We are looking for a location within a day's drive of Jacksonville Florida. My Florida grandchildren want to play in the snow and ski. We would like to rent a cabin for 12. Any suggestions would be helpful. I am always impressed with the help given by Fodorites. Thanks again.

The JAX airport is certainly within a day's drive. For a guaranteed snowfall as well as skiing, I'd get familiar with the route.

If they want to ski, snowboard, ice skate, etc, there are plenty of places in NC, and some in VA and TN that make snow.

If you want any reasonable certainty that they can play in natural snow, you are going to have to go to the Adirondacks, northern Vermont, New Hampshire, or Maine, and they are two days drive minimum.

We are in northern Vermont right now, and snow has been spotty, though we are going to get a foot tomorrow and the next day.

For certainty, the Rockies. But they are a flight, not a drive away from FL.

You just never know. Banner Elk or Sugar Mountain in NC if they are able to make snow.
I think Snowshoe might be a good possibility.

Thanks for your help. Not interested in flying. Will look at Banner Elk or Sugar Mountain and Snowshoe.

Snowshoe WV would be your best bet for snow within a day's drive from Jax but don't know if they would have a cabin for 12 as they have mostly condos.

You could easily find a cabin for 12 in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon forge area but the chances for snow are less. There is a small ski area called Ober Gatlinburg where they make snow if it gets cold enough.

Beech mountain and Sugar mountain in Banner Elk NC are other options but again that early in the season, snow is iffy at best.

We used to ski in Boone NC several years back.

Thanks for all your help. Will look at Boone NC

Boone is the Beech,Sugar Mountain ski areas. Boone itself is a college town with no ski areas per se. There may be natural snow, but by far, no guarantee. They make snow at the ski areas.

Michigan is within a day's drive, although you are likely to find natural snow sooner.

In what world is Michigan a day's drive from Florida!! LOL