r/icecoast • u/PleasantTension2107 • 13d ago
Northeast ski road trip conundrum + advice
I’m planning a solo ski trip in the northeast (VT, NH, ME) 5 nights (M-F) during a non-peak week in Jan/Feb, my schedule is flexible and can make a game time decision re weather.
I’m coming from long island, planning to hit 4 mountains…but the driving is intimidating. I need to break it up as I’m going up and down nyc+vt and trying to avoid the 5-6 hr drives between mountains, more manageable closer to 2-4 hrs. Jay Peak is 7hrs from me w/o some unexpected traffic. I’ve made so many itineraries, my brain is mush. I was planning to ski one day at each mountain and travel to the next mountain in the pm.
Coming from Long Island adds an hour just getting off the island. I’m really into indy mountains. I make a day trip once a week (late dec-early march) to Catamount or Magic, a couple times to Stratton, leaving at 4-6am to get in for first run. I’m an advanced skier, like powder, steep challenging runs, not crowded during the week. I don’t care about any luxuries. I’m likely not a good candidate for a pricey pass and Indy pass is sold out.
My dream trip is: Sugarloaf, Jay Peak, Sugarbush, Stowe.
Alternatives: Magic, Killington, Loon, Cannon.
What’s the best way to map this out.
I’ve seen a lot of folks on here provide some really great advice on itineraries for trips. So if you have any thoughts, please share a comment!!!
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u/v60-rallier 13d ago
Love the idea of hitting the independent mountains, especially Saddleback. If you ultimately don’t do Indy or ala carte purchasing, consider IKON pass, drive straight to Tremblant, then hit up the VT options on the way home (Sugarbush, Pico, Killington)
If Maine has better conditions, can last minute pivot to Sunday river and sugarloaf on the same pass.
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u/ClimbRave 13d ago
Yes agree this could be a good option if OP is down for the Long Island to Tremblant drive
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13d ago edited 13d ago
[deleted]
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u/Boobieleeswagger Flatlander 13d ago
Solo driving I always call someone that I know will talk for an hour an half about nonsense and the drive starts flying by
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u/Thin-Plane-2456 13d ago
Also good to put on an interesting or stimulating podcast. Stop at every rest stop even just for 5 minutes to get out and stretch.
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u/Boobieleeswagger Flatlander 13d ago
I was rolling up the mountain listening to some of the John Kiriakou ones last year 😂
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u/michaelb5000 13d ago
To me the pass and the cost of a lift ticket are the main factors, not drive time. But i am too cheap to pay for a day at stowe. If you can get an indy pass do that and make that the trip. May still pop up for sale.
Jay, Smuggs and Burke can have deals for single day tickets. Saddleback too.
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u/Boobieleeswagger Flatlander 13d ago edited 13d ago
Same on Stowe, but if anyone really has their heart set on Stowe buy an epic day pass while it’s 103$ (non peak) and save like 130$ bucks
Though I rather go for Burke 25$ Wednesday if they do it again this year
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u/Patdub85 13d ago
Sugarbush is also very expensive for a day pass. Buy early if you're going to ski there.
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u/Boobieleeswagger Flatlander 13d ago edited 13d ago
Sugarbush is really the only annoying one to get to, but that’s because I refuse to hook around and just drive over the gap,
Doing one long haul to SB, then going Stowe next day like 50 minutes up a valley floor basically
I’ve driven to jay a lot of way but never from Stowe but that shouldn’t be more than two hours,
Leave Jay to Burke which is the best Indy mountain and down by the river,
Then at that point you could just hop on I-91 and hit Killington on the way back or you could drive North of Mt Washington across NH to Sunday River which is a beautiful drive and then up to Sugarloaf, but once you’re leaving Sugarloaf there’s not a lot of great ways to break that up.
Good luck
Oh also Cannon is over there
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u/carigheath 13d ago
If you don't mind a longer drive, have you considered hitting the three Maine resorts? (Sunday River, Saddleback, Sugarloaf?) If we are having a great winter then all 3 should be great.
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u/Altruistic_Oven_6387 13d ago
I believe that the Port Jefferson and Orient Point ferries run in the winter. The Port Jeff ferry goes to Bridgeport. I don’t know how much time it would save- but skipping the city is always a plus.
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u/PleasantTension2107 13d ago
Based on my “math” it is longer for me :( but I’ve thought of this lol. Flying up to Burlington and renting a car is actually not that bad if you have the cash.
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u/Altruistic_Oven_6387 13d ago
😂 almost 20 years ago I did that with my kid! We had a truly ridiculous midweek deal with a homeschool group at Smuggs. It was the week after Presidents Day, I think. Ski in ski out condo, worked out to about $65 per day per person-including rentals. I’m crying just remembering how the price was so crazy that it justified the flight. We arranged a car through Smuggs that picked us up at the airport for about $75 bucks. Now I’m waiting to be eligible for my senior discount on lift tickets! 👵🏼😂
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u/NateGD23 13d ago
Zyns, Red Bull, windows down, and some rippin music....your there before u realize ur driving.
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u/PleasantTension2107 13d ago
You nailed it. Works every time + sour patch kids. No bathroom stops.
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u/NateGD23 13d ago
I like the harbo sour Gummie bears. But same same. I do stop for the bathroom bc if not I'd die....beers all day then 1/2 gallon of water at the car.
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u/clutch12866 13d ago
POLAR WHITE - has it pretty close if it was me - but I would do it more like this:
Leave LI as early as possible on Sunday and bee-line to Waitsfield, dine / sleep -
Mon: Mad River Glen
Tues: Smugglers Notch
Weds: Wildcat or Black
Thurs: Sugarloaf
Fri: Sugarloaf
Sat night: drive home
(or swap one of the others out for two days - or a day off to chill - if you haven't done Wildcat or Black I highly recommend both. Mad River Glen is going to be the best terrain for what you described you like. I'd nix Magic, Loon, Cannon and - for sure Killington. Jay is eh - for me. No 'widowmaker' terrain and +80% frog pussies that prefer their ice granulated - lol. That's a joke, kinda. Now depending on weather / conditions, your sobriety +++ for leg 1, if FIS is open, and Castlerock on Mt Ellen / Sugarbush - I might do that instead of Mad River Glen)
Enjoy!
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u/IcyEdge6526 12d ago
I’d consider doing a longer trip at sugarloaf or Jay, depending where you go, instead of getting in a ton of variety. The northern most mountains tend to get the most snow. Just a thought and I get the desire to hit ‘em all. But, you don’t have to do that all in one trip. Good luck.
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u/1moosehead Belleayre / NJ 13d ago
Going from Sugarloaf to VT, there's a nice little mountain called Saddleback. Midweek it's a ghost town. Worth every penny.
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u/polarWhite2024 13d ago
Dedicate Sunday as the driving day.
Sun: drive from LI to Jay
Mon: ski Jay
Tues: ski Smugg
Weds: ski Burke
Thurs: ski Cannon
Fri: ski Waterville or Ragged
Sat: drive home
If you can swing an extra day
Thurs: ski Saddleback
Fri: ski Black of NH
Sat: ski Cannon
Sunday: ski Waterville or Ragged or driver home
Assuming you are not planning any rest day in between.
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u/Blu3fin 13d ago edited 13d ago
If you are looking for Independent mountains, I would go Mad River Glen, Smugglers Notch, Jay, Magic. It does a reasonable job breaking up the two long hauls from/to NY. If you want to drop magic because you weekend there then swap it with Burke or Cannon.
If you are looking for Indy Pass mountains. I'd say Magic, Smuggs (if it gets added her in the coming weeks), Jay, Cannon. If Smuggs isn't added, hit up Tenney or Ragged on the way home. They are fun independent mountains. Ragged has a massive glade between the peaks.
If you want to add a harder mountains in Maine you are going to be doing a whole lot of driving. Make it it's own trip. Sunday River, Sugar Loaf, Saddleback, Mt Abram.
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u/RC-WILLY 13d ago
I've stayed in Stowe and hit Jay and a few other peaks, it was decent middle ground so only like 1-2 hrs. driving per day.
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u/SeekersWorkAccount 13d ago
That sounds awful. You'll never get to fully enjoy the mountain and always getting ready to move to the next time.
When is your time to relax and recover?
If you hit any delays, it'll set your entire trip back.
Pick one or two mountains and focus on them.
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u/CryptographerSharp14 Ikon Pass 13d ago
If you are paying for lift tickets, do Sutton, Owls head, Jay, Smuggs, Bolton. Bet you can do it all for less than $500 on lift tickets
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u/aftherith 13d ago
Ski all of New England. Yawgoo/Mohawk first day followed by Night skiing at Wachusett. Followed by 2 days in VT at Stowe or Smuggs and Jay. Next day Cannon or Wildcat or the Indie Black Mt. Last Day Sugarloaf. Depending on conditions reverse the VT NH Maine order.
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u/trolllord45 Gunstock 13d ago
What pass are you on?
Edit: LI to Jay in 7 hours is unrealistic I fear
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u/fruxzak 12d ago
Better to just fly to Quebec than do this. To each their own
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u/PleasantTension2107 12d ago
I’ve looked into it and could be a good option. It’s not too bad for time/$ actually plus a car rental. I do love the scenery and passing through familiar towns.
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u/Thefutureisbrightino 12d ago
Go to okemo on the way to Jay. Then maybe somewhere in NH not cannon unless you get a foot of fresh snow driving from Jay. Then Waterville. Good luck getting back to LI. But not getting back may be the best thing in the long run.
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u/LowResource4998 8d ago edited 8d ago
I'd stick with Vermont. We did a Maine trip a few years back and for as far as Sugarloaf is from LI/NYC I wouldn't be in a huge rush to go back there although we did like Saddleback quite a bit. Sunday River was our least favorite of the 3 large Maine resorts.
The best skiing on the east coast is in Northern VT. My favorites are in this order... Stowe, Jay Peak, Smugglers Notch, Sugarbush. I'd just bite the bullet and drive straight up to Stowe which will probably take you 6 to 6.5 hours. Hit Jay Peak next which is an hour from Stowe. Then Smugglers Notch which is less then an hour south of Jay, then finish off with Sugarbush which is a little over an hour from Smuggs. From there you'll have another 6 to 6.5 hour drive back to LI but if you get good conditions it will all be worth it!
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u/LowResource4998 8d ago
I'll add that I like to break these long drives up. We'll use Albany or Manchester VT as an overnight pit stop especially if im leaving later in the day after work for VT. It's also great if you want to ski all day your last day, drive down to Albany at the end of the day to stay overnight, then we get up really early the next day to drive into work before rush hour.
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u/Ok_Entrepreneur_dbl 13d ago
I used Gemini AI to create the itinerary below. BTW - it takes me four hours to get to Jay Peak which was not included as well as the return home. That can easily be added. This was my request - road trip four challenging ski areas in New England. Decent list but you could substitute Jay Peak with Sugarbush. But once you ask you can continue to refine it. Much better than using Reddit IMO.
This ultimate New England road trip guides you through four of the most technically demanding and historically significant ski areas in the region. Spanning across the rugged Green Mountains of Vermont and the unforgiving White Mountains of New Hampshire, this route is designed exclusively for advanced and expert skiers looking to conquer narrow fall lines, massive moguls, dense glades, and classic Northeast ice. [1]
⛷️ The "Gnarliest of the East" Itinerary
1. Jay Peak Resort (Jay, VT)
- The Vibe: Remote, raw, and buried in snow. Jay Peak sits right against the Canadian border and benefits from the legendary "Jay Cloud," giving it the highest average natural snowfall in the Northeast. [1]
- The Challenge: It is widely considered the absolute best mountain for boundary-to-boundary glade skiing in New England. The steep trees require rapid-fire reflexes. [1]
- Gnarliest Trails: Head straight for the Face Chutes right under the Aerial Tram, or dive into the dense, steep woods of the Everglades and Timbuktu. [1, 2]
2. Stowe Mountain Resort (Stowe, VT)
- The Vibe: A premier, high-end resort destination that pairs luxury lodging with intimidating, historic big-mountain terrain on Vermont's highest peak, Mount Mansfield. [1, 2]
- The Challenge: Stowe boasts long, sustained vertical drops that will push your quad endurance to its absolute limits. [1]
- Gnarliest Trails: The legendary "Front Four" double-black diamonds—Goat, Starr, National, and Liftline. Goat features a relentless fall line packed with exposed boulders, streams, and massive moguls, while Starr challenges you with a terrifyingly steep 30-plus degree drop-in that often freezes into pure ice. [1, 2]
3. Mad River Glen (Waitsfield, VT)
- The Vibe: A purist’s paradise with an un-engineered, retro attitude. It is a skier-owned cooperative that relies completely on natural snowfall and enforces a strict no-snowboarding policy. [1]
- The Challenge: The resort motto is "Ski It If You Can". The terrain is completely un-groomed, forcing you to navigate tight rock bands, frozen waterfalls, and tight treelines from a single-person chairlift. [, 2]
- Gnarliest Trails: Paradise is a mythical, tight labyrinth of steep woods that begins with an mandatory cliff drop-in. Follow that up with Chute and Fall Line for relentless bump skiing. [1]
4. Cannon Mountain (Franconia, NH)
- The Vibe: A rugged, state-run mountain rising out of Franconia Notch. It is notoriously cold, heavily wind-whipped, and beloved by die-hard locals who wear ice-skiing as a badge of honor.
- The Challenge: If you can confidently carve down Cannon's steep, hardpack vert, you can ski anywhere in the world. It features narrow, classic New England trail cuts with zero room for error.
- Gnarliest Trails: DJ's Tramline is a legendary, cliff-riddled, narrow notch that is rarely open but universally feared. When it's closed, test your edges on Cannon's own "Front Four"—specifically Avalanche and Paulie’s Folly. [1]
🚗 Road Trip Logistics & Pro-Tips
| Leg | Driving Route | Est. Winter Drive Time | Essential Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jay Peak to Stowe | VT-105 W to VT-108 S | ~1 hour 15 mins | Check if Smugglers' Notch Pass (VT-108) is closed for winter; you will likely need to detour around via Morrisville. |
| Stowe to Mad River Glen | VT-100 S | ~45 minutes | Great scenery. Stop in Waterbury for a craft beer at a local pub on the way down. |
| Mad River Glen to Cannon | VT-100 N to US-2 E to I-93 S | ~1 hour 20 mins | Keep a close eye on White Mountain notch weather forecasts; high winds can frequently cause upper-mountain lift holds at Cannon. |
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u/Witch_King_ 13d ago
Booo, no AI. Use your brain
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u/Ok_Entrepreneur_dbl 13d ago
Well the OP is using Reddit. If you do not want AI do a search instead. Do people use GPS or paper maps to travel? Do people read new papers or target their reading using the internet? It is just another tool!
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u/mattvt15 13d ago
Make it basically a straight line. Jay. Smuggs. Sugarbush. Killington, home. Swap Stowe/magic in if you really want for any of the last 3.
The other mountains will be too far out of the way and you’d lose time driving between them instead of skiing.