What is the furthest distance you will drive to go skiing for a single day?

[Nick]

I typically try to stay under 3 hrs each way, but i could go to 3 -1/2, if I have someone along with me.

Flying solo I typically keep that 3 hour cap which puts me up to Cannon / Magic areas.

After that, you hit the point where you spend more time driving than skiing, which is kind of a mental thing for me.

 

[ctenidae]

We always tried to use the metric 1 hr driving for 1 hr skiing. So, for a 6 hour ski day, we'd drive 3 hours each way.

 

[Nick]

PS if you want to delineate between a) if it's a powder day or not and b) if you are going solo or with others or c) anything else you want to qualify.

I could see driving further if there was powder further up north beyond the driving distance or the snow is going to be considerably better. But for an equal dumping I would end up going somewhere closer.

 

[Zand]

Killington was traditionally the furthest I'd do for a day trip (at right around 3 hours), but I did Sugarbush once for a day trip (4+ hours). Granted it was late April so I left at 8 AM and skied 12-5... not first chair to last chair like I've done on Killington day trips.

 

[St. Bear]

Same day, 3 hours. But keep in mind that almost all of my ski trips "start" from my parents house in NH so we can drop off the kid. So I'm not counting the 5+ hours it takes to get there the night before, and then drive home, which is usually on the same day.

 

[AdironRider]

15 minutes.

 

[Nick]

15 minutes.

you suck. :uzi:

 

[adamh]

I'll go 3 and a half, maybe four hours.

 

[emmaurice2]

Driving long distances is mentally taxing. I don't think I'd have as much fun if I had to drive more than 3 to 3.5 hours.

 

[adamh]

I don't really have a choice, coming from Rhode Island. Its basically drive 3 hours plus or don't go skiing.

 

[tekweezle]

2 1/2 hours each way is about the upper limit of my patience now. Anything longer and I look for someone else to do the driving like a bus trip.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

[Nick]

Does bringing someone with you or going solo impact how far you want to drive?

I get so bored going alone

 

[SnowRock]

Snow is 4, and Killington about 4.5 from me. I have done those but its a rough day and I probably won't be doing it again anytime soon. I would do 3 hrs if there was something in that range. My conundrum is usually figuring out (based on conditions/mountain offerings) if I want to drive 45 mins versus 2hrs.

 

[St. Bear]

Does bringing someone with you or going solo impact how far you want to drive?

I get so bored going alone

Driving alone isn't a big deal. My wife usually sleeps a good portion of the drive anyway, so it's like I'm alone.

It's skiing alone that I'm not a fan of.

 

[deadheadskier]

I want the place I ski regularly to be 1.5 hours or less from home. I switched from Ragged to Gunstock last year because it's only an hour to Gunstock vs an hour and forty to Ragged. It makes a big difference on days when the conditions are just meh and I only want to get out for a few hours.

I'll do a few day trips in the 3-3.5 hour range each season though. Considering a trip to Sugarloaf tomorrow actually.

 

[C-Rex]

I try to keep it under 2.5 hours for normal groomer conditions. I'll go 3.5 if it's a week day and I know I'll have the place pretty much to myself, or if conditions are well above par. I'll push it pretty far for a good powder day, especially if I have a motivated riding buddy to keep me pumped. I've done the 4.5 hour ride to Jay to ride in the woods all day while it was dumping, and came back the same day. Brutal drive home, but totally worth it.

DH, I've been pondering a trip to the Loaf tomorrow as well. Sounds like it's already primo up there and it's only going to get better.

 

[fahz]

I drove solo to Smuggs a little over 4 hours one way back in 2008. Too long but it was a Warren Miller ticket & they had an early season snow storm that opened Madonna. Sugarbush about three and a half last year one way with someone again a Warren Miller ticket. Somehow the long drive is better when the skiing is cheap!

 

[bobbutts]

I usually keep it under an hour each way, but I selected 2-3 since the question was about maximum.

 

[SnowRock]

If I have a buddy in the equation and forecast looks good/its snowing I try to push on the night before, cheap hotel room somewhere close/on the way option if I am going to Southern Vt in the 4hr category. For a regular day trip though, regardless of conditions, solo or not I find 4hr+ tough.

 

[Smellytele]

2 - 2 1/2 and no more than once a year. usually 10 min but an hour or an hour and 1/2 is not bad.