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4 Best U.S. Ski Spots For Those On A Budget
Enjoy the slopes without breaking the bank.
Getty Images
There was a time, and not too long ago, when I was firmly on the big ski resort bandwagon.
Living in Florida, where a family trip to the snowy mountains tends to come around once a winter due to the constraints of budgets and limited school holidays for the kids, I’d fallen into the rut of booking only big name ski resorts, when I could make a ski trip happen.
It felt like the path of least resistance to pick a place I’d at least heard of — or so went my thinking.
I’ve noticed many of my neighbors and friends in Florida tend to take that route, too, digging their snow boots out of the closet every winter while bracing for a budget blow as they push purchase on ski trips to resorts out west that have the most name recognition.
But have you seen the price tag just for lift tickets at mountains like Vail, Aspen, Park City and Deer Valley these days? They can easily run you more, per day, than what you pay in airfare to get there–and that’s before you factor in gear rentals, lodging and meals.
According to the National Ski Areas Association, there were 486 ski areas operating across 37 US states during the 2023/2024 ski season. It’s a wide country, in other words, with many wide open slopes to explore beyond the ski resorts you (and I) have heard of.
Read on for a few of the smaller ski resorts I’ve discovered across the US where lift tickets cost less than $100 per day (a fraction of what the biggies charge), and there’s still plenty of fun to be had up and down the mountain.
Showdown, Neihart, Montana
Lift ticket price: $70 per day, $60 for adults 60 and older
After hearing about the merits of Showdown from friends who ski Montana’s powder on the regular, this is the mountain I’m targeting this season for a ski trip. In Central Montana’s Little Belt Mountains, just over an hour south of the airport in Great Falls, the resort is Montana’s oldest ski resort as well as the only one in the state owned by a woman. Showdown has 36 runs and an onsite ski school, daycare, restaurants and a bar, so plenty to keep you skiing and entertained over a long weekend in the snow. Plan to bed down about half an hour away from the mountain in White Sulphur Springs at The Edith Hotel, with cozy Western decor and breakfast included. There are even natural hot springs to soak in at the end of a long day on the slopes. What more could you want?
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Canaan Valley Resort State Park, West Virginia
Ski resort in Canaan Valley, West Virginia.
Getty Images/Cavan Images
Lift ticket price: $98 per day, $70 for seniors age 60-69, free for adults 70 and older
One of my family’s most memorable (not to mention, affordable) ski vacations was to the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. We rented a cabin with a hot tub near the artsy and adorable mountain town of Davis, where the main drag is lined with independent cafes and breweries. Just a few miles away, Canaan Valley Resort State Park has 26 ski trails as well as snowtubing and ice skating. Timberline Mountain is also nearby (lift tickets are $104 or $69 for adults 60 and older there), with an additional 22 trails to ski. And if you prefer cross-country skiing you can do that along the groomed trails at White Grass Ski Touring Center before warming up around the fireplace at the lodge with a bowl of hot soup. Whatever you do, don’t miss a descent on the east coast’s longest sledding run at Black Water Falls State Park, also in the area. I promise you, it’s a scream.
Saskadena Six, South Pomfret, Vermont
Family enjoying a day of snowboarding at Saskadena Six
Courtesy Woodstock Inn & Resort and Saskadena Six
Lift ticket price: From $75 per day, $60 for adults 65 to 74, $50 for adults 75 and older.
Vermont has some of the best big name ski resorts on the East Coast. But over the decades, this community-focused ski area in the Green Mountains owned by Woodstock Inn & Resort has remained somewhat of a local secret while serving generations of skiers. Less than four miles north of the town of Woodstock, Saskadena Six has been in business for roughly 90 years and offers 28 trails for skiers and snowboarders to enjoy. At the base of the mountain, the alpine lodge’s roaring fireplace is a popular place to warm up before hitting the restaurant, where bubbling fondue is served alongside Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sours for après. Stay in the pretty town of Woodstock at Woodstock Inn & Resort or, slightly further afield, Holiday Inn Club Vacations Mount Ascutney Resort–a family favorite with apartments with full kitchens where you can save money by cooking meals in.
Tamarack Resort, Donnelly, Idaho
Ski Lift from atop West Mountain at Tamarack Resort
Lift ticket price: from $93 per day, $65 for adults 65 and older
There’s much to love about this family-friendly ski resort with views of Lake Cascade located roughly 90 miles north of Idaho’s capital city. Land on a morning flight in Boise and you can be carving your way down any of the 56 runs at Tamarack Resort by afternoon. The resort is known for solid natural snowfall, receiving an average of 300 inches per year, so the mountain usually stays open until the beginning of April, making it a good option for spring skiing. Consider the resort for a multi-generational trip, too, with non-ski activities that include ice skating, snowshoeing and sledding and a slew of condos, cottages, townhomes and chalets for rent with kitchens and multiple bedrooms.
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