The peak cost of a one-day lift ticket at the Snowbowl ski resort in Arizona: $309.¹ Shocked skiers wondered: Are $300 lift tickets the new normal?

The culprit is dynamic pricing. More ski resorts are adopting a system where tickets are cheaper when purchased in advance, or on low-demand days. On high-demand days—like a holiday weekend when fresh powder has just fallen—the price of a walk-up lift ticket skyrockets.

With prices like these, is an affordable family ski vacation a thing of the past? Not necessarily! Here are our best recommendations for the cheapest ski destinations, plus tips for planning a ski trip on a budget.

Tips for planning a cheap ski vacation

• Use dynamic pricing to your advantage. The same algorithm that jacks up lift ticket prices on high-demand days also drops the prices on low-demand days. Take a look at your favorite ski resort’s online calendar to see when the lowest prices are offered.

• Ski between winter holidays. "There is generally a lull in ski travel from New Year's to MLK and then from MLK to Presidents Day," Dan Sherman, chief marketing officer at Ski.com, tells Travel + Leisure. That’s when “relatively low prices combined with great conditions and low crowds make it a bull's eye."

• Go night skiing. You can enjoy an unbelievably cheap ski vacation if you’re a night owl! We’ve seen lift tickets for night skiing (usually from about 4-5 p.m. until 8-9 p.m. at U.S. resorts) for under $10. At night, the slopes are less crowded and the snow sparkles under the lights. It can be much colder, so bundle up!

• Get a multi-resort ski pass. If you’re hoping to take multiple ski trips on a budget, consider getting a season-long pass. The Indy Pass gives you access to 180 independent resorts worldwide for 2 days/nights each. The Ikon Pass includes 50+ ski resorts, including prestige U.S. ski destinations like Aspen Snowmass, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and Big Sky Resort. The Epic Pass is customizable and offers more options in the Midwest and on the East Coast. Be sure to buy early in the season, or you may miss your chance.

• Stay off-mountain. You’ll save money on food and accommodations if you can book a vacation rental that’s a short distance away from the slopes.

• Seek out cheaper gear. The cost of renting all your ski or snowboard gear can range from $25 to nearly $100 per day at a high-end resort.² Save money on your ski vacation by borrowing gear from a friend or local Buy Nothing group; buying used; or arranging a rental from a ski shop instead.

• Buy travel insurance for your ski vacation. If you’re trying to save money on a ski trip, you might be tempted to skip the insurance. Don’t! Ski trips are expensive, even when you’re headed to an affordable resort, and you don’t want to risk losing your nonrefundable vacation expenses if you have to cancel at the last minute. Travel insurance for ski trips also can protect you in case of medical emergencies; baggage loss, delay or theft; travel delays; and other mishaps.

For family ski vacations, we recommend OneTrip Prime, which covers children 17 and under for free when they’re traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents). Frequent skiers can save big with an annual travel insurance plan, which protects all your trips for a full 365 days. Get a quote!

Get more tips: How to Take a Cheap Ski Vacation

7 of the cheapest ski destinations in the USA

1. Nordic Valley, UT

This Utah ski resort is known as a hidden gem that’s perfect for beginners, with friendly staff and fun terrain. Nordic Valley is an especially good deal for families, because kids under 12 ski free. Save up to 70% when you buy lift tickets online and get night skiing passes for as low as $9.

2. Angel Fire Resort, NM

Angel Fire is a small resort, but as one fan put it, “the runs are long and the tracks are tight.” Located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the Southern Rockies, Angel Fire has trails galore and a terrain park. The best deal at Angel Fire is the night skiing (the only place you can do it in New Mexico): Tickets cost $15 for young kids and seniors and $35 for everyone else, or $25 if added onto a day pass.

3. Bridger Bowl Ski Area, MN

While most affordable ski resorts tend to be small, Bridger Bowl Ski Area is the exception. You’ll find 75 trails over 2,000 acres, all with gorgeous powder snow and epic views. Kids 6 and under (and seniors 80 and up) ski free when you buy tickets online. There’s a great deal for novice skiers, too: $25 lift passes if you stick to the three beginner lifts.

4. Arapahoe Basin, CO

Colorado is most famous for super-pricy ski resorts, but Arapahoe Basin is an exception. It’s just 60 miles outside of Denver and is known for having the longest season in the state, staying open into June and sometimes even July. Late in the season, you can snag adult lift tickets under $75.

5. Canaan Valley Resort, WV

Just three hours west of Washington, D.C. lies Canaan Valley, the highest valley east of the Mississippi River. The ski resort isn’t fancy (especially compared to its neighbor, Timberline Mountain), but the crowds are small and the price is right. Nearby are the hippie-cute town of Davis and Blackwater Falls State Park, home to the longest sled run on the East Coast. 

6. Smugglers’ Notch Resort, VT

Smugglers’ Notch (or Smuggs, as regulars call it) is a supremely popular ski resort for families, with 78 trails for all skill levels. Adult lift tickets are under $100, even on weekends in the regular season. Early and late season rates dip to $59 midweek. You can also save money on your family ski vacation by not skiing for a day or two! Smuggs’ Winter Daycation tickets give you access to snow tubing, snowshoeing, ice skating, an indoor pool and fun zone, and more.

7. Dartmouth Skiway, NH

Owned by Dartmouth College, Dartmouth Skiway’s “laid-back attitude, affordable pricing, and longstanding legacy means you get a classic, unpretentious New England skiing experience.” Adult lift tickets start at just $35. For that you get 30 trails (none of them long), two lifts, and a full day of low-key fun.

Related Articles

• 5 Reasons to Buy Travel Insurance For Your Ski Trip
• Peak Experiences: The Best Ski Resorts to Visit in the U.S.
• Year-Round Ski Resorts: Adventure-Filled Destinations