Woman skiing

Introduction

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

Benefits of driving to ski resorts

Whilst flying is the fastest option, there are plenty of reasons to consider driving instead:

  • Your carbon footprint will be significantly lower than taking 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. 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.

Driving time from Calais: 8 hours

Chamonix, France

Chamonix, France

Driving time from Calais: 8 hours

Megève, France

Megève, France

Driving time from Calais: 8 hours 30 Minutes

Courmayeur, Italy

Chamonix, France

Driving time from Calais: 8 hours

Les Gets, France

Les Gets, France

Driving time from Calais: 10 hours

Kitzbühel, Austria

Kitzbuhel, Austria

Driving time from Calais: 8 hours

La Clusaz, France

La Clusaz, France

Driving time from London: 5 hours 15 minutes

Glenshee, Scotland

Glenshee, Scotland
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