Where to go snow tubing in Massachusetts and New Hampshire?

On the list of winter activities snow tubing is one of the most fun, easy and cheap ways to enjoy the outdoors with your entire family. Toddlers, teenagers and adults can all have a blast sliding downhill in an inflatable tube. You can do it at night after a day of skiing or devote an entire day to it. Before you go, remember that some places have a minimum age requirement. Whether you want to have a fun day trip or spend a whole weekend away with your family, check this list of snow tubing parks in order of their distance from Boston.
Hours are subject to change during vacation weeks and holidays. Most places don't open until mid-December or Christmas, depending on the snowfall and location. Check their websites for more information. And remember to dress warm!

Nashoba Valley - 45 minutes
skinashoba.com
Powers Road, Westford, MA
Minimum requirements: 42' or at least 6 years old
Must ride alone
Mo-Fri: 1pm-10pm
Sat-Sun: 9am-10pm
$22 for 2 hours

Amesbury Sports Park - 45 minutes
Amesburysportspark.net
12 South Hunt Road, Amesbury, MA
Minimum age: 4 years old
Under 42' mandatory helmet is provided
Under 7 years old must be accompanied by adult
Watch your kids from Corner Kick Pub
Thu-Fri: 3.30-9.30pm, $15 for 3 hours
Sat-Sun: 10am-9.30pm, $20 for 3 hours

Ski Ward - 50 minutes
skiward.com
1000 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA
At least 42' or 6 years old
Mo-Fri: 4-8pm $20
Sat: 10am-8pm $22
Sun: 10am-5pm $22

Gunstock - 2 hours
gunstock.com
719 Cherry Valley Road, Gilford, NH
42' minimum height recomended
Tue-Thu: 4-9pm
Fri: 4-10pm
Sat: 9am-10pm
Sun: 9am-4pm
$15 for 2 hours

Loon Mountain - 2 hours 20 minutes
loonmtn.com
60 Mountain Road, Lincoln, NH
Daily: 12-8 pm
$10 an hour under 8 years old
$16 over 8 years old

Has a separate 'Toddler Tubing Area' for ages 8 and under, right next to the kids ski camp. In reality it's just a little hill, and when you first see it (if you drove all the way from Boston just for tubing with toddlers) you would probably feel a little dissapointed. If you are doing other things on the mountain, it can be a fun extra activity. Kids are given a small tube and must ride alone. There is no lift, and you have to walk about 100 feet up the hill. Depending on your kids endurance, those over 5 years old would probably have no problem with the walk, but you would have to pull the little ones yourself. With a 2 and a 4 year old we were pretty tired of pulling them up the hill after about 30 minutes. They didn't mind and didn't want to get off the tube, and start pulling it themselves. The advantage is on a Sunday afternoon we had the hill all to ourselves - no lines, no wait. If you are up for a workout, you are guaranteed to break a sweat.

The main tubing park for ages over 8 years old has a chair lift and a long fun run with twists and turns - not your average open hill with a straight run. You wan't be dissapointed!

Follow the latest updates about snow conditions and specials from Loon Mountain on Twitter

Butternut Ski Area - 2 hours and 20 minutes
skibutternut.com
380 State Road, Great Barrington, MA
No minimum age, must ride alone
Sat: 10am-8pm, $15 for 2 hours
Sun: 10am-5pm, $15 for 2 hours

Snowy Owl Resort - 2 1/2 hours
Brodie Mountain Road, Hancock, MA
Operated by Jiminy Peak
(413)443-4752
Friday nights 4:30-9pm
Sat-Mon 10:30am-9pm.
One session - 90 minutes
$5 for kids age 2-10 in a separate Toddler Tubing area
$15 adults

King Pine - 2 1/2 hours
kingpine.com
1251 Eaton Road, East Madison, NH
Voted #1 Family Ski Resort in the White Mountains
No minimum age
Thu & Sun nights: free for resort guests
Fri & Sat: $15
Check website for schedules of 2 hour sessions

I personally recommend Purity Springs Resort, the home of King Pine. The resort caters to families with small children. They offer a playroom in the restaurant, ice-skating, playground, double rooms with bunk beds, cozy living rooms with board games at the Inn and more!

Cranmore Mountain - 3 hours
cranmore.com
1 Skimobile road, North Conway, NH
Over 42' must ride alone, under 42' can ride with adult
Fri-Sun: 9am-4pm, $22 for 2 hours

Cranmore Mountain is my top pick in NH for families with small children. There is no minimum age, and you can double ride together with your kids. We took a 1 year old and a three year old last winter. There are two hills, one above the other. The tube attaches to a rope lift, to be pulled to the top of the hill. The kids loved being pulled up by the rope, as we walked next to them. They also loved sliding down a small hill in between the top and the bottom hill. The line can get long at times, so try to plan it for the least crowded times of the day. After 2 and 3 pm, when the skiers are done for the day, they head to the tubing park, and it gets more crowded.

Great Glen Trails - 3 hours
greatglentrails.com
Pinkham Notch, Gorham
No lift, walk up the mountain
Mo-Sun: 9am-4pm, $15

Bretton Woods - 3 hours
mountwashingtonresort.com
Bretton Woods, NH
Daily 10am-6pm
After 12/26 open for nighttubing Fri-Sat 6-9pm
$5 per hour