Killington Resort

Closed
Heather Burke
SnowPak Local Insider
Heather Burke
Pros
  • Beyond skiing, Killington offers other activities such as snowmobile tours and tubing
  • Great for intermediate and advanced skiers who seek challenging glades and mogul trails
  • One of the best ski resort in Vermont for nightlife
Cons
  • Difficult to navigate the mountain’s trail and lift layout

Overall

4.5

Nicknamed the Beast of the East, Killington is not only the biggest in Vermont but also eastern North America. A wide variety of terrain spreads across seven peaks and extensive snowmaking makes it a great option for skiers and snowboarders. Being big isn't its only drawcard, the resort also has the longest ski season in Vermont, often from October to May!

Best month to go

Mid-January to Mid-March

Killington in January is generally colder while February and early March serve up the best chance of the great snow.

FLY TO

Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport

DRIVE TO

Killington Resort (30 minutes)

Killington (1-5 mi)

  • Most accommodation along Killington Road
  • Most convenient location to slopes and dining and nightlife options
  • Some lodging close to slopes but most a short bus ride away

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Pico Mountain (Walk)

  • Condos and hotels close to Pico Mountain lifts
  • Cheaper lodging than Killington
  • A bus ride away from Killington slopes

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Rutland (10-15 mi)

  • Affordable lodging compared to Killington and Pico Mountain
  • 25 minute drive to Killington Resort
  • Variety of grocery stores and shopping

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Woodstock (15-20 mi)

  • 35 minutes drive away
  • Range of local shops and charming atmosphere
  • Ideal for couples

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For beginners

Beginners will have plenty to choose from with green trails across the whole resort. For never-evers, the Snowshed and Ramshead are beginner areas are perfect for learning on. Our favorite for beginners though is Great Eastern. It has the most vertical here (2,552 ft) winding from the top of Skye Peak all the way down to the Skyeship base!

For intermediates

With blue trails running everywhere, intermediates are quite spoilt for choice at Killington. Snowdon Mountain has quite a few good intermediate runs while Skyelark to High Road and onto Bittersweet is our top run! Our ultimate ski area for intermediates though is at Pico Mountain. There are less crowds, longer trails and the terrain is more suitable for intermediates.

For experts

Advanced and Experts won't have any problems finding fun and challenging runs here! Head up to Killington Peak and the top of K-1 Express for some of the best expert terrain including steep bowl which has trees. Our favorite trails though include The Jug, Jug Handle and Breakway. These black diamonds see less traffic as it's in a relatively secluded section of the mountain, plus the snow here is better!

Find freshies

As the saying in the East goes "The goods are in the woods". Freshies are usually found in glades such as Big Dipper and Julio where the wind blows the powder into the trees. Glades are usually rated for advanced and experts so they don't get tracked out as quickly, plus the snow usually stays fresh even days after a storm.

Ditch the crowds

Unless it's very early or very late it's best to avoid the long lift queues at the K-1 Express and the Ramshead Express Quad on busy weekends. Instead of the K-1 Express, take the Snowdon Triple, ski down Killink and then hop aboard the North Ridge Triple, It'll get you close to the slopes off K-1 Express.

Non skiers

The Beast of the East is well known for its fantastic skiing but other than that, non-skiers might find themselves quite bored here. Besides the few winter activities here (snowshoeing, tubing, snowmobiling etc), there isn't much for non-skiers to do at Killington.

Families

The beginner terrain at the connected Snowshed and Ramshead base areas are the best spots for families. Ramshead is also the base for ski lessons and child care. There are also fun winter activities for the whole family to enjoy such as tubing and riding the Beast Mountain Coaster.

Save up to 38% when you book a Killington Resort package!

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Killington Resort Reviews

Very Good 4.2 / 5
based on 77 reviews

How well the resort caters for beginner skiers / boarders

Beginners

How well the resort caters for intermediate skiers / boarders?

Intermediates

How well the resort caters for advanced skiers / boarders

Advanced

How accessible and convenient it is to get to this resort from a major destination

Accessibility

Quality of the off-piste terrain

Side/Backcountry

Overall value for money of the resort

Value for money

Quality of lifts, lift speed and lift layout in the resort

Lifts

Quantity and quality of the snow

Snow

How uncrowded is the resort

Uncrowded

Après ski and dining options

Town

Services and facilities e.g. child care, tubing, health care, equipment hire

Facilities

How family friendly is this resort?

Family Friendliness
Superb!4.7 / 5Nov 06, 2017
DDarin
expert snowboarder
Wow, what an amazing place to ski and ride. Unbelievable amount of terrain to ride for an east coast mountain. Staff is amazing and local. So is the BEER!!! Chat with the locals and get the scoop on the "unspoken" spots to ride on the mountain.... More
Superb!4.6 / 5Nov 06, 2017
BZBob Z.
expert skier
Best place to ski in the Eastern United States. (Best Variety, Snow product,Best Grooming, Best Recovery from bad weather conditions, By far the best place to ski Mid-Week, Best Night life)... More
Average!3.4 / 5Nov 06, 2017
TATaylor A.
advanced skier
Killington is great overall for the east coast. Great place to learn to ski and can quickly advance. Also great for beginners in park terrain if that is something that interests you. ... More
Fabulous!4.4 / 5Nov 05, 2017
JOJim O.
intermediate snowboarder
Great conditions, and solid facilities without going west coast uppity. Can get crowded near the base though, despite not being the easiest mountain to get to. Apparently I am still short on the required number of words. ... More
Superb!5 / 5Oct 29, 2017
DDarin
Ok it's about time that I win something worth wild...like a season pass to killington mountain in the great state of Vermont. My snow is good, Stratton too but there is now felling like
Superb!5 / 5Oct 19, 2017
JJordan
Killington was Pretty much everything I could've wanted out of the resort. Good park and wood features as well as views for a great east cost mountain ride with a backwoods feel.
Superb!5 / 5Oct 19, 2017
APAdam P.
Love the glades, the vertical. Its my west on the east <3. Being a New Yorker Killington is a perfect day trip! Wake up at 2 am arrive at 8 jut for the opening. Wouldnt want to spend my winter weekends any other way.
Very Good!4 / 5Oct 18, 2017
JFJames F.
Great variety of terrain in the Northeast. They have everything from long cruisers, to steeps, bumps, and woods. As close as you can get to Western mountain pitch in central Vermont. Killington also has a great apres environment with a number of bars, restaurants, and live entertainment. They do a great job at keeping visitors stoked throughout the... More
Superb!5 / 5Oct 08, 2017
JRLJason R L.
Killington is The Beast of the East! I am not a great mogul skier, so when I had the chance to go down both a groomed Superstar and Outer Limits my first time here I was hooked! Cannot wait to head to Killington again this season.
Superb!5 / 5Sep 21, 2017
JDJoe D.
Close to Boston and no long drive from the Interstate. Good selection of runs and no switching to Black Diamonds Knees can not handle them any more, All in all a Pleasurable event. Never disappoints