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Best Ski Resorts To Drive To From The UK

5 January 2022

Although jumping on a plane is the normal start to most ski trips, there are in fact plenty of ski and snowboard resorts within driving distance from the UK. Thanks to an excellent and usually quiet motorway network across Europe, the journey to most resorts is straightforward.

With Coronavirus remaining an issue, driving to your ski resort is a great choice for minimising contact with others and giving yourself a bit more control. Driving also gives you more flexibility and allows you to easily explore your ski area.

Please check the latest guidelines before embarking on any travel.

Benefits of driving to ski resorts

Whilst flying is the fastest option in terms of actual travel time, there are plenty of reasons to consider driving instead:

Your carbon footprint will typically be significantly lower than if you took a flight – the more passengers in your car, the bigger the environmental benefit
The cost of driving a car of four people, usually works out cheaper than flying
You can pack your skis on the roof and all your luggage in the boot, taking away the risk of damage and extra cost of ski baggage with airlines
Once at the ski resort you have more flexibility and freedom to travel and explore nearby areas on your own terms
If you have the time, you can break up the journey by incorporating an overnight stay en-route giving you the chance to explore along the way

Preparation

There are a few things to prepare before your journey. Firstly, if you are heading to the Alps, you will need to arrange your channel crossing, with the usual options being a ferry or the channel tunnel. You then also need to ensure that your car is prepared for the journey, and can follow our guide on making sure your car is alpine ready here. You will also need to make sure that you have somewhere to park once at the resort. It is worth checking with your accommodation who will usually be able to offer a couple of options for you.

With that set, you're ready to go. Here are our picks for the best resorts to drive to from the UK.

Chamonix - France

Chamonix Resort

Distance from Calais: 890km

Driving time from Calais: 8 hours

Chamonix is renowned across the outdoor world for a good reason. The town gives you access to a massive array of piste runs, and some of the best backcountry in the world. Not only is it a must visit resort, but it is also a fantastic choice for driving to from the UK. Thanks to great motorways, and being fairly low down in the alps, the journey time is usually around 8 hours from Calais. The resort of Chamonix is also quite spread out, so by taking the drive, you open up easy access to the many areas around the town itself. If you bite the bullet and purchase the Mt Blanc Unlimited lift pass, you have access to a huge range of ski areas across three countries, with a car allowing for some fantastic exploration.

Megève - France

Megeve Resort

Distance from Calais: 880km

Driving time from Calais: 8 hours

The picturesque medieval town of Megève offers over 300km of skiing accompanied by stunning scenery. A stones throw from Chamonix (and included in the Mt Blanc Unlimited lift pass mentioned previously), the town offers a slightly quieter and serene experience, with a range of fantastic slopes for all abilities. The town is easily accessed from the motorway, and also being situated fairly low in the valley, journey times from Calais are again usually around 8 hours.

Courmayeur - Italy

Courmayeur Resort

Distance from Calais: 910km

Driving time from Calais: 8 hours 30 Minutes

Situated just inside the Italian border, the other side of Mont Blanc to Chamonix, Courmayeur is another great option to drive to from the UK. The town is beautifully situated with fantastic views of Mont Blanc, and has a range of skiing on offer which is suitable for beginners through to advanced. The drive is straightforward and will see you go through the Mont Blanc tunnel before quickly arriving at the resort on the other side.

Les Gets - France

Les Gets Resort

Distance from Calais: 865km

Driving time from Calais: 8 Hours

Les Gets is another resort in prime position for those looking to drive from the UK. It is accessible in just under 8 hours from Calais on a good run and is again, easy to access. It is a fantastic resort for families with plenty of beginner friendly slopes and off-the-mountain activities. However, thanks to its situation, it also opens up really easy access to one of the largest ski areas in the world, the Portes du Soleil.

Kitzbühel - Austria

Kitzbuhel

Distance from Calais: 1100km

Driving time from Calais: 10 hours

The beautiful resort of Kitzbühel in Austria is a slightly further drive than some of the options in France. However, in return, you get access to some fantastic Austrian slopes set around the charming medieval town. The resort is home to the notorious Hahnenkamm ski race, but do not fear, there a great range of runs for all abilities. If you're looking for powder, there are over 56,000 acres to explore so you'll be sure to make some fresh tracks.

La Clusaz - France

La Clusaz

Distance from Calais: 860km

Driving time from Calais: 8 hours

La Clusaz is conveniently located, but quite often overlooked as a resort. The incredibly picturesque resort is relativity small, but offers excellent skiing with top level views, and a warm and friendly atmosphere. The village is full of French charm, and thanks to its size, once you visit, you’ll have the feeling of being ‘in the know’. There is a range of skiing on offer across five mountains, with pistes for all abilities. There is also world class backcountry and freeride on offer, with the village being the learning ground and childhood home for freeride superstar, Candide Thevoux.

Glenshee – Scotland

Glenshee

Distance from Manchester: 480km

Driving time from London: 5 hours 15 minutes

You don’t always need to look abroad to find excellent skiing, with Scotland being home to a number of fantastic options. Depending on where you are located in the UK, travel time can vary, with the journey to Glenshee taking just over 5 hours from Manchester. Of the resorts in Scotland, Glenshee has perhaps the widest variety of skiing with over 40km of piste, but there are plenty of other options with the Nevis range offering a good choice of runs and very easy access to some of the best backcountry in the UK. The Cairngorms also offers some excellent skiing. Check out our full guide to Scottish resorts for more options and information.

There are therefore plenty of options to choose from should you be looking to drive to the slopes this winter. With just a little preparation and planning, you’ll be on the snow before you know it.

About the Author:

Huw Saunders - Outdoor Expert

Growing up in rural Wales, Huw has been immersed in the outdoors for as long as he can remember. If not surfing the Welsh coast, he can now usually be found either running or hiking in the Peak District and through the winter, tries to get out to Europe to ski as much as possible.

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