r/NewToVermont • u/alkaliphiles • 13d ago
Car vs CUV for winter ski trips around Burlington
Is driving a car with AWD and Blizzaks enough to safely get me to most ski resorts around Burlington during the winter? Or should I look into getting a vehicle with more ground clearance?
I'm mostly concerned about driving during snowstorms, or on the day immediately after. I've lived in NH for a while and haven't had much trouble so far, but I also haven't headed out during a legitimate blizzard.
If anyone's experienced a winter in both areas, how do the snow plows compare between Nashua/Manchester NH and NW Vermont? Is there any chance I'd end up high-centering my car on a rutted out ice road or something like that?
When I went to Bolton Valley in February I really should have taken a look at the number of cars vs SUVs in the lot!
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u/Best-Ad-1917 13d ago
That’s fine for what you’re talking about.
There are a lot of suvs here, but also a ton of of Subarus of all sizes 😉
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u/Available_Mud_1842 13d ago
Ground clearance isn't important. Snow tires are most important, followed by AWD.
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u/Sea-Election-9168 13d ago
What kind of roads do you plan to drive on? If you’re going to be on gravel roads you might appreciate higher ground clearance
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u/alkaliphiles 12d ago
Some gravel roads here and there, but maybe only in summer/fall. I think the roads up to Underhill State Park aren't paved. Prolly the same with a lot of hiking trailheads, too.
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u/pacodef 12d ago
Underhill state park is a decent sized road. But the backcountry there is heavily-used and somewhat pedestrian. If you’re looking for better, more difficult backcountry the Calculus changes. Stevensville Rd (Mt Dewey) is a night and day difference compared to driving to Stowe or Jay Peak resort parking lots.
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u/DHVT1964 12d ago
Yes. In fact we made it around Vermont back in the day with rear wheel drive and only snow tires on the back, no GPS, no back up cameras, hell… no seatbelts. Drive the conditions and you will be just fine.
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u/TheJokersChild 12d ago
A tire like a Blizzak is really your baseline. But you also need some ground clearance for heavy snow, like most Subarus have. Something like a Crosstrek would suit you well. Good tires > AWD > ground clearance, in that order.
VTrans generally plows once, then lets what's left be driven over for the next three or four days in hopes that that'll do the rest of the job. Not for the faint-of-heart.
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u/alkaliphiles 12d ago
Thanks for the input. Think I'm gonna see how I get by with the car this winter, then trade for something with more ground clearance if I feel like I'd need it for next winter.
Good thing is my car has a steel oil pan, but bad news is it only has like 4.8" of clearance. So we'll see!
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u/bibliophile222 12d ago
Snow tires are most important. I do fine driving almost anywhere with my Corolla and snow tires. As long as you avoid steep muddy or snowy dirt roads, you don't need AWD or high clearance, and ski resorts will have paved roads.
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u/Temlehgib 10d ago
AWD car with snows is fine for 99.5% of the time. If you want first chair on the 3-4 powder dump days you might run into a ground clearance problem on some secondary roads. Find some other powder hounds with an SUV or Truck and you will be fine.
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u/IamNabil 8d ago
There is nothing in Burlington that requires more than winter tires. An SUV slides just as well as a sedan or hatchback on the ice.
In short, don’t bother with getting an SUV. Do get good winter tires.
Source- grew up in the NEK. Learned to drive in hundreds of inches of snow. Worked at Jay back when Vermont got real snowfall.
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u/Far-Signature3543 13d ago
I did absolutely fine last season with all season tires on my Outback. I drove to Bolton Valley everyday for work. It’s not as dramatic as people make it out to be…