Skiing can be expensive, but there are ways to book a great ski trip without breaking the bank, just by knowing where you’re going. Some ski resorts are located near major airports, where you can find cheaper flights. There are also more affordable accommodation options. Next up is the lift ticket.
“The average price of an adult weekend ticket is… [in the US] It was $132.04 – so this is the average amount you would pay walking to the ticket office on a peak day. But she points out that people find the best deals when they buy tickets in advance online, or when they buy multiple tickets, often to multiple resorts with one pass. The most affordable options are the Ikon Pass or Epic Pass, which provide access to .
Timing also plays an important role in booking an affordable ski trip. For example, if you want to travel for vacation or spring break, you will pay more than in January or February.
“Typically, there is a stagnation in ski travel from New Year’s to MLK and from MLK to Presidents Day. This stagnation will be even more pronounced this year as many foreigners tend to visit in January.” Chief Dan Sherman said. Ski.com’s head of marketing told Travel + Leisure in an email. “The relatively low price, combined with the excellent conditions and small crowd, makes it a center of attention,” he said.
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With this in mind, Sherman and his team at Ski.com, North America’s largest provider of ski vacation packages, have created a lineup of this season’s most affordable ski resorts. They based their findings on average nightly room rates, proximity to major airport hubs, airfares, and prices paid for climbing from January 11 to 14, 2021. Ta. The resorts they choose tend to offer activities and meals at lower prices.
Winter Park — Colorado
The longest continuously operating ski resort in Colorado, Winter Park is a must-see for ski enthusiasts. But aside from its long history, the resort also boasts over 3,000 acres of terrain, from gentle groomers to steep and deep, with a little something for everyone. And because of its proximity to Denver (just 107 miles), you can usually find reasonably priced flights.
Accommodation cost: average $194 per night
Lift ticket: $90 per day (uses Winter Park 3-day lift ticket)
Flights: From $197 round trip (New York to Denver)
Copper Mountain — Colorado
Take a morning flight to Denver and ski Copper Mountain in the afternoon. The resort is a direct 125-mile drive from the capital, with plenty of slopeside accommodations and places to enjoy après-ski beers and hot chocolate with friends and family.
Accommodation cost: average $156 per night
Lift ticket: $118 per day (using Copper Mountain 3-day lift ticket)
Flights: From $99 round trip (Atlanta to Denver)
Big Sky Resort – Montana
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If you’re not interested in flying into a big city or fighting traffic on your way to a resort, go to Big Sky. You get a remote mountain town experience without the usual price tag. The resort is located an hour’s drive from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport and offers a number of acclaimed big-mountain ski areas and luxury slopeside accommodations.
Accommodation cost: Average $283 per night
Lift tickets: $159 per day (using a 3-day Big Sky Lift pass), $124.75 per day (using a 4-day Icon Session Pass)
Flights: From $177 round trip (Los Angeles to Bozeman)
Heavenly — California
There’s something undeniably special about skiing down the snowy white slopes toward the sapphire blue waters of Lake Tahoe. This is the norm at Heavenly, where you’ll find a 54-mile cruiser that’s widely maintained alongside a thrilling double black diamond drop. And luckily, flying into the nearby town of Reno is cheap and easy.
Accommodation cost: average $148 per night
Lift tickets: $107 per day (with Epic 3-day pass, restrictions apply)
Flights: From $250 round trip (Chicago to Reno)
Park City, Alta, Snowbird, Solitude, Snowbasin — Utah
If you and your ski buddy want to cover some serious terrain, head to Utah. You can fly (and stay) in Salt Lake City on the cheap and use it as a base camp to explore the area’s great skiing opportunities. We spent a day (or two) at the expansive Park City Mountain Resort and spent time exploring Little Cottonwood Canyon, home to Alta and snowbirds.
Accommodation cost: average $123 per night
Lift tickets: $107 per day at Park City or Snowbasin (with Epic 3-day pass, restrictions apply).Lift tickets to cheaper resorts are not yet on sale this year
Flights: From $205 round trip (Dallas to Salt Lake City)
Schweitzer Mountain Resort — Idaho
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As the largest resort in Idaho, Schweitzer Mountain Resort has all the amenities you’d expect, and of course, the great skiing you’d expect. Tree skiers love exploring Schweitzer’s famous woodlands, and the resort’s abundance of powder days is hard to top. The best way to get there is to fly to Spokane, Washington, and drive two hours to Sandpoint, Idaho.Accommodation cost: average $174 per night
Lift ticket: $83.52 per day (using Schweizer lift 3-day pass)
Flights: From $220 round trip (Chicago to Spokane)
Keystone Resort — Colorado
Just over an hour after departing Denver’s airport, you’ll arrive at the winter wonderland of Keystone Resort. With long, winding groomers, the resort is perfect for families and beginner skiers, and base area accommodation is surprisingly economical.
Accommodation cost: average $169 per night
Lift tickets: $107 per day (with Epic 3-day pass, restrictions apply)
Flights: From $99 round trip (Houston to Denver)
Whitefish Mountain Resort — Montana
From Kalispell’s airport, it’s just a 30-minute drive to the town of Whitefish and nearby Whitefish Mountain Resort. When you arrive, get ready to take in the charming downtown and stunning views of this mountain town located as the gateway to Glacier National Park. This ski resort has plenty of bowl and tree skiing, and averages about 320 inches of snow per year.
Accommodation cost: average $150 per night
Lift ticket: $78 per day (using Whitefish lift 3-day pass)
Flights: From $250 round trip (New York City to Kalispell)
Okemo Mountain Resort — Vermont
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Located in the town of Ludlow, Vermont, this ski area is popular with families for its rolling slopes and quaint New England countryside feel. If you’re on the East Coast, you might be able to drive there, but it’s also easier to fly into Boston or Albany and drive to Okemo, which is a two-hour drive.
Accommodation cost: Average $267 per night
Lift tickets: $107 per day (with Epic 3-day pass, restrictions apply)
Flights: From $91 round trip (Washington DC to Boston)
