Northeast snow tubing guide: Day trips and overnight stays

You don’t need skis, lessons or a lift ticket to get in on winter fun. Snow tubing delivers all the thrill of downhill speed with none of the learning curve, making it one of the easiest cold-weather adventures for families, couples and first-timers.

From indoor lanes just across the Hudson to mountain resorts with overnight lodging, these Northeast tubing spots make it easy to turn a day off or quick getaway into a winter playground.

Easy day trips

American Dream — East Rutherford, New Jersey

• Drive: 1.5 hours
• Price: $50-$70
• Age/height requirements: Riders must be 36 inches with required adult supervision; 42 inches to ride solo
• Good for: Guaranteed snow, younger kids, weatherproof plans

Just over the George Washington Bridge and across the street from MetLife Stadium, American Dream (1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, americandream.com, 833-263-7326) keeps its indoor, real-snow, year-round ski and snowboard area at a cool 28 degrees. Located inside the 3 million-square-foot entertainment complex (that's more than 200 NHL hockey rinks), Big SNOW (bigsnowamericandream.com) itself is home to four acres of skiable terrain, featuring three trails, four lifts and a terrain park.

Tubing tickets include 90 minutes in the park and start at $50. Jacket and pants rentals are available for an additional $20. Tubing footwear is not provided, so wear waterproof shoes and bring a change of socks. For the closest access to the snow park, park in Lot A, where parking is $5 for the day.

Visitors can pair tubing with ice skating, shopping, dining and other activities in the same complex. Take a ride on the Dream Wheel, an observation wheel with climate-controlled gondolas offering 360-degree views of New York City and New Jersey, or test your skills in The Gameroom and treat yourself to decadent shakes at the Candy Land Shake Bar. 

It’s one of the easiest tubing trips from Long Island, especially for families with younger kids or anyone who wants guaranteed snow without a long drive.

Windham Mountain — Windham, New York

• Drive: 3 hours
• Prices: Approximately $40-55
• Age/height requirements: None
• Good for: Easy Catskills day trip, family-friendly atmosphere

Windham Mountain (19 Resort Dr., Windham, windhammountainclub.com, 518-734-4300) in the Catskills offers snow tubing in two-hour sessions, with tickets priced at $55 for sessions between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and $40 for sessions from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations are strongly recommended. The Tubing Park, located at 360 County Rd. 12, features lift-serviced slopes with multiple groomed lanes, fun music and illuminated runs for day or nighttime tubing. All guests must ride in their own tube.

Visitors can refuel at Ooey Gooey, which serves melty grilled cheese sandwiches, savory tomato soups and nostalgic DIY s’mores kits for a sweet finish to a snow-day adventure.

For those looking to extend their trip, Windham Condos are a short stroll from Main Street and offer one- and two-bedroom units starting at $323 per night on weekends. A complimentary shuttle is available throughout your stay to the Mountain Club, making it convenient to mix lodging with tubing, skiing and other mountain activities.

Camelback Mountain Adventures — Tannersville, Pennsylvania

• Drive: 3 hours
• Price: $34-66
• Age/height requirements: Minimum solo height 44 inches; riders 33 inches and taller must ride with a partner.
• Good for: Large tubing park, longer runs, night tubing

Camelback Resort (193 Resort Dr., Tannersville, camelbackresort.com, 855-515-1283) in the Pocono Mountains is one of the largest snow tubing parks in the country, with more than 40 lanes and Magic Carpet lifts for easy access. Tubing sessions last two hours and start at the top of each hour, with arrivals recommended at least 30 minutes early. Evening sessions feature illuminated lanes for nighttime tubing. Tickets range from $34 to $66 depending on the day of the week, with weekends generally $49 to $59 per person.

Visitors can combine tubing with a stop at the Waffle Cabin in the base area near the tubing park, which serves waffles with chocolate and other toppings. Camelback’s multilane hills offer longer runs than most local snow tubing spots, making it a popular choice for families, teens and adults. The resort is accessible as a long day trip from Long Island or can be paired with an overnight stay for a weekend getaway, with stays at the resort starting at $226 per night.

Destinations worth an overnight

Titus Mountain — Malone, New York

• Drive: 5 hours
• Price: Approximately $30
• Age/height requirements: None
• Good for: Adirondack scenery, weekend getaways

Titus Mountain Family Ski Center (215 Johnson Rd., Malone, titusmountain.com, 518-483-3740) is located in northern New York, a short drive from Plattsburgh, Lake Placid and northern Vermont, and just minutes from the Canadian border. The resort is known for short lift lines, uncrowded slopes and a mix of well-groomed and "Forever Wild" ungroomed terrain.

The tubing hill is open on Saturdays and Sundays, with day sessions from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and neon night tubing from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., both priced at $30 per session. Tubing is also available throughout Presidents Week (Feb. 16 to 22).

For lodging, visitors can stay at voco Saranac Lake (250 Lake Flower Ave, Saranac Lake, ihg.com, 518-619-4000) with weekend rates starting at $270 per night. Those planning a winter trip in February can also experience the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, a 10-day celebration featuring parades, live entertainment, outdoor activities and the iconic Ice Palace. This year’s theme is "Cartoonival," with the main parade scheduled for Feb. 14, and the Ice Palace illuminated nightly from Feb. 7 through Feb. 14, weather permitting.

Titus Mountain offers a family-friendly winter experience, combining tubing, skiing, and local seasonal festivities for a full day or weekend getaway.

Seven Springs Mountain Resort — Champion, Pennsylvania

• Drive: 5 hours
• Price: $48
• Age/height requirements: Minimum height 42 inches
• Good for: Overnight resort stays, night tubing, groups looking for more than tubing

Seven Springs Mountain Resort (777 Water Wheel Dr., Champion, 7springs.com, 814-352-7777) in southwest Pennsylvania features 33 trails and seven terrain parks spread across 285 skiable acres, with a relatively high elevation of 3,001 feet for the region. The resort is also home to the largest snow tubing park in the area, offering multiple wide and fast tubing lanes, with nighttime sessions that turn the hill into a glow-lit playground.

Evening tubing sessions include special events, such as tubing under the lights with a live DJ, complimentary snacks like pizza and cookies while supplies last, bubbly samples, fun swag and surprise goodies. This year, a family-friendly event is scheduled for Feb. 5, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Seven Springs combines a large tubing operation with a full-service resort experience, including on-site lodging, restaurants and après-ski amenities. Visitors looking to stay on property can book lodging starting at $200 per night. Families and groups often make this a weekend trip, pairing tubing with spa visits, indoor pools or winter hiking on the resort grounds. With its combination of snow tubing, skiing, and evening entertainment, Seven Springs offers a full winter escape for families and groups looking to spend a weekend on the slopes.