The 10 Best Ski Towns in the US

The Best for Beer Aficionados: Bend, Oregon

Travelers who value their après-ski as much as their actual ski may want to head to Bend, Oregon, home of Mount Bachelor. The large and beginner-friendly mountain offers guests the chance to ski in a volcanic caldera—but beer snobs will especially appreciate just how close it is to downtown Bend. The Bend Ale Trail stops at more than 30 breweries, including standouts like Deschutes Brewery and GoodLife Brewing Company. And that number doesn't even include another 17 distilleries, wineries, and cideries. Don't miss the brewery at The Old St. Francis School; housed inside a former 1936 Catholic school, the hipster nightlife complex features a hidden speakeasy and an indoor soaking pool. Fly into the Redmond airport (17 miles away) or add it to a longer trip to Portland (roughly three hours west).

The Best for a Peaceful Ski Weekend: Taos, New Mexico

Winter athletes hoping to plan a ski trip more focused on cultural experiences than nightlife should plan a trip to Taos, New Mexico. It's the best ski town in the U.S. for arts and culture, with 50 galleries focused on everything from modern art and ceramics to Indigenous crafts and the San Francisco de Asis Church, made famous in paintings by modernist painter Georgia O'Keefe. Plus, there are eight historical museums, including the home of explorer Kit Carson and the 1804 Martinez Hacienda.

 

While Taos Mountain Resort is the big draw for skiers, athletes happy to spend an afternoon off the slopes may be drawn to activities like guided tours of the "biotecture" Earthship neighborhood and spiritual healing sessions at the Native Roots Ancestral, Folk & Herbal Medicine Collective. For the ultimate relaxation, the well-known Black Rock Hot Springs, naturally heated by underground activity, is the perfect place to soak.

The Best Budget-Friendly Ski Town: Kalispell, Montana

Hikers and backpackers may associate Kalispell with sky-high food and lodging prices for tourists visiting nearby Glacier National Park in July and August—but come winter, the town's prices drop significantly, making it an excellent ski town base camp for trips to Whitefish Mountain Resort. Kalispell is just 20 minutes from the resort (one of the most affordable in the U.S. at $89 for an adult day ticket), but it has lower winter prices for hotels and restaurants than the town of Whitefish itself. It also has better options along the lines of motels and is slightly closer to the Missoula airport (roughly two hours south).

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The Best for Western Cowboy Culture: Durango, Colorado

Slightly unpolished and proud of it, Durango, Colorado, is the best ski town in the U.S. to experience authentic Western and cowboy culture. While Wyoming may have the recognizable cowboy symbol trademarked—and Jackson Hole has all but claimed it as its own—Durango was developed by gold rushers in the late 1800s and still embraces that "anything goes" mentality. In winter, Durango offers rewards for travelers willing to go off the beaten path a bit, and the best hotels tend to be independently owned properties in historic late-1800s buildings that once housed prospectors looking to strike it rich (or perhaps gambling away the rights to their gold and silver claims in them thar hills).