If you want to take the kids skiing, you’ll need to travel a little bit outside of the Stateline to do so! There are several ski resorts and ski hills less than two hours from Rockford, Illinois that you can visit this winter. Many of these resorts have skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing available. It’s best to make a reservation before going. The resorts are listed in order of distance from Rockford, Illinois.

Alpine Valley Resort

W2501 County Road D., Elkhorn, WI

Time from Rockford: 57 minutes

Alpine Valley Resort offers skiing with tow ropes, three high-speed chair lifts, and four wonder carpets. They’ve been voted the number one family resort in the area. Lift tickets are sold at the resort on a first come, first serve basis the day of.

Cost: Lift tickets range between $68-92.
Ski and snowboard rental is $24-62 per day.

Daily lessons are available for $50 – 200 for one hour. You can book lessons here.

Alpine Valley does not allow booking in advance. They sell lift tickets at the resort only.

Hours: 

Monday through Friday from 10 am – 10 pm*
Saturday and Sunday from 9 am – 10 pm*
Hours vary, check their website for up-to-date hours.


Villa Olivia

1401 W. Lake St., Bartlett, IL

Time from Rockford: 1 hour

Villa Olivia offers downhill skiing, snowboarding, and snowtubing. There are seven runs, a chair lift, six rope tows, and a tubing hill. Villa Olivia offers a much more affordable day of skiing.

Cost: Slope tickets range between $26 – 49.
Snowtubing is $34 per person for two hours.
Ski, or snowboard, rental is between $22-47.
You can buy slope and tubing tickets here.

Daily lessons are available for between $35 – 50.

Hours: 

Thursday from 5 pm – 9 pm
Friday from 5 pm – 10 pm
Saturday from 9 am – 10 pm
Sunday from 9 am – 8 pm

More information on hours of operation during winter break and holidays here.


Wilmot Mountain

11931 Fox River Rd., Wilmot, WI

12301 Fox River Rd., Wilmot, WI (Tubing location)

Time from Rockford: 1 hour 18 minutes

Wilmont Mountain offers skiing and snowboarding. 

Cost: Lift tickets range between $86 – 105 per person.
Ski and snowboard rental is $55 per day.
You can buy lift tickets and rentals here.

Daily lessons are available for $89 – 195 for an hour. You can also do a 2.5 hour lesson for $289. You can book lessons here.

Hours: 

Monday through Friday from 10 am – 9 pm*
Saturday and Sunday from 9 am – 9 pm*
Tubing hours are Monday – Friday from 4 pm – 8 pm
Saturday and Sunday from 9 am – 8 pm
Hours vary, check their website for up-to-date hours.


Four Lakes

5750 Lakeside Dr., Lisle, IL

Time from Rockford: 1 hour 19 minutes

Four Lakes offers skiing and snowboarding at some of the most reasonable prices in the area.

Cost: Slope tickets range between $26 – 34.
Ski rental is $23 per day. Snowboard rental is $33 per day. Helmet rental is $10 per day.

Daily lessons are available for $60 per one-hour lesson.

Hours: 

Monday – Thursday from 4 pm – 9 pm
Friday from 4 pm – 10 pm
Saturday from 10 am – 9 pm
Sunday (and holidays) from 10 am – 7 pm


Chestnut Mountain Resort

8700 W. Chestnut Mountain Rd., Galena, IL

Time from Rockford: 1 hour 30 minutes

Chestnut Mountain Resort is a year-round resort with lodging. They offer snowboarding and skiing. They have beginner, intermediate, and advanced slopes.

Cost: Lift tickets range between $45 – 72. Lift and rental are $98 – 125 per day.
You can buy lift tickets and rentals here.

Daily lessons are available for $35 per hour for a group / $75 per hour for a private lesson.

Hours: 

Monday through Thursday from 9 am – 9 pm*
Friday and Saturday from 9 am – 10 pm
Sunday from 9 am – 9 pm
Weekday hours vary, check their website for up-to-date hours and a slope report.


Cascade Mountain

W10441 Cascade Mountain Rd., Portage, WI

Time from Rockford: 1 hour 40 minutes

Cascade Mountain offers skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. 

Cost: 

Lift tickets range between $79 – $99 per person. 
Ski or snowboard rental is $69 per person
Snowtubing: $42 per person 7 and up / $15 for kids 6 and under
Tickets must be purchased in advance for Friday – Sunday and on the holidays. Purchase them here.
You must pre-purchase your snowtubing experience here.

Kids 12 and under receive a free lift ticket when accompanied by a paid adult! Maximum of five free kids tickets per adult ticket.

Lessons are available for $120 – 140 for 1-5 people

Hours: 

Monday through Thursday from 10 am – 8 pm
Friday and Saturday from 9 am – 10 pm
Sunday from 9 am – 8 pm

Snowtubing is available on Monday – Thursday from 4 pm – 8 pm
Friday – Saturday from 9 am – 9:30 pm in two hour blocks
Sunday from 9 am – 7 pm in two hour blocks


Devil’s Head Resort

S6330 Bluff Rd., Merrimac, WI

Time from Rockford: 1 hour 52 minutes

Devil’s Head is a full-service ski resort, and lodge, in the Baraboo Bluffs. It’s been voted one of the best ski resorts in the Midwest. They have rooms for rent, on-site dining and more. The mountain has 30% beginner trails, 40% intermediate, and 30% advanced.

Cost: Lift tickets range between $75-95 per person. Kids 5 and under are free. Thursdays, you can ski for only $18 per person.
Ski, or snowboard, rental is $52 per day for all ages.
You can buy lift tickets and rentals in advance here. 

Daily lessons are available for between $50 – 125.

Hours: 

Monday – Wednesday from 10 am – 9 pm
Thursday – Saturday from 10 am – 10 pm
Sunday (and holidays) from 9 am – 9 pm

Have you been skiing, snowboarding or snowtubing with your kids?


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