2 Montana Ski Hills Make ‘Most Affordable in U.S.’ List

We all know skiing has become a very expensive sport. Lift ticket prices have increased dramatically across the country, and ski hills are more crowded than ever. However, Montana still has a couple of excellent ski hills who have landed on a 'Most Affordable in the U.S.' list.

Montana's ski hills really do run the gamut of price - we have some of the most expensive lift tickets in the county and also some of the most affordable in the country - according to OnTheSnow.com.

These affordable ski resort recommendations are generally small to mid-size ski resorts. Passes save money in the long run, especially if you buy them when they go on sale in the spring.

This year, the average weekend regular-season walk-up ticket price across the country is now $142, according to the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). Many ski resorts and hills still offer bargains such as punch cards, 'thrifty three packs', and early season discounts.

But when it comes to being included in the "Most Affordable in the U.S.", two Montana hills have made the OnTheSnow.com list. What's even better - they're fantastic ski hills. Not many states can brag about that.

All one-day lift tickets at Whitefish Mountain are under $100. You can save even more money by buying in advance. That's a huge bang for your ski buck, considering that Whitefish Mountain has 11 chairlifts. 111 named runs. 3,000 acres of skiable terrain.

CHECK THE WHITEFISH MOUNTAIN WEBCAMS HERE

"Whitefish Mountain Resort, in northwest Montana, is noted for its laid-back vibe, world-class skiing, and unbeatable value. The resort sees an average of 300 inches of snow on its 3,000 acres, and is as well known for a pleasant lack of lift lines." (TripAdvisor)

Get our free mobile app

Whitefish Mountain was a 2023 TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice winner. Come warmer months, Whitefish has everything you'd expect at a mountain resort from mountain biking, to ziplining, and even an alpine slide.

One 'drawback' to skiing at Whitefish that you'll read about from guest reviews - it can get quite foggy, reducing visibility while skiing. This isn't rare at ski hills, but at Whitefish it gets mentioned a lot.

MONTANA RESORT IS AMERICA'S SEASON SKI PASS BARGAIN

Bozeman, Montana's Bridger Bowl was the 2nd Montana ski hill to make the "Most Affordable in the U.S." list from OnTheSnow.com. Although Bridger has become a very busy mountain, the lift ticket price for the terrain you get to ski is still super reasonable at about $80 (if you buy online).

Bridger Bowl season pass holders get another perk of discounted lift tickets at partner ski areas across the country. (Alta in Utah, Bogus in Idaho, Grand Targhee in Wyoming, and Soldier in Idaho.)

• "Great price with many different trails for all levels. Suggest to be there early to secure the parking spot."
• "Employees are very friendly, we were impressed with how personable they were, especially with kids."
• "This is a much closer, much cheaper, much friendlier, much less touristy and much better snow alternative to skiing Big Sky near Bozeman."
• "Anyone wanting a great ski experience should reach out to Bridger Bowl in Bozeman for ski lessons."