Kelowna is an ideal home base for a ski vacation. With two world-class alpine ski resorts nearby, there’s flexibility to balance powder days with the variety and energy of staying in the city.

Read on for everything you need to know about planning a ski vacation while staying in Kelowna, and why staying in the city can elevate your entire experience.

One Home Base, Two Iconic Ski Resorts

Kelowna offers easy access to two ski resorts, each with its own pace, personality, and activities.

Big White Ski Resort is known for its purpose-built, ski-in, ski-out village where accommodations, dining, and winter activities are clustered in one walkable alpine base. With on-mountain daycare, beginner zones close to the village and a layout where runs funnel back to a central base, Big White is well-suited to families and mixed-ability groups travelling together.

SilverStar Mountain Resort is known for its colourful, Victorian-inspired village and more relaxed pace both on and off the slopes. Outside of its downhill runs, another defining feature of the resort is its dedicated Nordic area, with groomed trails for classic and skate skiing, as well as snowshoeing and fat biking. SilverStar’s breadth of off-mountain experiences make it appealing for travellers or groups who value variety.

If you’re looking to plan a ski vacation in Canada where you have the flexibility to experience more than one resort in a single trip, Kelowna offers choice and convenience.

How Far Is It from Kelowna to the Slopes?

When it comes to skiing close to Kelowna, Big White Ski Resort and SilverStar Mountain Resort are both easy day trips. Big White is approximately 55 minutes away (56 km), while SilverStar is about an hour’s drive (74 km).

Driving to Big White or SilverStar from Kelowna means navigating mountain roads where winter conditions can change quickly, particularly after snowfall. Especially if you’re not used to driving in these conditions, allow extra time, check DriveBC road reports before you go, and be prepared for reduced visibility at higher elevations.

Getting Around: Rentals, Shuttles, and Easy Access

Getting to Kelowna, and to the slopes once you land, is straightforward thanks to Kelowna International Airport. 

With the airport just minutes from the city centre, it’s easy to pick up a rental vehicle large enough for ski gear and winter luggage, then settle into Kelowna before heading up the mountain. Several rental car companies operate at the airport, including Budget Car & Truck Rentals Kelowna.

If you’d rather skip the drive, shuttle services are available as well. Big White Ski Resort runs a public shuttle service that offers multiple Kelowna and West Kelowna pickup locations on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. 

For shared shuttles from Big White Ski Resort to Kelowna, options include Sagebrush Tours and Carpe Diem Tours. There’s also Kelowna Transfers, which offers door-to-door pickup from select hotels and accommodations around the city. And if you’re planning to ski on a travel day, there’s always the Big White Airport Shuttle.

SilverStar Mountain Resort doesn’t operate its own shuttle from Kelowna, but Kelowna Concierge runs a shared shuttle between Kelowna International Airport and SilverStar Mountain Resort daily during the ski season, with multiple departure times and pickup options. 

All shuttle services require advance booking, so even though you’ll have a lot of flexibility, you’ll still need to do a bit of planning ahead.
 

Where to Stay in Kelowna for Your Ski Vacation

For visitors planning to split time between Big White Ski Resort and SilverStar Mountain Resort, choosing accommodations near Kelowna International Airport keeps travel time simple in both directions.

Hotels near the airport are especially convenient for winter travellers flying in with ski gear and using rental cars, offering quick access to Highway 97 and straightforward drives to both resorts. Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Kelowna Airport and Four Points by Sheraton Kelowna Airport both offer easy parking and locations that work well for early ski mornings and late returns. Both hotels offer pools and hot tubs for post-mountain soaks.

By staying in town, you can spend your days on the mountain and your evenings enjoying Kelowna and the Okanagan's restaurants, wineries, breweries and nightlife.

Aprés-Ski, Kelowna Style

After a long day on the hill, heading out for apres-ski drinks during happy hour is part of the fun. 

Grab a post-ski brewski at a local brewery, or if you’re more in the mood for cocktails or wine, there are spots like BTS Cocktail Bar & Kitchen (formerly Born to Shake) and Urban Distilleries for craft cocktails and small plates. CedarCreek Estate Winery also offers a fireside après tasting experience that’s quite cozy.

If you don’t feel like changing out of your mountain gear before dinner, there are many casual spots around town. For example, Memphis Blues BBQ House delivers meaty plates that will fill a hole after a full ski day and Central Kitchen + Bar offers a social atmosphere and a menu with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.

Perhaps aprés isn’t your thing, and you’d rather do drinks after dinner instead. Places like King Taps Kelowna Lakeside, Leopold’s Tavern and Mid-Town Station Kitchen + Drink are all buzzy, social spots that are open late.

More Than Skiing: Winter Experiences in Kelowna

Staying in Kelowna makes it easy to build in slower, off-hill days that balance out time on the slopes.

Build in time to rest and recover to get the most out of your ski days. Kelowna offers a range of spas and wellness experiences, from hotel spas like Damara Day Spa at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort, to floating saunas on Okanagan Lake at Kuva Wellness or Löyly Floating Sauna.

There are also many places for winter hiking and snowshoeing, offering you a quieter way to get outside. Most trails in and around Kelowna remain easy to hike without spikes or grips even when higher elevations are snow-covered—but it never hurts to check AllTrails before you go to see what people have been saying recently about the trail conditions.

Kelowna is also well-suited for slower days spent shopping, checking out what the local food scene has to offer, and taking in local arts and entertainment. Or, check the local events calendar for things happening during your stay.

All of these activities and experiences make Kelowna more than just a place to sleep between ski days.

Make Kelowna Your Winter Basecamp

Experience winter in Kelowna and enjoy the freedom to ski multiple resorts and plan each day your way. Start planning your trip at tourismkelowna.com.