Hitting the Slopes on Wheels: Why More Skiers Are Turning to RV and Vanlife

Ski holidays in a campervan, RV, or converted van might sound unusual, but more and more skiers choose to combine life on the road with time on the slopes — and it’s not just the die-hard ski bums. And while all motorhome and #vanlife travel obviously involves sleeping in your vehicle, the experiences can range from roughing it to outright luxury.

Flexibility is the obvious advantage of skiing or snowboarding out of an RV. With no need to book accommodation in advance, making last-minute plans around your work schedule and the ever-changing snow conditions is easy. The downsides depend on your setup, which depends on how much you’re willing or able to spend.

A ski trip in a converted van is perfectly doable as long as the vehicle is properly “winterized.” At its simplest, this means having a freeze-proof water system and protecting your leisure batteries from the cold. With a warm sleeping bag on top of that, you should be perfectly fine. And while there is no end to how elaborate a DIY van conversion can be, a bare-bones van setup is the cheapest way to access the slopes.

However, chasing the best snow doesn’t have to mean cramming into a tiny space or roughing it. Four-season RVs and motorhomes come with full-size bathrooms and kitchens, making them feel almost as comfortable as a private mountain chalet on wheels. While buying one of these flashy rigs is a serious investment, they can also be rented for a weekend or even for an entire season.

If you’re planning to spend more than just a few days on the slopes, multi-resort passes such as Ikon or Epic are often the most cost-effective option. Unfortunately, they don’t cover parking, especially overnight, and sleeping right next to the ski lifts at a major resort will set you back $50-$150 per night. Luckily, Sno-Parks provide a much more affordable solution.

Found in most mountainous states, Sno-Parks are designated winter recreation parking areas where visitors can stay overnight and access snow-covered trails and slopes right on their doorstep. In Washington alone, there are more than 100 Sno-Parks, most without hookups but some with bathrooms, and a season permit is only $50. Naturally, few are located right next to major resorts like Crystal Mountain or Stevens Pass, but overnighting at a Sno-Park and moving closer to a lift in the morning can still be significantly cheaper than traditional resort accommodations. Sno-Parks are also the perfect solution for ski-touring, snow-shoeing and other winter pursuits that don’t necessarily rely on lifts.

Whatever setup you choose, hitting the slopes from a home on wheels can be a great way to save money and bring back a sense of adventure, so why not check out this extensive list of campervan and RV-friendly resorts. In addition, here are links to Sno-Parks in: Washington, California, and Oregon. (Other states have equivalent winter recreation parking areas but may use different names.)