Colorado ski trip planner

You

Five quick questions, and the rest of the page tailors itself to your answers. Nothing here is a commitment.

Where to go

Skiing is one part of the weekend, not the whole point. Each option below is the mountain, the town, the food, and what else there is to do.

Answer the questions up top and you can rank these in the order you'd prefer.

Steamboat Springs
Leaning toward this
≈3h15 drive from DEN
$900 – $1,300 est. per person
Direct seasonal flights to HDN this winter
On the mountain
- Champagne powder, with gentle green terrain low on the hill
- More pitch up top if a few of you want it
- No Ikon lift reservations required this season
Getting around
- Free in-town bus (the SST) links downtown to the gondola
- A car is optional if you're staying central
Food, drink & town
- Barley Tap & Bar — 31 rotating taps, downtown on Lincoln Ave
- Mountain Tap Brewery — wood-fired food, family-friendly patio
- Aurum Food & Wine — upscale New American, riverfront patio
Off the snow
- Old Town Hot Springs — developed, family-friendly, downtown
- Strawberry Park Hot Springs — rustic natural pools outside town (4WD/snow tires required in winter)
- Shops along Lincoln Ave downtown
Sources: Steamboat winter flight schedule (18-airport roster), Ikon Base Pass, official pricing and blackout dates, Barley Tap & Bar, Mountain Tap Brewery, Aurum Food & Wine, Old Town Hot Springs, Strawberry Park Hot Springs
Summit County — Frisco, Dillon, Silverthorne
Best value
≈1h45 drive from DEN
$650 – $950 est. per person
On the mountain
- Terrain zoned left to right by ability
- Mixed group regroups easily at the same base area
- Unlimited on every Ikon tier, no blackout dates — the only destination that's blackout-free for Session Pass holders
Getting around
- Three towns spread along I-70
- Free Summit Stage bus connects them and Copper Mountain, or bring a car
Food, drink & town
- Prost (Ein Prosit) — German beer hall, rare imports, giant pretzels
- Tavern West — upscale-casual New American, rotating craft beers
- Kemosabe at Silverheels — Colorado-Asian fusion in an old log cabin
Off the snow
- Outlets at Silverthorne for shopping
- Free community ice rink and a groomed winter trail at Dillon Reservoir
- Cheapest condo/Airbnb inventory of the three towns
Sources: Copper Mountain, Ikon Pass access, Summit Stage — free bus service, Prost (Ein Prosit), Tavern West, Kemosabe at Silverheels, Outlets at Silverthorne, Dillon winter activities
Winter Park
Closest to Denver
≈1h30 drive from DEN — No I-70 — via US-40 over Berthoud Pass
$700 – $1,000 est. per person
On the mountain
- Biggest terrain pool of the three
- Unlimited on the full Ikon Pass — the Session Pass most of us will buy still blacks out Jan 16–17 and Feb 13–14
- Mary Jane side has legendary bumps and glades if anyone wants more
Getting around
- Small enough to walk most of downtown
- A car helps for restaurant-hopping to nearby Fraser
Food, drink & town
- Deno's Mountain Bistro — aged steaks, pizzas, a Winter Park fixture
- Hernando's Pizza Pub — family-run since 1967
- Fontenot's Fresh Seafood & Grill — Cajun/Creole, in Winter Park since 1990
Off the snow
- Fraser Tubing Hill for anyone sitting out a ski day
- Low-key, farmers-market feel rather than resort-village feel
Sources: Winter Park Resort, Ikon Session Pass blackout dates, Mary Jane terrain, Deno's Mountain Bistro, Hernando's Pizza Pub, Fontenot's Fresh Seafood & Grill, Fraser Tubing Hill, Berthoud Pass route

When to go

Window is mid-January through mid-March 2027 — snow is typically most reliable in this stretch. (If it lines up, this window also happens to sit right around Ben's birthday — a nice bonus, not the driver.)

One thing worth knowing before you mark days: the Ikon Session Pass — what most guests will actually buy — blacks out on January 16–17 and February 13–14, 2027 at both Steamboat and Winter Park. Copper Mountain has no blackout dates on any Ikon tier.

None of these three resorts require advance Ikon lift reservations this season.

Sources: Ikon Pass FAQ, Ikon Pass Buyer's Guide 2026-27, Ikon Pass list of resorts 2026-27 (reservation requirements), Winter Park Resort — Ikon Session Pass

Answer the questions up top and the calendar opens up here, so you can mark the days that could work for you.

Getting there

Where to check current fares — Google Flights has the live prices.

SFO — San Francisco

Nonstop to DEN

Also a direct seasonal option straight into Steamboat (HDN) this winter — worth comparing against connecting through DEN.

Check Google Flights →

ORD — Chicago

Nonstop to DEN

Also a direct seasonal option straight into Steamboat (HDN) this winter — worth comparing against connecting through DEN.

Check Google Flights →

MSP — Minneapolis-St. Paul

Nonstop to DEN

Also a direct seasonal option straight into Steamboat (HDN) this winter — worth comparing against connecting through DEN.

Check Google Flights →

MKE — Milwaukee

Nonstop to DEN

Check Google Flights →

What it'll cost you

A rough per-person estimate, broken down by line item. Every figure here is a planning estimate, not a quote.

Most of this group is skiing 2–3 days, not a whole season — so the multi-day Ikon Session Pass is almost always the right product here, not the unlimited Base Pass. Anyone skiing just 1 day is better off with a standalone lift ticket, since the Session Pass doesn’t come in a 1-day size.

2-day Ikon Session Pass

$319 (student $249)

Covers Copper, Winter Park, Steamboat, Eldora, and A-Basin. A 3-day version is also available (confirmed pricing: $429, student $359).

Ben and Megan already hold the season-long Base Pass, so you won’t see that option pushed here — it only pencils out if you’re planning more than one trip to these mountains this winter, which is unlikely for most of the group.

Flight, round trip (SFO)$180 – $340

Lodging, 4 nights$220 – $400

2-day Ikon Session Pass$319

Rental package, 2 days$90 – $130

Food & après, 4 days$160 – $280

Estimated total, per person$969 – $1,469

Shown for a “2 ski days, need a rental, flying from SFO to Summit County, 4 nights” example. Start your response up top and this becomes your own numbers. All figures are planning estimates, not quotes.

Sources: Ikon Session Pass, resort coverage, Ikon Base Pass, official pricing and blackout dates, Steamboat Resort lift ticket price hits record high, Copper Mountain — winter lift tickets, Winter Park Resort — lift tickets & ski pass

Loading your answers…

You

Five quick questions, and the rest of the page tailors itself to your answers. Nothing here is a commitment.

Where to go

Skiing is one part of the weekend, not the whole point. Each option below is the mountain, the town, the food, and what else there is to do.

Answer the questions up top and you can rank these in the order you'd prefer.

Steamboat Springs
Leaning toward this
≈3h15 drive from DEN
$900 – $1,300 est. per person
Direct seasonal flights to HDN this winter
On the mountain
- Champagne powder, with gentle green terrain low on the hill
- More pitch up top if a few of you want it
- No Ikon lift reservations required this season
Getting around
- Free in-town bus (the SST) links downtown to the gondola
- A car is optional if you're staying central
Food, drink & town
- Barley Tap & Bar — 31 rotating taps, downtown on Lincoln Ave
- Mountain Tap Brewery — wood-fired food, family-friendly patio
- Aurum Food & Wine — upscale New American, riverfront patio
Off the snow
- Old Town Hot Springs — developed, family-friendly, downtown
- Strawberry Park Hot Springs — rustic natural pools outside town (4WD/snow tires required in winter)
- Shops along Lincoln Ave downtown
Sources: Steamboat winter flight schedule (18-airport roster), Ikon Base Pass, official pricing and blackout dates, Barley Tap & Bar, Mountain Tap Brewery, Aurum Food & Wine, Old Town Hot Springs, Strawberry Park Hot Springs
Summit County — Frisco, Dillon, Silverthorne
Best value
≈1h45 drive from DEN
$650 – $950 est. per person
On the mountain
- Terrain zoned left to right by ability
- Mixed group regroups easily at the same base area
- Unlimited on every Ikon tier, no blackout dates — the only destination that's blackout-free for Session Pass holders
Getting around
- Three towns spread along I-70
- Free Summit Stage bus connects them and Copper Mountain, or bring a car
Food, drink & town
- Prost (Ein Prosit) — German beer hall, rare imports, giant pretzels
- Tavern West — upscale-casual New American, rotating craft beers
- Kemosabe at Silverheels — Colorado-Asian fusion in an old log cabin
Off the snow
- Outlets at Silverthorne for shopping
- Free community ice rink and a groomed winter trail at Dillon Reservoir
- Cheapest condo/Airbnb inventory of the three towns
Sources: Copper Mountain, Ikon Pass access, Summit Stage — free bus service, Prost (Ein Prosit), Tavern West, Kemosabe at Silverheels, Outlets at Silverthorne, Dillon winter activities
Winter Park
Closest to Denver
≈1h30 drive from DEN — No I-70 — via US-40 over Berthoud Pass
$700 – $1,000 est. per person
On the mountain
- Biggest terrain pool of the three
- Unlimited on the full Ikon Pass — the Session Pass most of us will buy still blacks out Jan 16–17 and Feb 13–14
- Mary Jane side has legendary bumps and glades if anyone wants more
Getting around
- Small enough to walk most of downtown
- A car helps for restaurant-hopping to nearby Fraser
Food, drink & town
- Deno's Mountain Bistro — aged steaks, pizzas, a Winter Park fixture
- Hernando's Pizza Pub — family-run since 1967
- Fontenot's Fresh Seafood & Grill — Cajun/Creole, in Winter Park since 1990
Off the snow
- Fraser Tubing Hill for anyone sitting out a ski day
- Low-key, farmers-market feel rather than resort-village feel
Sources: Winter Park Resort, Ikon Session Pass blackout dates, Mary Jane terrain, Deno's Mountain Bistro, Hernando's Pizza Pub, Fontenot's Fresh Seafood & Grill, Fraser Tubing Hill, Berthoud Pass route

When to go

None of these three resorts require advance Ikon lift reservations this season.

Sources: Ikon Pass FAQ, Ikon Pass Buyer's Guide 2026-27, Ikon Pass list of resorts 2026-27 (reservation requirements), Winter Park Resort — Ikon Session Pass

Answer the questions up top and the calendar opens up here, so you can mark the days that could work for you.

Getting there

Where to check current fares — Google Flights has the live prices.

SFO — San Francisco

Nonstop to DEN

Also a direct seasonal option straight into Steamboat (HDN) this winter — worth comparing against connecting through DEN.

Check Google Flights →

ORD — Chicago

Nonstop to DEN

Also a direct seasonal option straight into Steamboat (HDN) this winter — worth comparing against connecting through DEN.

Check Google Flights →

MSP — Minneapolis-St. Paul

Nonstop to DEN

Also a direct seasonal option straight into Steamboat (HDN) this winter — worth comparing against connecting through DEN.

Check Google Flights →

MKE — Milwaukee

Nonstop to DEN

Check Google Flights →

What it'll cost you

A rough per-person estimate, broken down by line item. Every figure here is a planning estimate, not a quote.

2-day Ikon Session Pass

$319 (student $249)

Covers Copper, Winter Park, Steamboat, Eldora, and A-Basin. A 3-day version is also available (confirmed pricing: $429, student $359).

Flight, round trip (SFO)$180 – $340

Lodging, 4 nights$220 – $400

2-day Ikon Session Pass$319

Rental package, 2 days$90 – $130

Food & après, 4 days$160 – $280

Estimated total, per person$969 – $1,469

Colorado ski weekend, late winter 2027

You

Where to go

Steamboat Springs

Summit County — Frisco, Dillon, Silverthorne

Winter Park

When to go

Getting there

Nonstop to DEN

Nonstop to DEN

Nonstop to DEN

Nonstop to DEN

What it'll cost you

Colorado ski weekend, late winter 2027

Colorado ski weekend, late winter 2027

You

Where to go

Steamboat Springs

Summit County — Frisco, Dillon, Silverthorne

Winter Park

When to go

Getting there

Nonstop to DEN

Nonstop to DEN

Nonstop to DEN

Nonstop to DEN

What it'll cost you