If you are planning a ski trip for the 2025–26 season, airfare is one of the biggest variables that can quietly blow up your budget.
The good news is that ski season flight prices are not surging. After analyzing thousands of round-trip economy fares to Salt Lake City, Denver, and Seattle, we are seeing prices that are flat to slightly down compared to last year. The biggest softness is on routes from Southern California to the Rockies and from Texas into Utah.
Timing still matters.
Across the board, the cheapest ski flights are showing up about 30 to 60 days before departure. Midweek itineraries continue to price lower than weekend-heavy trips, often by a meaningful margin.
This report breaks down when to book, which months are cheapest, and the most affordable gateway airports for skiing in Utah, Colorado, and the Pacific Northwest during the core 2025–26 ski season.
Read also: The Ultimate Guide to Finding Cheap Flights
Key takeaways
- Prices are flat to down ~3–6% YoY; biggest softness on SoCal to Rockies and Texas to Utah.
- Best booking window: 30–60 days out for Jan/Mar (avoid Presidents’ Day week).
- Midweek itineraries (Tue/Wed depart, Sat return) are cheaper on average.
Cheap ski gateways for the 2025–26 season
Salt Lake City, Denver, and Seattle continue to be the most affordable major gateways to top ski regions. Each works for different reasons, but all three benefit from strong flight competition and flexible options once you land.
Salt Lake City (SLC)
Salt Lake City remains one of the best values for ski trips in the U.S. You can land, stay in the valley, and be 30 to 45 minutes from Brighton, Solitude, Alta, and Snowbird without paying on-mountain hotel prices.
How to keep costs down:
Stay in Salt Lake City or Ogden instead of slopeside lodging
Rent a car or use a shuttle
Ski midweek when lift tickets and crowds are lower
Buy lift tickets in advance, especially for peak weeks
If you are bringing your own gear, baggage fees matter. Flying an airline that treats ski bags as standard checked luggage can save real money. Alaska Airlines has historically been one of the most ski-friendly options.
Denver (DEN)
Denver works because flight competition is high, which keeps prices in check. Once you land, you also have access to a wide range of ski areas at different price points.
Loveland and Eldora are strong value options. Winter Park offers big terrain without Vail-level pricing.
To save money:
Stay in Denver or along I-70 instead of in-resort lodging
Rent a car
Aim for Tuesday through Thursday skiing
Use weekday lift deals or a multi-mountain pass
If you are flying from one of Alaska’s ski promo gateways, check whether your boarding pass unlocks a free or discounted lift ticket at a partner resort. In some seasons, those perks stack well with already cheap flights.
Seattle (SEA)
Seattle is an underrated budget ski hub, especially in January and February.
You can stay in the city or nearby suburbs and reach The Summit at Snoqualmie in about an hour. Crystal Mountain and Stevens Pass are solid options if you are willing to drive a bit farther.
To keep it affordable:
Target midweek travel or night skiing at Snoqualmie
Skip resort lodging
Fly airlines that are friendly to ski bags and occasional fly-and-ski promotions
Alaska Airlines has consistently stood out in Seattle, often offering boarding pass perks at select partner mountains in most seasons.
Ski season flight deals (Dec 2025 - April 2026)
All fares below reflect the lowest round-trip economy prices found during our latest pricing checks. Prices will vary based on availability and demand.
From Atlanta (ATL)
Salt Lake City: from $240 (avg $400) | Jan, Feb, Mar
Denver: from $168 (avg $380) | Feb, Mar, Apr
Seattle: from $174 (avg $420) | Jan, Feb
From Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW)
Salt Lake City: from $130 (avg $330) | Dec, Jan, Feb
Denver: from $190 (avg $290) | Jan, Feb, Mar
Seattle: from $123 (avg $323) | Feb, Mar
From Houston (IAH)
Salt Lake City: from $155 (avg $355) | Jan, Feb, Mar
Denver: from $170 (avg $320) | Feb, Mar
Seattle: from $230 (avg $420) | Jan, Feb
From Chicago (ORD)
Salt Lake City: from $200 (avg $460) | Jan, Feb
Denver: from $180 (avg $320) | Jan, Feb, Mar
Seattle: from $230 (avg $420) | Feb, Mar
From Los Angeles (LAX)
Salt Lake City: from $78 (avg $320) | Dec, Jan
Denver: from $154 (avg $340) | Dec, Jan, Feb
Seattle: from $192 (avg $313) | Jan, Feb
From Las Vegas (LAS)
Salt Lake City: from $80 (avg $300) | Dec, Jan
Denver: from $100 (avg $300) | Dec, Jan, Feb
Seattle: from $140 (avg $340) | Jan, Feb
From New York City (JFK)
Salt Lake City: from $220 (avg $520) | Jan, Feb, Mar
Denver: from $200 (avg $500) | Feb, Mar
Seattle: from $240 (avg $560) | Jan, Feb
From Philadelphia (PHL)
Salt Lake City: from $230 (avg $520) | Jan, Feb
Denver: from $210 (avg $500) | Jan, Feb, Mar
Seattle: from $250 (avg $560) | Feb, Mar
How 2025–26 ski season fares compare to last year
Airfares heading into the 2025–26 ski season are holding steady or slightly down versus last year, driven by competitive capacity and more consistent sales cadence on key corridors (ex: Southern California to the Rockies (Utah/Colorado) or Texas to Utah). Midweek travel and early booking continue to offer the best value if you want to get the best deals.
Highlights:
- Prices are flat to down ~3–6% YoY overall.
- More seats on SoCal to Rockies and Texas to Utah routes = more frequent promos.
- Deal windows are more predictable (30–60 days out) vs last season.
Tips for saving money on ski season travel
- Set Fare Alerts: Use Dollar Flight Club, Google Flights, or Skyscanner to catch sales and book at the right time.
- Fly Midweek: Tuesday/Wednesday departures and Saturday returns routinely undercut weekend round-trips.
- Check Alternate Airports to cut 10-20%: Flying out of Baltimore (BWI) vs. Washington DC (IAD/DCA) for D.C.; Oakland (OAK) vs. San Francisco (SFO); Newark (EWR) vs. New York City (JFK/LGA).
- Leverage Miles & Points: Redeem for peak/holiday weekends or holidays when cash prices are higher than average. Flexible travelers can sometimes find 7.5k–10k miles one-way on select domestic gateways in Jan–Feb
- Mix & Match One-Ways: Two one-ways can beat a round-trip and add flexibility across resorts.
- Monitor for Drops: Many airlines allow free changes; if your fare drops, rebook the same flights to save even more after you book.
Methodology
We analyzed airfare data from multiple sources, including publicly available information from airline partners, online travel agencies, and leading flight search engines. We monitor and compare hundreds of thousands of airfare routes each year, taking into account price trends, historical averages, and seasonal shifts to pinpoint the best-value destinations.
For this report, we focused on round-trip economy fares departing from various U.S. airports for travel between December 2025 and April 2026, the core window for the 2025–26 ski season (early openings through spring closures). All fares listed below reflect the lowest round-trip economy prices we found during our latest pricing checks; actual prices will vary.
