Killington is in central Vermont’s Green Mountains, and Killington Resort is the biggest ski area in the eastern United States. It’s usually one of the first mountains in the East to open in the fall and one of the last to close in spring, thanks to heavy snowmaking. Places to stay range from slopeside hotels and condos to ski chalets, rental homes and country inns.
Ski areas
- Killington Resort spreads across several peaks with base areas at K-1, Snowshed, Ramshead and Skyeship, so where you stay decides which lift you start from.
- Pico Mountain, Killington’s smaller sister mountain on Route 4, is a few minutes west and usually quieter.
- Okemo in Ludlow is about 30 minutes south, an easy day trip from the Killington area.
Where to stay
- Killington Road runs up to the resort and has most of the condos, lodges, restaurants and après-ski bars, with shuttles to the base areas.
- Route 4 and Mendon, between Killington and Pico, have chalets and rental homes with quick access to both mountains.
- Rutland is about 25 minutes west and has the most hotels and lower rates.
- Bridgewater and Woodstock, to the east, have farmhouses and historic inns for a quieter stay.
Best times to visit
- Ski season often starts in November and can run into May. Christmas week, MLK weekend and Presidents’ Day week book up first.
- Fall: Leaf color usually peaks from late September to mid-October.
- Summer: Mountain biking, hiking (the Appalachian and Long Trails cross nearby) and golf, with lower rates than winter.
- Spring: Spring skiing on sunny days, then the quiet mud season in late April and May.
Getting there
Most visitors drive. Allow about three hours from Boston and four and a half to five hours from New York City, more in snow. Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express runs from New York to Rutland, and the nearest larger airports are Burlington and Albany, each about two hours away.
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