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The 6 Most Expensive Ski Resorts in the U.S.

Originally posted on Powder | By Izzy Lidsky | Last updated Feb 1, 2025 6:43 AM ET

It's no secret that skiing is expensive and has only gotten more expensive over the last few years. The price of lift tickets, rentals, lodging, transportation, and meals adds up quickly and can make a single day of skiing cost upwards of $1,000 on average.

A study conducted scraped the costs of lift ticket prices, equipment rentals, average accommodations based on available options near or at a resort, average meal cost based on the price of lunch and one beer, and group lessons from resort websites during peak season to find an average daily cost of skiing at different mountains.

Certain mountains have gained reputations for being more costly than others, but when you break it down, which resorts are actually the most expensive? While you might not be surprised by what resorts end up on the list, you might be surprised by the rankings and price breakdown. Keep reading to find out just which resorts will cost you the most for a day of skiing.

NOTE: Skiers can save money on lift tickets, lodging, and gear rentals when they purchase a mega-pass such as the Ikon Pass or Epic Pass.

6. Big Sky, MT/Breckenridge, CO (Tie)

Big Sky in Montana and Breckenridge in Colorado are tied for 6th place with a couple discrepancies in the price breakdown.

Daily lift tickets will cost you $272 at Big Sky and $269 at Breckenridge. Big Sky is also a tad more expensive when it comes to rentals at $84 a day to Breck's $75 a day.

Where you might save a few bucks on lift tickets and rentals in Breckenridge, you'll spend it on lodging with an average nightly lodging rate of $778, whereas Big Sky will only run you $675. In the end, both resorts come out to cost an average of $1,380 a day to ski.

Big Sky is on the Ikon Pass, and Breckenridge is on the Epic Pass.

5. Vail Mountain, Colorado

Vail is kind of known for being expensive, so it's actually surprising its not higher on this list.

Lift tickets cost the same at Vail as Beaver Creek at $295 a day, but as a bonus, you get to ski the Legendary Back Bowls! Equipment rentals run around $88 a da,y and nightly lodging is well below others at $759 a night. Despite its reputation, a day of skiing at Vail will only run you $1,402 on average. Practically a budget resort in comparison!

Vail Mountain is on the Epic Pass.

4. Beaver Creek, Colorado

Beaver Creek's slogan is 'not exactly roughing it,' which, for an average of $1,788 a day, you'd sure hope not. Just off Colorado's I-70 in Avon and home to the famous Birds of Prey downhill race, Beaver Creek Resort charges $295 a day for lift tickets, which is higher than some of the other resorts higher up on the list. Ski rentals will run you $83 a day, and lodging an average of $1,152 a night.

Beaver Creek is on the Epic Pass.

3. Park City Mountain Resort, Utah

Just down the road from its luxurious neighbor, Deer Valley, Park City Mountain Resort is another one of the U.S.'s most expensive ski resorts. Lift tickets will run you $289 per day. Added to the $72 for a day of ski rentals, an $1,800+ average nightly lodging cost, and pricey meal and lesson fees, and you're looking at around $2,538 a day to ski Park City.

Park City Mountain Resort is on the Epic Pass.

2. Deer Valley Resort, Utah

Deer Valley Resort, located in Park City, Utah, is not just on its way to becoming one of the US's biggest ski areas amongst ongoing terrain expansions; it's also one of the most expensive.

A lift ticket alone will run you $299. Factor in rentals, which can run you $125 a day, lodging, transportation, meals, and lessons, and you're looking at a whole lot more just for a single day of skiing. A day at Deer Valley can end up running you around $2,664. Worth it for all that skier-only terrain? We'll let you decide.

Deer Valley is on the Ikon Pass.

1. Aspen Snowmass, Colorado

It's not shocking that Aspen Snowmass is the most expensive resort in the country. After all, a season pass will run you upwards of $3,000 for access to all four of Aspen's mountains.

Based on daily prices for skiing, on average, Aspen will cost you $264 for a lift ticket and $84 for equipment rentals. A average cost of $2,138 for nightly lodging is where you'll really be coughing it up in Aspen, but maybe for four different peaks, $2,932 a day is worth it.

Aspen Snowmass is on the Ikon Pass.

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

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