Best Snow Tubing near New Jersey for Families
When it comes to winter activities, snow tubing is one of our favorites, and New Jersey has several great slopes to choose from.
No experience or equipment is necessary, and you can go snow tubing alone or in groups. Snow tubing is a lot like sledding, but easier. You can barrel down the snowy slopes at thrilling speeds without having to hike back up the hill.
Read on for a list of local ski resorts that offer snow tubing in New Jersey and in nearby Pennsylvania and New York. Most slopes are open from roughly mid-December through mid-March.
Find lots more active winter fun in our Skiing, Snowboarding, and Snow Sports Guide.
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Many local ski areas offer snow tubing in New Jersey, but hours of operation, height, weight, and age requirements vary. Unseasonably warm temperatures mean many of the resorts listed have yet to set opening dates for the season. Check the resort’s website for more details and waiver forms that can be downloaded and filled out before you arrive. Often, ticket sales are capped at maximum amounts, and many sell tickets online, so purchase in advance to avoid missing out.
Remember to wear warm, waterproof clothes and snow boots. All tubing parks prohibit wearing ski or snowboard boots.
Best Snow Tubing in New Jersey
1. Mountain Creek – Vernon
Mountain Creek boasts one of the largest snow tubing parks in the region—and the country, for that matter—with 30 lanes spread across more than 5 acres, all of them open to kids ages 5 and older who are at least 42 inches tall. Two magic carpet lifts take you to the top of the hill, so there's no need to hike. Sessions are 2 hours long. Advance ticket purchase is required.
2. Campgaw – Mahwah
Campgaw offers snow tubing in an intimate setting. Not only can you ride your tube down the slopes, you can ride it up as well! There are different levels of rollers and pitch, which means older kids can flex their courage a bit. There's no age requirement, but tubers need to be at least 48 inches tall. Open weekday afternoons and weekends, tickets are sold by sessions, which run for 2 hours each. Tickets go on sale 6 days in advance and sell out quickly. Advance ticket purchases are strongly recommended.
Where To Go Snow Tubing in Pennsylvania
3. Blue Mountain – Palmerton
Blue Mountain bills itself as the biggest snow tubing park in the country, with 46 lanes and three lifts. Our favorite Blue Mountain perk, though, is this: You can choose between riding a single tube or double the fun and go down two at a time in a double tube. There's no age requirement, but kids need to be at least 36 inches tall. Tickets are sold by 2-hour sessions and run from 9am-9pm Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (closed Christmas Day). All tickets must be purchased in advance online.
RELATED: Best Sledding Hills for New Jersey Families
Go galactic snow tubing after dark at Camelback in Tannersville.
4. Camelback Mountain Resort – Tannersville
If the prospect of flying down a snow-packed slope at a fast (but totally safe) speed is exhilarating, picture doing it at night amid an LED light show. That's Camelback's Galactic snow tubing. Camelback boasts 42 lanes. Most parks require a single rider per tube, but here, tubers under 44 inches tall (but at least 33 inches tall) can ride with a parent using a double tube or chain. A participating parent must accompany all riders under age 14. Advance online reservations are required. Open daily.
5. Shawnee Mountain Ski Area – East Stroudsburg
Shawnee is the closest of any of the Pennsylvania parks to New Jersey. It's also one of the smallest parks at seven lanes—in case you're harboring a fear of humiliating yourself in front of large crowds. Kids under 46 inches can ride in a tandem tube with a parent, though the recommended age is 5+. Sessions are 2 hours long and sessions are at specific times. Online reservations are required.
6. Big Boulder – Blakeslee
Big Boulder has 20 chutes and two 600-foot conveyor carpets. Again, there is no age requirement, but tubers must be at least 42 inches tall. Tubing is available on select dates; check the site for updates. Advanced ticket purchase is highly recommended.
Snow Tubing Spots in New York
7. Hunter Mountain – Hunter
Hunter is New York's largest tubing park, with 20 lanes that run nearly 1,000 feet long, plus a mini-park for the littlest kids. There's also a snack bar and fire pit, which is ever so critical for those necessary recovery periods. (Plan on taking many.) Tubers need to be at least 44 inches tall to ride or 36 inches to ride with an adult. Tickets are sold in 2-hour sessions. Online reservations are required and the resort and facilities are cashless.
RELATED: Top Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks in New Jersey
Snowtubers enjoy winter thrills at Mount Peter in Warwick.
8. Mount Peter – Warwick
Enjoy a 600-foot ride down and a conveyor ride back to the top. Kids must be at least 42 inches tall, and those younger than 12 must be accompanied on the hill by an adult. For the under-42-set, there is a Little Tikes tubing hill, with a smaller hill plus an area for kids to play in the powder. Tandem tubing is allowed for guests 36-48 inches with an adult on the big hill. Tubing reservations must be booked online. See the website for specific hours and rates.
This post was originally published in 2012 and is updated annually.
Photos courtesy of the venues
Places featured in this article:
Mountain Creek
Campgaw Mountain
Camelback Resort
Ski Shawnee
Blue Mountain
Hunter Mountain
Mount Peter