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An aerial view of a ski area parking lot from a ski run. There is snow surrounding cars in parking lots, and multiple lodges at the base area. Photo courtesy of Schweitzer Mountain Resort

27 ski resorts where you can camp in the parking lot

Catch first chair without paying for a pricey condo

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There's a certain strain of ski bum, rooted in the Pacific Northwest, for whom the peak of dedication is sleeping in their van in a parking lot at the base of the mountain. It might sometimes be cold or cramped, but camaraderie and the promise of first tracks are powerful motivators. Love campers and trailers? Come join our community group.

While skiing overall has seen a shift upmarket toward pricey slope-side lodging and more luxurious vacation homes, the overnight parking lot warriors aren't extinct yet. In fact, an uptick in camper vans and full-time RVers have made winter camping even more popular. If previous generations of snowbirds sought to escape the snow, today’s #VanLife campers seek it out.

For anyone who loves waking up mere feet from the lifts, Curbed has put together a map of 27 ski resorts that offer overnight parking. Note: Spots are ordered from north to south.

Know of resorts we can add to this list? Send us an email or leave a note in the comments. We're looking for parking lots owned by the resorts themselves and where there's a clear policy allowing RVs and overnight parking.

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Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

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It might not be well publicized, but you can park overnight at Kicking Horse—just don’t expect any hookups. Check in with guest services for more details.

Revelstoke Mountain Resort

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There are other campgrounds in the vicinity of Revelstoke, but the resort allows for one complimentary night of camping for fully-enclosed RVs. Visit the Sutton Place Hotel front desk upon arrival to obtain your complimentary overnight permit.

Fernie Alpine Resort

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Fernie offers power hookups, washrooms and additional parking for RV campers during the winter. There’s also long-term RV parking available for a fee, but act quickly because space is limited.

Whitewater Ski Resort

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Head to Guest Service at Whitewater and the staff will direct you to Lot 3 for overnight camping. Each spot costs $25 per night and you can stay for up to seven nights. There are no power, sewage, or water hookups, but there are porta-potties.

Castle Mountain Resort

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Castle Mountain features overnight parking in their north lot. Register for a $15.75 parking pass at guest services; the pass also includes the wash house code with access to toilets and showers. There are no hookups, but you can use a generator with no cut-off time.

Mt. Baker Ski Area

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Overnight campers can park in the White Salmon lot (accessible 7 am-5 pm) or the Heather Meadows parking lot (accessible 24/7). You need to text your registration info and head to the administration office to get your permit. Spots are $10 per night for a maximum of seven nights.

Whitefish Mountain Resort

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Whitefish allows campers and RVs to park overnight in the Willow Tail lot. You can stay for a maximum of three days, and you must register at lodging check-in.

Schweitzer Mountain

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Parking at Schweitzer Mountain costs $20 per night in the Gateway lot. There are no hookups and you can stay three consecutive nights.

49° North Mountain Resort

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An RV spot at this eastern Washington resort will run you $18 per night with power and $8 per night without. The resort also has season rates already laid out: $299 for power and $129 without. Spaces aren’t guaranteed however, as it’s first-come/first-served.

Stevens Pass Mountain Resort

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Unlike other ski areas, Stevens Pass uses the Resnexus online reservation system, which lets you start booking campsites in early October. Around 50 percent of the resort’s 60 spots are available in October, then another 25 percent are available four weeks from the reservation date. Finally, 25 percent are released one day in advance.

Silver Mountain Resort

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Head to this under-the-radar ski area and you can camp overnight in the parking lot as lot as you’re in a self-contained vehicle.

Lookout Pass

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Lookout Pass allows overnight parking in the bottom parking lot closest to I-90 as long as campers will be skiing or snowboarding the resort.

Summit at Snoqualmie

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To park in one of the two lots that allow overnight parking, at Alpental and Summit Central, will cost you $15 for one night or $10 per night when paying for multiple, consecutive nights. Spots are limited, there are no hookups, and you need cash.

Crystal Mountain

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Head to the B lot for 65 RV spots, all first-come, first-serve and with hookups. Each site will cost $14 per night, and there’s a 14-day limit on stays—but that’s plenty of time to access Crystal Mountain’s top-notch powder. There’s even a handy text message service that lets you know when the RV lot is full.

Bridger Bowl

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Bridger Bowl does allow overnight parking, but there are some rules: Every RV must be self-contained, you need to contact the resort first to find out where to park, and you could be plowed in.

Lost Trail Powder Mountain

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Lost Trail allows overnight parking, but make sure you park along the east side of the lot along the bank and be prepared to move for snow plows. This spot is still under-the-radar because the resort has never advertised its camping policies; talk to the resort employees and they can guide you to the appropriate place.

Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort

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The 14 overnight sites at Mt. Hood Meadows are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. No services are available, but there also isn't an extra charge on top of the regular parking pass. You can stay three consecutive nights within any five-night period.

Brundage Mountain Idaho Ski Resort

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The resort allows overnight RV parking in its Lower Parking Lot for $10 per night. There are no hookups. RV guests must check in at Guest Services and get a parking/camping permit and must park around the outer edge only. Note: Brundage Mountain does not allow RV Parking during holiday periods—Christmas to New Years, Martin Luther King, and Presidents weekends because it doesn’t have room.

Hoodoo Ski Area

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Hoodoo features 32 RV sites which start at $30 with hookups and are located close to the lodge. There are also recently remodeled bathrooms open 24/7 with pay showers. You can make a reservation by calling (541) 822-3799.

Full season RV passes may be obtained for $500 which entitles a person to have a spot anytime during the winter as long as the RV is occupied, and does not stay on the mountain more than seven days at a time. The RV may stay permanently for a price of $400 per month. 

Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort

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Electrical hookup sites are available for $50/night regular season and $70/night peak season, while non-hookup sites cost $20. You can reserve online or at the ticket office, and there’s also a 10-night card that costs $120 for a non-powered spot.

Grand Targhee Resort 

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Grand Targhee's lodging front desk will sell you an overnight RV pass for $22 per night. RV parking is designated in Lot #4 only in the Moose and Wolf rows, and there is a maximum stay of seven consecutive nights.

Bogus Basin

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Campers are fine in all of the parking lots at Bogus Basin with the exception of the main lot. If you are going to camp, the resort asks that you park beyond the tubing hill.

Willamette Pass Resort

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The first 10 to show up for a spot at Willamette Pass can snag electrical hookups for $20 each, but anyone looking to rough it can also camp for $10. Check with the parking attendant for the location.

Pomerelle Mountain Resort

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Pomerelle offers overnight parking, just make sure that those in RVs are self-contained. In the summer months, don’t miss the Lake Cleveland campground not far from the parking lot.

Powderhorn Mountain Resort

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Camping is free in the parking lots of Powderhorn Resort. On weekdays, guests are welcome to camp overnight in the third parking lot. On weekends, overnight guests should use the overflow parking lots. 

Silverton Mountain Ski Area

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Expert skiers, this one’s for you: Park overnight on the road on the way to the ski area and then enjoy powder laps all day at one of Colorado’s hidden gems. Note that you might have to move your car in order to let plow trucks get through, but trust us, it’s worth it.

Wolf Creek Ski Resort

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There might be other ski areas in Colorado where we've spent a night or two under the radar, but Wolf Creek is one of the few in the state that has an official policy allowing overnight parking. When you arrive, contact the Base Operations staff—look for the parking attendants with orange flags—to assist with both day and night parking. If you arrive after hours, you are welcome to park in the main parking lot, which is not gated.

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Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

It might not be well publicized, but you can park overnight at Kicking Horse—just don’t expect any hookups. Check in with guest services for more details.

Revelstoke Mountain Resort

There are other campgrounds in the vicinity of Revelstoke, but the resort allows for one complimentary night of camping for fully-enclosed RVs. Visit the Sutton Place Hotel front desk upon arrival to obtain your complimentary overnight permit.

Fernie Alpine Resort

Fernie offers power hookups, washrooms and additional parking for RV campers during the winter. There’s also long-term RV parking available for a fee, but act quickly because space is limited.

Whitewater Ski Resort

Head to Guest Service at Whitewater and the staff will direct you to Lot 3 for overnight camping. Each spot costs $25 per night and you can stay for up to seven nights. There are no power, sewage, or water hookups, but there are porta-potties.

Castle Mountain Resort

Castle Mountain features overnight parking in their north lot. Register for a $15.75 parking pass at guest services; the pass also includes the wash house code with access to toilets and showers. There are no hookups, but you can use a generator with no cut-off time.

Mt. Baker Ski Area

Overnight campers can park in the White Salmon lot (accessible 7 am-5 pm) or the Heather Meadows parking lot (accessible 24/7). You need to text your registration info and head to the administration office to get your permit. Spots are $10 per night for a maximum of seven nights.

Whitefish Mountain Resort

Whitefish allows campers and RVs to park overnight in the Willow Tail lot. You can stay for a maximum of three days, and you must register at lodging check-in.

Schweitzer Mountain

Parking at Schweitzer Mountain costs $20 per night in the Gateway lot. There are no hookups and you can stay three consecutive nights.

49° North Mountain Resort

An RV spot at this eastern Washington resort will run you $18 per night with power and $8 per night without. The resort also has season rates already laid out: $299 for power and $129 without. Spaces aren’t guaranteed however, as it’s first-come/first-served.

Stevens Pass Mountain Resort

Unlike other ski areas, Stevens Pass uses the Resnexus online reservation system, which lets you start booking campsites in early October. Around 50 percent of the resort’s 60 spots are available in October, then another 25 percent are available four weeks from the reservation date. Finally, 25 percent are released one day in advance.

Silver Mountain Resort

Head to this under-the-radar ski area and you can camp overnight in the parking lot as lot as you’re in a self-contained vehicle.

Lookout Pass

Lookout Pass allows overnight parking in the bottom parking lot closest to I-90 as long as campers will be skiing or snowboarding the resort.

Summit at Snoqualmie

To park in one of the two lots that allow overnight parking, at Alpental and Summit Central, will cost you $15 for one night or $10 per night when paying for multiple, consecutive nights. Spots are limited, there are no hookups, and you need cash.

Crystal Mountain

Head to the B lot for 65 RV spots, all first-come, first-serve and with hookups. Each site will cost $14 per night, and there’s a 14-day limit on stays—but that’s plenty of time to access Crystal Mountain’s top-notch powder. There’s even a handy text message service that lets you know when the RV lot is full.

Bridger Bowl

Bridger Bowl does allow overnight parking, but there are some rules: Every RV must be self-contained, you need to contact the resort first to find out where to park, and you could be plowed in.

Lost Trail Powder Mountain

Lost Trail allows overnight parking, but make sure you park along the east side of the lot along the bank and be prepared to move for snow plows. This spot is still under-the-radar because the resort has never advertised its camping policies; talk to the resort employees and they can guide you to the appropriate place.

Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort

The 14 overnight sites at Mt. Hood Meadows are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. No services are available, but there also isn't an extra charge on top of the regular parking pass. You can stay three consecutive nights within any five-night period.

Brundage Mountain Idaho Ski Resort

The resort allows overnight RV parking in its Lower Parking Lot for $10 per night. There are no hookups. RV guests must check in at Guest Services and get a parking/camping permit and must park around the outer edge only. Note: Brundage Mountain does not allow RV Parking during holiday periods—Christmas to New Years, Martin Luther King, and Presidents weekends because it doesn’t have room.

Hoodoo Ski Area

Hoodoo features 32 RV sites which start at $30 with hookups and are located close to the lodge. There are also recently remodeled bathrooms open 24/7 with pay showers. You can make a reservation by calling (541) 822-3799.

Full season RV passes may be obtained for $500 which entitles a person to have a spot anytime during the winter as long as the RV is occupied, and does not stay on the mountain more than seven days at a time. The RV may stay permanently for a price of $400 per month. 

Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort

Electrical hookup sites are available for $50/night regular season and $70/night peak season, while non-hookup sites cost $20. You can reserve online or at the ticket office, and there’s also a 10-night card that costs $120 for a non-powered spot.

Grand Targhee Resort 

Grand Targhee's lodging front desk will sell you an overnight RV pass for $22 per night. RV parking is designated in Lot #4 only in the Moose and Wolf rows, and there is a maximum stay of seven consecutive nights.

Bogus Basin

Campers are fine in all of the parking lots at Bogus Basin with the exception of the main lot. If you are going to camp, the resort asks that you park beyond the tubing hill.

Willamette Pass Resort

The first 10 to show up for a spot at Willamette Pass can snag electrical hookups for $20 each, but anyone looking to rough it can also camp for $10. Check with the parking attendant for the location.

Pomerelle Mountain Resort

Pomerelle offers overnight parking, just make sure that those in RVs are self-contained. In the summer months, don’t miss the Lake Cleveland campground not far from the parking lot.

Powderhorn Mountain Resort

Camping is free in the parking lots of Powderhorn Resort. On weekdays, guests are welcome to camp overnight in the third parking lot. On weekends, overnight guests should use the overflow parking lots. 

Silverton Mountain Ski Area

Expert skiers, this one’s for you: Park overnight on the road on the way to the ski area and then enjoy powder laps all day at one of Colorado’s hidden gems. Note that you might have to move your car in order to let plow trucks get through, but trust us, it’s worth it.

Wolf Creek Ski Resort

There might be other ski areas in Colorado where we've spent a night or two under the radar, but Wolf Creek is one of the few in the state that has an official policy allowing overnight parking. When you arrive, contact the Base Operations staff—look for the parking attendants with orange flags—to assist with both day and night parking. If you arrive after hours, you are welcome to park in the main parking lot, which is not gated.