The Best East Coast Skiing Road Trip You’ve Never Heard Of
By Joe Deblasio

When planning a ski road trip, the East Coast probably isn’t the first destination that comes to mind. "Not enough snow, too much ice, too far away,"—these are fair reasons to look elsewhere. For years, I felt the same. All I could think about was heading west. But after graduating and staying put, I fell in love with New England and the East Coast in a way I never expected. There’s something special about rediscovering your backyard.
For the sake of finding a central location, a rational budget, and a reasonable timeframe, this road trip starts and ends in Boston, lasts about a week, and utilizes the Mountain Collective pass. You will also need a passport because this East Coast road trip ventures into Quebec as well.
The route for you will be as follows:
BOSTON, MA -> BROMONT, QUEBEC -> LE MASSIF, QUEBEC -> SUGARLOAF, ME -> BOSTON, MA

LEG #1 - Bromont, Quebec

Leave Boston at 8:00 a.m., arriving in Bromont by noon. Don’t forget international cell service (I made this mistake). Bromont offers 360-degree skiing, night skiing with 104 runs, and a lively après scene with events, live music, and restaurants. After skiing for a half-day, check into a nearby hotel or Airbnb and enjoy a brasserie dinner. Return to the slopes for night skiing until 10:00 p.m.
Day 2 is all about hanging out because this is an endurance mission of skiing as much as possible in a week. Now that you know the layout, ski until you've had enough, grab lunch at one of the many restaurants, and finish the day with dinner at Edgar Hyperlodge. Make sure to rest up before the next leg since it's another long drive in the morning.
LEG #2 - Le Massif, Quebec

Day 3 begins with a 4-hour drive, including scenic roads along the Saint Lawrence River. After arriving, check-in, hit the slopes, and soak in the stunning views of Saint Lawrence River.
Le Massif is a skier’s paradise with breathtaking views, steep terrain, and Canada's highest vertical drop east of the Rockies. Le Massif’s reputation is one of the best, very similar to Mad River Glen in VT - “locals only” type of vibe, but in a good way. The views, the difficulty of terrain, the frequency of heavy snowfall, and the lack of lift lines make it maybe the most desirable location out East for any diehard skier.
A couple of things to note:
- The last hour features steep, narrow roads—be prepared for winter driving.
- Le Massif is in the middle of nowhere, so keep in mind that you'll be 15-25 miles from the nearest gas station, convenience stores, and restaurants.
- Le Massif has an “inverted” design—parking, lodges, and the main restaurant are at the summit. So you'll park, ski down, and take the lifts up, and repeat.
- Since you'll be in northern Quebec, the amount of spoken French increases and the amount of English decreases. Say bonjour and don’t ask for a cheeseburger.
Day 4 can be a fun choose-your-own-adventure style day: ski the infamous "La 42" trail (formerly ranked as one of the five trible black diamond on the East Coast), explore world-class backcountry/sidecountry terrain, or take a sled down a 7.5 km track. This mountain is for die-hard skiers, not nightlife enthusiasts.
LEG #3 - Sugarloaf, Maine

Day 5 starts with driving 4 hours through the heart of Maine to Sugarloaf - hope you like pine trees!
Known for above-treeline skiing, Sugarloaf (Loaf) boasts 1,300 skiable acres and some of the best terrain in the East. The best part of the Loaf is that there is something for everyone - they’ve got an awesome base with restaurants and nightlife and some of the most difficult terrain in New England too. One of my favorite parts about the Loaf is that they always push the envelope of how late they open in the season. They’re always one of the last places to stay open every spring.
After skiing for a half day to get a sense of the layout, grab a beer at The Rack (owned by former Olympic snowboarder Seth Wescott), eat a burger at The Bag, enjoy a nice Maine sunset over the mountain, and relax at your lodging.
Day 6 is another rinse and repeat day. There's something for everyone at the Sugarloaf with its varied terrain and family-friendly trails, so carve out your own adventure! It’s a mountain you’ll want to revisit again and again.
Congratulations! In one week and 20+ hours of driving, you skied some of the most iconic East Coast terrain, explored Quebec’s culture, and experienced New England’s charm—all without hopping on a plane to Breck.
POWER RANKINGS
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Sugarloaf – Yep, super biased #1 here. But they’ve got it all.
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Le Massif – If you love skiing, you will love Le Massif. Maybe more than anywhere you’ve ever been.
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Bromont – If you want to do this trip and have young kids or want more than just skiing, Bromont is perfect for you. I will say I look forward to getting back there this summer to mountain bike.
*If you’re following along in the video here, my route immediately detours 5 hours out of the way to pick up my brother in Syracuse, NY. You don’t need to do this, but if you’re interested he’s generally a good guy as long as he’s well fed. He can be a complete asshole though if you don’t make frequent stops to use the bathroom.