Even though the temperatures are dropping, the outdoor activities don’t have to stop. This season, try something new by bundling up and heading out for some skiing and snowboarding adventures. The Midwest is full of family-friendly ski spots. No matter your level of expertise, there’s something for everyone at these easily-drivable destinations.
Places to Go Skiing and Snowboarding Near Chicago
Please call or check the website before planning your trip to make sure your destination is open for the season and based on the weather.
Illinois Skiing and Snowboarding
Four Lakes Alpine Snow-sports
5750 Lakeside Drive
Lisle, IL 60532
(630) 964-2550
Great place for beginners! Offering private and group lessons. Seven tow ropes, rental shop, free parking and lodge with a restaurant/bar. Daily slope ticket for MondaysโThursdays is $24, Fridays are $25, Saturdays are $30, and Sundays are $27. Ski equipment rental is $20, snowboard rental is $30, and helmets are $10/day. Semi-private lessons are $35 and private lessons are $60.
Villa Olivia
1401 W Lake Street
Bartlett, IL 60103
(630) 289-1000
Weeknight ski and snowboard specials, family fun nights and season passes available. Group and private lessons offered. The hill features seven runs, a chair lift, six rope tows, tubing hill, and ski cafe. Full day and night slope tickets available. Pricing is broken down according to child (6 and under), junior (7 to 11 year olds), adults (12 to 64 year olds) and seniors (65 and up). Equipment rentals also available.
Chestnut Mountain Resort
8700 W Chestnut Road
Galena, IL 61036
(800) 397-1320
About a three-hour drive from Chicago, Chestnut Mountain features 19 trails for skiers and snowboarders of all ability levels. There are many discounts for weekday and weekend skiing as well as lodging packages. Please check their website for pricing and updated rates for the 2022-2023 season, which will be available soon.
Michigan Skiing and Snowboarding
Swiss Valley
13421 Mann Street
Jones, MI 49061
(269) 244-8016
About a two hour car ride from Chicago, Swiss Valley features 11 runs with lights for night skiing, 3 chair lifts, 4 rope tows, terrain park and a chalet/lodge. Season passes and a Valley Kids ski program are available, too. Weekday lift tickets are $38 for ages 13 and up and $32 for ages 6โ12; weekday rentals start at $25, and $10 for helmets. Check the website as there are multiple pricing options that vary by day.
Timber Ridge
07500 23 1/2 Street
Gobles, MI 49055
(269) 694-9449
Roughly a 2.5-hour drive from Chicago. Check out their tubing hill, as well as beginner to expert runs, and two terrain parks. Lift tickets for ages 7โ12 years old are $43 on weekdays, and $50 on weekends. Children 6 and younger ski free with a paying adult ticket. Adult lift tickets are $48 (weekdays), $60 (weekends/holidays). Discounts for twilight hours. Equipment rentals and lessons for kids and adults are also available. Tubing rates and guidelines are on the website, along with additional information for this hill.
Boyne Mountain Resort
1 Boyne Mountain Road
Boyne Falls, MI 49713
(855) 688-7024
Boyne Mountain is definitely a destination resort as it is approximately 5 hours from Chicagoland, but still, closer than traveling to Colorado or Utah! Boyne has everything from beginner to expert runs spanning 415 skiable acres including 60 trails, with the activities of cross country skiing, snow shoeing, fat tire snow biking, tubing, horseback riding, ice skating, sno-go bike rides, groomer rides, ziplining and more! The resort also features Avalanche Bay, an indoor water park open year-round, and a spa. Information on lift tickets, rentals, and lessons can be found on the website.
Wisconsin Skiing and Snowboarding
Wilmot Mountain
11931 Fox River Road
Wilmot, WI 53192
(262) 862-2301
About an hour north of Chicago, Wilmot Mountain features 23 runs and seven chair lifts, catering to skiers and snowboarders of all ability levels. Wilmot is operated by the same company that owns Vail, Park City, Breckenridge, and more. Check the website for information on nearby lodging, kids ski and snowboard school, as well as a tubing hill featuring 22 tubing lanes and two conveyor lifts. There are many different pricing options depending on which kind of pass you purchase. Visit the website for more details. For the biggest savings, buy your ticket online.
The Mountain Top at Grand Geneva
7036 Grand Geneva Way
Lake Geneva, WI 53147
(262) 245-7516
Located in Lake Geneva, this resort has 20 runs, 6-acre terrain park, and three chair lifts. For a fun day trip, take advantage of their family ski packages that include a group lesson. Burton Riglet Park was built with young ones in mind featuring several stations guided by certified instructors. Lift tickets must be purchased in advance online. Lift tickets are $60 for adults/$25 for children ages 7โ11 (Monday- Thursday); $70 for Adults/$45 for children (Friday-Sunday and holidays). Lift tickets are discounted after 3:00pm on weekends and holidays. Children 6 and under are $10. Equipment rental is $40 for adults and $25 for kids. Helmet rentals are $10.
Alpine Valley
W2501 County Road
Elkhorn, WI 53121
(262) 642-7374
Features three high-speed quad chair lifts and three conveyor lifts… which translates to getting up the hill just as fast as you can get down! Caters to skiers of all ability levels with expanded ultimate beginners and intermediate areas. Lift ticket prices vary by time of day, day of the week, and areas of access. They are sold at the resort only on a first come, first serve basis. Check their website for all the pricing details. Equipment can be rented for $23 for children ages 5 and under, $45 for guests 6 and up. All helmet rentals are $15.
Cascade Mountain
W10441 Cascade Mountain Road
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-5588
Features 36 different runs with wide appeal to snowboarders because of its four terrain parks. Plenty of nearby lodging options available with its proximity to the Wisconsin Dells. Tubing hill, too! Lift tickets can be purchased for all day, an 8-hour day, night, 2-day or 3-day. Kids 12 and under are free with a paying adult, and standard rates are slightly lowered for guests ages 13โ17 years old. Please check their website for pricing and updated rates for the 2022-2023 season, which will be available in November.
Devilโs Head
S6330 Bluff Road
Merrimac, WI 53561
(608) 493-2204
Located three hours from Chicago, Devil’s Head features 30 runs, seven lifts, lodging, dining and ski school/lessons. Lift tickets in 2021 for adults were $62/weekdays, $72/weekends. Junior/Senior tickets (ages 6-12 or 60-65) are $52/weekdays, $62/weekends. Kids 5 and under are free. Discounts for evening tickets. Thursday nights are $16 specials. Rental equipment is $34 for adults, $25 for children. 2022/2023 pricing will be available on the website soon.
Granite Peak
3605 N Mountain Road
Wausau, WI 54402
(715) 845-2846
Features 75 runs and three high speed lifts, family festival packages, season passes, lessons and night/midweek specials. Pricing is based on Sunday through Friday, or Saturdays and Holidays. All weekend and holiday tickets for the 22-23 season must be purchased in advance. Specials in place for 4-hour and nighttime hours. Children under age 5 are free, youth, adult and senior lift tickets available. Discounts also given for early and late season tickets. Check their website for specific pricing.
If you hit the slopes, tag us on Instagram (@kidlist) so we can see your family adventures! And keep following Kidlist all winter long for more outdoor fun to see you through the chilly months.
