Ski Area Overnight RV Camping Guide
We’ve enjoyed four winter seasons on the road, and we’re in the middle of number five.
Our first season in 2018/19, we purchased Brundage Mountain season passes and visited seven other mountains that are part of their Passport to Powder.
Our second season in 2019/20, we chose Loveland Ski Area’s season pass to take advantage of their participation in Powder Alliance and other ski resort partner perks. We got around to 18 mountains plus two failed attempts.
For the 2020/21 season, we went back to having Brundage Mountain season passes. With uncertainty about how ski resorts were going to manage COVID and the implementation of reservations at some places, we chose to keep things simple and stay in one place.
Our fourth season in 2021/22 season, we purchased Brundage Mountain season passes again and we also purchased an Indy Pass. We were able to squeeze in 12 ski resorts after sitting still for a season.
This 2022/23 season, we purchased a Loveland season pass and an Indy+ Pass. We’re shooting for at least 44 days of skiing in riding in celebration of 44 years of life.
After visiting numerous mountains, we have discovered the experience at each varies when it comes to overnight RV camping at the ski area, including whether or not it is allowed. If it is permitted, rules and amenities differ at each ski area. Here is what we’ve learned so far:
Contact the ski area before arrival
Why reach out ahead?
Online information may not be current. Several blog articles will tell you which ski resorts allow overnight RV camping. However, they may not reflect the current or upcoming season’s information.
For example, per various online sources, Palisades Tahoe allows overnight RV camping. We even stayed in September 2018. We wanted to use their parking lot as our base during the 2019/20 winter season so we could visit nearby Sugar Bowl and Homewood. But when I called Palisades Tahoe, we were informed they discontinued overnight RV camping at some point during the 2018/19 winter season.
Some ski areas are experimenting with overnight RV camping who previously didn’t allow it. The ski area you thought didn’t allow overnight RV parking might now offer the option.
The ski area you want to visit may not advertise overnight RV camping even though they welcome overnighters, or perhaps have never considered it. I’ve called a few small ski areas, and sometimes it’s as though nobody has ever inquired about overnight RV camping. Most of the time, they’ve been willing to let us stay.
Some ski area websites are not up-to-date. There is a long list of rules and other pertinent information on their site, but when you arrive, some of what you read is inaccurate or incomplete.
For example, White Pass’s RV Parking page says they “will be closed on Tuesday nights at 4pm until Wednesday at 5pm for snow removal and maintenance”. An attendant assured us this doesn’t happen. And on Wednesday of our visit, it didn’t.
Questions to ask when calling ahead
Do you allow overnight RV camping?
We don’t use the word “parking” as I’ve had people think this means we want to park our rig in their lot overnight with no intention of sleeping in it.
What do you charge?
We’ve paid up to $60 per night.
Do I need to make a reservation?
Most places we’ve been to West of the Rockies have not required a reservation except a handful of Washington and Oregon ski resorts. Their RV overnight lots get packed on the weekend and during holiday periods.
Do I need to check in with anyone when I arrive?
Checking in may or may not be required. If check-in is required, you will generally do this through Guest Services or Security.
They may ask for your license plate number, so all personnel knows you are supposed to be there. You might also have to sign a form acknowledging the rules. Or, you might have to fill out a release of liability form. Be aware! The form might have a clause stating you can never sue the ski area, ever, for any reason related to your current or future visits. Pay attention to what you are signing.
Also, the ski area may give you a permit to place in your windshield.
What happens if I arrive after regular business hours?
Checking in the next morning is generally acceptable. If your overnight stay requires payment, please don’t leave without paying.
Do you offer any amenities to RV campers like restrooms, showers, hookups, trash receptacles, etc.?
Make sure you ask about anything important to you. Ski resorts rarely offer more than restrooms, and sometimes facilities are only available during regular business hours. If you don’t have a toilet in your rig, you may need to figure out where you will deposit your human waste at night.
Have a plan for your trash too, and be prepared to pack it out. Most ski resorts don’t offer trash receptacles. If they do have trash bins, the bins can become full during busy periods. Please only leave your trash if it can fit in a provided container, and that container can be secured shut to prevent wildlife from accessing it.
Where can I park my rig overnight?
Most ski areas have a designated area for overnight RV campers. It is often furthest from the ticket window and any ski lifts. If your rig is easy to move, you might want to relocate each morning to be closer to the slopes.
Is your parking lot paved?
Parking lots may be dirt, which can be unnoticeable when everything is snow-covered and firm. However, if it’s been warm, a dirt parking lot can become thick mud. We’ve been in ski areas where the mud is inches deep and requires 4WD. If you have a dog that you need to take out frequently and don’t have a great way to hose him off, you’re going to have a mess in your small space.
How long am I allowed to stay?
Some places have a limit on the number of nights you are allowed to stay. Others don’t specify a limit, but please keep in mind, it is not an invitation for you to live there all winter. Some ski areas offer full season passes.
Are there any dates I wouldn’t be allowed to stay?
Ski resorts may prohibit overnight RV camping during holiday periods, special events, and on weekends.
Do you allow campfires or grills?
Some ski resorts allow campfires and grills. Be sure to ask what is an acceptable setup. We’ve been to quite a few ski resorts where portable fire pits and charcoal grills are okay.
Knowing campfire rules is also important to note if you don’t like living in a cloud of smoke. At Mission Ridge, a group next to us set up their portable fire pit within a few feet of our van. We were glad everyone was having a good time, but when the fire is so close, after a while, the smoke is overwhelming.
Can you recommend a place where I can camp overnight nearby?
If the ski area doesn’t allow overnight RV parking, the staff may be able to point you in the right direction.
Other considerations
It can be noisy at night. The ski area still has work to do after the lifts stop spinning, including snow removal and grooming operations.
In addition to heavy equipment, you may have heavy drinkers and partiers for neighbors. You can join the fun or plan on limited sleep.
Some RVs have generators and your fellow campers might be running them at all hours of the day and night, regardless of quiet hours.
Also, you may have to park your rig in an area adjacent to a major highway or train track. Jake brakes and trains may be in the background all night long.
When it snows, you have to move your rig. The snow removal crew needs to keep up on the parking lot, so it doesn’t become an uneven mess. If it’s snowing out and snow removal is in operation, move your rig to an area already plowed so the operators can finish their job. Try to do this before someone knocks on your door.
Conveniences may be far from the ski area. You might have to travel a half-hour or more for a grocery store, fuel, showers, potable water, dump station, cell service, laundry service, etc. It may be more cost-effective to find a campground or RV park with or closer to resources depending on how many days you plan on riding and your needs.
Ski area parking lots are not perfectly level. They get icy and hard-packed with snow and can be on a slope, so when it’s time to sleep, your head may be pointed downhill or your body leaning to one side or both. If you don’t have tools to level your rig, you may want to pick up levelers or fall back on your plan B. Caution: Levelers can freeze to the ground in certain conditions, so you might want to skip the levelers.
Ski area parking lots can be disgusting places, especially in the spring when snow is melting. There is a lot of human pee and dog waste in those puddles of water.
Unless otherwise directed, park your rig so that it is in the general direction day visitors park and observe posted signs. It makes it easier for parking attendants and vehicles arriving in the morning. We’ve seen some pretty awkward parking choices by RVers, which results in less parking space for others and hinders snow removal operations.
When you pick your overnight spot, make sure you are maximizing the space left for others to camp. Overnight RV camping is in high demand at many ski areas, especially on weekends. Park as close as you can to another camper while leaving enough space so that everyone can get their doors and slides open and walk between rigs. Don’t set up a hangout area on the side of your van or RV. Some ski areas have enough room so that you can set up an outdoor space in the front or back of your parking space instead. Let’s all do our part to make sure more people can join in the fun.
Using online tools to find RVer resources can be unreliable. RV parks, campgrounds, dump stations, potable water, etc. are not always available during snowy winter months, and some apps and other websites we use don’t always note when this is the case. We have also found that some places are open when apps and other sites indicate they are closed. We always call ahead!
Ski areas that allow overnight RV camping
Leave No Trace
Overnight RV camping is a privilege, and ski areas may choose to discontinue it at any time. We hope everyone who has a passion for skiing and snowboarding has an opportunity to complete a winter road trip.
So we all can continue enjoying waking up next to the ski lift, we encourage everyone to follow Leave No Trace principles. While the backcountry was in mind when designing Leave No Trace, it can certainly apply to an overnight RV camping experience at a ski resort.
Awesome write up! Here’s more Oregon/Washington ski hills that allow winter camping….Mt Hood Meadows, Hoodoo, Anthony Lakes, Mt Bachelor, Stevens Pass, Crystal mountain, Mt Baker & 49 degrees North.
Thanks for the comment ages ago! I hadn’t been monitoring comments until now. Since 2020, we’ve been to Meadows, Hoodoo, Anthony Lakes, and 49 Degrees North. We can’t wait to ski/ride the other mountains you mention.