Afton Alps sits in the St. Croix River Valley near the Twin Cities, with an entrance in Hastings beside Afton State Park. It works well as a local ski...
Afton Alps sits in the St. Croix River Valley near the Twin Cities, with an entrance in Hastings beside Afton State Park. It works well as a local ski outing or part of a longer stay around the metro and river towns. Compare staying close to the ski day with choosing a hotel around shopping, dining or other plans; those are different bases rather than interchangeable distances from the lifts.
Combine the ski day with the St. Croix River towns. Afton House Inn provides a historic village setting, while Hastings offers downtown dining and a brewery taproom. Stillwater adds shops, art and restaurants, with the orchard and winery as separate seasonal outings. Choose stops around your route instead of expecting every regional attraction to be beside the mountain.
Use the resort’s directions to 6600 Peller Ave. S. in Hastings, beside Afton State Park. The operator recommends a rental car or ride-share for airport transfers.
Choose parking around the services you need. The Alps base area has rentals and Guest Services; Meadows has ski school, rentals and Guest Services. Highlands suits visitors who already have equipment, since rental pickup is not offered there. Check which areas are operating and allow time for winter roads, parking and fitting.
Use the broad winter-to-early-spring season guide when considering a trip, then check the operator’s calendar for your dates. Choose between a daytime visit and skiing under the lights; night sessions have their own ticket choices. Leave time for equipment fitting and lesson check-in, and use the current conditions report to choose terrain.
The region offers much more than skiing. Here's what else to explore:
Scenic state park along the St. Croix River with cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails in winter.
Explore Stillwater’s historic downtown, with shops, art and dining. Plan the drive as a separate part of your ski-day outing.
An apple farm near Stillwater with an Apple Barn, bakery and gift shop. Apple picking and family rides are seasonal; check the farm’s calendar for winter visits.
A Stillwater winery sharing the grounds of Aamodt’s Apple Farm, with a tasting room and cold-climate wines. Check seasonal opening days before visiting.
A shopping, dining and indoor-entertainment outing in Bloomington, including Nickelodeon Universe. Plan it as a separate metro stop.
Choose a base that fits the whole outing. Afton House Inn offers a historic village stay with dining on site; select a deluxe room if a whirlpool or river-view balcony matters to you. AmericInn near Stillwater is in Oak Park Heights, with breakfast, an indoor pool and a hot tub. Its dog-friendly rooms must be selected when booking.
JW Marriott is a Bloomington option connected to Mall of America, suited to combining skiing with shopping and family attractions. It requires a separate road journey to Afton Alps. If comparing a private rental with a hotel, check the property’s address, winter access, sleeping arrangements and kitchen facilities; compare the full stay cost and daily mountain journey.
Alps Chalet offers quick ski-hill meals, while Highlands Café serves tacos and pizza. For a town meal, The Busted Nut Bar & Grill is in downtown Hastings; Spiral Brewery offers a local taproom stop. Stillwater adds historic-downtown shopping, art and dining for a separate outing.
At Afton Alps, Paul’s Pub offers full-service dining and The Crest is a bar inside the Highlands chalet. Check which outlets are open for your ski day. For a town stop, compare The Busted Nut and Spiral Brewery in downtown Hastings with Stillwater’s dining and nightlife.
Real-time conditions for planning your Afton Alps trip
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Approximate planning ranges; allow extra time for winter conditions.
For Afton Alps, compare a booked room or rental around Hastings with a designated campsite that accepts your vehicle and winter dates. Choose your base around the daily mountain journey and the power, water and indoor facilities you need.
Compare lodging options ↗Book a designated overnight place for your vehicle and dates. Day parking does not provide permission to camp.