The 9 best ski resorts near Charlotte, NC (2023)
If you like to ski or snowboard and live in the Charlotte area, you have asked yourself the question “what are the best ski resorts near Charlotte, and are they worth going too?”
The answer is YES and this guide to the best ski resorts near Charlotte answers all of your questions and will let you know what ski areas are the closest to Charlotte, our recommendations, and the pros of what each resort has to offer.
A list of the best ski Resorts near charlotte
- Appalachian Ski Resort
- Sugar Mountain Ski Resort
- Beech Mountain Ski Resort
- Snowshoe Ski Resort
- Wintergreen Ski Resort
- Winterplace Ski Resort
- Cataloochee Ski Area
- Sapphire Valley Ski Area
- Wolf Ridge Ski Area
Appalachian Ski Resort
Appalachian Ski Resort is the closest ski area to Charlotte with just a 1:50 minute drive. It is not as pricey as the others ski resorts on this list but is mainly meant for beginners. It does have the BEST rails for park riding along with the largest jumps. If you are a beginner or someone looking to ride park all day (and even night) then this is the spot for you.
Distance from Charlotte: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Pros:
Park Riding
Open until 12 am!
Cheap
Ease of Access
Lift Ticket Prices (all day)
Weekend: $69
Weekday: $44
Sugar Mountain Ski Resort
Sugar Mountain Ski Resort is about 20 - 30 minutes past Appalachian Ski Resort, making it the second closest ski area to Charlotte. If you are looking for a place to cruise around the mountain and you do not care about a terrain park, I would say this would be your best pick for a days drive from Charlotte. It has the longest runs that we have seen on the east coast (southern part) and has some steep runs if you would like to try something more challenging.
Distance from Charlotte: 2 hours and 20 minutes
Pros:
Long runs!!!
Ease of access
Tubing, ice skating, and a spa are on site.
Lift Ticket Prices (all day)
Weekend: $80
Weekday: $49
Beech Mountain Ski Resort
Beech mountain ski resort is the highest ski area east of the Rockies and is actually pretty close to Charlotte. It is located about 20 minutes past sugar mountain, making it a 2 hour and 40 minute trip from Charlotte to Beech mountain. It is a local’s favorite if you enjoy cruising and park riding as it has the best blend of both for a ski resort near Charlotte. They usually have their park section open with a tow rope so you can get plenty of laps in without waiting in a lift line. The runs are fun but not as long as sugar mountain, but they do have a brewery at the bottom and even a full bar at the top of the mountain (which is awesome) so you can stop in for a drink and a beautiful view before you head back down the slopes.
Distance from Charlotte: 2 hours and 40 minutes
Pros:
Terrain Park!!!
Mountain top bar with views
Slopes for all ski levels
Brewery at the base of the mountain
Lift Ticket Prices (all day)
Weekend: $75
Weekday: $46
Snowshoe Ski Resort
Snowshoe is what most would say is the best ski resort near Charlotte, and we agree. It has been called the powder capital of the south and you can even get in some amazing tree runs! It has the most skiable acres(57 slopes), the best terrain park, some of the steepest runs, and beautiful views. It is located in West Virginia, so the drive is a little bit longer at 5 hours and 30 minutes, but the drive is definitely worth a weekend trip for some fantastic skiing.
Distance from Charlotte: 5 hours and 30 minutes
Pros:
Skiable acres
Best terrain park on the list
overall best skiing on the southeast
Best village atmosphere by far
Has snowmobile tours!
Lift Ticket Prices (all day)
Weekend: $120
Weekday: $70
Wintergreen Ski Resort
Wintergreen comes in just below snowshoe for the best ski resort near charlotte. It has a little bit of everything just like snowshoe. Amazing views (maybe the best), tons of skiable acres, steep runs, an award winning snowmaking system, a good terrain park, good food, luxurious activities, and is only a 4-hour drive from Charlotte. They also have activities such as tubing, a zipline, a golf course, and some good eats.
Distance from Charlotte: 2 hours and 40 minutes
Pros:
Challenging terrain
Good terrain park
Night skiing
Amazing views
Lift Ticket Prices (all day)
Weekend: $100
Weekday: $80
Winterplace Ski Resort
Winterplace ski resort is another excellent option for those looking for a ski resort close to Charlotte. It has a little bit of everything and if you are wanting to tube, they have the largest snow tubing park in West Virginia. This resort is very good for people who are learning how to ski as they have a ton of beginner trails and should have decent conditions considering it is located in West Virginia. If we had to rank it we would
Distance from Charlotte: 3 hours and 10 minutes
Pros:
Lift Ticket Prices (all day)
Weekend: $66
Weekday: $44
Cataloochee Ski Area
Cataloochee Ski area is the oldest ski resort in North Carolina and is pretty close to Charlotte at just 3 hours away. It is a good ski area and can be really fun, but we don’t really see why you would go there when you have Sugar, Beech, and Winterplace closer to Charlotte. It is a good resort for beginners, not too expensive and has pretty good food at the base of the mountain
Distance from Charlotte: 3 hours and 10 minutes
Pros:
Good for all ski levels
Has snow tubing
Good snowmaking
Lift Ticket Prices (all day)
Weekend: $76
Weekday: $47
Sapphire Valley Ski Area
This ski area is 3 hours away from Charlotte and is really only worth a trip if you are much closer. It consists of three runs, one each for beginner, intermediate, and advanced skiers and a vertical drop of 200 feet.
Distance from Charlotte: 3 hours and 7 minutes
Pros:
Good for beginners
Cheap
Lift Ticket Prices (all day)
Weekend: $45
Weekday: $45
Wolf Ridge Ski Area
Wolf Ridge Ski Area is located 40 miles north of Asheville and is targeted more towards families and beginner to intermediate skiers. It has a 700 vertical drop with 14 runs and 4 lifts. If you are wanting to visit Asheville or live in the area this would be a great day trip to exert some energy and see some beautiful views.
Distance from Charlotte: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Pros:
Closest ski resort to Asheville!
Good for beginners
Lift Ticket Prices (all day)
Weekend: $70
Weekday: $44
So…Where should you go Ski?
So what is the best ski resort near Charlotte, NC? Our answer is Snowshoe ski resort located in WV. It might take a little bit longer to get there but if you are planning a weekend trip and want to get the best skiing along with the best village atmosphere and food possible, head to snowshoe!
If you are wanting something a bit closer to Charlotte, we recommend going to Sugar or Beech mountain. If you love a terrain park, pick Beech, but if you just like to cruise on groomers head to Sugar.
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