Americans will drive hours for a great powder day on the slopes, with the most die-hard powder chasers driving an average of six to eight hours, according to a SnowBrains survey. A surprisingly large number of respondents reported trips exceeding 15 hours. This might sound absurd to people not from the United States, but as the world has been watching the World Cup this summer, they have learned that Americans are just built differently when it comes to their mindset on driving.
First off, the United States’ geography is expansive, and Americans drive more than any other country in the world and are used to driving every day to get to work, run errands, and handle other daily activities. The United States has the most extensive road network in the world, with nearly 4.1 million miles (6.6 million kilometers) of roads, ranging from the country’s expansive interstate highway system to the vast selection of state, county, and local roads that access nearly every part of the nation.
Secondly, and probably the most important fact, is that many ski resorts are not located near major cities in the United States. This leaves Americans with no other option but to take long trips to reach the slopes. The distance powder chasers are willing to drive to hit the mountains when a big snowstorm is forecasted is staggering. Some will travel as far as 15 to 20 hours to get that magical, once-in-a-season powder day.
In the East, Jay Peak Resort and Killington Resort are hotspots for powder chasers. People drive from as far away as Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., to hit the slopes, which is 603 miles and almost 9 1/2 hours away. In the Rockies, Wolf Creek Ski Area, Snowbird, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and Big Sky Resort are popular destinations. Skiers and snowboarders will drive from places like Dallas or Tennessee for a great powder day at these ski resorts. To put that into perspective, it is a 2,500-mile round trip from Tennessee to Wolf Creek Ski Area. No ski resort appears more often in the survey than Jay Peak, and this reinforces its reputation as the East Coast’s premier powder destination. The West Coast has great ski resorts, and Mammoth Mountain and Mount Baker are the ones SnowBrains readers go to for a great powder day.
One insight from the survey found that Americans are more concerned about traffic congestion than the total distance traveled. Even though some ski resorts might be located closer to skiers and snowboarders, time spent on the slopes is more important than time spent driving. Some comments said that it takes 3.5 hours to travel 8 miles in Little Cottonwood Canyon, it takes 9 hours of traffic to ski Lake Tahoe ski resorts, and the I-70 traffic in Colorado is terrible. Traffic congestion is just part of life in the United States, and most Americans are used to it. The country’s transportation system is far behind most modern countries, and Americans are known for loving to drive their personal vehicles.
However, most people in the survey said that the distance, time, and traffic congestion didn’t mean they weren’t willing to drive to the mountains for a great powder day. They mentioned that making the trip was worth it and they had the best conditions of their lives. Having great conditions on the slopes can make the day special and unforgettable, and Americans are willing to drive for a great powder day. How far would you drive for an epic day on the slopes? Let us know in the comments!
