Affiliate links are included below.
What parents need to know for 2024-25 sledding and tubing: Visit the website before you head out to see if you need to reserve tickets, entry, timed appointments, and rental equipment in advance.
Want to take your kids to the snow, but skiing is not a goal? We’ve already covered snow play outings for outdoor enthusiasts who aren’t afraid to navigate DIY adventures, but on this page, we’ll focus on the best easy snow destinations for Bay Area families– tubing and sledding! If you’d be most comfortable with an address to plug into your GPS app, a parking lot to arrive in, and a ticket booth that will give you access to fun in the snow with your kids, read on.
Snow tubing and sledding places near you
Boreal Mountain (Soda Springs, CA)
This full-service ski resort in the Tahoe area has an area reserved for Tahoe Tubing and Snow Play for families with kids over 42″. Guests pay for a 90-minute session or an all-day pass. The pass includes tube access and a moving carpet to ascend the hill. Walk-up prices are much higher than advance online tickets, which are dynamically priced with the most affordable days being non-holiday weekdays. Cashless. All purchases must be made online, prior to arrival.
Price: Varies by day, approximately $59 for a 90-minute session
Distance from Oakland: 171 miles
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Soda Springs Vacation Rentals – Book now with Vrbo!
Soda Springs Mountain Resort (Soda Springs, CA)
Catering to the first-time skier, Soda Springs offers Tube Town for families with kids over 7 and taller than 42″. Planet Kids is an area for kids 8 and under. Buy an all-day pass for either area; we don’t see the 90-minute option this year. Walk-up prices are much higher than advance online tickets, which are dynamically priced with most affordable days being non-holiday weekdays.
Price: All-day passes start around $64-$89
Distance from Oakland: 170 miles (affiliated with and next door to Boreal)
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Palisades Tahoe (Olympic Valley, CA)
One of the bigger resorts, with an entire village at the base of the mountain, Palisades Tahoe (formerly known as Squaw Valley) has built groomed tubing lanes with a magic carpet just to the left of the ski lifts. A separate admission ticket hut sells passes for “SnoVentures” in which you must be 40″ inches to ride and 4 years or older. Tubing sessions are 55 minutes, starting every hour on the hour. There’s also Disco Tubing for families to cruise down the tubing chutes under LED lights, lasers and a live DJ.
Pro-tips: a free sled hill (BYO sled and walk yourself back up to the top) is located adjacent to the paid one, so plan accordingly. Ikon Pass holders receive free tubing every Thursday.
Price: Varies by day, about $45 on weekdays and $55 on weekends; Disco tubing is about $79 per person
Distance from Oakland: 190 miles
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Vacation Rentals Near Palisades Tahoe – Book now with Vrbo!
Sugar Rush Tubing at Sugar Bowl (Norden, CA)
One of our favorite family-friendly ski resorts is Sugar Bowl and their tubing area is another reason to plan a visit. Sugar Rush Tubing has 10 tubing lanes and a moving carpet to bring tubers back to the top of the hill (more runs!). Tubers must be at least 42″ tall and can tube in two-hour sessions. There’s also a snow play area, mini-tubes and Burton Ringlet snowboards on site. Food and drinks are available for purchase to keep the energy levels high. Book in advance or walk-up, as space allows. Available weekends and select weekdays.
Price: Tubing starts at $45; Snow play starts at $20
Distance from Oakland: 172 miles
Website >>
Donner Ski Ranch (Norden, CA)
Just before Donner Pass is Donner Ski Ranch, an old-school ski resort with lots of retro vibes and a small tubing area. No reservations are needed. No height restrictions. Fewer frills that some other tubing destinations in the area. Drop in and enjoy tubing for a two-hour session. Save some time by completing a waiver online in advance.
Price: Weekday rates are $34, weekend rate are $39; first come, first served
Distance from Oakland: 172 miles
Website >>
Leland High Sierra SnowPlay (Pinecrest, CA)
A little closer than Tahoe, this Sierra Nevada tubing center is a ton of fun. Park, pay, and start tubing! This is not a ski resort and open days are dependent on good snow coverage. Check the weather, days, and hours before you go. More about Leland Snow Play >>
Price: Weekday rates are $39 for guests over 44″ and $29 for guests under 44″. Weekend rates are $57 for guests over 44″ and $31 for guests under 44″ – the price is for “all day” but you won’t want to go that long.
Distance from Oakland: 157 miles
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Pinecrest Vacation Rentals – Book now with Vrbo!
Adventure Mountain (South Lake Tahoe, CA)
With a different pricing model, Adventure Mountain enables guests to pay for vehicle access to this South Lake Tahoe snow park and then permits them to use the facilities all day. However, tubes are not included in the admission price. Rent sleds, tubes, helmets, and other equipment in the lodge, or bring your own. Kids tube free every Tuesday and Wednesday with a paying adult.Â
Price: Entrance fee is $20 per vehicle; tube rental is $35 for kids and $40 for adults for a 2-hour session
Distance from Oakland: 171 miles
Website >>
Tube Tahoe (South Lake Tahoe, CA)
This snow park is designated solely for tubing, featuring 500 ft long lanes for as many downhill thrill rides as your family can handle. Visitors must climb up the run with their tubes. There is also a separate smaller incline for little tubers (2 and under) to enjoy (and a good place to rest before trekking up the hill). Guests pay for a 90-minute session, which includes one rental tube per person. Parking, restrooms, and shop with snacks, drinks, and snow gear onsite. Hours vary on holidays.
Price: Adults (age 13 & older) $65, Children (age 6-12) $55, Mini Tubers (age 3-5 riding with paying adult) $35, Snowplay or spectators (all ages) $15
Distance from Oakland: 176 miles
Website >>
Hansen’s Resort: Snow Tube & Saucer Hill (South Lake Tahoe, CA)
This South Lake Tahoe destination has groomed runs for sledding and tubing. Heads up, there’s no high-tech help to get you back up the hill– enjoy the thrilling 400-ft-long run and then walk back up to the top. Call ahead for hours.
Price: **CASH ONLY** $40/hour per person age 5 & over (includes the use of tube or saucer and parking). Kids 4 & under are free when accompanied by a paying adult.
Distance from Oakland: 183 miles
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South Lake Tahoe Vacation Rentals – Book now with Vrbo!
Granlibakken Sledding (Tahoe City, CA)
A year-round resort and retreat destination, Granlibakken has lodging, a ski mountain, and a killer sledding area. Admission to the sledding area is included with lift tickets, so you can enjoy both skiing and sledding on the same day. Sledding-only tickets are also available and cheaper. Plastic saucers are the style of sled required, and you must use theirs. Sledding tickets are 90 minutes in duration with 30 minutes of time for cleaning in between sessions and must be purchased in advance. Granlibakken also offers night sledding on select dates for a slightly higher price.
Price: Sledding is $26.60 per person for weekdays, $37.50 for weekends and holidays, and $37.50 for night sledding. Kids 3 and under sled for free. Guests staying at Granlibakken Tahoe enjoy a 50% discount on sledding.
Distance from Oakland: 194 miles
Website >>
Granlibakken Vacation Rentals – Book now with Vrbo!
Please note that prices and hours may change throughout the season. Always call or check the website ahead of time.
[Photo credits as indicated]
