Usually, the “best” ski towns really depends on your personal preference. Some people like deep powder, while others place more importance on the ski scene.
Check out our list of the best credit card bonuses here.
While making this list of the top 10 ski towns in the United States, we included a variety. From popular ski destinations like Vail, to hard-to-get-to Taos and “Beer City USA” Bend. This list is guaranteed to have something that will interest everyone.
Bend (Oregon)
Bend is a great location in the Oregon high desert. You’ll be able to ski in the morning, rockclimb in the afternoon, and golf in the evening. At night, you’ll see one of the many craft breweries in the area such as: Crux Fermentation Project and Deschutes Brewery.
Closest Airports: Roberts Field Airport (RDM) is only 20 minutes away.
Crested Butte (Colorado)
Crested Butte has a small-town vibe with significantly less traffic compared to nearby Summit County. The mountain gets more than 300 inches of snow a year and features 1,500 skiable acres. The town is a few minutes from the base area and is filled with cafes, restaurants, and boutiques.
Closest Airports: Gunnison/Crested Butte Regional Airport (GUC) is a 40-minute drive from Crested Butte.
Jackson (Wyoming)
Jackson is home to 3 ski areas known for their deep snowpack and loads of side and backcountry terrain. The popular Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has 2,500 skiable acres and 4,100 vertical feet. If you want to avoid crowds, opt for Snow King Mountain or Grand Targhee Resort instead.
Closest Airport: Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) is a 30-minute drive from town.
Killington (Vermont)
If you want a ski town with vibrant apres scene and nightlife, Killington is one of the best options with lots of restaurants, clubs, bars, and parties. Additionally, it’s one of the largest ski resorts east of the Mississippi with more than 1,500 skiable acres and 3,050 vertical feet.
Closest Airports: Rutland Airport (RUT) is around 25 miles from Killington, and West Lebanon Airport (LEB) is an hour drive away.
North Conway (New Hampshire)
North Conway is known as the bitthplace of skiing in North America. It’s home to 6 ski resorts which is within 30 minutes of town and lots of backcountry skiing options. The quant village comes with a variety of accommodation, restaurants, and cafes.
Closest Airports: Laconia Airport (KLCI) is 50 minutes south of North Conway.
Ogden (Utah)
Ogden is the base for 3 ski resorts that are easily accessible from downtown via public transportation. The resorts come with a total of 11,600 skiable acres and 500 inches of snowfall every year. This makes Ogden a perfect alternative to a much more crowded Park City and Alta resorts.
Closes Airports: Ogden-Hinckley Airport (OGD) is a few minutes southwest of town, and Salt Lake International Airport (SLC) is 35 miles south of Ogden.
Taos (New Mexico)
Not only is Taos home to world-class ski resorts, it’s also a World Heritage Site with distinct and delectable cuisine and an art culture that shows the Southwest region. Their uncrowded ski runs, and walkable downtown area is unique to their adobe architecture.
Closest Airports: Santa Fe Regional Airport (SAF) is an hour and a half south of Taos, and Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) is a 3 hour drive south.
Truckee (California)
Truckee boasts 12 downhill resorts (includes Squaw Valley) in a 0-mile radius. Couple that with 400 inches of snowfall every year and an average of 275 days of sunshine. This is a pretty neat ski town.
Closest Airports: Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) is 25 miles away from Truckee.
Vail (Colorado)
Vail has: great skiing, tasty eats, plenty of cocktails, and shopping galore. The area boasts over 5,200 skiable acres and 3,450 vertical feet. There’s no boring moment in this ski town.
Closest Airports: Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) is 30 miles west of Vail, and Denver International Airport (DEN) is 100 miles east of town.
Whitefish (Montana)
Whitefish is a small, bustling town in a wild setting at the edge of Glacier National Park. There is a 3,000-acre Whitefish Mountain Resort nearby with an amazing terrain. The town is lined with ski shops, restaurants, cafes, breweries, and distilleries. So there are lots of things to do after spending your day skiing.
Closest Airports: Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) is 15 minutes away.
Best Credit Card to Redeem for Flights
![]() The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion(R) Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you'll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together. Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card. Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a First Class, Delta Comfort+(R), or Main Cabin round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. You'll earn: • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. • Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. • $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles(R) Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required. • $200 Delta Stays Statement Credit: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card Members can earn up to $200 back in the form of a statement credit annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com. • Receive four Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year when you fly together on Delta. After that, you may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location. • Delta SkyMiles(R) Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees. Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com. Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. This card does come with a $650 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. (See Rates & Fees) Terms Apply. |
![]() The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees. You'll earn: • 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. • 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. • 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. • $120 Rideshare Credit: You can earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card. Enrollment Required. Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost. $150 Delta Stays Credit: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card Members can earn up to $150 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com. You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that's a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight. Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com. This card comes with a $350 annual fee and no foreign transaction fee. You'll also get fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®. (See Rates & Fees). Terms Apply. |
![]() The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees. You'll earn: • 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. • 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. • $100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com. • $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel. Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card. Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com. You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that's a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight. There is a $150 annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150) and no foreign transaction fees. (See Rates & Fees). Now, you'll get get more savings with your first checked bag for free on Delta flights. Terms Apply. |
![]() The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offers earn a Companion Pass good through 2/28/26 plus 30,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. In addition, you'll earn 7,500 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary each year. You'll earn: • Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. • Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. • Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming. Some perks include $75 Southwest travel credit each year., receiving 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available, savings of 25% back on in-flight drinks and WiFi, and more! This card carries a $149 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. |
![]() The United Explorer Card offers 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. You'll earn: • 2x miles on United® purchases, dining, and hotel stays. • 1x mile on all other purchases Perks of this card include: • Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary • Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply. • Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS fee credit • 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card There is a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95. Member FDIC |
The JetBlue Plus Card is the best rewards card for JetBlue frequent flyers. It comes with bonuses on restaurant and grocery store spending. Additionally, fast track to Mosaic elite status and other travel benefits are included as well.
They offer 40,000 TrueBlue bonus points when you spend a minimum of $1,000 in the first 90 days of opening your account. The value of these points are worth about $520. This card is made for the JetBlue loyalist. With their welcome bonus, you’ll be able to earn and redeem points for award flights, seat upgrades, and more. Check out our guide to the TrueBlue program for more information on these points.
![]() |
![]() |