Trains and Busses from NYC to skiing

[nurfhurder]

New to the northeast and this is my first full winter here. Im trying to find a list of the easiest ski resorts to hit from NYC by train or bus. The only place I've found that shows end to end was Killington; Train to Rutland, bus to Killington. Any local NYC people who ride mass transit to the slopes or anyone else with insight to NY, VT resorts?

frank - ready to tele

 

[trycash2]

I've done the NYC -> Kmart Amtrak ride a bunch of times over the years and it's really pretty convenient... they time the bus to the train arrival so you don't have to sit around waiting (it's about a 20-40min ride depending on road conditions & # of stops)... and once you're up there you can really get around with out a car.... there's a shuttle to / from slopes - bars - condos.... it's easily your best best if you're are car-less NYC'er

The only other thing I've heard of people doing is flying to Burligton Vt and then renting a car and hitting up Stowe / Jay / Smuggs area... it's got to be a realatively short / cheap flight... Jet Blue goes up regularly I think...

 

[ts01]

Check websites at Jiminy Peak, Hunter, Windham, Belleayre. I think they all have bus trips up from the city, not sure though.

Also not a direct answer, but check Jet Blue to Burlington VT. With the airtrain link to JFK, and probaly shuttles from BTV airport to bigger resorts up there, I wonder if you could get to Stowe or Sugarbush faster than Killington if you're looking for bigger mountains.

EDIT -- I was typing this up while trycash2 beat me to it...

 

[RIDEr]

Bus Schedule from Emilio's Ski Shop:

http://www.emiliosskishop.com/Busstart.htm

 

[andyzee]

Another option, see about joining a ski club. They usually organize bus trips to slopes.

 

[ERJ-145CA]

There is also Mountain Creek in Vernon, NJ which has bus service. MC is very crowded on the weekends though. Hidden Valley is a little smaller but is not crowded and is right around the corner from MC. Here are some links:

http://www.njtransit.com/sa/sa_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=CustomerNoticeTo&NoticeId=1917
http://www.mountaincreek.com/mountain_info/gettinghere/index.htm
http://www.hiddenvalleynj.com

 

[tree_skier]

There is a bus service to southern vermont generally leaves friday and picks you up sunday. I know it drops off at the 7-11 in west dover (also on the moover route) and then goes on to stratton.

www.adventurenortheast.com/mountsnow.htm

You also can take the train to Brattleboro and the moover meets twice a day to deliver to the valley. The Moover is a free bus service serving the Deerfield valley (west dover, willmington, wardsboro, whitingham, jacksonville and connecting to brattleboro)

 

[BeanoNYC]

Another option, see about joining a ski club. They usually organize bus trips to slopes.

Good idea. Are you living in Manhattan or an outer borough? These guys schedule many ski trips and meet up once a month at a Manhattan Bar once a month. Good networking for skiiers in NYC:

http://www.ski-nyc.com/

 

[nycskier]

There are a lot of daytrips to Hunter leaving from different parts of the City:

http://www.nycski.com/

http://www.paragonsports.com/Paragon/Shop

http://www.bladesnyc.com/

http://www.skishop.com/

Amtrak to Killington is both really nice and really awful. While the train (with a laptop computer) is way more comfortable and enjoyable, the trip is actually a lot longer by train than driving. It's at least 5 1/2 hrs (assuming the train is not delayed which it usually is) vs. 4hrs 45min drive.

 

[Greg]

For those with kids, the ski train to Thunder Ridge is a good deal:

http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_thunderridge.htm

Small hill, but good for getting the kids out.

 

[catskills]

Belleayre Bus Information

Leave your car at home and save cash! Take the UCAT bus from
Kingston, and Belleayre will pick up your round-trip fare! Call 888-827-UCAT or
log on to www.co.ulster.ny.us/ucat for pick-up locations and times.
From NYC try the Adirondack Trailways Package - it leaves from the Port
Authority in NYC at 7
AM and returns by 7
PM, Thurs-Mon. Call 800-858-8555
for more information. Price is $68, which includes bus transportation, all-day
lift ticket and free beginner ski lesson. Overnight packages that include bus
transportation, lift ticket and hotel are available by reservation only. Call 800-
431-4555, ext. 361 for more information. Regular bus trips to Belleayre are
offered from New York City and Long Island. Visit www.belleayre.com or call
x474 for details.

http://www.catskillhighpeaks.com/specials/

This is a nice deal.

ALPINE OSTERIA • Beat the Innkeeper at Pacman
Beat the Innkeeper at Pacman, or a number of other video games and your weekend stay is FREE!
845-254-9851 • www.alpineosteria.com

 

[nycskier]

The $158 roundtrip to Belleayre, 2 day lift ticket and 1 night lodging is a really good deal!
http://www.belleayre.com/winter/skibus.htm

 

[nurfhurder]

Im in Brooklyn 5min away from Manhattan so the ski club, which I didn't think about, is a good idea. There are several resort names listed that I've never heard of, excellent information, just what I was looking for! I greatly appreciate everyones input and look forward to more.

-frank

 

[BeanoNYC]

The $158 roundtrip to Belleayre, 2 day lift ticket and 1 night lodging is a really good deal!
http://www.belleayre.com/winter/skibus.htm

No doubt. We should all book for the same trip one day.

 

[ta&idaho]

Zipcar

Zipcar also rents Ford Escapes for $125/day including gas (up to 180 miles/day), insurance, and tolls. Not a bad option if you're splitting the cost with a few buddies.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

For trains to Vermont the Ethan Allen is the only train that works. NYC to Rutland. The Vermonter starts in DC and stops in NYC onto Waterbury but there are so many stops it takes around 9 hrs. Not aware of any resort shuttles from Waterbury or Burlington airport, think you have to hire a cab. Can be pricey.

At the Bush, once you get here there are free shuttles around the resort and to Waitsfield and Warren villages.

 

[shadyjay]

I'm the assistant stationmaster at Waterbury, VT Amtrak station and there are quite a few folks who take the train. The Vermonter leaves NYC in the early early afternoon hours and gets up to Waterbury at around 9-10 (delays included, though 8:16 is the "advertised"). From Waterbury, Stowe's only about 10 minutes, the Bush and the MRV only 10-15 mins. Further south, you've got Mt Snow and Stratton "not terribly too far" from Brattleboro, and same with Okemo from Bellows Falls. I'm sure if you contact a resort directly, they'll arrange a "package deal". I've seen folks getting rental cars at stations as well, and taxis can pick u up.

The Ethan Allen, however, seems to be the best ski train, operating at the most convenient times. It'll take you to Rutland, where you can get connected with both Killington and Okemo. Contact your resort directly for transfer details. I don't see a "designated connecting bus" listed in the latest Amtrak timetable.

Also be sure to make your reservations early. And keep in mind that there's no baggage car - but you can bring up to IIRC 3 pieces of baggage with you. There's your skis, boards, and a travel bag. Plenty of space on board to stash the gear. Sit back and grab a drink and you'll be at the mtn in no time. Saves you $$$ on gas. Fares on these trains are quite reasonable.

Hope this helps!

 

[nycskier]

The Vermonter is pretty impracticable for skiing. To begin with the train out of New York leaves at 11:30AM and does not get to Waterbury/Stowe until the "advertised" 8:16pm. That is an 8 hour and 45 minute train ride assuming there are no delays (which there usually are).

Returning to New York the train leaves Stowe at 9:28AM and doesn't arrive in NYC until 7:48. That is a 10 hour and 20 minute train ride!

Basically you lose 2 days of work or skiing to traveling to get to Stowe by the Vermonter. And the train is almost double the time of the 5 hour 45 minute drive form NYC to Stowe.

I have taken the Ethan Allen to Rutland to ski at Killington. Since I dont have a car I did this a lot last couple of season. While it is an hour longer by train vs driving it is a more relaxing ride. Just be careful about the train back. The Sunday train back to NYC is the only afternoon train (i.e. the only train you can take back without losing a day of skiing). If you want to stay an extra day to ski Monday there is no train back to NY until Tuesday morning. This kind of sucks because it makes long weekends hard. Amtrak doesn't even run an afternoon train back to NYC on MLK or Presidents Day weekend.

It is a shame. If the trains were more reliable and ran faster I am sure a lot more people would take the train to ski. The main problem is the tracks in Vermont are terrible. The train travels about 15mph through VT and it can take as long as 50 minutes just to get from Fair Haven, VT to Rutland!

 

[inhalexhale]

Hunter's bus lines page --

http://www.huntermtn.com/huntermtn/resort/getting-here/bus-lines.aspx

 

[andyzee]

Ask and ye shall recieve :lol: !