With off-season prices, thinner crowds, and the transpiration of seasons, winter is one of my favorite times for outdoor venture in the US. Whether you are a winter lover and want to hit the slopes on a snowy vacation or are looking for warm weather and sunshine, there are plenty of winter destinations where the season and weather will fit the bill. In this blog post, we’ve rounded up the weightier winter vacations in the US for outdoor adventure.
Best Snowy Winter Vacation Destinations
Visit Crested Butte, Colorado
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to explore Crested Butte, Colorado in the winter for the first time and I loved getting to know this little Rocky Mountain town.
Located a 4-5 hour scenic momentum from Denver, it’s a winter wonderland that should definitely be on your list of snowy winter destinations.
With incredible skiing, fat biking, snowshoeing, winter hiking, and cross-country skiing, I share everything you need to know well-nigh planning your visit in this Crested Butte Winter Travel Guide.
Explore Montana’s snowy landscapes
When most people think of Montana, they picture Glacier National Park’s colorful valleys and upper tall lakes or bison roaming through the wildflowers of Yellowstone National Park.
But have you overly thought of visiting Montana in the winter? Not only can you find solitude in some of Montana’s most scenic destinations throughout winter, but Montana moreover offers a wealth of unique winter activities, some of which are found nowhere else.
Sure there’s epic resort skiing at Big Sky and Bridger Bowl, but you can moreover try ice climbing, snowshoeing, or skijoring, and end your day soaking your muscles in some very inviting hot springs.
>> Check out 8 heady things to do in Montana this winter
Discover Idaho’s plentiful winter activities
With more natural hot springs than any other state, uncrowded ski resorts, and unpretentious mountain towns, Idaho should be on your winter vacation radar. It makes the top of my favorite snowy winter vacation spots for outdoor adventure, for sure.
Travelers can either fly into Boise, rent a car and throne up to McCall or fly uncontrived into Sun Valley. You can’t go wrong with either – the skiing, hot springs, views, and succulent supplies are plentiful in both.
Check out the pursuit blog posts for help planning your snowy winter vacation to Idaho:
- Fun Things to Do in Idaho During Winter
- Tips for Visiting Burgdorf Hot Springs in McCall, Idaho
- 4-Day McCall, Idaho Winter Itinerary
- 5 Reasons to Ski Tamarack in Idaho
View the Northern Lights in Fairbanks, Alaska
Heading to Alaska during the winter gives you the weightier endangerment to see the incredible sunrise borealis, moreover known as the Northern Lights — a true skillet list winter vacation. Beyond the Northern Lights, there are tons of wondrous things to do in Fairbanks in winter, including hot springs, dog mushing, ice sculpture parks, and more.
The Alaskan Railroad operates year-round and connects Anchorage to Fairbanks all winter, with Fairbanks often considered the weightier viewing zone for the Northern Lights considering it’s tropical to the Arctic Circle.
Just be sure to dress thus for frigid temperatures and varying weather conditions.
Head to Rocky Mountain National Park
Colorado is one of the most popular snowy winter vacation destinations in the US, but most people stick to the ski slopes. Skip the crowds and throne to Rocky Mountain National Park – located just two hours from Denver – to enjoy snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking, wildlife watching, and more. Trammels out our well-constructed Rocky Mountain National Park Winter Guide, including where to stay, outdoor activities, & what to pack to plan to plan your winter trip.
Take A Mountain Collective Ski Pass Road Trip
A few years back, I got my first Mountain Collective Pass which provides 2 days of lift tickets at each of 25 partner resorts for a total of 50 days of lift access. I put together an superstitious road trip itinerary and spent a week visiting Snowbird (Salt Lake), Sun Valley (Idaho), and Jackson Hole (Wyoming).
Other options for combining Mountain Collective resorts into the ultimate ski vacation are:
- Mammoth & Squaw Valley (California)
- Revelstoke & Lake Louise (Canada)
- Aspen & Telluride (Colorado)
- Alta, Snowbird & Snowbasin (Utah)
The Mountain Collective Pass is a unconfined deal and you really only need to visit 2 or 3 of the resorts in a winter to make the pass worth it.
>> Read Next: What To Wear Skiing
Go Snowshoeing in Washington
Western Washington is home to some of the deepest yearly snowpacks in the world, with Mount Rainier and Mount Baker averaging increasingly than 650 inches of snowfall a year. Considering of this, Washington is a unconfined winter destination, expressly for snowshoeing. Trammels out our favorite Washington snowshoeing routes, and if you’ve never tried snowshoeing, our blog post on beginner snowshoeing tips & gear.
Not in Washington? See a full roundup of the best places to go snowshoeing in the Western US.
Shack up in a Rustic Woodland Hut
Backcountry huts aren’t just for skiers (although they’re unconfined for that, too). Slap on a pair of snowshoes, cross-country skis, or a woodland set-up, and throne to one of these cozy woodland huts.
You’ll find solitude, untracked snow, and incredible mountain scenery. After a memorable day out in a winter wonderland, you can warm up virtually your wood-burning stove, enjoy some hot drinks, and make a succulent meal.
Visit Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks
Avoid the sweltering summer heat (and the crowds) in Utah by visiting in the winter during the off-season! Southern Utah can get hit with a little bit of snow, expressly at higher elevations in Bryce Canyon, but increasingly likely you’ll end up with pleasant daytime temps and quiet trails.
Our week-long Utah road trip itinerary covers Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef. Pick one park on the itinerary to explore, or if you have the time, hit them all. Just be sure to pack thus for the unprepossessed temps and note that some campgrounds are sealed in the winter.
Check out this blog post for increasingly National Parks to visit in winter.
Go Hot Springs Hopping in Nevada
Nevada is one of the most underrated travel destinations in the US, and you’re guaranteed to find solitude during the winter. However, we love visiting Nevada in the winter considering it’s prime hot springs season! Brush up on your hot springs etiquette and trammels out 21 of the weightier hot springs in Nevada.
Hit The Weightier Slopes in the US
I took up skiing at the age of 31 and it’s totally transformed how I spend my winters. Skiing is not just a way to get outside in the winter, but it’s an superstitious sport that’s challenging, social, and a ton of fun. While I love my home resort of Alta in Salt Lake, there’s tons of wondrous ski resorts wideness the US that make the perfect winter vacation:
- Best Ski Resorts for Beginners
- Best California Ski Resorts
- Best Oregon Ski Resorts
- Best New England Ski Resorts
- Colorado Gems: Affordable Ski Resorts
Best Warm Weather Winter Vacation Destinations
Go Backpacking in Southern California
If youre looking for incredible winter backpacking trips in not-so-wintery environments, trammels out our trail reports of the Trans-Catalina Trail (Catalina Island and the California Hiking and Riding Trail (Joshua Tree National Park). These two Southern California trails will alimony your backpacking legs in shape this winter.
The Trans-Catalina Trail offers the opportunity to witness psychedelic sunsets, navigate paths with the island’s resident bison, and zany right on the sand.
Alternatively, you can tick off flipside National Park on the Hiking and Riding Trail in Joshua Tree where you’ll weave through massive boulder formations, iconic desert vegetation, and sleep under some of the darkest skies in California.
Head to Hawaii
Hawaii is unchangingly a good nomination for outdoor venture in the winter. Big swells victorious on parts of the islands this time of year, so trammels out Honolii Waterfront Park or Kahaluu Waterfront on the Big Island of Hawaii for surf action. If you want to be a spectator, some of Hawaiis biggest surf competitions are held during the winter months on the North Shore of Oahu.
Hawaii has increasingly to offer than just surf though. There are uncounted ways to enjoy the warm weather whether it’s snorkeling with sea turtles, kayaking, watching humpbacks violate offshore, swimming, hiking, or stand-up paddling.
The Hawaiian islands are moreover home to two National Parks, including Volcanoes National Park where you can wits exploding lava spritz into the ocean at night and Haleakala National Park where you can rservation an incredible sunrise or sunset.
For other ideas, trammels out our posts on Kona and Kauai or visit this roundup of awesome things to do on Oahu on Be My Travel Muse’s site.
Drive Lanugo the California Coast
While the mountains are packed with snow, the California tailspin has summery temperatures plane in winter. Youll find cute coastal towns, incredible supplies (local oysters or clam chowder anyone?), world-class wine, and unbelievable vistas. Pick a coastal destination for a long weekend or plan a road trip lanugo the unshortened 800-mile tailspin if you have time.
Some of our favorite coastal cities for overnight stays are Mendocino, Bodega Bay, Santa Cruz, Morro Bay, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Malibu, Encinitas, and Ocean Waterfront (San Diego).
There are coastal camping options as well, and during the winter youll have a largest endangerment of snagging a spot.
Check out our Central California Tailspin road trip itinerary, Big Sur travel guide, or our post on the Best California Road Trip Stops for easy planning.
Camp in Big Bend National Park, Texas
From day hikes, backpacking, and multi-day kayaking trips to scenic drives and stargazing, there is something for everyone to enjoy in Big Bend National Park in Texas and winter is one of the weightier seasons to enjoy it all.
Average winter highs are in the 60s, and all three campgrounds in the park are unshut year-round. If youre looking for something a little cozier, the Chisos Mountain Lodge offers warm rooms and cottages in the heart of the Park.
Road Trip Florida’s National Parks
While other parts of the U.S. are bundling up, the weather in the south stays warm throughout the winter. Florida is home to three national parks – Florida Keys National Park, Dry Tortugas, and the Everglades – where you can hike, take wend tours, snorkel, walk withal white sand beaches, and encounter Florida’s giant gators.
We put together the Ultimate Florida National Parks road trip itinerary starting in Miami, where you can wits the weightier outdoor vita that Florida has to offer.
Explore Arizona’s Desert Landscapes
Arizona is a trappy winter destination that offers a ton of opportunities for outdoor adventure. Winter temperatures stereotype in the mid to upper sixties in most spots, making it a unconfined time to get out there and explore while lamister the heat.
Check out the pursuit blog posts to help plan a winter trip to Arizona:
- Best Arizona Road Trip Stops
- 4-Day Sedona Itinerary for Venture Travelers
- Saguaro National Park Guide
- Best Hikes in Tucson
- Best Things To Do in Bisbee, Arizona/li>
- Petrified Forest National Park Hiking Guide
- “The Wave” Planning & Trail Guide
Hike in Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park, just a couple of hours east of Los Angeles, is a wonderful winter hiking destination. While summer is unbearably hot, winter is a well-appointed season for stuff outside any time of day as long as you bring layers (nighttime temperatures in the desert can waif into the teens!)
Check out some of our favorite hikes in Joshua Tree whether you’re going out for a day trip or plan on staying for a few days at one of the campgrounds.
If you’re looking to do some backpacking, trammels out our guide to backpacking the California Hiking and Riding Trail, a 35-mile route that runs through Joshua Tree.
Experience Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park may be one of the most unique parks in the United States and winter is the weightier season to visit due to summery temperatures. It’s home to the lowest point in North America, Badwater Basin, and only a short momentum to the wiring of the tallest point in the first-hand United States, Mt. Whitney.
There’s a ton to see in do in Death Valley from hiking on sand dunes, exploring the badlands near Zabriskie Point, and taking in a birds-eye view from Dantes Point.
For a 3-day activity-packed itinerary, throne over to our Death Valley National Park guide.
Get Outside in New Orleans
The historic, vibrant municipality of New Orleans is a popular winter vacation destination in the US with its yearly Mardi Gras celebration. However, if you’re looking to see a variegated side of New Orleans, there’s tons of outdoor activities virtually the municipality and temperatures are summery in the winter. New Orleans is so much increasingly than Bourbon Street – trammels out our guide to the best New Orleans hikes & nature walks to get the most out of your Louisiana trip.
Related Blog Posts:
- What To Wear Hiking in Winter
- Winter Hiking Tips
- Tips for Camping in Unprepossessed Weather
- Best National Parks to Visit in Winter
- A Winter Hater’s Guide to Loving Winter
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