If you want to ski Telluride without blowing your budget, it helps to plan ahead, be flexible, and take advantage of affordable options. Here are some insider tips that can help you manage cost and make smart choices while having an amazing time in the San Juan Mountains this winter.
Book Lodging in Nearby Ridgway
Just down the road from Telluride and within 45 minutes of the ski mountain is Ridgway, with lower price options for hotels, motels and lodges. In addition to nightly room rates being lower than in Telluride proper, cost of food and dining in restaurants can be more affordable overall. Room availability may also be better in nearby Ridgway during peak times.
Check out our newly renovated and updated Chipeta Lodge Resort + Spa, here in Ridgway. Under new ownership, this boutique resort has many suite-style rooms and a charming Southwestern mountain vibe. Overnight stays include complimentary breakfast, access to a heated outdoor swimming pool, communal hot tubs, and has a spa on property. The lodge is also dog-friendly and welcomes your pet in style!
Guests can dine in the evenings at Chipeta Lodge White Buffalo Restaurant + Bar which offers dinner service and “Happiness Hour” with craft cocktails, and local seasonal fare, served with sunset views. Their rooftop deck provides some of the most stunning panoramic views of the San Juan Mountains and the surrounding landscape.
Use the Epic Pass or Related Pass Deals
Telluride is part of the Epic Pass network. If you already own an Epic Pass (or an Epic-Adaptive Pass or All-Resort Access multi-day Epic pass), you get several days at Telluride without needing to buy full price lift tickets. Once your included days are used, additional lift tickets for Epic Pass holders can be purchased at a discounted price (often 20-50% off the window).
Buy your ski pass early directly from Telluride Ski Resort (before the early-bird deadlines) when discounted rates are available. If you’re a frequent skier and have plans to ski multiple Epic resorts, be sure to purchase early and take advantage of best rates and extra perks. If you plan on skiing multiple resorts or more than a few days, a pass can pay off significantly.
Get Early-Bird Lift Tickets / Early-Season Passes
Telluride puts early-season passes and early lift tickets on sale before the season starts. These are cheaper than buying at peak season. Lock in prices now if possible, before the season starts. Even if you’re not 100% sure of your dates, getting a discounted pass or ticket in advance is often much cheaper. Watch for “locals’ deals” or “swap” events where passes are sold at lower rates. Historically, Telluride has run a “ski swap / locals’ preseason sale” offering discounts.
Lodging Hacks
Accommodations for a Telluride vacation during ski season can be one of the biggest expenses. Here are ways to make it more affordable:
- Book for 4+ consecutive room nights. Many hotels and lodges offer discounts for stays of four nights or more. Smaller resort hotels in neighboring towns like Ridgway, can provide excellent options for longer stays, with luxury amenities like heated pools, hot tubs, and complimentary breakfast.
- Be flexible with location. Staying in Mountain Village or Telluride town close to lifts is great but tends to cost much more. Staying a bit further away (but still accessible via shuttle, gondola or car) or in a condo rather than a luxury lodge should save you money.
- Share lodging with friends. Splitting your lodging, sharing hotel rooms with friends, or buying a room block with a larger group of friends, can reduce per-person lodging cost significantly. Chipeta Lodge Resort + Spa in Ridgway has 33 unique guest rooms and suites to accommodate couples, friend groups, and families. Even dogs are welcome.
- Book in the shoulder seasons (just before the busy holiday window or after peak) when lodging rates are lower.
- Look for lodging specials online and especially look for “ski and stay” packages. These are usually packages that include discounted ski tickets for each night you book at a hotel or lodge. Other ski packages may include equipment rental or shuttle transportation. Chipeta Lodge Resort + Spa offers an annual ski package that includes special rates on Telluride ski passes.
Transportation & Travel Savings
- Fly into less expensive regional airports, if possible. Montrose (MTJ) is often cheaper than flying directly into Telluride (TEX). From there, shuttle or drive.
- Use shuttle services or group transportation rather than renting a car if you don’t need one full time.
- Carpool if you can, share fuel and lodging costs among more people.
- Bring your own gear if possible (skis, boots, layers) to avoid high rental costs, or reserve rental equipment in advance (often cheaper). If traveling a far distance, consider shipping equipment ahead, to avoid risk of equipment loss due to airline error. This also ensures luggage is not delayed or lost and you can hit the slopes as soon as you arrive.
Off-Peak & Midweek
Avoid weekends and peak holiday periods. Midweek lift tickets and lodging are often significantly cheaper. Ski in early season (November or early December) or late season (March, April) when snow is still excellent but rates are lower and crowds are thinner.
Be aware of blackout dates for ski passes. Sometimes your pass or deals won’t apply during holidays or high-demand periods. Know the limitations of your pass and what’s included. Check out parking options and be smart about carpooling to the mountain.
Eat & Drink In Town
Avoid buying everything on the mountain where peak pricing is usually in effect. Dining locally at independent restaurants and bars helps support the local economy and often helps reduce your cost of food.
Try smaller restaurants and bars, and the establishments where locals hang out. These can be more affordable, with simpler or shorter menus but food that is every bit as good as the larger establishments that cater solely to the tourists. Try the local cafes in surrounding towns like Ridgway. Look for hidden gems where locals hang out, like White Buffalo Restaurant + Bar in Ridgway. Open 7 days a week during ski season.
What’s Changing / Watch-Outs for This Season
Telluride has eliminated some senior discounts and some of the lower-tier passes. This means fewer “cheap” senior or budget-tier options; be sure to check current pass structures. Be careful about blackout dates and pass restrictions. What looks like a good deal might be unusable during holidays or peak days.
Check snow forecasts and opening dates. If early season snow is delayed, some terrain may be closed, and you may find yourself in long lines waiting to ski just a few select open runs. The same applies to spring ski season; if snow ends early some lifts and terrain will close early.
Lodging promotions often have cut-offs or blackout periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year’s Day, Presidents’ Day, etc.). Those nights will usually command the highest prices. Read the fine print and understand the limitations of the offer.
You Can Ski Telluride For Less
Telluride is a luxury ski destination with some of the best ski terrain in the US, and often thought of as one of the most beautiful ski mountains in the world. The beauty, the views, the terrain are generally thought to be worth the cost. But if you need to rein in the cost, you can plan smart—use passes like Epic, lock in early deals, pick lodging and dates wisely, manage your daily costs, share when possible—and you can ski Telluride within your own budget.
Try staying down the road in Ridgway where more modest hotels and lodges, and independent shops and restaurants, may fit better with your budget. Some of the hidden gems in Ridgway, like Chipeta Lodge Resort + Spa, come with premium amenities but at a more affordable cost that reflects its off-mountain location. With both a spa and restaurant on property guests get more for their money.
