Remember the thrill of sledding down a giant hill as a child, with the wind whipping in your hair? You can recreate that magical winter fun for your kids at these 12 great places to go snow tubing near DC.
Unlike skiing or snowboarding, there’s no skill required for snow tubing, so it’s the perfect introduction to winter sports for kids. Even toddlers can tube at some of these locations, which are all within a four-hour drive from Washington, DC.
If your family can’t get enough of the snow after tubing, there are plenty more ways to have wintry adventures. Just check out our Winter Activities Guide for DC Kids, which includes our lists of the best ski resorts near DC for kids and families and fun outdoor ice skating rinks near DC. Stay warm!
The snow tubing hill at this popular family resort features up to 16 lanes that are 900 feet in length and offer a drop of 120 vertical feet. Two conveyor lifts help get visitors back up the hill. When conditions are right, friends can link up and ride down together. Massanutten also offers Northern Lights Tubing, where visitors can go tubing after dark to the glow of neon lights and pumping music. Kids must be at least 36 inches tall to tube, and those under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Massanutten’s tubing park is open seven days a week for 90-minute sessions through March 3, 2024.
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Wintergreen Resort is home to the largest snow-tubing park in Virginia.
2. Wintergreen Resort — Wintergreen
Driving distance from DC: About 3 hours
The Plunge Tubing Park at Wintergreen Resort, where tubers can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, is the largest in Virginia. It is recommended for children ages 6 and up, and kids must be at least 42 inches tall. Only one person is allowed per tube, but riders may hook their tubes together depending on conditions. The tubing park is open on various dates, depending on weather conditions. Tickets must be purchased online in advance.
3. Bryce Resort — Basye
Driving distance from DC: A little over 3 hours
Bryce Resort has three 800-foot tubing lanes where visitors can tube for 90 minutes per session. Children must be 36 inches tall, at least 4 years of age, and able to get in and out of the tube quickly to ride. The tubing lanes are open seven days a week, including holidays, through March 10, 2024. Tickets must be reserved online in advance, and tubers can add ice skating to their tickets for a discount.
4. The Omni Homestead Resort — Hot Springs
Driving distance from DC: A little over 3.5 hours
The Penguin Slides Tubing Park at Omni Homestead Resort is a fun, family-friendly adventure. Slide down the hill and ride the Penguin Express conveyor back up again. Children must be at least 5 years old and 42 inches to go snow tubing. Advance reservations are required and are good for one hour of tubing. Kids can also enjoy ice skating and ride mini snowmobiles.
Best Places to Go Snow Tubing Near DC in Pennsylvania
5. Liberty Mountain Resort — Carroll Valley
Driving distance from DC: About 90 minutes
Just a one-hour drive from the city, Liberty Mountain Resort is the closest place to go snow tubing near DC. Visitors can purchase a two-hour snow tubing session for the larger slope at Bubly Tube Park for anyone 42 inches and taller. Kids 41 inches and under can tube for two hours at the Kiddie Tubing area. Snow tubing at Liberty Mountain opens for the season on December 30, 2023 and is available Thursdays through Sundays through March 10, 2024 (plus Monday, January 15 and Monday, February 19).
6. Whitetail Resort — Mercersburg
Driving distance from DC: About 1 hour and 45 minutes
Two-hour snow tubing sessions are available on Whitetail Resort’s large tubing run for anyone 42 inches and taller. There is a special kiddie run for kids under 42 inches. The tubing park is open on various dates through March 10, 2024. Tubing tickets must be purchased online in advance.
7. Heritage Hills Resort — York
Driving distance from DC: Under 2 hours
The Avalanche Xpress tubing hill at Heritage Hills Resort has 10 tubing lanes open seven days a week through early March. Everyone must be in their own tube and able to get in and out by themselves, but parents can hold onto younger kids’ tubes and ride down together. There are also night passes available for purchase from 8-10pm.
8. Roundtop Mountain Resort — Lewisberry
Driving distance from DC: About 2 hours
Roundtop offers two-hour tubing sessions over 10 large lanes with 800-foot runs and 80-foot vertical drops. Once tubers go down the hill, a magic carpet lift takes them back to the top. Kids must be 42 inches or taller to ride the large hills. There is a special kiddie area with kid-sized tubes for children under 42 inches. Roundtop is open for snow tubing on Wednesdays through Sundays (plus holiday Mondays) from December 26, 2023 through March 3, 2024. Tickets for two hours of tubing must be purchased online in advance.
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Whiz down one of Seven Springs Mountain Resort’s 11 tubing lanes.
9. Seven Springs Mountain Resort — Champion
Driving distance from DC: About 3.5 hours
With 11 tubing lanes available for high-speed fun, Seven Springs is the largest place to go snow tubing near DC. After every ride down the hill, a magic carpet whisks tubers back up to the top. Children must be at least 4 years old to tube, and those 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Tubing is available on various dates for two-hour sessions through March 10, 2024. Purchase tickets online in advance.
More Great Places to Go Snow Tubing Near DC in Pennsylvania
10. Harpers Ferry Snow Tubing — Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Driving distance from DC: Under 90 minutes
This snow tubing park featuring a dozen tubing lanes is the closest place to go snow tubing near DC. It also claims to have the longest tubing slope on the east coast, at nearly three football fields long. Guests 36 inches and taller can enjoy 1.5 hours of tubing, with a Magic Carpet conveyor to bring them back up the hill after each ride. Then they can indulge in hot chocolate and tacos from an on-site taco truck. Kids 36 to 42 inches must ride tandem with a guardian. In the evenings, family can enjoy Downhill Disco: Night Time Snow Tubing featuring music and multicolor LED disco lights.
Harpers Ferry Snow Tubing is open daily from January 1 through February 29, 2024. Tickets must be purchased in advance online.
RELATED: 7 Best Ski Resorts Near DC for Kids and Families
Snow tubing at Wisp Resort is fun for the whole family.
11. Wisp Resort — McHenry, Maryland
Driving distance from DC: About 3 hours
There are 12 tube shoots—each 750 feet long—at Wisp Resort, plus two conveyor carpets to carry tubers back up the mountain. Children must be at least 4 years old and 42 inches to ride. Snow tubing is available on various dates this winter, and two-hour tubing tickets must be purchased online in advance.
12. Canaan Valley Resort — Davis, West Virginia
Driving distance from DC: About 3 hours
At 1,200 feet long, the tube runs at Canaan Valley Resort are some of the longest in the region. Luckily, there’s a magic carpet lift to carry visitors back up after each tubing run. Tubers must be at least 42 inches tall, 4 years old, and able to ride by themselves. Tubing is available seven days a week and will be open through March 4, 2024. Passes for two-hour snow tubing sessions should be purchased online.
All photos courtesy of the resorts