While many people head to the slopes for skiing and boarding during the winter, those lift tickets and all the necessary gear can be costly, not to mention the time it takes to learn how. If you’re looking for a good time in the snow that’s cheap or often even free, tubing or sledding are great options. Book one of these vacation rentals everywhere from Tahoe and Big Bear in California to postcard-perfect towns in New Hampshire and you’ll be close to some of the best.
Lil' Red Cabin in the Heart of White Mountains - Carroll, New Hampshire
Located in the heart of the White Mountains, this cozy cabin is just minutes from the many activities at Bretton Woods, including snow tubing. It’s a thrilling but traditional hill which means no lift service, but you’ll get a great workout while enjoying a good time. The cabin itself is one of the best in the U.S., accommodating up to four guests in two bedrooms and has a stone fireplace to cozy up to, a well-stocked kitchen, washer/dryer, Smart TV with a DVD player and DVDs, board games and Wi-Fi.
Wooded Cozy Cabin - Jackson, New Hampshire
Nestled in a private wooded setting in the White Mountains National Forest, this warm and welcoming cabin includes a toboggan and snowshoes that can be used right outside your door with a small sledding hill on the property. Mount Washington is nearby for skiing, and you’ll find multiple opportunities for tubing, including the Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center. After a day of play, you can look forward to warming up in your own private hot tub and then cozy up to the gas fireplace. It includes a full kitchen, Wi-Fi and cable TV too.
Upscale Timber Frame Cottage - Pownal, Maine
A popular Airbnb in Maine, this charming post-and-beam cottage offers a tranquil and secluded stay, complete with a wood stove that’s ideal for enjoying after a day of sledding at one of many places nearby, including Bradbury Mountain State Park. Or head just a bit further to Portland’s Edward Payson Park which hosts Payson Hill Terrain Park for sledding, skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, and snowboarding. The Riverside Municipal Golf Course on Riverside Street and the Eastern Promenade that overlooks East End Beach offer even more options.
Riverfront Ground Level Suite - Winter Park, Colorado
This ground-level walkout ranch suite sits along the Fraser River in Winter Park, home to one of the best places for tubing and sledding, Stone Mountain Ranch. The ranch also offers sleigh rides, Nordic skiing, and snowmobiling. After a day of chilly fun, you’ll appreciate the radiant heat for total indoor comfort. Large enough for two families, it sleeps 8 to 10 in three bedrooms and you’ll have a community hot tub and sauna just steps away. Laundry facilities, cable TV and Wi-Fi are all included too.
Custom Blue River Log Home - Breckenridge, Colorado
A stay in Breckenridge is ideal for enjoying free family-friendly sledding, located at the south end of High Street. Just bring your own tube or sled and you’ll be able to soar down the hill in a gorgeous Rocky Mountain setting. If you want more, there are multiple options within a half-hour’s drive, including the tubing hills at Frisco Adventure Park and Keystone Ski Resort. The Blue River Log Home will put you just minutes south of downtown Breckenridge and close to the ski gondola too. It includes three bedrooms, sleeping up to eight, along with a well-equipped kitchen and a covered space for all your winter sports gear.
Skiing Bear Chalet - Government Camp, Oregon
Enjoy a winter wonderland with a stay in the Bear Chalet, a beautiful 3-bedroom lodge close to just about every type of snow sport imaginable, including some of the state’s best sledding and tubing at Mt. Hood. It includes a conveyor lift, specially-designed tubes and well-groomed slopes as well as Cosmic Tubing with LED lights illuminating the slopes for an even more exciting experience. When you come back to your chalet you’ll appreciate the well-stocked kitchen with a coffeemaker and French press, along with a Bluetooth speaker to hook your phone up to for tunes while you cook. There’s a flat-screen cable TV and DVD player too.
Real Vermont Experience - Essex, Vermont
Filled with historic character, this log cabin was built from Canadian trees more than 200 years ago, updated to include lots of luxuries while accommodating 14 in five bedrooms. Just a 15-minute drive from Burlington, you’ll be close to multiple options for sledding and tubing, including Sharp Pak, the only tubing area in northern Vermont, and Casey’s Hill in Underhill, which was voted as the best sledding hill in the state by Vermont Life. The three-story home includes a gourmet kitchen and a man cave screening room with a bar, pool table, air hockey table, foosball table and a projector with a screen to watch movies from theater seats.
Mountaintop Cabin - Couer d'Alene, Idaho
This tiny house sits atop a mountain just outside of Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls. Enjoy the locals’ favorite for sledding, Cherry Hill Park or the CdA Golf Course, both in Coeur d’Alene, or head to Post Falls to enjoy Black Bay Park. The cabin accommodates two in a sleeping loft with picture windows for enjoying the views and includes Wi-Fi, a kitchenette with a hot plate, microwave and refrigerator as well as a shower.
Ski-In, Ski-Out Timber Ridge - Mammoth Lakes, California
While this Airbnb is ideal for skiers, providing ski-in, ski-out to the slopes at Mammoth Lakes, those who book it can also enjoy easy access to tubing at Wooly’s Tube Park. It includes a lift with little effort to reach the top before zooming down the groomed lanes in a high-speed snow tube. There’s also a large snow play area and a heated deck with a snack bar for enjoying adult beverages and hot cocoa afterward. The condo includes two bedrooms plus a loft, accommodating up to seven, along with a wood-burning fireplace with wood supplied, LED TVs, and a DVD player. You’ll also have access to a year-round indoor spa and sauna, Universal Gym and a central laundry room.
Boho Bungalow - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Some of the best tubing and sledding can be enjoyed with a stay in Minneapolis. One of the most popular spots in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area is the free hill at Theodore Wirth Regional Park, you’ll just need to bring your own tube or sled. Sunset Hill nearby is another option, as is the designated sledding hill at Columbia Golf Club, one of the steepest in the region. The Boho Bungalow is a great place to base yourself, accommodating up to four guests in two bedrooms. It’s just minutes from the downtown attractions and comes with all the essentials, including a washer/dryer.
