Catch First Chair With Ease At These Ski Camping Resorts

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Overnight Camping At Ski Resorts Best Places To Enjoy The Snow

Check out these ski camping resorts that let you stay overnight in your RV, camper van, or perhaps just your car with a warm sleeping bag. Catch first chair with ease and save a ton of money.

If there’s one thing we can all agree on it’s that skiing has gotten really expensive. The lift tickets keep going up and slopeside accommodations are not cheap.

Whether you are a Vanlife or RV camper, we’ve gathered a tasty list of resorts to suite your needs.

Need RV hook-ups? How about bathrooms or showers? You’ll be amazed at how many resorts are taking to the latest trend of overnight camping.

Click the state below to be taken to that area or click and drag on the map to find your next ski resort camping spot.

WASHINGTON SKI AREAS

Mount Baker Ski Area Camping

mt baker ski area camping

Mount Baker has overnight spots in their Heather Meadows and White Salmon parking lots. They are available opening day through April 22nd. These are primitive sites with no hookups so your camper must be self contained. Reservations are required which can be made through the link above. Prices are a hefty $32 per night but it’s hard to beat waking up to fresh snow and mountain peaks around you, with a short walk to the chairlifts to start your day!

Stevens Pass

stevens pass ski area camping

Stevens Pass has over 60 RV spots at the base of the mountain. Reservations are required and they fill up fast so plan well ahead. You’re limited to 13 nights per month and electricity is included for $53 per night.

Summit At Snoqualmie

SUMMIT AT SNOQUALMIE

Spaces are available at Alpental and Summit Central, three night limit, and cost $15 for the first night with additional nights only $10.

To register check in with security and CASH ONLY. No hook-ups.

Crystal Mountain

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN

Crystal Mountain has one of the more robust overnight camping areas. They are all, first-come, first-serve, but they have over 65 spots. They have 50 and 30 amp electrical hookups.

This place gets hopping and is a fun atmosphere where you can meet fellow ski bums. There is a 14-day limit and a spot will cost you $40 but the atmosphere is worth it.

If you’re lucky, you can skip the alarm, you’ll be awake once they start blasting for avalanches.

IDAHO SKI AREAS

Bogus Basin

BOGUS BASIN

Bogus Basin welcomes overnight campers in all lots except their main lot. No hook-ups but to stay is free. They just ask that you park beyond the tubing hill.

Brundage Mountain Resort

BRUNDAGE MOUNTAIN RESORT

I may be a little biased as this is my home-town hill, but if you want small town charm topped off with the best snow in Idaho, Brundage is the spot.

The lower lot is open to overnight camping and costs $10. Check with guest services to get a pass. No hook-ups and during busy holidays they may not have spots available.

Lookout Pass

LOOKOUT PASS

(208)744-1301
Visit Website

Lookout Pass welcomes a stay in their lower lot. No facilities or hook-ups.

Schweitzer Mountain

schweitzer mountain ski

Free RV parking is available at the fire station lot and the parking area on the other side of the round-about. 3 consecutive day limit and you must have a fully self-contained RV as there are no bathrooms or hookups.

Silver Mountain Resort

silver mountain resort rv camping

Silver Mountain has RV camping starting at $25 per night. There are no hook-ups or bathroom facilities. Overnight parking passes can be purchased online and are on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Pomerelle Mountain Resort

POMERELLE MOUNTAIN RESORT

Pomerelle offers overnight RV and van camping as long as you’re self-contained.

MONTANA SKI AREAS

Bridger Bowl

BRIDGER BOWL

Bridger Bowl is happy to let you stay overnight in a self-contained camper. Check in with resort staff to find out where overnight parking is allowed.

Lost Trail Powder Mountain

LOST TRAIL POWDER MOUNTAIN

(406) 821-3211
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While Lost Trail doesn’t have an official overnight stay policy, they tend to look the other way. Check in with staff and they will direct you to the correct parking area.

Whitefish Mountain

whitefish mountain resort overnight camping

Camping trailers and RVs are allowed in the Aspen Lot for a maximum stay of 3 days. There are limited camping spots and availability is first-come, first-served. There is a fee of $25 (plus tax) per day and registration must be completed at Lodging Check-In in the Upper Village.

OREGON SKI AREAS

Willamette Pass Resort

WILLAMETTE PASS RESORT

(541) 345-7669
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Willamette Pass has 10-spots with electrical hook-ups for $20. Additional spots available without hook-ups for $10.

Parking locations may vary so check with parking attendants before parking.

Mt. Hood Meadows

MT. HOOD MEADOWS

Mt. Hood has 14-spots available for overnight stays. No hook-ups and self-contained campers only. A Snow Park permit( $5/day, $25/annual) is required and can be purchased at guest services.

Maximum of 3-nights stay in any 5-day period. During heavy snowfall they will ask you to move so they can plow your area.

Are you interested in RV camping but don’t know where to start?  Here’s a great guide that will answer all those questions and get you started off right!

Hoodoo Ski Area

HOODOO SKI AREA

(541) 822-3799
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Hooodoo offers a plethora of overnight camping options. From car camping to full hookups they’ve got you covered. Prices start at $10, electrical hook-ups available, and they have bathrooms with showers.

Call (541) 822-3799 for reservations or further details.

Mt. Bachelor Resort

MT. BACHELOR RESORT

Electrical hook-ups available for $50/night and $70/night during peak season. For no hook-ups your looking at $20/night.

Peak season:

  • December 26, 2018 through January 5, 2019
  • January 18-20, 2019
  • February 15-23, 2019
  • March 22-30, 2019
  • May 24-27, 2019

Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort

anthony lakes mountain resort

Overnight RV parking is available with or without electric hookups. There is even an outhouse for those without a fully self-contained camper. Prices start at $10 per night for dry camping and $25 per night with electricity. Parking passes can be purchased at the ticket booth.

WYOMING SKI AREAS

Grand Targhee Resort

GRAND TARGHEE RESORT

Another favorite hill of mine that welcomes overnight stays.

RV parking is designated in Lot #4 in the Moose and Wolf rows, and there is a maximum stay of seven consecutive nights.

Permits available at the lodging front desk and will run you $28. No hook-ups.

COLORADO SKI RESORTS

Monarch Mountain Colorado

monarch ski camping

One of our favorites, Monarch Pass out of Salida allows overnight parking. Just check with the parking staff to coordinate snow plowing if needed.

Powderhorn Mountain Resort

powder mountain resort

Powderhorn welcomes overnight campers. They only ask that on weekends you use the overflow parking lots.

Wolf Creek Resort

WOLF CREEK RESORT

(970) 264-5639
Visit Website

Overnight camping at Wolf Creek is the norm here and you’ll likely be joined by several others. Check in with the parking attendants to ask where they would like you to park. It’s free but no hook-ups.

Purgatory Resort

PURGATORY RESORT

(970)247-9000
Visit Website

Purgatory Resort doesn’t have an official overnight camping policy but I can assure you they are very welcome to it. Just pick a spot out of the way so you don’t interfere with the morning plows.

The shot above was one of our finest powder days ever at Purgatory.

NEW MEXICO SKI RESORTS

Taos New Mexico

taos ski area map

Taos Ski Valley offers free RV Parking on a first-come first-serve basis for up to seven days. There are no hook-ups available, but generators are allowed. RVs can park in the Deer Lot, located along Ocean Blvd.

Sipapu Ski Resort

sipapu ski area

Sipapu has three RV sites with hookups and a few more without, you can camp here in your RV or a tent. Prices start at $25 per night for dry camping and reservations are needed.

CALIFORNIA

China Peak

china peak ski area

16 spaces are available with electric hookups. Weekend stays require a two-night minimum and holiday periods require a three-night minimum. Rates are $54 per night on non-holiday and $64 per night during holidays. Reservations required.

Holiday dates are 12/26/22 through 1/1/23, 1/13/23 through 1/15/23 and 2/17/23 through 2/19/23.

VERMONT SKI AREAS

Mount Snow Vermont

Mount Snow has reportedly been friendly to overnight stays. Just give them a call ahead of time and they will direct you to an area to park for the night.

WEST VIRGINIA

Snowshoe Mountain

snowshoe mountain ski area

Snowshoe reportedly is okay with large RV’s staying overnight except on holiday weekends. Vans and smaller campers are okay on holidays. Self contained campers only as there are no hook-ups.

OVERNIGHT SKI AREA CAMPING NEEDS YOUR HELP

Let me know what resorts I’m missing, I know there are a ton. I especially need help in Utah as I have been kicked out from every place I’ve tried.

Drop a comment below and let us know.

8 thoughts on “Overnight Camping At Ski Resorts Best Places To Enjoy The Snow”

  1. Fantastic list
    Lots of appreciated info
    Can’t wait to hit the road one winter w epic pass n ski n camp

    Glad we put oversized heater in our van :)))
    Brian n Alison

  2. Stevens Pass on hwy 2 in Wa state have a camping lot that turns into a pretty sweet party atmosphere. They have a bar in the lodge that stays open late and night skiing too.
    Also Mt Baker in northern Wa state has lots of camping room in their lot. You’ll never see more stars in the sky anywhere as there isn’t any civilization or hotels for miles around!

  3. Taos has designed parking for overnight parking, including vans, and it’s no longer free! $40 on the weekends :/

  4. March 2023 did a trip to the following; all allowed overnight, self-contained, boondocking parking:
    1. Magic Mtn., VT. (call ahead/check in)
    2. Sugarbush, VT. Officially, no overnighting. But Guest Services advised that if you’re not obnoxious, unruly, loud, or just being a dick, nobody will bother you. Spent 3 nights there, undisturbed
    3. Sunday River, ME. Dedicated lot, close enough to walk to lifts. Great campground with all amenities within 5 miles in caser you need electric hookup.
    4. Sugarloaf, ME. Dedicated lot within walking distance of lifts

    This coming Winter, plan to go to these areas that permit self-contained, boondocking overnight parking:
    a. Cannon (Loon nearby too), NH
    b. Mad River Glen, VT
    c. Gunstock, NH

    Planning on trying other areas and will report back.t

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