The most affordable US ski vacations for 2024

At least there is a thing in New York that is still affordable.

Skiers looking to save a package needn’t leave the Empire State — where a resort dubbed “amazing” by die-hard fans just ranked as the cheapest in the country.

Aggregator of vacation rentals HomeToGo collected the data—like so much fresh powder—on popular hills from coast to coast, with Gore Mountain in the Adirondacks schussing effortlessly first.

Located in the small Warren County town of North Creek, Gore — which bills itself as New York’s largest ski resort — is one of three hills in the state publicly owned and operated by the Olympic Regional Development Authority, a state agency.

Whiteface, further north near Lake Placid, and Belleayre in the Catskills there are the other two.

The survey authors said Gore’s combined $107 per day lift ticket price for an adult and one night in a vacation rental, at $88.02 per person on average, was the cheapest of most sampled resorts – for a total of $195.02 per day for a cost-conscious skier.

The average daily cost of a ski pass at the resorts surveyed was $188.15, the snow researchers said.

The average cost for a vacation rental, per person, per night, was $164.41.

Gore, with a vertical drop of 2,537, is located about an hour and a half from Albany.

Snow on the mountain’s 115 trails is made with water from the Hudson River.

Fans have been known to leave glowing reviews of the destination on sites like On the Snowwhere one skier said Gore “never disappoints.”

“From steeps to cruises, the skiing is awesome,” they gushed.

“I finally feel like I’m getting something for all the taxes I pay to live in New York,” they thought.

Second on the list is Mount Baker in Washington, just miles south of the border near Vancouver, BC.

Located inside the national park, a lift ticket costs $94.27, while lodging costs $106.65 per person, for a total of $200.92.

The resort, at its highest point, reaches 5,089 feet—almost as high as Denver, Colo.

Whitefish, Montana is one of the hottest — and increasingly expensive — mountain towns in the country, but Whitefish Ski Resort takes the bronze for third most affordable, for a total of $223.02 per day .

Maine and New Mexico each contributed two spots to the Top 10, while ski hotspots Vermont and Colorado provided just one each. Oregon took last place.

The most affordable US ski vacations for 2024

1. Gore Mountain, New York
2. Mount Baker, Washington
3. Whitefish, Montana
4. Sugarloaf, Maine
5. Ski Santa Fe, New Mexico
6. Sunday River, Maine
7. Purgatory, Colo.
8. Jay Peak, Vermont
9. Angel Fire, New Mexico
10. Mount Bachelor, Oregon

The list was published because the survey compilers noted a significant year-on-year increase – 29% – in interest in stays in the ski region, according to Eleanor Moody, travel expert at HomeToGo.

“While traditional favorites remain popular, our data reveals growing interest in hidden gem destinations such as Mount Baker and Whitefish, which rank highly for affordability, suggesting travelers are looking for cheaper options for excursions skiing,” Moody said.