According to the National Ski Areas Association, the average price of a day lift ticket last winter was $192. This winter, many major U.S. resorts will charge well over $200 a day. Rates at places like Park City, in Utah, and both Palisades Tahoe and Northstar, in California, will have peak prices over $260 for the day.
While most ski areas try to entice repeat visitors with deals on season passes, including combined passes like the Ikon Pass, Epic Pass, and Indy Pass, which get you access to dozens of resorts, what if you only plan to ski a couple of days per season? You’ll need to purchase a lift ticket.
But if you know where to look and you plan ahead, you can ski for less than the price of a burger in the base lodge this winter. Here’s how to pull that off.