Disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices on this page are typical estimates checked in October 2026; the official or booking site always has the current price.
Status update, October 21, 2026.
- Ski season hasn't started yet. Arapahoe Basin, Copper Mountain, Keystone and Loveland were all making snow by mid-October (Denver Gazette). Keystone is selling lift tickets for Saturday, October 24, but told the Steamboat Pilot it had no official opening date. A-Basin's site says it will open as soon as it can (A-Basin), and Loveland is aiming for late October or early November (Loveland). Set dates so far: Breckenridge and Copper on November 6, Vail on November 13, Steamboat on November 21, Beaver Creek on November 25, and Aspen Mountain and Snowmass on November 26 (Vail Resorts, Colorado Ski Country USA).
- Monarch Mountain is selling $99 flex lift tickets online from October 30 to November 2. They have no blackout dates, so they work on weekends and holidays too (Denver Gazette).
Resorts at a glance
| Resort | Drive from Denver* | Pass | 2026-27 opening | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loveland | About 1 hr | Own passes | Late Oct to early Nov (target) | Value, short drive |
| Eldora | About 1 hr 15 min | Ikon | Not yet announced | Avoiding I-70 |
| Arapahoe Basin | About 1 hr 20 min | Ikon | As soon as conditions allow | Strong skiers, long season |
| Keystone | About 1 hr 30 min | Epic | ASAP in October | Families, beginners |
| Copper Mountain | About 1 hr 30 min | Ikon | Nov 6 | Mixed-ability groups |
| Winter Park | About 1 hr 30 min | Ikon | As soon as conditions allow | Bumps, ski train |
| Breckenridge | About 1 hr 45 min | Epic | Nov 6 | Big mountain plus a real town |
| Vail / Beaver Creek | About 2 hr+ | Epic | Nov 13 / Nov 25 | Destination trip, stay a night |
*Typical estimates with no traffic, from downtown Denver (Denver Tourism Guide). Weekend traffic can double them. Opening dates come from Vail Resorts, Colorado Ski Country USA and Loveland, and they always depend on the weather.
Resort by resort
Loveland
Loveland sits at I-70 exit 216, at the east end of the Eisenhower Tunnel, so it's the shortest drive up the interstate. It's independent, belonging to neither Epic nor Ikon. There's no village and parking is free, and the terrain runs up into high bowls along the Continental Divide. Beginners start at Loveland Valley, which has a new surface carpet lift for 2026-27. The No Restrictions 4-Pak costs $299 for four lift tickets with no blackout dates, about $75 a day, though it's only sold for a limited time. An adult season pass was listed at $639. (Loveland)
Eldora
Eldora sits above Nederland, about 21 miles west of Boulder. It's the one sizable ski area near Denver that you reach without touching I-70, which helps on weekends, when I-70 backs up. It's smaller than the Summit County resorts and can be windy. It's on the Ikon Pass, and RTD runs buses up from Boulder in season. (Denver Tourism Guide)
Arapahoe Basin
A-Basin is celebrating its 80th season, with $80 lift tickets on Wednesdays this winter (CSCUSA). Its base sits around 10,800 feet and much of the terrain is above treeline, so it's a mountain for confident skiers rather than first-timers. It often opens early and stays open late into spring. The direct route goes over Loveland Pass (11,990 feet), which can close in storms. It's on the Ikon Pass.
Keystone
Keystone, just past Dillon, is often the first resort in North America to open, and for 2026-27 Vail Resorts is again aiming for October. It suits families, with long, gentle runs from the top of the front mountain. It's on the Epic Pass.
Copper Mountain
Copper sits right next to I-70 at exit 195, and its terrain naturally splits into easier, middle and steeper areas, which makes it easy for groups of different abilities. World Cup racing returns November 28-29, 2026, fifty years after Copper first hosted it. It's on the Ikon Pass and opens November 6.
Winter Park
Winter Park, with Mary Jane and its moguls, is reached over Berthoud Pass on US 40, which skips the Eisenhower Tunnel. It's the only resort near Denver with a train to the base, the Amtrak Winter Park Express. It's on the Ikon Pass, and this season it's expanding its snowmaking.
Breckenridge
Breckenridge spreads across several peaks above a Victorian gold-rush town, and the free BreckConnect Gondola links town to the base areas. You can do it as a day trip, but it's better with at least one night, because parking is limited and the Sunday drive home is the worst on I-70. It's on the Epic Pass and opens November 6.
Vail and Beaver Creek
Both are Epic resorts about two hours or more west of Denver over Vail Pass. Vail's terrain includes the large Back Bowls. Book a night or two instead of trying to do either as a day trip. Vail opens November 13 and Beaver Creek November 25.
Farther out: Steamboat (Ikon, opens November 21) and Aspen Snowmass (Aspen Mountain and Snowmass open November 26) are destination trips. For getting there, see our Aspen guide and airport rides.
Epic, Ikon or lift tickets?
- Epic (Vail Resorts): Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, Beaver Creek, and Crested Butte farther afield.
- Ikon (Alterra and partners): Winter Park, Copper, Arapahoe Basin, Eldora and Steamboat, plus a limited number of Aspen Snowmass days on the full pass (Ikon Pass).
- Loveland: its own season pass and the 4-Pak.
For one or two ski days, buy lift tickets online well in advance. Prices change by date, and window prices at the big resorts are the most expensive way to ski. For four or more days at one company's resorts, a pass or multi-day product usually comes out cheaper. Choose the mountain first, then the pass.
Skiing without a car
- Snowstang is the state-run ski bus from Denver to A-Basin, Breckenridge, Copper and Loveland on weekends and holidays. In 2025-26 a round trip was $25 for adults. The 2026-27 schedule hadn't been announced when we checked. (Bustang, Denver Tourism Guide)
- The Winter Park Express is Amtrak's ski train from Union Station to the base of Winter Park. In 2025-26 it ran December 19 to March 29, with fares from $9 one way. It's returning for 2026-27, but dates and fares haven't been published yet.
- Bustang, Pegasus and the free Summit Stage buses run from Union Station to Frisco, Vail and Avon, and free local buses go on to Keystone, Breckenridge and Copper.
- Shared and private shuttles from DEN go straight to the ski towns. Compare them on our Breckenridge and Vail shuttle page and airport ski shuttles.
Driving I-70 in winter
Head west before about 6 a.m. on weekends and come back early or after dinner. The eastbound slowdown on Saturday and Sunday afternoons is the worst. From September 1 to May 31, Colorado's traction law applies on I-70 between Dotsero and Morrison: AWD and 4WD vehicles need rated tires with at least 3/16-inch tread, and 2WD vehicles have to carry chains or an approved traction device. Read our traction law guide before you pick up a rental, and book AWD if you can.
Ski tours and shuttles
Guided ski days from Denver bundle transportation, and some include lift tickets and rentals, so nobody has to drive I-70. Non-skiers can book snowshoe and tubing trips instead. We compare them, with prices, on our winter and ski day tours page. For fall and early-winter ideas, see best tours for fall and winter 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest ski resort to Denver?
Loveland is the shortest drive up I-70, about an hour with no traffic at exit 216. Eldora is about an hour and 15 minutes via Boulder and avoids I-70 entirely.
Which ski resorts near Denver are on the Ikon Pass?
Winter Park, Copper Mountain, Arapahoe Basin and Eldora, plus Steamboat farther away. The full Ikon Pass also includes a limited number of Aspen Snowmass days.
Which ski resorts near Denver are on the Epic Pass?
Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail and Beaver Creek.
When do Colorado ski resorts open for 2026-27?
Keystone is aiming for as soon as possible in October. Breckenridge and Copper are set for November 6, Vail for November 13 and Beaver Creek for November 25. A-Basin, Winter Park and Loveland will open as soon as conditions allow, and Loveland is targeting late October to early November.
Can you ski from Denver without a car?
Yes. Snowstang buses serve A-Basin, Breckenridge, Copper and Loveland on weekends and holidays, the Winter Park Express train goes to Winter Park, and Bustang plus the free Summit Stage buses reach Summit County resorts. Shuttles and guided ski tours also run from Denver and DEN.
Sources are linked in the text. We check them when we update the page, but rules, dates and prices change, so confirm with the official source before you go.