5 Winter Vacation Destinations That Middle-Class Families Can Still Afford
Written by
John Csiszar
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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Ski vacations are notoriously expensive. Between the cost of transportation, accommodation, food, lift tickets, and possibly ski school, even a holiday of just a few days could run into the thousands of dollars.
Fortunately, there are a number of winter vacation destinations that won’t break the bank for middle-class families. Of course, “affordable” is a relative term, and different families may have different budgets.
But with that in mind, here’s a list of some winter vacation destinations that have lower overall costs than average.
Big Bear Ski Resort, California
- Average accommodation costs, high season/low season: $183 to $254
- Average lift ticket costs: $99 to $169
Big Bear is an extremely popular ski resort because it’s so close to downtown Los Angeles. With just a few hours of drive time, residents all across Southern California can be on the slopes.
Ambitious skiers can even do a turnaround, driving up in the morning, skiing all day, then sleeping in their own beds at night, not having to worry about paying for accommodation. Even lift tickets are not outrageous when compared with the prestige resorts of Utah, for example.
Bridger Bowl, Montana
- Average winter accommodation costs: $143 to $346
- Average lift ticket costs: $82 to $97
Bridger Bowl isn’t one of the famed, big-name ski areas in America, but that works to its advantage for those looking for a more affordable adventure.
Located near Bozeman, Bridger Bowl is popular with locals who don’t want to incur the expense of traveling to Utah, California, Wyoming or Canada to ski. But it’s certainly no second-rate resort, with high-quality terrain to go along with its low lift ticket costs.
Donner Ski Ranch, California
- Average winter accommodation costs: $350 to $450
- Average lift ticket costs: $69 to $109
It’s true that lodging in the Donner Ski Ranch area, which is close to Lake Tahoe, can be expensive. However, if you can stay with a friend or otherwise score affordable lodging, the actual skiing at Donner can be quite affordable.
The resort offers a few “Old School Days” per year, when lift tickets are just $69, and even normal ski days may cost just $109. The family-owned and operated resort has been open for 87 years and has remarkable conditions in good snow years.
Chestnut Mountain, Illinois
- Average winter accommodation costs: $84 to $134
- Average lift ticket cost: $50 to $80
Galena, Illinois might be more known for its historic town center and for housing the former resident of President Ulysses S. Grant, but it’s also got a great ski area — and one that’s extremely affordable to boot.
Although Chestnut Mountain is relatively small by modern ski standards, it still offers 10 lifts and night skiing. Perhaps best of all, Illinois residents only have to drive a short way to enjoy an economical and skiing experience instead of flying across the country.
Sunlight Mountain Resort, Colorado
- Average winter accommodation costs: $153 to $259 per night
- Average lift ticket cost: $70 to $104
Most people don’t associate Colorado ski resorts with being affordable, but Sunlight Mountain Resort certainly qualifies.
In addition to the low “ordinary” lift ticket cost, adults 80 and over can ski for free. Kids 12 and under can also ski free if they are with a paying adult under the Ski, Swim, and Stay program.
While not nearly as well-known as its neighbor Aspen, which lies 50 miles to the north, Sunlight Mountain is also not nearly as expensive. Single-day ski tickets at Aspen can reach a whopping $264.
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