Where to go · December
Ski trips in December
Places that are usually at their best for skiing in December, and why. Travel times are from the East Coast for a 7-day trip; change anything below.
Places for skiing in December
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Good fit
Vail & the Colorado Rockies
United States · North America
- Typical highs around 28°F, lows around 7°F
- Rain or snow on about 9 days a month
- Usually one of the busiest times to visit: book early
- About 4 hours of travel from the East Coast (estimate)
- No passport needed for U.S. citizens
- Weather is for Vail village; the slopes are colder.
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Good fit
Dolomites
Italy · Europe
- Typical highs around 33°F, lows around 21°F
- Rain or snow on about 7 days a month
- About 9 hours of travel from the East Coast (estimate)
- Weather is for Cortina d’Ampezzo; high trails and slopes are colder.
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Good fit
Chamonix
France · Europe
- Typical highs around 28°F, lows around 13°F
- Rain or snow on about 12 days a month
- About 9 hours of travel from the East Coast (estimate)
- Weather is for the valley; the slopes and high trails are colder.
- Temperatures are estimates for the area and can run a few degrees cool on small islands and in the mountains
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Good fit
Swiss Alps (Zermatt)
Switzerland · Europe
- Typical highs around 26°F, lows around 17°F
- Rain or snow on about 14 days a month
- About 9 hours of travel from the East Coast (estimate)
- Weather is for Zermatt village; the slopes and high trails are colder.
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Good fit
Banff & the Canadian Rockies
Canada · North America
- Typical highs around 25°F, lows around 7°F
- Rain or snow on about 5 days a month
- About 5 hours of travel from the East Coast (estimate)
- Weather is for Banff town; the slopes and high trails are colder.
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Good fit
Niseko, Hokkaido
Japan · Asia
- Typical highs around 32°F, lows around 18°F
- Rain or snow on about 26 days a month
- Shoulder season: usually fewer crowds than peak
- About 16 hours of travel from the East Coast (estimate)
Where this comes from
- Weather is what’s typical for those dates over 1991–2020, not a forecast. Daily highs and lows come from the nearest good weather station where there is one; otherwise they’re estimates for the area, and the card says so.
- How busy a place usually is, ski seasons and events are our own notes from official tourism sites. Dates change every year, so check the official site before you book.
- Travel times are rough estimates from the distance, not flight schedules.
- No prices. We don’t show prices we can’t vouch for, and no place pays to be listed.
- Entry rules change and depend on your passport: always check the official page linked on each place.
Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (ERA5, 1991–2020). Typical conditions, not a forecast. Daily highs and lows: NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN-Daily) station records, 1991–2020 (public domain).