A family ski trip from Denver does not have to break the bank. These 34 budget and moderate-tier resorts within a 4-hour drive deliver genuine family skiing at a fraction of luxury prices. Each has a family score of 5.5 or higher, so you are not sacrificing quality for cost.
Top Budget Resorts (34)
Black Mountain (formerly Evergreen Basin)
Colorado, USA
$0 adult day pass, only 44 miles out.
$0
day pass
44 mi
Bowes Ski Hill
Colorado, USA
$0 adult day pass, 122 miles from the airport.
$0
day pass
122 mi
Cimarron Mountain Club
Colorado, USA
$0 adult day pass, 191 miles from the airport.
$0
day pass
191 mi
Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Colorado, USA
$0 adult day pass, 139 miles from the airport.
$0
day pass
139 mi
Cuchara Mountain Resort
Colorado, USA
$0 adult day pass, 175 miles from the airport.
$0
day pass
175 mi
Echo Mountain
Colorado, USA
$0 adult day pass, only 46 miles out.
$0
day pass
46 mi
Frisco Nordic Center
Colorado, USA
$0 adult day pass, only 76 miles out.
$0
day pass
76 mi
Granby Ranch
Colorado, USA
$0 adult day pass, only 67 miles out.
$0
day pass
67 mi
Howelson Hill Ski Area
Colorado, USA
$0 adult day pass, 122 miles from the airport.
$0
day pass
122 mi
Irwin Lodge Snowcat
Colorado, USA
$0 adult day pass, 146 miles from the airport.
$0
day pass
146 mi
Kendall Mountain Recreation Area
Colorado, USA
$0 adult day pass, 214 miles from the airport.
$0
day pass
214 mi
Lake City Ski Hill
Colorado, USA
$0 adult day pass, 191 miles from the airport.
$0
day pass
191 mi
Loveland Valley Ski Area
Colorado, USA
$0 adult day pass, only 65 miles out.
$0
day pass
65 mi
Powderhorn
Colorado, USA
$0 adult day pass, 194 miles from the airport.
$0
day pass
194 mi
Tennessee Pass
Colorado, USA
$0 adult day pass, only 94 miles out.
$0
day pass
94 mi
Wolf Creek Ski Area
Colorado, USA
$0 adult day pass, 201 miles from the airport.
$0
day pass
201 mi
Shirley Basin Ski Area
Wyoming, USA
$0 adult day pass, 212 miles from the airport.
$0
day pass
212 mi
Snowy Range
Wyoming, USA
$0 adult day pass, 129 miles from the airport.
$0
day pass
129 mi
Snowy Range
Wyoming, USA
$49 adult day pass, 133 miles from the airport, true budget option.
$49
day pass
133 mi
Ski Cooper
Colorado, USA
$69 adult day pass, only 93 miles out, true budget option.
$69
day pass
93 mi
Powderhorn
Colorado, USAIkon
$79 adult day pass, 193 miles from the airport, true budget option, strong family scores.
$79
day pass
193 mi
Sunlight Mountain
Colorado, USA
$79 adult day pass, 145 miles from the airport, true budget option, strong family scores.
$79
day pass
145 mi
Red River
New Mexico, USA
$79 adult day pass, 222 miles from the airport, strong family scores.
$79
day pass
222 mi
Wolf Creek
Colorado, USA
$89 adult day pass, 201 miles from the airport, true budget option.
$89
day pass
201 mi
Monarch Mountain
Colorado, USA
$89 adult day pass, 128 miles from the airport.
$89
day pass
128 mi
Loveland
Colorado, USA
$99 adult day pass, only 66 miles out.
$99
day pass
66 mi
Eldora
Colorado, USAIkon
$125 adult day pass, only 49 miles out, strong family scores.
$125
day pass
49 mi
Arapahoe Basin
Colorado, USAIkon
$149 adult day pass, only 65 miles out.
$149
day pass
65 mi
Purgatory Resort
Colorado, USAIkon
$149 adult day pass, 229 miles from the airport, strong family scores.
$149
day pass
229 mi
Taos Ski Valley
New Mexico, USAIkon
$179 adult day pass, 229 miles from the airport, strong family scores.
$179
day pass
229 mi
Winter Park Resort
Colorado, USAIkon
$209 adult day pass, only 58 miles out, strong family scores.
$209
day pass
58 mi
Copper Mountain
Colorado, USAIkon
$209 adult day pass, only 82 miles out, strong family scores.
$209
day pass
82 mi
Keystone Resort
Colorado, USAEpic
$210 adult day pass, only 70 miles out, strong family scores.
$210
day pass
70 mi
Steamboat Ski Resort
Colorado, USAIkon
$220 adult day pass, only 120 miles out, strong family scores.
$220
day pass
120 mi
Quick Comparison
| Resort | Distance | day pass | Beginner | Walkability | Day Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Mountain (formerly Evergreen Basin) | 44 mi | $0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | $0 |
| Bowes Ski Hill | 122 mi | $0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | $0 |
| Cimarron Mountain Club | 191 mi | $0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | $0 |
| Crested Butte Mountain Resort | 139 mi | $0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | $0 |
| Cuchara Mountain Resort | 175 mi | $0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | $0 |
| Echo Mountain | 46 mi | $0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | $0 |
| Frisco Nordic Center | 76 mi | $0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | $0 |
| Granby Ranch | 67 mi | $0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | $0 |
| Howelson Hill Ski Area | 122 mi | $0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | $0 |
| Irwin Lodge Snowcat | 146 mi | $0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | $0 |
| Kendall Mountain Recreation Area | 214 mi | $0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | $0 |
| Lake City Ski Hill | 191 mi | $0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | $0 |
| Loveland Valley Ski Area | 65 mi | $0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | $0 |
| Powderhorn | 194 mi | $0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | $0 |
| Tennessee Pass | 94 mi | $0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | $0 |
| Wolf Creek Ski Area | 201 mi | $0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | $0 |
| Shirley Basin Ski Area | 212 mi | $0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | $0 |
| Snowy Range | 129 mi | $0 | 6.5 | 5.0 | $0 |
| Snowy Range | 133 mi | $49 | 8.0 | 6.5 | $49 |
| Ski Cooper | 93 mi | $69 | 8.0 | 6.0 | $69 |
| Powderhorn | 193 mi | $79 | 8.0 | 7.0 | $79 |
| Sunlight Mountain | 145 mi | $79 | 8.0 | 6.5 | $79 |
| Red River | 222 mi | $79 | 8.5 | 9.0 | $79 |
| Wolf Creek | 201 mi | $89 | 7.5 | 6.0 | $89 |
| Monarch Mountain | 128 mi | $89 | 7.0 | 6.5 | $89 |
| Loveland | 66 mi | $99 | 7.5 | 6.0 | $99 |
| Eldora | 49 mi | $125 | 7.5 | 7.0 | $125 |
| Arapahoe Basin | 65 mi | $149 | 5.5 | 7.0 | $149 |
| Purgatory Resort | 229 mi | $149 | 8.0 | 7.0 | $149 |
| Taos Ski Valley | 229 mi | $179 | 6.5 | 8.0 | $179 |
| Winter Park Resort | 58 mi | $209 | 8.0 | 7.5 | $209 |
| Copper Mountain | 82 mi | $209 | 9.0 | 8.0 | $209 |
| Keystone Resort | 70 mi | $210 | 8.0 | 7.5 | $210 |
| Steamboat Ski Resort | 120 mi | $220 | 8.5 | 7.0 | $220 |