lifts. Located 20 minutes away, Big Boulder is slightly smaller but it has an enormous terrain park. Head to the tubing park at the top of Jack Frost or the shorter tubing hill on Big Boulder for whirls and laughs When hungry tummies start grumbling, choose from either resort’s on-site dining options including burrito bars, bar and grill restaurants and coffee shops.

The Great Wolf Lodge is jam-packed with family fun, including an arcade, bowling alley, storytimes and so much more. But the real reason to go to the hotel in the winter is for the water park—admission is included in the price of your room. Enjoy 79,000 square-feet of swimming, splashing and sliding. The Hydro Plunge will give you rollercoaster-like thrills, while Coyote Canyon includes a water slide with a four-story-tall drop. The Raccoon Lagoon activity is for those who would rather embrace a leisurely pace. Grownups will enjoy a pitstop at the adults-only North Hot Springs and South Hot Springs.

Travel time: 2 hours by car from NYC

Make snow tubing an exhilarating bonding experience by piling into a giant inflatable that fits the whole family and sliding down a frozen lane. The resort includes 30 chutes that are more than 1,000 feet long and three lifts to take you and your group up the mountain. Whether you’re a beginner or a skiing master, this spot suits all with 39 trails that include a 3,000-foot double black diamond trail, six terrain parks and the gentler slopes of Lazy Mile and Paradise.

Travel time: 2 hours by car from NYC

This venue has 19 trails and four terrain parks with elements for both beginners and experienced skiers. Nine trails are illuminated after dark so the family can continue into the night— no need to press pause on the adventure. There are also three tubing runs ranging in difficulty. Group and private lessons are available, so don’t shy away just because you haven’t learned to navigate a set of skis—someone's on hand to help you make the most out of your experience. 

Travel time: 1 hour and 20 minutes by car from NYC

Parents will love that the kids can roll around in the snow fewer than 90 minutes from the city at Mountain Creek Resort. And you don’t even need to rent a car to get there: The NYC Snow Bus leaves from Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn locations (nycsnowbus.com) and brings you there. Besides skiing, snow tubing and making snow angels, the New Jersey resort added fat tire biking to the roster of winter activities. These winterized bikes have extra-large tires for gripping the snowy trails. Once you've torn up the trails and return to the base of the mountain, sign kids up for Mountain Creek’s Kids Camp.

Travel time: 2 hours and 30 minutes by car from NYC

In autumn, the Berkshire Hills offer brilliant fall colors, and in December, they’re dusted in fresh, white snow. At the Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, kids can test their limits on the resort’s 45 skiing trails, then take the ski lift to enjoy hot cocoa while taking in a gorgeous view at Hendrick’s Summit Lodge. Back at base, you’ll find the quaint resort village with several dining options. No matter when you choose to visit, nothing keeps a parent sane like having lodgings with separate bedrooms and a parents’-only space to watch TV, chat and unwind after the kids pass out. At the Country Inn at Jiminy Peak, you’ll find accommodations with a kitchen, living area and bedroom.

Travel time: 2 hours and 40 minutes by car

The amusement park here may only be open on weekends and during school recess at this time of year, but the chocolate flows year-round at Hershey’s Chocolate World. Here, kids get to see, smell and taste the chocolate for free before stepping into the kitchen to create their own custom candy bar. After you’ve had your fill of chocolate, head to the nearby Antique Automobile Club of America Museum where the little ones can sit at the wheel of an antique vehicle and step into an old-school auto shop and drive-in diner. Before retreating to your room, head to the Cocoa Beanery for a cup of hot cocoa next to the fireplace.

Travel time: 1 hours and 30 minutes by car from NYC

This Hudson Valley retreat is situated in the 14,337-acre Clarence Fahnestock State Park at an elevation of 1,100 feet, which means there’s plenty of snow to go around. Pop into the park lodge to rent skis, snowshoes, sledding tubes and other gear as well as to stock up on warming beverages before heading into the cold. Outside, amateur and experienced cross-country skiers and snowshoers encounter 11 miles of mapped trails traversing old stone walls, streams, lakes and granite outcroppings.

Travel time: 2 hours by car from NYC

When a Hall of Famer creates a slope, you know it’s going to be good. Walt Schoenknecht developed Mohawk Mountain Ski Area in 1947, and through its partnership with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection at Mohawk State Park, it gives cross-country skiers 25 trails across 107 acres of snowy paradise. Take a Parent-Tot lesson at the Snowsports Discovery Center for tips on how to introduce your three- or four-year-old to skiing. And with 12 trails lit for night skiing, the revelry doesn’t need to end once the sun goes down. But if you’d rather explore the 350 acres of forest at a much slower pace, tie on those snowshoes and head for the scenic hills. 

Travel time: 2 hours by car from NYC

As much as New Yorkers love the Transit Museum in Downtown Brooklyn, sometimes they need a change, and the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat provides an amazing winter alternative with the North Pole Express. This snowy ride on a vintage train is a fun journey with holiday entertainment and seasonal decorations in the restored Pullman cars from the 1920s.

As temperatures drop and the Northeast gets ready for hibernation, spending a cozy weekend in a converted barn can be the perfect rustic getaway from NYC. Airbnb has a slew of unique barn stays that'll surprise you. From old milk barns on wide-open acreage to smaller all-wood barns, there's a way to get farm vibes in a comfortable space for you and your crew — big wooden beams and all. And yes, these are all heated!

The best winter getaways from NYC all have a few things in common: Charming aesthetics, snug blankets, steaming cups of hot chocolate and oodles of snow. These remarkable Airbnbs at ski resorts near NYC check all the boxes. Whether you’d like to book an effortless weekend trip within easy reach of the city or want to go the whole hog and take a full week out on the slopes, there are loads of cabins near NYC to rent on Airbnb. Beautiful chalets, contemporary condos and nineteenth-century farmhouses all appear on our list of Airbnbs near the slopes. Don’t forget your gloves!