13 of the Best Family-Friendly Ski Resorts in Pennsylvania

Ski resorts are a great way to spend time with your family. Not only do they offer fun activities, but also some quality bonding time. If you’re looking for the best family-friendly ski resorts in Pennsylvania, then you’ve come to the right place.

PA has several family-friendly ski resorts. Whether you want to spend the day skiing at a beginner slope or hit the slopes at night, there’s a resort for everyone.

Here are must-visit family-friendly ski resorts in PA.

Spring Mountain Adventures

Spring Mountain Adventures Resort is a top family-friendly ski resort because it offers every level skier. It’s an excellent place for your loved ones to learn how to ski. There’s even an area where kids can try their hand at snowboarding.

Located in Spring Mount, this resort is pretty close to Philly. It’s the perfect winter getaway for the busy city family.

It’s a small mountain but offers endless winter fun. The resort has two terrain parks with various features, including rails, boxes, and half pipes. There are two lifts: a double chair lift and a triple chairlift. If you don’t have skiing equipment, you can rent one. The rentals include helmets, boots, and poles.

Their snowboard park offers four different runs ranging from easy to expert. For those who prefer tubing, this resort has six tubes available.

The hidden gem here is the Haunted Hay Ride. Your kids can take a chilling hayride as they enjoy the ultimate Halloween experience in the spooky mountain.

It’s impossible to talk about Spring Mountain without mentioning their super friendly staff and unbeatable prices.

Blue Mountain Resort

Located near Pittsburgh, PA, Blue Mountain Resort is another top choice resort. They offer plenty of fun activities like mini-golf, go-karts, arcade games, bowling alley, spa services, and live entertainment.

This resort also boasts a wide variety of lodging choices. You’ll find condos, villas, townhomes, cabins, hotels, and other types of accommodations.

Several dining locations are nearby if you don’t feel like cooking after spending hours in the mountains. The main lodge restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

When you arrive, be sure to check out the gift shops, which sell everything from clothing and souvenirs to jewelry and home decor items. Also, make sure to stop by the welcome center before heading up into the mountains. Here, you’ll receive information about local attractions, maps, weather forecasts, and directions. 

On weekends, they host special events such as concerts and fireworks shows. Be sure to check out their new winter sports complex, which includes a waterpark, ice skating rink, and indoor rock-climbing wall.

Jack Frost Big Boulder

Another favorite among visitors is Jack Frost Big Boulder. This mountain resort provides you with everything you need for a memorable experience. They make all these aspects convenient and hassle-free, from lodging to dining, shopping, and even transportation.

For starters, this resort features many options for accommodation. You can choose between condo units or hotel rooms. All come equipped with fully stocked kitchens so that you won’t have to worry about eating out while away from home.

They offer kid’s suites too for visitors with children. These consist of bunk beds, cribs, high chairs, changing tables, toys, books, DVDs, video game systems, and more.

You will love staying at their condo rentals since each unit comes fully furnished and equipped with modern appliances and high-speed internet access. After spending some quality time exploring the area, head back down to enjoy hot chocolate while watching a movie under the stars.

You can enjoy delicious meals at the Main Lodge Restaurant located right next door. Alternatively, head down to the Sports Bar & Grill for burgers, sandwiches, salads, appetizers, and drinks. Both places serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night eats.

Jack Frost Big Boulder offers plenty of things to do. Activities include miniature golf, tennis courts, hiking trails, sledding hill, cross country trail system, zip line, and archery.

Whether you want to spend time relaxing, playing, sightseeing, or just having fun, Jack Frost Big Boulder will give you what you desire.

Camelback Ski Resort

One of the newest additions to the best family-friendly ski resorts in Pennsylvania is Camelback Ski Resort. Located just outside Phoenixville, PA, Camelback Ski Resort boasts five mountains where beginners can learn how to ski, and kids can play without getting hurt.

The resort has an average elevation of 1,600 feet above sea level. It provides snowmaking machines on every slope. With over 2,000 acres of terrain, there are lots of different pitches for everyone to try. Their longest run is 4 miles long. There’s something here for everyone to enjoy.

Families should know when planning a trip to this destination because the season runs from November through April. Most people visit during Christmas week because of lower prices and shorter lines.

Adults pay $65 per person, seniors pay $55, juniors pay $45, and children ages 5–11 pay $35. Children aged three and younger get free admission. For groups of 10+ people, rates drop significantly.

Each season, they add new trails and facilities. They offer hiking, biking, fishing, horse riding, and picnic areas during the summer months. If you’re looking for an exciting adventure during your vacation, try parasailing or ziplining.

Seven Springs Mountain Resort

A little further away from Philadelphia but still close enough to get there quickly, Seven Springs Mountain Resort is located in Bucks County, PA. Its name stems from the seven natural springs located in this area.

You’ll enjoy the rustic mountain atmosphere whether you visit this resort during the spring, summer, fall, or winter. Although the resort’s vertical is limited, you can still have a great time. You can’t get enough of the vast, nature-filled terrain.

Seven Springs offers both gentle and daunting terrains to suit skiers of different abilities. Skiing and snowboarding aren’t the only fun activities here. Families can also enjoy the exhilarating Laurel Ridgeline Canopy Tour.

Head over to Idlewild and SoakZone if you want to engage in more family activities. Here, you kids can slide all day in the water park and experience unforgettable moments in the amusement park.

Hiking trails are plentiful, and if you love golf, you can tee off with friends on this beautiful course.

During winter, ensure your family members visit the snow tubing park. The memories will be worth it.

Liberty Mountain Resort

Liberty Mountain is a picturesque resort located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. With over 100 acres of skiable terrain, three terrain parks, and about 15 snow tubing lanes, this resort offers endless fun to outdoor adventurers.

When seeking a family-friendly resort in PA, look no further than Liberty Mountain. This resort has dedicated Family Fun Zones. Non-skiing toddlers can have a blast at the special Children’s Play Care center while you hit the slopes and trails.

Liberty Mountain runs Ski & Ride Camps where your children can learn how to ski and snowboard.

In recent years, it has emerged as an ideal spot for hosting weddings. And why not? With scenic surroundings, it’s the perfect location to host the grandest of celebrations.

The resort offers several attractions on the hill. These include:

• Miniature golf
• Laser tag
• Paintball
• Batting cages
• Bumper boats
• Go-karts
• Arcades

After having a blast in the mountains, take your family to the Eagle & The Owl and have a tasty meal.

Shawnee Mountain Ski Area

Located in northeast PA, at the heart of Pocono Mountains, Shawnee Mountain Ski Area is a family-owned, family-oriented ski resort. Their motto is “Family Fun on Snow,” and it truly delivers.

With two terrain parks, over 20 trails, and a snow-tubing park, Shawnee is the ideal place to have an exciting family day. It offers snowboarding lessons, night skiing, tubing, cross country skiing, sledding, and snowshoeing.

This mountain resort offers beginner lessons as well as intermediate instruction. The staff will help you figure out which type of skiing suits you best.

They have two chairlifts; the Peak Express Lift and the Summit Chairlift. Both lifts operate year-round. They also host special events like Halloween Haunt Nights, Easter Egg Hunts, and New Year’s Eve parties.

Bear Creek Resort

Nestled in the scenic Berks County, Bear Creek Resort is the perfect destination for families seeking mountain fun.

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert rider/skier, you’ll enjoy the 86 acres of parks, slopes, and rails in this mountain resort.

As a four-season resort, there’s no shortage of activities. You can enjoy family activities like paddleboarding, hiking, biking, and kayaking in the hotter months. Overcome winter blues by participating in snow tubing, snowboarding, and skiing.

This resort also runs a Mountain Camp for kids every summer. Parents can join their children and have epic outdoor adventures.

If outdoor adventure isn’t your thing, you can take part in Beer Creek’s events. Some notable events include:

• Bottles of Wine
• Country Jam Music Festival
• Kids eat Free

Elk Mountain Resort & Spa

This mountain resort has a lot going on, including beautiful views, friendly staff, and lots of activities. From zip lining to ice skating, rock climbing to archery, they have everything you need to make sure you enjoy yourself while staying at the hotel. If your kids love animals, they can visit many petting zoos located all over the property.

Besides having so much to do, Elk Mountain Resort & Spa provides excellent accommodations. Guests receive free parking, wireless internet access, cable television, and daily maid service.

While staying here, parents can feel safe knowing that the hotel employs security guards 24 hours per day. Another perk is that they allow pets. You can tag along with your furry friend when visiting this resort.

Tussey Mountain Ski & Recreation Center

Located near Harrisburg, PA, Tussey Mountain Ski & Recreational Center provides guests with all sorts of entertainment. There are several restaurants nearby where you can grab some food before heading back down the slopes.

You’ll find an indoor water park, outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, basketball courts, and miniature golf courses.

The ski area features four terrain parks, six lighted trails, three high-speed quad lifts, one triple lift, and a magic carpet gondola. It operates from November until April each season. During the summer months, visitors can use the facilities for hiking, biking, fishing, camping, horseback riding, boating, kayaking, and canoeing.

Tussey Mountain Ski & Recreation Center also hosts concerts and festivals.

Roundtop Mountain Resort

If you’re looking for an action-packed, adventure-filled day, then Roundtop Mountain Resort might just fit the bill. This resort offers:

• Snow tubing
• Sledding
• Snowboarding
• Cross country skiing
• Tobogganing

Their entire facility was built by hand using logs and stone. The lodge is open year-round, offering lodging, dining, shopping, and services.

Roundtop’s location allows them to offer great deals on transportation throughout the region. Their shuttle bus will take you anywhere within 50 miles of the resort. Additionally, they operate two chairlifts, five surface lifts, and eight rope tows.

They also feature a ropes course, bungee trampoline, giant chess set, picnic area, campfire ring, to name a few.

Montage Mountain

With over 300 acres of skiable terrain, Montage Mountain is one of the best family-friendly ski resorts in Pennsylvania. It’s home to some breathtaking high elevation runs.

The resort has seven distinct areas: beginner, intermediate, advanced, expert, freestyle, mogul, and pipe. You’ll find one of the longest snow tubing areas in this mountain resort.

For those who want something different than what most resorts provide, this mountain has a few options. Visitors can choose between alpine or Nordic style skiing, boarding, ice skating, or snowshoeing.

Whitetail Resorts

On Two Top Mountain lies an excellent winter escape destination. The Whitetail resort is among the best family-friendly resorts in Pennsylvania.  

Whitetail Resorts focuses primarily on family-friendly ski vacations. That’s why it has amenities like free parking, kid-friendly restaurants, childcare centers, and even special programs designed specifically for children. They offer lodging, dining options, retail stores, and various services.

The rails are decent, and the runs are well-groomed. If you have kids, you must try snow tubing with them. Grab your tube and experience the downhill thrill.