Ski vacations can be expensive. Nobody will argue that. However, despite the expense of skiing, budget-friendly ski resorts abound. You may not find quite the vertical drop of mega ski resorts, and your ski trip may not have the glitz and glamour of iconic ski movies. Yet a budget ski vacation can be as fun, if not more fun, than the grandest ski resorts, and often without the sticker shock, lift lines, and traffic. So we’ve put together a list of a few of the most affordable ski resorts in America.
These affordable ski resort recommendations are generally small to mid-size ski resorts. Yet some of these ski resorts are tied into the Epic or Ikon pass programs, which certainly save a lot of money as long as you ski at least a few days every winter at participating resorts. Passes save money in the long run, especially if you buy them when they go on sale in the spring. If you’re looking to try a bunch of smaller ski areas on a budget, then you won’t go wrong with the fast-growing Indy Pass, with its wide network of generally affordable ski resorts across the country. You can learn about these and other multi-resort ski passes here.
Find our list of the most affordable ski resorts below, and leave a review for any ski resorts you’ve recently visited here.
The Most Affordable Ski Resorts in America
East
Wildcat Mountain, tucked away in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire, remains a classic ski area today for East Coast skiers, and with a price that’s just right. Wildcat has 225 skiable acres, ranging from beginner to advanced, and is one of the steepest mountains on the East Coast with a vertical drop of 2,112 feet. Ski or ride the longest summit-to-base novice trail here, running for 2.75 miles and featuring plenty of views along the way. Wildcat Mountain is now on the Epic Pass, and even if you’re not a pass holder, you can ski for less than $100. Save up to 50% when you purchase an Epic Day Pass early. It’s flexible, so you don’t have to select a specific day. You can ski for less than $75 going this route versus a 1-day lift ticket that’ll be more than $100.
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Mad River Glen, in Fayston, Vermont, has a “ski it if you can” moniker. The trails are challenging, thanks in part to a vertical drop of 2,000 feet, while it receives about 230 inches of snow on average each year. The crowds are lighter at Mad River than other Vermont ski areas and the vibe is very laid back. Therefore, don’t expect a high-speed chair or machine-made snow. And don’t bring a snowboard since Mad River Glen is one of only a few remaining ski resorts that doesn’t allow snowboarding. Full-priced lift tickets are $115. However, you can often find steep discounts when you purchase your tickets ahead of time online. You can score mid-week tickets for less than $50, while weekend tickets purchased ahead of time can be less than $100.
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Magic Mountain, in Londonderry, Vermont, is one of a triangle of Vermont resorts consisting of upscale Stratton Mountain and venerable Bromley, located near the shopping mecca of Manchester. While it’s another one of those throwback New England ski areas, the relatively new owners have improved the ski area considerably. Magic Mountain is home to 1,500 feet of vertical, 50 trails, 11 glades, 5 lifts, and, for the tough-minded, 28 percent expert terrain. The window day ticket for adults is $116, and $96 if you purchase online ahead of time. Note that Magic Mountain is also on the Indy Pass.
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You needn’t head very far for a good deal if you live in the Connecticut area, as Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall beckons as a comfortable ski area with a 650-foot vertical drop, 8 lifts, and 27 trails on 107 acres. Note that it’s 100 percent snowmaking. Mohawk is also an Indy Pass member. Its window ticket price during the week is just $45 and only hits $81 on weekends and holidays. Night skiing lift tickets are $40.
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Cannon Mountain is one of the beauties of Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire. Located just off I-93, in the White Mountain National Forest, Cannon is New Hampshire’s only state-owned ski area. This New Hampshire resort has some of the best expert terrain in the area, boasting a 2,180′ vertical drop and 10 lifts that serve 285 acres of skiable terrain. Day tickets purchased at the window are around $130, depending on the day that you’re skiing. However, if you purchase your lift ticket online far enough in advance, you can ski for less than $100. The resort also offers a deal for New Hampshire residents — $54 day rate on Wednesdays with valid proof of residency. Cannon Mountain is another Indy Pass ski area.
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Midwest
Chicago and Milwaukee residents can enjoy fun skiing three hours away at Chestnut Mountain in Galena, Illinois. Chestnut Mountain is small but still a good time with its 475 feet of vertical, 18 trails, 10 lifts, and night skiing. Monday through Thursday, it’s just $50 for an adult ticket and $80 on holidays and weekends. Bonus: Chestnut is also an Indy Pass resort.
Shanty Creek Resort, home to Schuss Mountain in Bellaire, Michigan, is one of the most affordable skiing options in the state, with day rates of $74 for an adult on most days of the week, and $91 on Saturdays and holidays. It, like a number of the Midwest ski areas mentioned here, is on the Indy Pass. Schuss Mountain’s 7 lifts lead to 42 runs when the conditions are prime. This is a great deal for a Midwest ski area. Also on the Indy Pass, Nub’s Nob, located north of Boyne in Northern Michigan, is tiny but packs in a lot of skiing and riding with its 53 trails served by 10 lifts. Adult window tickets are $110 on holidays and Saturdays, $95 Fridays and Sundays, and $85 Monday through Thursday.
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Devil’s Head, in Wisconsin, is a mid-sized Midwest ski area formed by a glacier in Baraboo Bluffs on 260 acres. The 9 lifts (including 5 quads) move fairly quickly, and your snow guarantee is 100 percent coverage. Adult weekend and holiday rates are $95 and weekday rates are $85.
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West
Bridger Bowl in Bozeman, Montana offers affordable skiing options without sacrificing vert and terrain variety. It boasts a vertical drop of 2,600 feet and has 2,000 acres of terrain. Hardcore skiers should make a beeline for the new Schlasman’s Lift, accessing expert-only backcountry-esque terrain, and The Ridge, which is Bridger Bowl’s in-bounds hiking terrain. Lift tickets for adults start at $82 when you buy online, while they’re $97 at the window. If you plan on skiing more than a couple days at Bridger Bowl, then consider the 3-day pack. These go on sale close to opening day, and save you even more money if you ski or ride all 3 days.
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Whitefish Mountain is another beloved Montana ski with affordable day passes. For around $100 adults can get a day pass with access to 15 chairlifts, 111 named runs, and 3,000 acres of skiable terrain. Whitefish Mountain Resort is historically known as a go-to resort to escape crowds and experience true, wide-open spaces. In addition to groomed runs, Whitefish has four terrain parks, a skier/boardercross course, bowls, glades, and a lot more. A summit elevation of 6,817 feet and an average of nearly 300 inches of snow per year makes Whitefish the perfect Western getaway. The more you ski, the more you’ll save at Whitefish. Adult lift tickets are $110, 2-day tickets are $99, and frequent skier cards save you even more money.
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Colorado ski resorts may not bring to mind “affordable skiing,” but don’t sleep on Sunlight Mountain Resort, which isn’t far from Aspen (45 miles). This is a family-friendly Colorado mountain resort in Glenwood Springs, where you can ski all day and then soak your weary bones after a day of skiing in one of the largest hot spring pools in the world. Lift tickets for adults start as low as $70 during the week and are between $90 to $104 on weekends. Kids 12 and under ski free at Sunlight with a paying adult on the Ski, Swim, and Stay program offered through hotel partners. Adults over 80 also ski free. Sunlight Mountain Resort has 470 acres of skiable terrain and 2,010 feet of vertical.
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Donner Ski Ranch, near Lake Tahoe, makes a ski vacation in the California High Sierra an affordable reality even by Lake Tahoe standards. An adult lift ticket costs around $109 per day (or $69 on “Old School Days”). Donner is near the California and Nevada border and is one of the oldest ski areas in the U.S. It offers beginner and intermediate skiers some excellent terrain, including 1,000 feet of vertical drop and 500 skiable acres. Donner Ski Ranch is less than three hours from San Francisco and under an hour from Reno.
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Brian Head Resort in Southern Utah is your best bet for light, fluffy snow, and affordable lift prices in Utah. You won’t get the same views as you would in Northern Utah. Instead, you’ll be surrounded by red rock. But at Brian Head, the earlier you buy, the more you save. Tickets start as low as $19, but these tickets go quick, and you’ll need to purchase them well ahead of your trip. If you don’t grab $19 lift tickets, then you’ll likely find weekday tickets between $40 to $60. Weekend lift tickets remain under $100. Bonus: Kids 12 & under always ski for free.
If you’re looking for an affordable Utah ski area closer to Salt Lake City, then check out Beaver Mountain, which is two hours from Salt Lake City. Located near the Idaho border, Beaver Mountain has online adult tickets that are just $70 for a full day and $50 for a half day. Beaver Mountain is a more humble mountain than Utah’s most popular ski resorts, but it still enjoys generous snowfall (400-plus inches on average) and boasts more than 800 acres of skiable terrain and 1,700 feet of vertical. West of Beaver Mountain, located an hour and 45 minutes from Salt Lake City, is Utah’s newest ski area, Cherry Peak. A full day adult ticket is just $55. Both of these Utah ski areas also have night skiing.
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Wyoming is generally not known for being affordable for skiing but Snowy Range Ski Area is an exception. You won’t find the famous pitches of Jackson Hole but you will be able to snag a weekend lift ticket for $64 online. Located in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, it offers 27 trails and 990 feet of vertical drop.
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Pacific Northwest
Just above Utah, Magic Mountain (not to be confused with Magic Mountain, Connecticut featured above) is a small, affordable ski area for those who live in Southern Idaho or who fly into Boise. An adult full-day lift ticket is $48 for access to its 11 trails across 120 acres of terrain.
Over in Washington, conveniently located an hour away from Spokane International Airport, 49 Degrees North is one of the Pacific Northwest’s best values with its 2,300 acres of skiable terrain and 1,871’ of vertical that can be accessed for around $50 on some days. Weekends are around $80. Nearby, Mt. Spokane is another gem of a Pacific Northwest ski area with 1,700-plus acres of skiable terrain and 2,000 feet of vertical. Lift tickets can be as low as $55 when purchased online, while weekend tickets are around $80.
Last, but not least, Mt. Hood Ski Bowl, near Portland, is one of Oregon’s best values. All total it’s home to 1,500 feet of vertical and 960 acres of skiable terrain with 10 chairs and surface lifts. Mt. Hood Skibowl also boasts the largest night skiing terrain in the country. Lift tickets for the day are typically under $100, while tickets for night skiing are $64.
FAQ
Where is the most affordable ski resort?
The most affordable ski resort depends on the day, time of ski season, and other factors. But you can often count on many of the Indy Pass resorts and smaller, independent ski resorts.
Our pick for the most affordable ski resort is Buck Hill, which sits just south of Minneapolis next to Interstate 35. Yes, it’s small, but its racing program has brought us more big-time skiers than you can count, including Lindsey Vonn. The vertical is just 282 feet, and the 16 trails cover 45 acres. A weekend lift ticket for skiing from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. is $54 when purchased online.
Where is the cheapest place to ski in the US?
Many of the most popular ski regions, such as Colorado, California, and Utah, are not your best bet for cheap skiing. However, you’ll find plenty of affordable ski areas in New England and the Midwest can find more affordable ski resorts in New England. This is where you’re more likely to find a higher concentration of ski areas with lift tickets under $100.
What is the cheapest month to go skiing?
Let’s start with when isn’t the most affordable skiing month. And that’s around the holidays, as lift tickets and accommodations can be most expensive. Early January, with the exception of New Year’s Eve weekend and MLK weekend, is typically the best value during the heart of the ski season. This time, right after the holidays, is often the best flight and hotel prices of the year, too. Otherwise, your best bet is the first few weeks of the season and the end of the season for spring skiing. Finally, if you plan on skiing a lot, getting a major pass can save a lot of money on lift ticket prices and pay for itself after just a few days on the mountain. Don’t miss our guides on the Ikon, Epic, Mountain Collective, and Indy passes.
Header image: ©Jay Dash Photography/Brian Head Resort
February 04, 2025
