For Beginners of All Ages Wisp Resort location_onMcHenry, MD languageWebsite Photograph courtesy of Wisp Resort. A smart layout and tons of beginner terrain make this Deep Creek Lake resort a mecca for novices. Take lessons and hone your ski legs in a sequestered learning center by the lower lodge. It’s protected by a grove of trees and served by three conveyor carpets that let beginners progress at a comfortable pace. When you’re ready, board an adjacent chairlift to the upper lodge area and build skills on seven breezy greens. Distance from DC: Three hours   For a Day (or Night) Trip Liberty Mountain Resort location_onFairfield, PA languageWebsite Liberty Mountain Resort has 16 trails. Photograph courtesy of Liberty. The small southern Pennsylvania resort is unrivaled for convenience from the Washington area. Sixteen trails and two terrain parks unfurl across 100 skiable acres and offer something for everyone, including snow tubing. Sparse slope traffic on most weekdays makes for a worthwhile day off, and complete night-skiing coverage is ideal for making the most of a lift ticket or even a post-work jaunt. Distance from DC: 90 minutes   For Après Amenities Snowshoe Mountain Resort location_onSnowshoe, WV languageWebsite Cozy fire pits at Snowshoe. Photograph by Kurt Schachner courtesy of Snowshoe. The “Beast of the Mid-Atlantic” is known for frequent winter storms and a whopping 257 acres of skiable terrain. But beyond the slopes, the Colorado-style village offers amenities unparalleled this side of Vermont. There are more than a dozen bars and eateries, including farm-to-table Appalachian Kitchen, helmed by 2024 James Beard Foundation Best Chef semifinalist Scott MacGregor. The resort also curates the Brigham Collection, a directory of the most luxurious and distinctive rental properties on the mountain. Distance from DC: Four hours   For Woods Skiing Canaan Valley Resort State Park location_onDavis, WV languageWebsite Twenty-two miles of backcountry trails and 180 inches of annual snowfall have made the West Virginia resort a destination for cross-country connoisseurs. For those seeking that sense of solitude without the uphill exertion, the trio of lift-served, off-the-beaten-track routes offer an alternative. The Meadow Glades are particularly lovely and let you weave through an Appalachian spruce forest. Distance from DC: Three hours   For a Kid-Friendly Excursion Whitetail Resort location_onMercersburg, PA languageWebsite Kid’s Mountain Camp at Whitetail. Photograph courtesy of Whitetail. Specialty programs help children acclimate to the snow and gear. The half- or full-day Kid’s Mountain Camp provides group lessons in two beginner areas with seven trails. Participants start in an isolated learning zone, then graduate to gently graded routes served by small lifts, plus longer rides that descend from the ridgeline of Two Top Mountain. Packages include lift tickets and equipment. Distance from DC: An hour and a half   For Freestyle Fun Seven Springs Mountain Resort location_onChampion, PA languageWebsite Terrain parks at Seven Springs feature rails. Photograph by Dillan Hodak. When it comes to terrain parks for both skiing and snowboarding, no one in the Mid-Atlantic does it better. The Pennsylvania resort offers powder playgrounds across six designated areas. A pair of isolated, tow-rope-equipped routes are a place to pack in learning runs on ride-up boxes, flat rails, and small jumps. Once you’ve mastered those obstacles, you can progress to bigger features—including a halfpipe and concrete stairways—on lower slopes such as North Park and the Streets. Distance from DC: Three and a half hours   For a Challenge Wintergreen Resort location_onNellysford, VA languageWebsite Photograph courtesy of Wintergreen Resort. In-the-know enthusiasts laud the Virginia resort’s experts-only Highlands area as a treasure trove for moguls. The Outer Limits trail features a gauntlet of demanding, ungroomed mounds that get gnarlier as the season deepens—a good thing if you’re trying to level up. Snow farmers stow powder at the top of Upper Cliffhanger, an expert run, creating deep trenches. The area holds eight black diamonds with 1,003 feet of total vertical drop. The skill curve, in addition to a high-speed six-chair lift, creates power-hour conditions all day long. Distance from DC: Three hours Downhill Drama Teaching a significant other how to ski or snowboard can turn into an emotional double black diamond. Consider these tips for a smoother outing. The perfect ski-cation for two should bring a heady combo of mountain air, luxe amenities, and endorphin-fueled bonding. But if it’s your partner’s first time clicking in, or it’s been a while, beware: A romantic getaway can quickly turn into an après-ski breakup. My brother, for instance, once insisted that his then-fiancée had snowboarded “all the time in college” and would easily pick it up again. I countered that skis and a lesson might be a better option after 15 years away. He didn’t listen, and we watched in horror as they crashed, argued, finger-pointed, and shrieked their way down the most basic green route. It didn’t stop the wedding, but my sister-in-law vowed never to return. “The key is to go in with realistic expectations,” says Kameron Tucker, mountain-sports director at Massanutten. Think of the excursion as an introductory investment that you want to pay long-term dividends. Start with a fitting in the rental shop to ensure comfort, then tackle fundamentals in the easiest learning area–preferably one with a magic-carpet conveyor. “There’s a pretty sharp early learning curve that can be frustrating for adults,” says West Virginia outdoor community-development manager Corey Lilly, a former pro skier. “I tell friends in this situation not to push things and instead set small, incremental goals. Then really celebrate your spouse’s successes.” Looking for a sure-fire path to mutual on-piste bliss? Outsource the job. “I’d set my partner up with a private lesson on day one,” says Tucker. “That way, you know they’re getting the best learning experience possible and you can jump in once they’re a bit more comfortable.” Mountain Makeover The Shenandoah Valley resort Massanutten is wrapping up a five-year, multimillion-dollar facelift in 2026. Beyond the renovated rental center and main lodge, which now include a deck connected to a slopeside bar, here’s what’s new at the resort. Skip the Line An online system streamlines the rental process and allows visitors to by-pass ticket windows for direct access to the slopes. Pump It Up Bigger water pipes, better pumps, and about 100 new blowers hypercharge snowmakers’ ability to quickly blanket 83 ski-able acres. Ready for Liftoff The lifts have all been up-graded, including a new conveyor in the learning area and a high-speed quad to the summit. Trail Blazers Five new trails are on the map, including new connector routes that expand the number of moderately challenging runs. Slide Into Slumber On the way: The massive indoor waterpark is getting a 28,000-square-foot expansion as well as an onsite hotel with 140 rooms. This article appears in the January 2026 issue of Washingtonian. The post 7 Great Ski Destinations an Easy Drive From DC first appeared on Washingtonian. ...read more read less