How Much Does a Week in Steamboat Cost?

A Real Family’s Breakdown + Tips to Save Big on Your Ski Trip

Thinking about planning a ski trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado with your family? We just wrapped up a week-long adventure with two adults and two kids—and let’s just say: it added up quickly. But along the way, we picked up some money-saving tips, made some amazing memories, and figured out what we’d do differently next time.

Here’s a full breakdown of what we spent, what we learned, and how you can plan your own trip with eyes wide open.

---

🎟️ Lift Tickets & Passes

We bought four 4-day IKON passes (2 adults + 2 kids) for $1,756 total. These were purchased on December 12, just before skiing and actually on the last day you could buy a 4-day pass.

2025 IKON & EPIC Pass Pricing (Early Season):

IKON Pass (Early Pricing)

• $1,329/adult
• $369/child (ages 5–12)
• Unlimited access to:
  • Steamboat, Copper, Eldora, Winter Park, Arapahoe Basin
  • 7 days at Aspen

EPIC Pass

• $1,051/adult
• $537/child
• Unlimited access to:
  • Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte
  • 7 days at Telluride

💡 What We Wish We Knew Sooner:
If your child is doing ski school, you can buy a daily lift ticket for just $10 per day (added on top of the ski lesson price).
So instead of buying a full IKON pass for the kids, we could’ve just bought two 4-day adult IKON passes and added $10/day lift tickets for the kids on the two days they did ski lessons.
That would’ve saved us a few hundred dollars.

---

⛷️ Ski School: Possibly Worth It (and Also Pricey)

We signed both kids up for 2 full-day ski lessons, which ran from 8:45 AM to 2:45 PM and cost $1,815.60 total (including $10/day lift tickets). That’s nearly $460 per kid per day, so it’s no small expense.

But here’s the upside:

• Kids are tagged and tracked, giving you peace of mind if they wander off.
• While they’re in lessons, you get 5–6 hours of uninterrupted ski time.
• We used that window to crush runs—we did 25 trails and 11,880 vertical feet in one day without the kids.

When skiing with kids, by comparison, we managed about 18 trails and 7,343 feet, still great, but you’ll spend more time on greens and take more breaks.

Parent Pro Tip: The last hour of the day (around 3–4 PM) is a great time to meet back up and ski with your kids after their lessons. The hill stays open until around 4 PM, and most lifts close by 3:15–3:30 PM.

---

🥾 Gear Rentals

We rented skis for two kids + helmets, and one adult ski set from Outpost Sunsport in Fort Collins.

• Total cost: $693.68
  • Kids: $30/day
  • Adult: $40/day
  • Weekly rentals typically give you a free bonus day
  • Season rental packages (if you plan to ski often): $200–$350 per adult – BUT time sensitive, must be done in the fall

Tip: If you’re skiing for a full week or more than once per season, check out seasonal rentals in the fall—they’re usually a better deal.

---

🍔 Food & Eating on the Mountain

We packed lunches for 3 out of 4 Steamboat ski days and it saved a bunch.

On-mountain food prices:

• Steamboat (lodge lunch):
  • 2 burgers + fries, Snickers, Peace Tea = $73.54
• Snowy Range:
  • 3 burgers, chicken fingers, 3 Powerades, salad = $74

Thunderhead Lodge and Rendezvous Lodge at Steamboat are both great spots to grab a bite or warm up, even if you’re bringing your own food.

Total Weekly Food Budget:

• Frugal route (cook breakfast/dinner, pack lunch): ~$250
• Eating out frequently: $1,000+ easily for a family of 5

Tip: Most condos and Airbnbs have kitchens—use them. Prepping a few meals goes a long way on savings.

---

❄️ Bonus Day Trip: Snowy Range, WY

We took a one-day detour to Snowy Range Ski Area in Wyoming—just 1.5 to 1.75 hours from Fort Collins.

• Lift tickets for 4: $200 total ($50/person)
• Lunch for 4: $74
• Smaller mountain, smaller crowds, great for a relaxed day.

Pro Tip: If you’re in Steamboat for a week, one day at Snowy Range as a tune up prior to going to Steamboat is a great way to help make your Steamboat days amazing.

---

🏡 Lodging

We were lucky to stay with family, which saved us thousands. But if you’re paying out-of-pocket:

Lodging Cost Estimates:

• Budget Hotel: ~$150/night
  • 6 nights = ~$900–$1,500 (depending on occupancy rules)
• Airbnb: Ranges from $1,500/week on the low end to $5,000+ for large or ski-in/ski-out properties.

Tip: Book early and avoid peak weeks (Christmas, Presidents Day, spring break) for better deals.

---

🧮 Trip Cost Summary

Category	Estimated Cost
4-Day IKON Passes (x4)	$1,756
Ski School (2 kids, 2 days)	$1,815.60
Gear Rentals	$693.68
Steamboat Food (mix of packed + lodge)	~$300
Groceries/Dining Out	$250–$1,000
Lodging (budget hotel or Airbnb)	$1,500+
Total Estimate	$6,314 – $7,064+

---

🎯 Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?

Skiing at Steamboat is unreal—gorgeous views, high-quality runs, and a family-friendly mountain vibe. But it’s also pricey, especially with kids in the mix.

If we did it again, here’s how we’d optimize:

• Buy IKON passes early (or just passes for adults)
• Use $10 lift tickets during ski school days
• Rent gear seasonally
• Pack lunches + cook dinners
• Consider a day or two at a smaller resort like Snowy Range and spend a couple of days site seeing in Steamboat

With a little planning, you can cut thousands off your trip—and still make the most of the mountain.

---

Got questions about planning your Steamboat trip?
Drop them in the comments, or shoot me a message—happy to help!