Our team has been visiting Snowshoe, WV, since the late 1980s โท๏ธโ๏ธ. We’ve seen many changes over the years. Here is our Snowshoe, WV, Trip Planning Guide for the season, based on our years of experience traveling to and from. We’ll focus our planning tips on a winter ski trip for a family of four ๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ.
You know your family’s needs and desires better than anyone โค๏ธ. Rely on that knowledge as you go through the entire planning process. Don’t forget to set your budget ๐ต. You should take into account holiday dates, travel to and from, lodging, lift tickets, meals, and any other entertainment activities your family will enjoy.
Selecting Your Dates ๐
Snowshoe Mountain Resort is notoriously crowded and expensive during the holiday periods ๐๐ซ. We realize many families can only go away during a holiday. For the best experience, we strongly recommend avoiding Christmas week. The resort may be at full capacityโcrowded slopes, long lift lines, and one-hour restaurant waits ๐ฉโณ. To us, that’s not a vacation!
Now that we’ve steered you away from Christmas week, consider taking a few days offโmaybe even pull the kids out of school a day or two ๐. If you can, book for a non-holiday period between Sunday and Friday. You’ll find the best pricing ๐ฐ and minimal crowds. Even better, mid-March brings great late-season rates ๐ค๏ธ. Once you narrow down your dates, it’s time to look for lodging.
Find A Place to Stay ๐ก
There are many options, which can be a bit overwhelming. For lower to mid-range budgets, the cheapest option is staying at a hotel 30 minutes awayโฆ but we do not recommend this ๐โ๏ธ. Winter weather can make the drive risky. Think about it: would you stay 30 minutes from the beach and commute daily? Of course not! ๐๏ธ
Weโve long recommended Mountain Lodge due to its slope-side location and affordability. After an extensive renovation, ML continues to be a great family-friendly option ๐๏ธโจ.ย Our friends at Mountaintop Condos can also help with all your lodging needs.
Once lodging is secure, let’s move on to lift tickets.
Buying Lift Tickets ๐๏ธ๐ฟ
For a family of four, this might be the most expensive part of your trip ๐ธ. Holiday rates run $100+ tax per person per day. Two days of skiing? Nearly $950 ๐ฎ.
Snowshoe offers a few deals:
โข Midweek and Silver Creek โ only pass
โข Snowshoe Unlimited Pass
โข Or consider the Ikon Pass if you ski multiple resorts โ unlimited at Snowshoe and access to many more across North America ๐โท๏ธ. This is the one we buy each year.
Ski Gear Rentals โท๏ธ๐๏ธ
If you already have equipment, skip ahead. If not, Snowshoe offers multiple rental options.
We frequently used The Ski Barn when our kids were younger โ excellent service and quality gear ๐. They also operate SnowCreek Mountain Sports, convenient to the top of the mountain.
Snowshoe also has Village rental locations like Expedition Station and the MAC, located near Ballhooter ๐ก. To reduce wait times, book rentals online in advance ๐ปโฑ๏ธ. Ski Barn even offers 10% off for early booking.
Activities for Non-Skiers ๐
Not everyone skis โ and that’s OK! Snowshoe has plenty to do:
โข Snow tubing at Coca-Cola Park ๐
โข Polaris RZR tours for a back-country thrill ๐๐จ
โข Split Rock Pools for relaxation ๐โโ๏ธ๐ง
โข Horse-drawn sleigh rides ๐ดโจ
โข Snowmobile guided tours โ our personal favorite โ๏ธ๐๏ธ
Something for everyone!
Are You Hungry? ๐ฝ๏ธ๐
Snowshoe offers 20+ dining options. For budget-minded families, cook as many meals as possible ๐ณ. Do your grocery shopping at home โ selections near the mountain are limited.
For upscale dining, we recommend Appalachia Kitchen ๐ท๐ฅฉ. For casual meals, we enjoy Foxfire and The Junction, both in the village and offering rustic local themes ๐.
If you’re staying in and it’s freezing outside, the Rte 66 Sub Shop delivers to the top of the mountain ๐๐ฅช.
Travel Planning ๐โ๏ธ
Snowshoe sits atop the Cheat Mountains, so winter travel requires preparation. Monitor weather closely ๐จ๏ธ๐ฌ๏ธ. The WV DOT maintains roads well, and wv511.org provides real-time updates.
Because of frequent harsh conditions, pack essential items:
๐งค Extra gloves
๐งฅ Warm coats & blankets
๐ฅค Food & water
โฝ Full gas tank & washer fluid
๐ ๏ธ Small shovel
Mother Nature is beautiful โ but unforgiving. Stay safe so your hard-earned vacation doesnโt turn into a disaster ๐.
THINK SNOW โ๏ธโท๏ธ
And weโll see you on the slopes! ๐๏ธ๐