Camelback Mountain Resort With Kids: What Parents Should Know

Camelback is the Poconos’ big family play-all-day resort. It pairs a small, kid-friendly ski mountain with Aquatopia, an indoor water park, so a family can ski and swim in the same weekend. It is popular, and weekends are crowded.

• Why families choose Camelback: a Ski & Ride Academy for kids from age 4, an indoor water park, a large tubing park, and lodging close to the slopes.
• What to know first: weekends are busy, helmets are required for ages 17 and under, and all lessons and lift tickets are bought online in advance.

The full data sheet is on our Camelback profile.

The Short Version

Our family-fit rating is “Family First.” About 39% of the terrain is beginner, the vertical is modest at 800 ft, and the resort offers off-slope fun, including Aquatopia, a snow tubing park, and the sister property Camelbeach. The resort lists 39 trails and 14 lifts across 166 acres.

The tradeoffs are crowds on weekends and holidays, and the fact that lessons are sold online and often sell out.

Camelback makes sense if you want a ski-plus-water-park weekend.

Think twice if you want uncrowded slopes or lots of vertical.

What Camelback Is Like With Kids

Aquatopia gives tired skiers somewhere to go. The snow tubing park was ranked first for snow tubing in USA Today’s 10Best list, and has 40+ lanes served by magic carpet lifts. Skiing runs daily, with night skiing on select illuminated trails. Last season opened on December 3, 2025, and a similar early-December start is typical, though we could not confirm the 2026-27 date.

Stroudsburg is about 10 minutes away for dining and errands. Camelback also runs a mountain coaster and other attractions through the resort, and its season passes include perks like buddy passes, tubing tickets, and lodging and dining discounts, depending on the pass level.

Learning Here: From First Day to Teen Years

The first day. Children’s beginner lessons through the Ski & Ride Academy are for ages 4-12. Rental gear (skis or board, bindings, boots, poles, and a helmet) is included with the children’s and group packages. Lessons are taught in a dedicated learning area where parents can watch.

The next step. Multi-week programs run on weekends. Little Shredders (ages 4-6) fits beginners to early intermediates, with four weekly 90-minute lessons. Camelback Kids (ages 7-12) is for intermediate and advanced skiers and riders (blue terrain and up) who can turn, stop, and ride chairlifts on their own, with 3-hour sessions. Make sure your child meets the requirement before you sign up.

As they grow. Camelback Carve Crew (ages 12-15) uses the same ability bar with full-day, 6-hour sessions and lunch. Teens will outgrow the vertical, but parks and night skiing can keep them busy.

First Time Skiing With Kids? What Parents Should Know

Camelback is set up for first-timers, and its lessons are well organized. The catch is that everything needs to be booked ahead, and weekends are packed.

Book lessons rather than teaching them yourselves. Instructors make the first day smoother and safer. The resort says all lessons must be purchased online because space is extremely limited, so book early, especially for weekends and holidays.

Where first-timers start. In the learning area next to the rental exit, and on the magic carpet lifts and the Sunbowl lift. A beginner lift ticket covers the Sunbowl lift and the magic carpets, with an upgrade to full-mountain access available for $25 on weekdays or $35 on weekends (resort pricing for the adult beginner package).

What a first day looks like (general outline):

• 45 to 90 minutes before the lesson: arrive early. The resort suggests about 45 minutes midweek and 90 minutes on weekends and holidays, which covers parking, tickets, and rental fitting.
• Check-in: children’s lessons check in at the Ski & Ride Academy across from the rental exit.
• Lesson: adult and teen group lessons run 1 hour 30 minutes, in groups of 8-12, starting from 8:45 AM through the day.
• After the lesson: grab hot chocolate, then practice on the beginner area or switch to tubing or Aquatopia.

Rental and helmet logistics. Rentals are included with the children’s and group beginner packages. Helmets are mandatory for ages 17 and under and strongly recommended for everyone. Jackets, snow pants, goggles, and gloves are not included, so bring your own.

What to wear and pack.

• Layers with no cotton: a base layer, fleece, and waterproof jacket and snow pants.
• Waterproof gloves or mittens, a hat, a neck gaiter, and goggles.
• Swimsuits and towels if you are staying in the lodge and planning to hit Aquatopia afterward.
• Snacks and a water bottle.

What a first day roughly costs. Lesson prices are shown at online checkout and vary by date, so we cannot quote an exact number. As a rough estimate, plan on about $100 to $200 per child for a lesson with rentals and helmet, plus a lift ticket for the beginner area, and more on weekends and holidays. Children’s multi-week programs include rentals but not lift tickets. The 2026-27 season pass (Unlimited $399, Child pass ages 6-9 $79 with an adult purchase) can pay for itself if you ski more than a few days. Prices change; check with the resort for current rates.

What parents do while kids are in lessons. Watch from the learning area, ski nearby, or head to the tubing park or the lodge. Because lessons are short (about 90 minutes for the beginner format), there is usually not a long gap.

Honest pitfalls.

• Weekend crowds. Lift lines and rental lines can be long. Weekday trips are far more relaxed.
• Online-only booking. Lessons and lift tickets sell out. Do not count on walk-up.
• Not all lessons fit all ages. Adult and teen group lessons start at 13, and the 7-12 Camelback Kids program requires blue-level skills, so a true beginner 8-year-old belongs in the children’s beginner lesson.
• Cold and wet. Eastern snow and rain are common. Pack extra gloves and socks.

Ski School

Children’s beginner lessons are for ages 4-12 and include rental gear with a helmet. Adult and teen group lessons (ages 13 and up) are 1 hour 30 minutes and include a beginner lift ticket and full-day rental. Private lessons are available from age 4, but private lessons do not include rentals, which you pay for separately. Multi-week programs include rentals but not lift tickets, and there are no classes on MLK or Presidents’ Day weekends. Arrive 45 minutes early midweek and 90 minutes early on weekends and holidays. Call (570) 629-1661 for the academy.

Getting There

ABE is about 45 minutes away. Most guests drive from New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.

When to Go

Weekdays and non-holiday weeks are calmer. Weekends fill quickly. Last season opened December 3, and the best natural-snow stretch in the Poconos is typically January and February, though snowmaking carries the early season.

What a Family Trip Really Costs

Costs add up with lift tickets, lessons, rentals, lodging, and water park entry. Lessons include rentals for kids, but lift tickets are separate for multi-week programs. For frequent visitors, 2026-27 passes start at $239 (Value) and $399 (Unlimited), a child pass for ages 6-9 is $79 with an adult purchase, and the Peak to Peak Poconos Pass ($899) also covers Blue Mountain, with a child version (9 and under) at $149. Prices change; check with the resort for current rates and packages.

Camelback vs. Blue Mountain

Blue Mountain is simpler and beginner-focused, with a big tubing park. Camelback offers more resort amenities. See the Blue Mountain profile.

Bottom Line

Choose Camelback if you want skiing plus a water park. Think twice if you want quiet slopes. Our family-fit rating is “Family First.”

Compare more options: Browse family ski resorts on Kiddometer.