published on in Prominent Personality

19 of the best ski resorts in North America that don't cost a fortune

Updated 2019-10-14T13:33:00Z
  • Vacation rental website HomeToGo compiled a list of the most affordable ski resorts in North America.
  • Resorts were ranked by the cost to enjoy one day/night on the slopes, including equipment rental, lift pass, lunch, and accommodation in the 2018/2019 ski season.
  • British Columbia, Canada was a popular spot last year, with five resorts in the area appearing on this list. Noticeably missing are any famed Colorado mountains.
  • Keep reading for a look at where people made the most of their money on their ski trips. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

With ski season quickly approaching, it's important to assess your options before booking your winter getaway.  

HomeToGo, a vacation rental search tool, compiled a list of the most affordable ski resorts in North America so you can tear up the slopes, even if you're on a budget.

The company gathered data for top-rated ski resorts in the US and Canada during the 2018-2019 season and then calculated the average total cost of a one day/night stay. The final cost includes:

  • Equipment rental: mid-level skis, boots, poles, and a helmet for one day.
  • A one-day lift pass.
  • Lunch: a burger with fries and a soda at a mid-range restaurant on the slopes.
  • Accommodation: the average price per person for a four-person vacation rental found on HomeToGo in the resort, between November 17, 2018 and April 20, 2019.

Keep reading to check out the 19 most affordable ski resorts in North America, where a day of skiing plus an overnight stay came out under $250 this past season. Entries are ranked in descending price order. There are several spots in British Columbia, and a couple scattered out west in the US, but no notoriously pricey slopes in Colorado made the list.

19. Big White Mountain, British Columbia

Facebook/Big White Ski Resort

Total cost (1 day/night): $222.45

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $111.71

Lunch: $10.71

Vacation rental: $100.03

18. Whiteface Mountain, New York

Facebook/Whiteface

Total cost (1 day/night): $219

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $120

Lunch: $15

Vacation rental: $84

17. Sun Peaks, British Columbia

Facebook/Sun Peaks Resort

Total cost (1 day/night): $212.84

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $115.93

Lunch: $14.54

Vacation rental: $82.37

16. Bolton Valley, Vermont

Facebook/Bolton Valley

Total cost (1 day/night): $212.08

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $113

Lunch: $13

Vacation rental: $86.08

15. Mammoth Mountain, California

Mammoth Mountain/Facebook

Total cost (1 day/night): $211.67

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $117.68

Lunch: $16.95

Vacation rental: $77.04

14. Alta Ski Area, Utah

Facebook/Alta Ski Area

Total cost (1 day/night): $210.60

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $79

Lunch: $19

Vacation rental: $112.60

13. Kirkwood Mountain, California

Kirkwood Mountain Resort/Facebook

Total cost (1 day/night): $209.42

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $133.47

Lunch: $15.95

Vacation rental: $60

12. Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana

Whitefish Mountain Resort

Total cost (1 day/night): $204.09

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $117

Lunch: $15

Vacation rental: $72.09

11. Sunday River, Maine

Facebook/Sunday River

Total cost (1 day/night): $203.16

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $124

Lunch: $12.95

Vacation rental: $66.21

10. Schweitzer Mountain, Idaho

Schweitzer Mountain Resort/Facebook

Total cost (1 day/night): $215.74

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $134

Lunch: $10.49

Vacation rental: $71.25

9. Silver Star Mountain, British Columbia

Facebook/SilverStar Mountain Resort

Total cost (1 day/night): $201.83

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $116.27

Lunch: $8.42

Vacation rental: $77.14

8. Mount Baker, Washington

Facebook/Mt. Baker Ski Area

Total cost (1 day/night): $187.21

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $98.01

Lunch: $20

Vacation rental: $69.20

7. Mont Tremblant, Quebec

Flickr/Tremblant Photos

Total cost (1 day/night): $186.64

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $106.72

Lunch: $9.18

Vacation rental: $70.74

6. Mount Hood Skibowl, Oregon

Lehava Sakhni, Wikimedia Commons

Total cost (1 day/night): $183

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $95

Lunch: $21

Vacation rental: $67

5. Panorama Mountain, British Columbia

Facebook/Panorama Mountain Resort

Total cost (1 day/night): $181.57

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $110.17

Lunch: $12.24

Vacation rental: $59.16

4. Mission Ridge Ski Area, Washington

Facebook/Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort

Total cost (1 day/night): $178.98

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $119

Lunch: $16

Vacation rental: $43.98

3. Afton Alps, Minnesota

Facebook/Afton Alps

Total cost (1 day/night): $178.95

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $94

Lunch: $16

Vacation rental: $68.95

2. Lake Louise Ski Resort, Alberta

Bradley L. Grant / Shutterstock

Total cost (1 day/night): $178.88

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $155.88

Lunch: $11.48

Vacation rental: $51.52

1. Fernie Alpine Resort, British Columbia

Facebook/Fernie Alpine Resort

Total cost (1 day/night): $178.14

Equipment rental and lift ticket: $123.59

Lunch: $9.95

Vacation rental: $44.60

Tanza Loudenback contributed to an earlier version of this story.

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