Cheapest Ski Resorts in the US: Best Budget Skiing Under $100 a Day

Think you need $200+ to ski for a day? Think again. These resorts deliver incredible skiing at a fraction of the mega-resort price.

Quick Reference: Cheapest Ski Resorts by Region

Resort	Location	Day Pass	Best For
Loveland	Colorado	$80-110	Powder, convenience
Bridger Bowl	Montana	$70-90	Expert terrain
Ski Cooper	Colorado	$60-80	Families, history
Mt. Hood Skibowl	Oregon	$60-85	Night skiing
Mission Ridge	Washington	$70-90	Dry powder, sunshine
Monarch	Colorado	$95-110	Tree skiing
Pomerelle	Idaho	$45-55	Hidden gem
Little Ski Hill	Idaho	$20-30	Ultra-budget

Best Budget Resorts Under $100

1. Loveland Ski Area, Colorado

Day Pass: $80-110 | Summit: 13,010 ft | Acres: 1,800

Just 53 miles from Denver, Loveland offers big-mountain skiing at small-mountain prices.

Why it's cheap AND good:

No fancy base village (costs go to skiing, not amenities)
First to open, last to close in Colorado (Oct-May)
Real elevation = real snow quality
Continental Divide views

Best for: Denver day-trippers, powder seekers, value hunters

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2. Bridger Bowl, Montana

Day Pass: $70-90 | Summit: 8,800 ft | Acres: 2,000

This nonprofit community ski area is regularly ranked among America's best for advanced terrain.

Why it's cheap AND good:

Run by a nonprofit = surplus goes back into the mountain
350 inches of annual snowfall
The Ridge (expert hike-to terrain) rivals anything in Colorado
Beloved local culture, no pretension

Best for: Experts on a budget, powder chasers, Montana adventurers

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3. Ski Cooper, Colorado

Day Pass: $60-80 | Summit: 11,700 ft | Acres: 470

Historic 10th Mountain Division training area near Leadville. Authentic Colorado experience.

Why it's cheap AND good:

Family-owned since 1942
Zero crowds
250 inches of snow
Cooper Cat snowcat skiing available ($50 extra)
Some of Colorado's cheapest lift tickets

Best for: Families, history buffs, learners

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4. Mission Ridge, Washington

Day Pass: $70-90 | Summit: 6,820 ft | Acres: 2,000

Eastern Washington's sunny secret with dry powder you won't believe.

Why it's cheap AND good:

300 days of sunshine (unlike soggy Cascades)
Dry powder from continental snowfall
2,250 ft vertical drop
Almost no crowds

Best for: Seattle day-trippers, powder hunting, sun lovers

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5. Mt. Hood Skibowl, Oregon

Day Pass: $60-85 | Summit: 5,027 ft | Acres: 960

America's largest night skiing operation, just an hour from Portland.

Why it's cheap AND good:

34 lit runs for night skiing
Open until 10pm some nights
Closest resort to Portland (53 miles)
Great terrain parks

Best for: Night owls, park riders, Portland locals

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6. Pomerelle Mountain, Idaho

Day Pass: $45-55 | Summit: 8,763 ft | Acres: 500

One of America's cheapest ski areas with surprisingly good terrain.

Why it's cheap AND good:

Under $55 for a FULL DAY
500 inches of annual snowfall (!!)
24 runs, 1,000 ft vertical
Zero lift lines

Best for: Ultra-budget skiers, powder days, avoiding crowds

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The Indy Pass Strategy (Best Value in Skiing)

Indy Pass: ~$299/season = 2 days each at 200+ independent resorts

If You Ski...	Cost Per Day
4 resorts (8 days)	$37
6 resorts (12 days)	$25
10 resorts (20 days)	$15

Best Indy Pass resorts for value:

Bridger Bowl, MT
Schweitzer, ID
Brundage, ID
Mission Ridge, WA
Mt. Hood Skibowl, OR
Loveland, CO
Monarch, CO

See all Indy Pass resorts →

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10 Ways to Ski Cheap at Any Resort

Before You Go

Strategy	Savings
Buy tickets online, 7+ days ahead	20-30% off
Ski midweek (Tue-Thu)	15-25% off
Buy multi-day passes	10-20% per day
Go in January (post-holidays)	Lower across board
Check Liftopia/GetSkiTickets	Variable deals

At the Resort

Strategy	Savings
Pack your own lunch	$15-25/day
Rent gear in town, not on-mountain	20-30%
Skip après drinks (or limit to one)	$15-30/day
Carpool and split gas	50-75% on transport
Stay in town, not slopeside	40-60% on lodging

Sample Budget Ski Trip: $85/Day in Colorado

Loveland, Colorado - Day Trip from Denver

Expense	Cost
Lift ticket (bought 14 days ahead)	$75
Gas (split with friend)	$12
Packed lunch + snacks	$8
Coffee at base	$5
Total	$100

Compare to Vail: $250+ for same experience.

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When Cheap = Best Value (Not Just Lowest Price)

Consider total value, not just ticket price:

Factor	Budget Resort	Mega Resort
Lift ticket	$70	$220
Crowds	Empty	Packed
Lift lines	None	20+ minutes
Actual runs skied	25-30	12-15
Cost per run	$2.50	$15-18

Budget resorts often deliver MORE skiing per dollar.

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Best Budget Skiing by State

State	Best Budget Option	Day Pass
Colorado	Ski Cooper, Loveland, Monarch	$60-110
Montana	Bridger Bowl, Discovery	$70-90
Idaho	Pomerelle, Brundage, Bogus Basin	$45-90
Oregon	Skibowl, Willamette Pass	$60-85
Washington	Mission Ridge, Bluewood	$60-90
Vermont	Bolton Valley, Magic Mountain	$60-90
New Hampshire	Ragged, Pats Peak	$60-80
New York	Woods Valley, Titus	$45-65

Ready to ski more, spend less? Browse our complete resort directory and find affordable skiing near you!