At ski resorts in the Philadelphia area, winter is prime time for family fun. But you don’t have to strap on skis or even brave the cold to have a great time on the mountain. Snow tubing is an awesome choice for families who want an alternative to skiing and snowboarding, and many resorts offer indoor fun as well. Read on for some great destinations for tubing and more, whether you’re planning for a day trip or a short winter getaway.
Blue Mountain If you choose Blue Mountain, conveniently located in Palmerton, PA for your tubing adventure, you have the option of up to 55 lanes, each 1,000 feet long and three lifts to get you to the top of the hill. There are no age or weight restrictions but riders need to be 36” and taller. Sessions are 2 hours each and it is recommended you arrive about 30 minutes beforehand. They offer double tubes so a child can ride in front of you. Check out Sonic Snow Tubing starting at 5pm! Check Website for Pricing and Hours of Operations.
Bear Creek Bear Creek is a family-friendly ski resort and they extended the runs on their 10 lane snow tube park this season for an even more fun mountain experience. Riders must be at least 6 years of age and 42” tall. They offer evening sessions during the week as well as early bird and evening sessions on the weekends if that fits better with your schedule and also may be less crowded. Sessions are two hours long and tickets must be purchased in advance. Check Website for Pricing and Hours of Operations.
Camelback Mountain Camelback Mountain is one of the top family-friendly ski resorts in PA, but skiing is just the beginning of what they have to offer! In addition to 39 trails and 15 acres of new beginner terrain, there are two terrain parks for snowboarding and freestyle skiing, one of which is specifically designed for beginners to learn safely. Camelback also boasts the largest snow tubing park in the USA with over 40 lightning fast lanes. And they were voted #1 best place for snow tubing by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice in 2023. When you’re ready to head indoors, escape the cold to Aquatopia, a massive indoor waterpark with 7 pools, a lazy river, 13 different water slides, an indoor surfing experience and more. Camelback Lodge is also on site, where you’ll find a spa, shopping and lots of dining options. Check Website for Pricing and Hours of Operations.
Liberty Mountain Liberty Mountain Resort, located in southern Pennsylvania, offers skiing and snowboarding for all abilities. But if it’s snow tubing you seek, check out their Boulder Ridge Snow Tubing Park to find fun for all ages, no experience required! Boulder Ridge offers tubing runs for older kids and adults, as well as Pebble Ridge Kiddie Tubing that’s especially for toddlers age 2 to 4. Boulder Ridge even has its own lodge where you can warm up with food and drinks, an arcade and a wrap-around deck for watching the action. Liberty Mountain is also home to an ice skating pond, as well as Playcare, a full service daycare for kids from 6 months to 10 years old. (You can find more on mountains that offer childcare in our guide here.) Check Website for Pricing and Hours of Operations.
Montage Mountain Located just 2 hours from the Philadelphia area, Montage Mountain boasts 27 trails ranging from beginner to expert covering 140 skiable acres. For tubing adventures, head to the Montage Mountain Snow Tubing Park, which offers three-hour sessions seven days of the week. For those not quite big enough for the main tubing area, Mini Tubing runs are available with single and double tubes. And, thanks to the Magic Carpet Conveyer Lift, you’ll ride easily back to the top to start the fun again. No matter how you spend your time on the mountain, the Slocum Hollow Bar and Restaurant offers lots of delicious ways to warm up. Check Website for Pricing and Hours of Operations.
Shawnee Mountain Shawnee Mountain, about two hours north of Philadelphia, is a great option for family-friendly skiing and snow tubing in the Pocono Mountains. Shawnee offers 23 trails and slopes, 2 terrain parks and their Pocono Plunge Snow Tubing Park. The snow tubing park features single tubes as well as adult and child tandem tubes with two conveyor lifts to whisk you to the top. Spend less time climbing up and more time flying down! After your tubing or skiing adventures, Shawnee also offers several dining options to help you refuel. Check Website for Pricing and Hours of Operations.
Jack Frost and Big Boulder Located in the Poconos, about 2 hours north of Philadelphia… Two mountains, one epic trip! Check out Big Boulder for snow tubing and Jack Frost for skiing. For snow tubing, children must be at least 4 years old and minimum 42” tall. Single tubes only and no lap riding. There are 2 conveyor carpets that transport the tubers up to the top. Sessions are for 2 hours. There are a wide variety of food & beverage options from grab and go cafeterias, to sit down restaurants, to taco & burrito bars. Check Website for Pricing and Hours of Operations.
Roundtop Mountain Resort Roundtop Mountain Resort is located about 2 hours west of Philadelphia, near Harrisburg. Minimum height to go tubing is 42”. Dining options include a food court, coffee shop and BBQ. There is also a Fireside Lounge where you can sit, relax and enjoy table service. The Mountainview Lodge is right next to the tubing hill where you can warm up with a nice cup of hot chocolate. There are many local hotels if you are planning an overnight stay. Check Website for Pricing and Hours of Operations.
Iron Valley Tubing Snow tubing just about 1 ½ hours west of Philadelphia. Children must be at least 40” tall to ride and they cannot ride with adults. There are two tow lifts that will pull you and your tube back to the top of the hill. Food options include a pub in the clubhouse as well as a snack bar for grab and go items. Must purchase tickets ahead of time. No walk-ins allowed. Check Website for Pricing and Hours of Operations.
Updated January 2024