Drive Time

[highpeaksdrifter]

What’s the longest you’ll drive one way for a day trip, weekend, week or more ski trip?
How much does the time spent in the car effect your discussion on where to go?

 

[trtaylor]

I do 3 hours one way for day trips to the Catskills. To get to Vermont is going to tack on another 2 hours to the ride. That's too much for a day trip.

 

[kcyanks1]

The longest I've done for a day trip is 3.5 hours. I would definitely not do that regularly. For an ordinary day trip I'd prefer < 2 hours, but that's not really possible from NYC. Hunter I guess is around 2.25-2.5, so I'd say that's the limit. But really I'd try to do weekend trips more than day trips.

For a weekend trip the longest I've done is 6.5-7 hours (by design--I've had a longer trip because of weather). That's on the long side, but coming from where I am, I'm not getting too much shorter. SB is around 5.5-6 already. I'll go to Killington sometimes. I'm generally not going any place south of there (though I would like to try Magic again).

Growing up, my family had a vacation place at Lake George and I lived in the northwest suburbs of NYC. So it was 3 hours to our place in Lake George, and then we did day trips. Gore was 40 minutes and we mostly skied there. Sugarbush and Killington were under 2 hours. Whiteface 1.5ish. It wasn't until more recently that when I took trips I stayed right at the ski areas, and where day trips from my home were even an issue. As of now my plan is really Hunter a couple times for day trips, and otherwise weekend trips to northern VT.

 

[snowmonster]

Longest I've done for a day trip is a 5 hour drive from Boston to Jay Peak. I don't think I want to do that again. Three and a half to four hours is my upper limit on a day trip. Anything longer than that deserves an overnight stay. I will drive up to 7 hours for an overnight or weekend stay. I like driving but I also want to have enough energy on the slopes too.

 

[tcharron]

What’s the longest you’ll drive one way for a day trip, weekend, week or more ski trip?
How much does the time spent in the car effect your discussion on where to go?

Three hours is my max. Any longer then that, and I have to leave before 6 am, and THAT.. ISNT..GOING..TO...HAPPEN.. :-D

 

[FRITOLAYGUY]

4hrs each way is my max, i like Gregs philosophy on this im sure he will chime in with it.

 

[deadheadskier]

Day trips I try and keep under 2.5. Sugarloaf is pretty much the max I'll go, though I will ski Saddleback this winter, which is more like 3 from Portland.

Weekend, 5 hours

Week - there really isn't anything over five hours I'd desire to go to the east from where Iive. One things for certain, I wouldn't drive out west for a week.

 

[RISkier]

Sunapee is just under 3:00 hours for us, Gunstock a bit further, Pats a few minutes less, B'East about 2:45. That's about our day trip range and is the reason we end up going to Wachusett as often as we do.

 

[Greg]

i like Gregs philosophy on this im sure he will chime in with it.

Oh...you mean the drive time:ski time ratio? You need to be skiing as long as you'll be in the car? It doesn't always work out for me though... :lol:

I'll do 3 hours without any hesitation. I would do up to 4 hours which puts me at MRG if everything is right (conditions, AZ gathering, etc.) Back in the day, I used to do many 4 am departures for backpacking trips. Even a few midnight departures. Probably wouldn't do that now, but 4:30 - 5 am is doable for me.

 

[millerm277]

Day trip: 3 hours, 4-5 if powder
Weekend: No real limit....maybe 12 hours or so.

 

[mattchuck2]

What’s the longest you’ll drive one way for a day trip, weekend, week or more ski trip?
How much does the time spent in the car effect your discussion on where to go?

Day Trip: 2 Hours
Weekend: 5 Hours
Week: 12 Hours (although, I don't see myself doing that unless I move out west)

Drive Time never affects the "discussion", although it does affect where I choose to ski and work.

 

[ts01]

Week: 12 Hours (although, I don't see myself doing that unless I move out west)

[HIJACK] Quebec City offers a week of skiing that seriously rivals out west at lower expense and hassle. Le Massif and Mt Ste Anne are big mountains - a couple of smaller ones to explore as well. [/HIJACK]

Back on track - 3 hrs is the limit. Can't wake up before 5, but gotta be booted at first chair +/- 15 minutes.

 

[mattchuck2]

Thanks, but I'm probably not going to drive past Sugarbush, MRG, Stowe, Jay, and Sugarloaf to ski Mt. Ste Anne.

Especially with the Canadian Dollar so strong . . . I gave a money change place $100 in Montreal on Friday and got $96 back.

 

[ALLSKIING]

5 hrs is my max for a day trip.....although with that amount of driving time, I do find I start to slow down on the hill around noon.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

What’s the longest you’ll drive one way for a day trip, weekend, week or more ski trip?
How much does the time spent in the car effect your discussion on where to go?

For a day...the maximum I'll drive is 3.5 hours each way..so probably Windham would be the farthest I'd go..Ideally If I'm skiing in the Catskills I'd go for two ski days and one night..it makes for a pretty budget weekend especially if I can haggle on the lodging..

For going to Vermont..whether it be Okemo, Killington, Sugarbush, or Stowe..I need 3 days and 2 nights at the least. I'd drive up one day, stay overnight, ski, stay overnight, ski a 1/2-2/3 day..then drive home...

This past April I took two trips to Stowe. On the first trip I took a full week off work and after skiing Blue mountain on Gaper Fools day..April 1st...I drove up Monday April 2nd...I skied 5 days from Tuesday to Saturday and then drove home after skiing Saturday..The 2nd trip I took Thursday and Friday off work..and drove up Thursday..earned a run at MRG..then skied Stowe Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until about noon then was home around 7:00PM

When I ski at Jackson Hole I like to have 8 ski days..7 at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and 1 day at Grand Targhee. Saturday to the following Monday works best for me and then I can ski from Sunday to Sunday. so despite 8 ski days and 2 travel days..I only use 6 vacation days.

 

[theshaggydawg]

Skiing time has to equal double time in car.

 

[vcunning]

Before kids and 30: 6 hours and my wife and I would still be first in the lift line (those were great early morning Sugarloaf drives).

After kids and 40: about 12 minutes, but we prefer 0.

 

[trtaylor]

...then skied Stowe Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until about noon then was home around 7:00PM.

That's making good time. What route do you use?

 

[BeanoNYC]

I day trip MS often. 3.5 hours each way.

 

[ski220]

We have driven to Jay and Stowe for exceptional powder. 5 to 6hrs from Stamford,Conn.. Actually going up the night before and just skiing the 1 day. Does this count as a day trip? Probably not. The last few day trips I've taken have been to Mt. Greylock in Mass.. The drive is about 3hrs.