Whether planning a romantic getaway or a kid-friendly day trip packed with frosty fun, these hot spots for skiing near Knoxville TN have everything you need to create the fantastic winter memories you’ve been dreaming of.
These ski resorts near Knoxville TN all offer a variety of trails for beginner, intermediate, and advanced skiers. Many also have special kid zones where younger adventurers can enjoy a fun and safe experience created just for them.
For families wanting to extend the fun, there are also additional activities like snow tubing, ice skating, snow play zones, and more!
But of course, skiing is just one of the many fun things to do in and around East TN this winter.
Best Snow Skiing Near Knoxville TN (3 Hour Drive or Less)
The skiing locations listed below are less than a 3-hour drive from Knoxville, which makes them all excellent choices for a fun-filled day trip or a frosty weekend getaway.
While many of the locations are resorts with on-site lodging and restaurants, the ski attractions without on-site amenities have a variety of nearby dining options to help you plan the ski trip of your dreams.
While we try to have the most up-to-date information listed below, please verify all details with your chosen attraction prior to booking your trip.
1. Ober Gatlinburg
- Distance from Knoxville 1 hour and 18 minutes
- 1339 Ski Mountain Rd, Gatlinburg, TN
Slopes
Ober Gatlinburg offers 2 beginner trails, 6 intermediate trails, and 3 advanced trails. The largest verticle drop for both the intermediate and advanced trails is 556 ft. The ski surface is machine groomed.
Kids 11 years old and younger must be accompanied by an adult at all times. All skiers under 18 must have a signed parental waiver.
In addition to skiing, Ober Gatlinburg boasts snow tubing, ice-skating, a kids’ snow zone, shopping, and more!
Weekday Ski Prices
- Full Day Pass: $40/adult, $35/child
- 1/2 Day Pass: $35/adult, $30/child
- Night Pass: $25/adult, $25/child
Weekend and Holiday Ski Prices
- Full Day Pass: $70/adult, $60/child
- 1/2 Day Pass: $60/adult, $50/child
- Night Pass: $35/adult, $35/child
Parking
Parking is $10 per day. You can either park at the top of the mountain, or park at the bottom and ride the aerial tram to the top for an additional fee.
Where to Eat
Seasons of Ober Restaurant – This restaurant offers hand-cut steaks, chicken, pork, and a variety of fresh homemade sides. The best part is, you can enjoy it all with sweeping mountain views.
The Ober Loft Lounge – The lounge boasts a wide variety of specialty beers, crafts beers, and tasty bar food.
Sidewalk Cafe – Here you can find quick eats including burgers, pizza, sandwiches, and more!
2. Cataloochee Ski Area
- Distance from Knoxville 1 hour 39 minutes
- 1080 Ski Lodge Road, Maggie Valley, NC
Slopes
The Cataloochee Ski Area boasts 18 runs with 8 beginner trails, 7 intermediate trails, and 3 advanced trails. They also have slow ski zones for more timid skiers.
All runs have a machine-worked, packed-powder surface.
In addition to the regular runs, there is also an awesome terrain park. Just a few minutes down the road is Tube World for all your snow tubing desires.
Weekday Ski Prices
- 6 Hour Pass: $45/adult, $35/child
- 4 Hour Pass: $36/adult, $26/child
- Night Pass: $28/adult, $23/child
Weekend and Holiday Ski Prices
- 6 Hour Pass: $73/adult, $55/child
- 4 Hour Pass: $58/adult, $43/child
- Night Pass: $39/adult, $33/child
Where to Eat
About 14 minutes from Tube World you’ll find Brickhouse Burgers and Pizza. Not only do they offer up some pretty popular pizza and burgers but they also serve a variety of dinner platters and hot sandwiches.
Country Vittles Family Style Restaurant offers southern hospitality and cooking at its finest. They have all the fried meats and homecooked sides you’ve been dreaming of! But don’t worry, for you healthy folks, there are salads too.
3. Wolf Ridge Ski Resort
- Distance from Knoxville 2 hours 16 minutes
- 578 Valley View Cir, Mars Hill, NC
Slopes
Wolf Ridge boasts 15 slopes with 4 beginner runs, 9 intermediate runs, and 2 advanced runs. In addition to skiing and snowboarding on the slopes, there is also snow tubing and a terrain park.
Weekday Ski Prices
Full-Day Pass: $42/adult, $33/child
1/2 Day Pass: $32/adult, $25/child
Night Pass: $26/adult, $21/child
Weekend and Holiday Ski Prices
Full-Day Pass: $65/adult, $48/child
1/2 Day Pass: $55/adult, $39/child
Night Pass: $36/adult, $31/child
Where to Eat
There is a snack bar on-site serving tasty light concessions, including hot cocoa perfect for warming you up on a frosty day.
Little Creek Cafe is known for its southern home-cookin’, especially the fried fish and delicious homemade cakes.
30 minutes away is Stackhouse Eatery and Pub which offers delectable burgers and traditional American fare.
4. Cloudmont Ski and Golf Resort
- Distance from Knoxville 2 hours 25 minutes
- 721 Co Rd 614, Mentone, AL
Slopes
Located on Lookout Mountain, Cloudmont offers 2 beginner/intermediate slopes and advanced snowmaking machinery. They also have a variety of gorgeous rental cabins on-site.
Weekday Ski Prices
Full-Day Pass: $54/adult, $45/child
1/2 Day Pass: $40/adult, $33/child
Night Pass: $42/adult, $38/child
Weekend and Holiday Ski Prices
Full-Day Pass: $65/adult, $50/child
Night Pass: $45/adult, $40/child
Where to Eat
Wildflower Cafe is an adorable rustic cafe with indoor and outdoor dining. For lunch, the restaurant boasts a variety of hot sandwiches, soups, and salads. Dinner brings more elaborate fare like chicken platters, steak, and salmon.
You can also visit the Rib Shack for traditional southern BBQ.
5. Beech Mountain Ski Resort
- Distance from Knoxville 2 hours 34 minutes
- 1007 Beech Mountain Pkwy, Beech Mountain, NC
Slopes
Beech Mountain boasts 16 machine groomed slopes, including 3 beginner trails, 7 intermediate trails, 4 advanced trails, and 2 freestyle trails.
In addition to traditional slopes, this resort also offers a terrain park, snow tubing, and ice skating.
Weekday Ski Prices
Day Pass: $72/adult, $52/child
Half-Day Pass: $47/adult, $42/child
Night Pass: $39/adult, $32/child
Weekend and Holiday Ski Prices
Day Pass: $43/adult, $33/child
Half-Day Pass: $33/adult, $23/child
Night Pass: $30/adult, $23/child
Where to Eat
The Lodge on-site is the main eatery for the ski area and offers cafeteria-style food service.
There is also the Beech Mountain Brewing Company Tap Room and Grill which serves sandwiches, burgers, salads, wings, craft beer, and more!
The Red Baron Room and 5506′ Skybar are the resort’s 2 bars. Both offer a full bar and traditional bar food. Skybar also boasts sweeping mountain views.
6. Sugar Mountain Ski Resort
- Distance from Knoxville 2 hour 34 minutes
- SugarMountains, NC
Slopes
Sugar Mountain is widely regarded as offering the most difficult trails in the south. The resort offers 21 slopes including 7 beginner runs, 10 intermediate runs, and 4 advanced runs.
Weekday Ski Prices
- Full-Day Pass: $46/adult, $37/child
- Half-Day Pass: $36/adult, $25/child
- Night Pass: $30/adult, $25/child
Weekend and Holiday Ski Prices
- Full-Day Pass: $77/adult, $54/child
- Half-Day Pass: $61/adult, $42/child
- Night Pass: $41/adult, $33/child
Where to Eat
The Banner Elk Cafe and Tavern offer handmade pizza, a large selection of your favorite American foods, and a full bar.
Bella’s Neighborhood Italian Restaurant is another popular option serving up a wide variety of pasta, pizza, and more. They also offer craft beer and wine.
7. Sapphire Valley Resort
- Distance from Knoxville 2 hours 49 minutes
- 127 Cherokee Trail, Sapphire, NC
Slopes
Sapphire Valley offers beginner and intermediate slopes and snow tubing lanes.
Weekday Ski Prices
- Full-Day Pass: $55/adult, $43/child
- Half-Day Pass: $45/adult, $28/child
- Night Pass: $30/adult, $26/child
Weekend and Holiday Ski Prices
- Full-Day Pass: $58/adult, $46/child
- Half-Day Pass: $48/adult, $31/child
- NNight Pass: $33/adult, $29/child
Where to Eat
The on-site restaurant Micha’s serves pizza, wings, burgers, steaks, seafood, and more!
Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company specializes in wood-fired pizza and craft beer. They also offer burgers, salads, sandwiches, ribs, and more.
Related Read: Amazing Winter Hikes In The Smoky Mountains
Ski Resorts Near Knoxville TN (5 hour Drive or less)
While the resorts below are a little further away, they offer great amenities to make it worth your while. With fantastic on-site lodging and restaurants, you’ll have everything need to plan an extended winter vacation with style.
8. Appalachian Ski Mountain
- Distance from Knoxville 3 hours
- 940 Ski Mountain Rd, Blowing Rock, NC
Appalachian Ski mountain boasts 12 slopes including 3 beginner runs, 3 intermediate runs, 3 advanced runs, and 3 freestyle runs.
In addition to skiing and snowboarding, there is also a terrain park and ice skating.
Weekday Ski Prices
- Day Pass: $50/adult, $39/child
- 1/2 Day Pass: $42/adult, $33/child
- Night Pass: $37/adult, $27/child
Weekend and Holiday Ski Prices
- Day Pass: $75/adult, $54/child
- 1/2 Day Pass: $69/adult, $48/child
- Night Pass: $27/adult, $21/child
Where to Eat
Appalachian Ski Mountain’s on-site restaurant serves up a variety of tasty American food.
The nearby Coyote Kitchen offers Southwest Caribbean soul food including a variety of sandwiches, burritos, burgers, and more!
9. Winterplace Ski Resort
- Distance from Knoxville 3 hours 40 minutes
- 100 Old Flat Top Mountain Road, Ghent, WV
Slopes
There are 27 slopes and 1 terrain park at Winterplace Ski Resort, which boasts over 90 skiable acres. There are 12 beginner trails, 11 intermediate trails, and 4 advanced trails.
The terrain is machine groomed and granular. Depending on the weather, this resort creates up to 100% of its own snow.
In addition to skiing and snowboarding, there is also a large snow tubing park for even more fun!
Weekday Ski Prices
- 1-Day Pass: $46/adult, $26/child
Weekend and Holiday Ski Prices
- 1 Day Pass: $73/adult, $42/child
Where to Eat
The resort boasts 4 delectable dining options including The Mountain House Restaurant, Mountain Mama’s Food Court, Mickey’s Mountain Cafe, and The Snowdrift Lounge.
10. Wintergreen Ski Resort
- Distance from Knoxville: 5 hours 21 minutes
- 39 Mountain Inn Loop, Roseland, VA
Slopes
Wintergreen boasts 26 slopes with plenty of options for beginner, intermediate, and advanced skiers. In addition to skiing, this location also offers tubing, ice skating, and a little kids’ snow play area.
Weekday Ski Prices
- 8-Hour Pass: $64/adult, $54/child
- Extended Pass: $74/adult, $64/child
- Night Pass: $39/adult, $34/child
Weekend and Holiday Ski Prices
- 8-Hour Pass: $94/adult, $74/child
- Extended Pass: $104/adult, $84/child
- Night Pass: $44/adult, $39/child
Where to Eat
This resort’s 3 on-site restaurants offer many delicious choices including pizza, burgers, and sandwiches. There is also a more upscale restaurant for fancier dining.
11. Massanutten Ski Resort
- Distance from Knoxville: 5 hours, 35 minutes
- 1822 Resort Dr, Massanutten, VA
Slopes
This resort offers machine groomed terrain with 4 beginner trails, 6 intermediate trails, 3 advanced trails, and 1 terrain park.
Massanutten stands out from all the other ski resorts on this list because it also offers a fabulous indoor waterpark you and your kids will love. In addition to the waterpark, there is snow tubing, ice skating, an escape room, kids’ activity classes, and more!
Weekday Ski Prices
- 8-Hour Pass: $55/adult, $45/child
- 4-Hour Pass: $45/adult, $37/child
Weekend Ski Prices
- 8-Hour Pass: $82/adult, $72/child
- 4-Hour Pass: $72/adult, $62/child
- Night Pass: $45/adult, $37/child
Where to Eat
Massanutten boasts a variety of on-site dining options including BBQ, pizza, and a full-service restaurant offering scrumptious salads, sandwiches, and southern-style entrees.
12. Snowshoe Mountain Resort
- Distance From Knoxville: 6 hours, 13 minutes
- 10 Snowshoe Dr, Snowshoe, WV
Slopes
The majority of the snow at this attraction comes straight from mother nature, but the resort does make its own snow when needed. With 55 over trails, there are plenty of options for beginner, intermediate, and advanced skiers.
In addition to skiing, this resort boasts an escape room, ziplines, sporting clays, horseback riding, and much more. With so much variety, it’s the perfect destination for a week-long ski vacation.
Weekday Ski Prices
- $89/adult, $75/child
Weekend Ski Prices
- $199/adult, $100/child
Where to Eat
Snowshoe offers 19 different eateries including full-service restaurants, sports bars, pizza, a steakhouse, Starbucks, sweet treats, and much more!
Did we miss your favorite spot to go skiing near Knoxville TN? Comment below so we can add it to the list.
