13+ Great Spots Atlanta Locals Can Find Snow

Finding a place with snow in or near Atlanta is not easy, but it’s not impossible. Snow Atlanta-style is a bit different than real snow, but perfect for southerners who don’t get to see the real stuff often.

OK, yes, we remember those few years that Atlanta, Georgia, transformed into a winter wonderland…but those are rare and short-lived.

If you are thinking, “But I want to find REAL snow near me!” — part of the beauty of living in Atlanta is we are within driving distance to many great ski resorts in North Carolina and Tennessee. Your family can still find winter adventures to enjoy snow and skiing near Atlanta!

Here’s our family fun guide on where to see snow and go skiing in Atlanta (or nearby).

SNOW NEAR ME? FIND REAL SNOW NEAR ATLANTA AT BEECH MOUNTAIN

BEECH MOUNTAIN IN A NUTSHELL

This small town, nestled against the slopes of the Beech Mountain Resort, is an ideal place for a family snow-cation. The town, at an elevation of 5,506 feet above sea level, has a free youth sledding area open all winter, which my kids LOVED. Sledding and snow play? Yes, please!

The resort also offers skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, ice skating, and various ski and snowboard lessons for all ages of children. (Don’t worry! They have adult programs too.)

Read More: Beech Mountain Ski Resort: A Great Family Snow Vacation Destination

SKI, SKATE AND TUBE AT BEECH MOUNTAIN

Beech Mountain has lift tickets options for a half day, full day, and night skiing. If you decide a half-day on the slopes is enough, or want to take a break, skating and tubing session tickets are available separately from lift tickets and are good for two hours.

So if you’d like to experience tubing, skating, or just the various shops in the village without ever buying a lift ticket and hitting the slopes — it’s totally doable, no skiing required.

LODGING AT BEECH MOUNTAIN

The town offers a broad range of lodging to fit most needs and budgets. Here are some of our favorites:

• Best Shuttle To Resort: In winter, the Top of the Beech Inn is a snow scene and you can walk to the slopes or you can catch a complimentary shuttle to Ski Beech village about a mile away. 

• Best Family-Friendly Spot: With an amazing indoor pool, playground, hot tub, and more — Pinnacle in Beech Mountain is the perfect family-friendly spot.

• Best Condo: This Cozy Beech Mountain Condo is just 2 miles to Beech Mountain Ski Resort and features access to an indoor pool and more.

INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE ATLANTA PERIMETER

WINTER WONDERLAND AT LAKE LANIER ISLANDS

Play in the snow all day and then take in the beautiful Lakeside Lights Spectacular at night with an All-Access Pass at Lake Lanier Islands!

License to Chill at Snow Island has snow tubing, ice skating, carnival rides, an area for making snow angels and playing in the snow, and after all that — you can make s’mores and sip hot cocoa.

Daily passes and season passes are available. This year, License to Chill at Snow Island will be open on select dates from November 16, 2024 – February 23, 2025.

CELEBRATION AT THE STATION (ATLANTIC STATION)

Dates: Nov. 23 – Dec. 25, 2024

After ice skating, there is still a lot of holiday fun to be had within the Atlantic Station complex…including snow!

Celebration at the Station is an interactive experience at Atlantic Station with a festive video featuring holiday lights set to the music of some of your holiday favorites and swirls of snow! During the holiday season, check out this fantastic display at the top of every hour from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. through Wednesday, Dec. 25.

Read More: Atlantic Station Ice Skating Tips and Tricks

NORTH CAROLINA SKI AND TUBING RESORTS

HIGHLANDS OUTPOST

Highlands Outpost, formerly known as Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center, in Scaly Mountain, NC, is a snow tubing resort that’s perfect for a family who isn’t interested in skiing — you just want to enjoy the snow!

No experience needed to fly down Highlands Outpost’s snow tubing lanes.  And a “magic carpet” will even take you back to the top, so you can do it again and again.  Your kids must be at least 42 inches tall and at least 4 years old to tube the big hill, but they also have a kiddie slope for little ones.

This resort is only 15 minutes from Dillard, GA, so it makes for a great weekend getaway or even a day trip! (They have ice skating too!)

Read More: The 9 Coolest Places for Incredible Snow Tubing in NC

HAWKSNEST SNOW TUBING IN SEVEN DEVILS, NC

With 30 lanes of snow tubing, Hawksnest Snow Tubing in Seven Devils, NC, is recognized for having the largest snow tubing park on the East Coast.  This place is all about the snow tubing!

The lanes here are 400-1,000 feet long and have three moving carpet lifts to bring you back to the top.

And if the weather doesn’t cooperate, they have snow-making capabilities, so you and your fellow winter adventurers are guaranteed to experience snow conditions. Ages 3+.

APPALACHIAN SKI IN BLOWING ROCK, NC

Appalachian Ski Mtn. in Blowing Rock, NC, is a great ski resort for a beginner or a family.

With 10 slopes, 3 terrain parks and a panoramic outdoor ice arena, there is an adventure waiting for every member of the family.

The Appalachian Ski school is the only ski resort in the Southeast region to be an official Burton Learn To Ride Center. They have ice skating here too!

Read More: Appalachian Ski Mountain NC: An Awesome Beginner Slope

THANK YOU to Stuffed Suitcase for the Ultimate Ski Trip Packing List!

CATALOOCHEE IN MAGGIE VALLEY, NC

The Cataloochee Ski Area is located in the Great Smoky Mountains, which makes it very convenient to visit from Atlanta. With a variety of terrain for beginner skiers and experts alike, the Cataloochee experience offers something for everyone.

Multiple snow tube runs are available at Tube World — just down the street from the ski resort.

Stay Here: Quality Inn & Suites Maggie Valley

SAPPHIRE VALLEY IN SAPPHIRE, NC

The Sapphire Valley Ski Resort is the closest ski resort to the Atlanta metro area — only 2.5 hours away! It’s so close that it’s almost like finding snow in Atlanta, plus it provides families with a chance to experience skiing.

This is a bigger resort with skiing and snow boarding. Be sure to check out the Frozen Falls Tube Park, as there are no age or height restrictions.  

Stay Here: Fairway Forest

SUGAR MOUNTAIN IN SUGAR MOUNTAIN, NC

The largest ski area in North Carolina is a favorite ski resort for many experienced skiers who can’t fly out West or go up North.  Sugar Mountain Ski Resort has all the winter activities!

In addition to skiing and snowboarding, they’ve got an outdoor ice skating rink and snow tubing, too.  This resort offers a variety of winter fun for the whole family.

WOLF RIDGE SKI RESORT IN MARS HILL, NC

Hatley Pointe Boutique Mountain Resort was formerly known as Wolf Ridge Ski Resort. Located just 5 miles off I-26 in the mountains of Western North Carolina near Asheville, this resort has undergone major improvements with their new ownership in 2023.

Since March 2023, the new owners have worked to reimagine and upgrade the lodge, but the functionality will stay the same. The lodge will now be home to an elevated full-service restaurant and bar. Other updates will include a VIP Season Pass Holder experience, and they’ve worked to improve the infrastructure for snow-making.

Hatley Pointe peaks at an elevation of 4700 feet and sits in the shadow of Big Bald Mountain. They offer 54 acres of skiable terrain, 15 lighted runs with 1 double lift, 1 quad lift, and 2 surface lifts.

TENNESSEE SKI RESORTS

OBER GATLINBURG IN GATLINBURG, TN

The only ski resort in Tennessee is Ober Gatlinburg! It’s located in the popular, family-friendly destination of Gatlinburg, TN.

A trip here makes a perfect long weekend or even a week-long family trip. With so many things to do in Gatlinburg, even the family member who is not fond of snow and skiing will surely find other fun things to do.

Make plans to take a ride on the Aerial Tramway or the Scenic Sky Chair Ride to get great views of the snowy mountains high above the trees.

Read More: Ober Gatlinburg, Winter Magic & Gatlinburg’s Best Winter Excitement

PIGEON FORGE SNOW

Bring the whole family for one-of-a-kind indoor snow tubing action! Hot or cold, rain or shine, Pigeon Forge Snow stays open year-round, but it’s especially fun during the holidays. You’ll find snow-covered downhill tracks along with an escalator ride back to the top.

Kids love the snow play area and arcade games. Parents can relax in massage chair to watch.

Read More: Christmas in Pigeon Forge: 15+ Fun Ways to Celebrate the Season

SNOW ATLANTA STYLE: NEIGHBORHOOD SLEDDING HILLS IN ATLANTA

So it may not happen often, but it does snow in Atlanta from time-to-time. At least every other year or so we get enough snow in Atlanta to bring out the sleds, hit the hills, and play in the snow.

Here are our favorite neighborhood sledding hills.

Bobby Jones Golf Course, Buckhead. As long as the ground is covered with white, you’ll find neighbors all over Bobby Jones Golf Course off Howell Mill Road in Buckhead. (Note: The golf course was redesigned in 2018, so jury is out if you’ll still be able to sled here.)

Piedmont Park, Midtown. The hill in front of the Park Tavern is a great spot for sledding. Bonus: You can get some hot chocolate at the Park Tavern.

Here are more places from our readers. Know others?  Tell us and we’ll add them.

• Chastain Park, Intown.
• Cross Creek Golf Course, Buckhead.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WINTER FUN IN ATLANTA

• YOUR ATLANTA VACATION
• ICE SKATING ATLANTA 2022: The Best Rinks For Kids, Teens & Adults
• ATLANTA WINTER: 51+ Super Fun Things To Do In Winter Your Kids Will Love
• SKI RESORTS: Top Ski Resorts Every Atlanta Family Should Visit
• OUTDOOR GAMES: 53 Outdoor Games Your Kids Will Love During Any Season