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Getting the most ski bang for your buck can be a real challenge. With the skyrocketing price of lift tickets and ski school, skiing on a budget can be tricky.
But the good news is — many budget-friendly ski resorts offer fantastic skiing without the high price tag that usually comes along with bigger ski resorts. We understand that finding cheap ski resorts that still have great skiing can be challenging, so we’ve compiled a list of the affordable ski resorts you can consider for your budget ski trip.
The ski destinations below are all family-friendly ski resorts, offering facilities that will make your affordable ski trip incredible.
1. Bridger Bowl, Montana
Lift Ticket Prices
Adult: $70
Kids: $30 for 7-12 juniors. $45 for 13-18 teens. Free for 6 and under kids.
Closest Airport
Bozeman Airport
Overview
Considering its 350 inches of snowfall, super dry snow, and around 2,000 skiable acres every winter, Bridger Bowl is a wonderful and cheap skiing resort. Despite its old-school ski culture, the steep terrain and beautiful mountain views make Bridge Bowl a great ski resort for all skiers.
What Makes This Resort Family Friendly
Bridger Bowl’s calm and less crowded environment makes it unique among other family-friendly ski resorts. The resort’s beginner terrain is perfect for kids that want to learn skiing, and many kids’ programs encourage kids to have fun at the mountain. Also, Bozeman, a college town where Yellowstone National Park is located, is a 20-minute drive to the resort.
Where to Stay Near Bridger Bowl
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2. Cranmore Mountain Resort, New Hampshire
Lift Ticket Prices
Adult: $99
Kids: $89 for teenagers. $29 for 5 years old and younger kids.
Closest Airport
Lebanon Municipal Airport
Overview
Cranmore Moutain is one of the most affordable places to ski in the east. You can bring your splendid and cheap family skiing dream to reality at Cranmore. Although the skiable acres of Cranmore is just 200 acres, the facilities in the ski area are as good as the ones in many other resorts.
What Makes This Resort Family Friendly
Cranmore is where you’d find terrain for adults and kids of all skiing abilities. Plan your affordable ski trip to the resort, and your kids will learn to ski the fun way at the KidsRule Mountain Camps. The resort is also surrounded by many shopping, lodging, and dining options.
Where to Stay Near Cranmore Mountain Resort
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3. Powder Mountain, Utah
Lift Ticket Prices
Adult: $115
Kids: $69 for ages 7-18. Younger kids ski free.
Closest Airport
Ogden Hinckley Airport
Overview
Powder Mountain is not just one of the affordable places to ski; it offers the largest ski terrain in the country by skiable acreage. Paying $115 to ski at this resort — where you’ll enjoy powder skiing and completely natural snow — is ridiculous.
What Makes This Resort Family Friendly
If you prefer skiing in cheap ski resorts that are not crowded, Powder Mountain Resort is a good option. Family skiing is amazing at this resort. There are many family-friendly terrains to explore. Moreover, the resort has nine lifts, including a fast Hidden Lake Express for families. Visiting Powder Mountain Resort is an affordable ski vacation every family shoulder consider.
Where to Stay Near Powder Mountain Resort
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4. Arizona Snowbowl, Arizona
Lift Ticket Prices
Adult: The price ranges between $29 and $124, depending on the date.
Kids: $44 for ages 8-12. $66 for ages 13-17. All kids 12 and younger ski free with the Power Kids Pass.
Closest Airport
Phoenix Airport
Overview
Arizona Snowbowl makes the list of the best budget ski resorts not only because of the cheap skiing but because of its magnificent steeps and views. This resort is ideal for an affordable ski vacation, and the skiing and off-slopes access you’ll get with the cheap ski ticket is unbelievable.
What Makes This Resort Family Friendly
Most families looking for cheap places to ski choose Arizona bowl for its family-friendly outdoor activities. Kids ski free with the Power ticket, and you can take them to any of the kids’ parks to have unlimited fun.
Where to Stay Near Arizona Bowl
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5. Big Bear Mountain Resort, California
Lift Ticket Prices
Adult: $42 for adults. $124 for a family of two adults and all their 17 and under kids.
Kids: $30 for kids 6 and above. Kids 5 and younger ski free.
Closest Airport
Newburgh (SWF) Airport
Overview
If you’re skiing on a budget, Bear Moutain Resort is one of the best budget ski resorts in the country. Their family lift ticket price is the cheapest you’d find in the region, and the skiing experience is extraordinary. From ski competitions to interesting skiing lessons, skiing at the resort is special.
What Makes This Resort Family Friendly
Bear Moutain is not just one of the cheap places to ski; it is a great place for family skiing. The ski terrain covers four mountains with twelve lift options, and both experienced and beginner skiers will enjoy exploring its terrains. Visit the resort on the weekend to join the traditional Sunday Night Buffet with the family. Big Bear also has kid-friendly activities such as hands-on displays, nature walks, and crafts.
Where to Stay Near Big Bear Mountain Resort
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6. Sugar Mountain, North Carolina
Lift Ticket Prices
Adult: $50 on weekdays and $84 on weekends.
Kids: $40 for 5-11 juniors. 3-4 kids ski free.
Closest Airport
Asheville Regional Airport
Overview
Even though Sugar Mountain has 125 skiable acres, the resort offers great value like other cheap ski resorts on our list. Affordable ski resorts should have all the basic facilities to make skiing easy, and Sugar Mountain lacks none of the basics, including lighting for night skiing.
What Makes This Resort Family Friendly
A budget ski trip to Sugar Mountain makes kids happy — they can enjoy frolicking, tubing, and an outdoor ice rink. Like most family-friendly ski resorts, Sugar Mountain boasts many beautiful lodging and dining options. Make this mountain your affordable ski vacation destination this season, and indulge in wine tasting at the village’s winery.
Where to Stay Near Sugar Mountain
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7. Wildcat Mountain, New Hampshire
Lift Ticket Prices
Adult: $70
Kids: $50
Closest Airport
Washington Regional Airport
Overview
Located near the legendary Pinkham Notch, a visit to Wildcat Moutain is the affordable ski trip your family needs this winter. This place is an ideal ski resort for every family planning a budget skiing in a location with amazing slopes and picturesque mountain views.
What Makes This Resort Family Friendly
Aside from the cheap skiing, it offers many exciting adventures for the whole family. Wildcat Mountain Resort is a wonderful resort for kids to learn skiing. The instructors are super-friendly, and they make kids enjoy skiing. The fun activities at the resort, including snowshoeing, amusement park tours, and golfing, are key to its inclusion in our list of the best budget ski resorts.
Where to Stay Near Wildcat Mountain
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8. Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana
Lift Ticket Prices
Adult: $83
Kids: $42 for 7-12 kids. 6 and under kids ski free.
Closest Airport
Glacier Park International Airport
Overview
Whitefish Mountain Resort is one of the less crowded and more affordable places to ski in Montana. With the lift ticket, you can access terrains larger than that of many other cheap ski resorts. The resort offers various terrain options for advanced, intermediate, and beginner skiers.
What Makes This Resort Family Friendly
As one of the family-friendly ski resorts in the country, Whitefish Mountain offers ski school, cozy and affordable accommodations, and childcare services to families. Kids ski free during your affordable ski vacation at the resort, and they can improve their skiing skills at its ski school.
Where to Stay Near Whitefish Mountain Resort
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9. Purgatory Resort, Colorado
Lift Ticket Prices
Adult: $89
Kids: $40 for ages 8 and above. $29 for ages 3-7.
Closest Airport
The La Plata County Airport
Overview
The money-saving lift ticket deal at Purgatory Resort is one of the cheapest among the best budget ski resorts. And the resort offers more than cheap skiing — its remarkable downtown, beginner-friendly terrain, and scenery can make your family return for more.
What Makes This Resort Family Friendly
Family skiing adventure at Purgatory Resort is fun. You can enjoy tubing hill with family, go on scenic chairlift rides, and visit the Animas City Adventure Park. If you want an affordable ski trip or you’re skiing on a budget, you will hardly regret choosing this resort.
Where to Stay Near Purgatory Resort
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10. Schweitzer Mountain, Idaho
Lift Ticket Prices
Adult: $125
Kids: $65
Closest Airport
Trail (YZZ) Airport
Overview
An affordable ski trip to Schweitzer Mountain is exhilarating. Its 2900 skiable acres of terrain, the largest in Idaho or Washinton, offers an exceptional skiing experience. The terrain has steep corduroy, glades, wide-open cruisers, and open bowls. Budget skiing at the resort is fascinating— it offers access to 92 trails, 10 ski lifts, and gondolas.
What Makes This Resort Family Friendly
Planning your affordable ski vacation to Schweitzer Mountain means you can access many fun-filled activities available at other family-friendly ski resorts, including family crafts projects and tours. It might be one of the cheap places to ski, but the value you’ll get from the resort is singular. A budget ski trip to this resort makes you enjoy top-notch accommodation and dining.
Where to Stay Near Schweitzer Mountain
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11. Solitude Mountain Resort, Utah
Lift Ticket Prices
Adult: $85
Kids: 4 and below kids ski free.
Closest Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport
Overview
Looking for affordable places to ski in Utah? Solitude Mountain is a good option. Budget skiing at this resort makes you avoid other crowded ski resorts. And you have access to the resort’s 1200 skiable acres, including three bowls, eight chairlifts, and 77 runs.
What Makes This Resort Family Friendly
Families skiing on a budget love Solitude Mountain because of its beginner and intermediate runs. Also, Solitude is one of the affordable ski resorts that allow kids ski free, and the ski school at the resort is great for learning. Any family skiing in the area will love the friendly atmosphere, accommodation, and restaurants that make the resort feels like home.
Where to Stay Near
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