KILLINGTON RESORT GUIDE
Images courtesy of Killington Mountain Resort
Killington Resort Overview
Killington lives up to its title "The Beast of the East" — it's the only Eastern resort to host an Alpine World Cup event, the second highest peak in the Northeast and has the most skiable acres. With an average annual snowfall of 250+ inches, and snow-making covering 70% of its terrain, it's consistently one of the first in the East to open (think Thanksgiving skiing) and the last to close (typically around Memorial Day). With 7 peaks, (including Pico), 155 runs and 6 terrain parks, Killington has something for everyone. During the 2018-19 season Killington benefited from the largest single year capital-investment of the past 20 years with big upgrades to the traffic flow and lift infrastructure.
All of this is easily accessible. Killington is part of the Ikon Pass and just under three hours of driving from Boston. From New York, the trip can take over 5 hours even without traffic. Killington offers a variety of live music performances, breweries, the Billings Farm Museum and the Paramount Theatre. Young adults will be drawn to Killington for its late night après ski offerings and terrain parks, which Ski Magazine considers to be among America's best.
The Ikon Pass offers 5 or 7 days total at Killington/Pico. Killington also offers special passes for novices, college students, mid-week riders and seniors. Check for special pass deals here.
Snow Reliability
Snow-Making & Grooming
Ski School
Travel Convenience
Accommodations
Terrain Variety
On Mountain Dining
Extreme / Off-Piste Terrain
Quick Take
Let's Go
Killington partners with Snow Operating to provide an amazing beginner experience called Terrain Based Learning; Beginners tend to get up and running a lot faster here
Home to some of the best ungroomed skiing and steep terrain in the East. Glades, bumps and trees, oh my!
Choose amongst a range of lodging options from the more budget Snowed Inn and Greenbrier Inn to the higher-end Killington Grand Resort Hotel and High Ridge Condos
One of the liveliest après ski scenes in Vermont — The Wobbly Barn goes until the sun comes up
College students can get a season pass for $369 — one of the best deals around
Hesitations
The access road is just that, an access road. There is no real town outside of Rutland 20 minutes away or Woodstock and Ludlow, both 30 minutes away
Crowds. Lift lines can be very long and some areas bottleneck (e.g., the Gondola to Killington Peak) during the holidays and on powder weekends
Lift tickets are relatively more expensive (~$115/day) than surrounding resorts. Consider the “ski and stay” packages or the Ikon Pass for greater value
The sheer size and number of trails here can be hard to navigate, especially for those just starting out. The layout makes it easy to end up at the wrong base or with a long walk
Insider Tips
Head to Pico Mountain, a 5 minute drive or shuttle away and included within the Killington lift ticket. Crowds tend to be smaller here and you may even find fresh powder in the trees.
Avoid the K-1 and Ramshead Gondolas. Follow our Trail Guide to uncover the best slopes while minimizing wait times
The layout, with multiple base areas, can be confusing. To ensure you finish in the right spot, refer to the color of your lift ticket tie as it will match to your lodge or parking lot of origin
On busy days, head to the glades for the best conditions. Don't worry, anyone can ski the trees at Killington; glades range from greens, like Treezy, to Double Blacks, such as Devil's Den
Looking for a challenge? Bear Mountain has a good variety of steeper trails. In the spring, Killington hosts the famous Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge on Outer Limits
Trail Map
For an in-depth breakdown of Killington's terrain, head to our Mountain Guide. Top trails and mountain stats included.
Getting To
Closest Major City: Boston, MA
Distance: ~150 miles South East
Travel Time: ~ 3 hours drive
Albany, NY: 105 miles, ~2 hr 15 minute drive
New York City: 250 miles, ~5 hours drive
Neighboring Resorts
Killington is part of the Green Mountains and has many neighbors that make a good day trip.
Closet Neighbors on the Ikon Pass
Other Nearby Vermont Resorts (Less than 1.5 hrs)
Travel by Plane
Closest major commercial airport: BOS (Logan International Airport)
~150 miles South East, ~3 hrs
Regional airport: BTV (Burlington International Airport)
~90 miles North East, ~1 hr 45 minutes
Private planes can come in / out of RTL - (Rutland Regional Airport)
~20 miles SW, ~35 minutes
Charter a helicopter from NYC directly to Killington's Base
Book on Wings Air; ~90 minute ride
Travel By Bus
Killington offers free shuttles between the Base areas and many restaurants and bars on the access road have shuttle service to and from the hotels
Override provides bus service to/from Killington from NYC (convenient for long day trips)
New England Snow Bus provides bus service to/from Killington from Boston
Amtrak provides services from NYC to Rutland by way of Albany
Travel by Car
We prefer to have a car here, its an easy drive from Greater NYC and Boston
Pros: Free parking is abundant; access to wider selection of restaurants, stores and visits to other nearby resorts
Cons: None (though a car wash will be needed)
Ride shares: (e.g., Uber, Lyft) are fairly reliable here
