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Parking Is Still Free at These 8 Great Ski Resorts

Originally posted on Powder | By Ian Greenwood | Last updated Mar 10, 2025 1:53 PM ET

In some version of the not-so-distant past, all you needed to do if you planned to visit a ski resort on the weekend was check the forecast and wake up early.

Now, at many major ski resorts—particularly in the West—parking reservations and paid parking are becoming the norm. Planning in advance has become a more regular part of the ski experience.

These changes are realistically a necessity at many resorts choked by skiers and cars. They also aren't present at every ski area in North America. At many destinations—which have great skiing, mind you—free, first-come, first-serve parking still exists. These are eight to check out.

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1. Lake Louise Ski Resort, Alberta

One of several ski resorts in the Banff, Alberta, area, Lake Louise is home to free parking and world-class skiing. The resort spans a massive 4,200 acres and, during the 2024-2025 ski season, unveiled the new Pipestone Express, a high-speed six-person chairlift. Views of the surrounding mountainscape from the resort's upper reaches are an added bonus.

For a solid chunk of change, those who want the best parking spots at Lake Louise can opt instead for a priority parking pass.

2. Bridger Bowl, Montana

Perched outside Bozeman, Montana, Bridger Bowl marries steep and technical terrain with mom n' pop sensibilities. The non-profit ski area offers free parking on a first-come, first-serve basis, with shuttle service running during the weekends and holidays. Lot A at Bridger Bowl is reserved for vehicles with three or more occupants, ski school youth program participants, and skiers with a disability.

3. Big Sky, Montana

With numerous runs to choose from and a state-of-the-art lift fleet, Big Sky Resort, Montana, is considered among the West's best. The Lone Peak Tram, in particular, is a stand-out option for expert skiers looking to test their mettle on runs like the Big Couloir.

As for parking, you could shell out for admission to the Exchange Lot—which sits right near the base of the lifts—but there are plenty of free options, including the Carpool Lot, Lone Peak Lot, and Cedar Lot, among others. Shuttle service to the resort base circulates through these lots between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily.

4. Killington, Vermont

Killington, Vermont, looms large as a high-caliber ski destination out East. The resort is famous for its varied terrain, historical participation in the alpine racing World Cup circuit, and prolonged winter operating seasons that stretch as late as May or June. Long past the closing date of some popular western destinations, skiers at Killington are still smashing slush and moguls.

The resort adopts a parking approach similar to that of many other resorts on this list. All of its base lodge lots offer free public parking, while choosier visitors can pay for preferred parking at K-1 or valet parking at Snowshed.

5. Mt. Bachelor, Oregon

The rolling, Dr. Seuss-esque landscape of Mt. Bachelor embodies everything that's great and unique about skiing in Oregon. Skiers can make descents in any direction off the resort's volcanic summit or rip through the hot-lappable terrain parks on offer. Snow or acreage aren't in short supply—Mt. Bachelor receives 410 inches of the white stuff each season on average and covers 4,323 skiable acres.

General parking in the resort's West Village, Sunrise, and Skyliner lots is always free, and spots are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. For that premium, you'd-rather-walk-less experience, you can pay for a better spot, which costs between $20 and $50, depending on the day.

6. Wolf Creek Ski Area, Colorado

Ahead of the 2024-2025 ski season, Wolf Creek Ski Area, Colorado, had two things to say. One, its parking lot had been freshly repaved. Two, it still wouldn't charge for parking during the winter.

Consistent snow, early seasonal openings, and an off-the-beaten-path status are other alluring aspects of Wolf Creek Ski Area. The relatively humble hill—it spans 1,600 skiable acres—receives more powder than any other destination in Colorado, clocking in at a seasonal average of 430 inches. If a lack of crowds and fresh flakes are important sticking points for you in selecting future ski areas to check out, it's hard to go wrong with Wolf Creek.

7. Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana

Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana, is a bit of an oddity. The resort has lift infrastructure and terrain that rivals major destinations but remains under the radar, independent, and a defiant non-participant in the multi-pass duopoly. It shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, then, that the ski resort's parking layout is straightforward.

The majority of Whitefish Mountain Resort's lots are free, while a small collection of paid lots—the Birch, Cedar, and Dogwood—will cost you. Still, several parking areas, like the Spruce and Willow lot, are near the bases of chairlifts and free. Should you prefer to avoid the hassle of parking entirely, the complimentary Shuttle Network of Whitefish (SNOW) bus provides free transportation between the resort and the town of Whitefish

8. Revelstoke Mountain Resort, British Columbia

A pitstop on the famed Powder Highway in British Columbia's Kootenay Rockies, Revelstoke Mountain Resort—or "Revy" as it's often affectionately known—is big, steep, and features North America's longest vertical descent. Thigh burners and tough terrain are part and parcel of this Canadian powerhouse, as is free parking.

In December 2024, the resort announced that its Main Lot would be designated for vehicles with two or more passengers in an effort to improve parking efficiency and the arrival experience. The rest of the resort's lots, excluding a staff-only area, remain standard guest day parking.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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