Colorado Rockies are one of the best family winter getaway destinations. There is plenty of fun for all family ages, and skiing and snowboarding are the best ways to enjoy snow land. Colorado is fabulous in its ski resorts spread over the state. Various terrain for all abilities, the gorgeous Rocky Mountains vistas, and kid-friendly activities. Planning a ski trip with kids to Colorado may be overwhelming. Your next family ski vacation is influenced by the family holiday period, destination, transportation, and finances.
This Colorado trip planner will help and scramble with you to finish your preparations. It’s like colorado family ski packages, all-inclusive but flexible to your situation. You can literally complete a family ski trip plan after following this planner step by step.
Table of Contents
Best Time to Plan a Ski Trip to Colorado
It snows each month of the winter season in Colorado. But the snowfall varies according to the places in Colorado. Generally speaking, the ski season in Colorado is from late October to late April.
Choose Your Dates Wisely
The better time to go skiing and snowboarding is closer to the middle of the ski season, the high peak. Because the copious snowfall allows you to ski and rides every day during your trip. Likewise, slight snow in the early season may not be enough for slopes. This means you may have a couple days unavailable to ski, or some areas will close as the shortage of snowfall. Similarly, the late-season makes you closer to spring. The snowfall tends to be less and more slushy snow that heavier and wetter than snow in good skiing weather or mid ski season. Skiing in slush can still be fun but requires better ski skills.
As a result, the lodging, rentals, and flight in mid-season are quickly occupied, especially during the weekend and Christmas holidays. The best time to plan a ski vacation in Colorado suggestion a half year early. Not only the vacancy gives you more choices, but the early bird discount will keep your wallet happy.
Side Note: There are Early and Late Season Discounts options. These discounts lower prices and most dates are in the early and late seasons. Therefore, you’re prepared to take a risk on low snowfall.
Most importantly, aim to plan the dates to suit your companions and yourself. One example of this is your schedule and the kid’s school holiday. Some employers may not allow you to take a holiday on Chrismas or weekends. If in good luck, having annual leave and kids’ winter holidays on a Colorado ski trip is the best.
Stay on A Budget
Sometimes, how long your family ski trip is related to your spending.
Budgets are plans. Expense budgets are an essential planning tool for detailed projection and resource allocation. It ensures you don’t slash out on your spending, get debt stressed, and fill with remorse.
Travelling with kids can be expensive. You can set a budget for your family vacation. What this means is not decreasing the joy of your trip. It’s about the balance of cost, value, and finances. The math of the expense budget is elementary. It’s built on common sense and reasonable guesses.
How to Plan Family Ski Trip on A Budget>>
Booking Colorado Ski Vacation Rentals
Accommodation is part of the ski trip’s significant spending that you need to pick with your budget. Colorado is substantial, and many great places worth a visit. Some can skyrocket your budget quickly. Some tend to be slightly cheaper than others. Let’s see where is the skiing places in Colorado, then decide what type of vacation home.
Colorado Ski Resorts Map
Denver is the capital of Colorado, and ski resorts are nearby and even further afield. There are 32 ski resorts in Colorado.
- Aspen
- Vail
- Breckenridge
- Steamboat
- Telluride
- Keystone
- Arapahoe Basin
- Copper Mountain
- Beaver Creek
- Winter Park
- Snowmass Village
- Crested Butte
- Wolf Creek
- Purgatory
- Silverton
- Eldora
- Granby
- Frisco
- Avon
- Mountain Village
- Leadville
- Silverthorne
- Dillon
- Monarch
- Fraser
- Nederland
- Mount Crested Butte
- Minturn
- Montezuma
- Cuchara
- Hesperus
- Ashcroft
View in Colorado Ski Resorts Map>>
Broad range? No worries! Although Colorado is a kid-friendly state, some ski towns provide better service for families. I narrowed it down and selected a list for you.
Where is the best skiing in Colorado>>
Before you book your next vacation home, I would like to share some helpful information about— Kids Ski Free Program. Some ski resorts in Colorado offer kids skiing and snowboarding for free. This means you don’t need to purchase ski passes or lift tickets for kids. It makes family ski trips affordable.
Kids Ski Free standards in different ski resorts are not the same. You can check the complete list below of Kids Skis Free conditions, updated every year.
Kids Ski Free Resorts in Colorado>>
Also, some ski passes combine adult ski passes and child ski passes. About this, I will elaborate in the following section. Let’s finish the ski lodging first.
Colorado Ski Lodge for Families
After exploring the ski resorts, ski towns, and the Kids Ski Free program, a better idea of where you want to visit may be in your mind. Some people think of booking accommodation for ski vacation close to time. In fact, most excellent ski lodging has always been booked out before the season starts with a special price. You can still find some lovely ski lodging when the season starts but won’t get many choices as ‘early bird booking.’
Therefore, booking earlier is the key to getting more accommodation options with a pretty discount price. There is a wide range of lodging in Colorado. No matter what you’re looking for, family-friendly, ski-in/ski-out, world-class, bargain, or airport nearby. I have collected all my and my friends’ experiences to give you accommodation reviews as well as possible.
Colorado Ski Lodging Reviews>>
Get Colorado Lift Tickets and Ski Passes
Lift tickets are necessities for skiing and snowboarding in the mountains. There are many options for the tickets, basically two types, the regular lift tickets and ski pass provided by other companies. Similarly, you can get discounts on lift tickets and pass if you book early.
The regular lift tickets allow you to ski at a particular ski resort. You can get the regular lift tickets at the ski resort’s ticket window or the official website and choose how long you want to ski and ride at the ski resort.
On the other hand, ski passes are like combo tickets. It allows you unlimited access to many ski resorts (The number of ski resorts varies by ski pass company). Sometimes it can be cheaper if you plan to visit different ski resorts.
Previously, I shared the Kids Ski Free program on the last topic of Colorado Ski Vacation Rentals. It’s a program that offers kids of a certain age free to ski and snowboard without lift tickets or ski passes.
Colorado Kids Ski Free Program>>
There is no adult ski free program, but adult ski passes are available in Colorado, such as the Ikon pass, Epic pass, and Power pass.
These 3 ski passes give different offers and coverage. For example, how many ski resorts in the U.S. can unlimited access, and how many free days and countries for skiing or riding. Significantly, Epic pass and Power pass offer free kids passes with a limited age condition. Ikon pass provides a free child pass if you purchase an Ikon adult ski pass.
Side Note: If you plan to go to a ski school, contact the school before purchasing any lift tickets or ski passes. Because they may provide lift tickets for you. Or, you may even don’t need one as you may not use lifts while in the ski lesson.
Organise Your Luggage
Organising luggage for a family trip is a pain, especially a ski trip. You’re not only preparing the regular items for a trip but ski equipment. Besides, if you live in a place don’t have snow, you also need to take time to figure out what to wear in Colorado winter.
Colorado’s four seasons are each beautiful in their own right. But sometimes the weather can be a drastic change over a day, throughout the year. I know parents are always busy. Therefore, I prepare a convenient packing list with tips for a family ski trip in Colorado, totally FREE!
Colorado Family Ski Trip Checklist>>
Prepare Ski Equipment
Ski equipment is requisite for skiing or snowboarding. You can always get your own ski gear if you like. I also have my own piece. However, some people are not sure whether to buy or rent ski gear. They may be ski beginners or have some experience. Most of the time, parents struggle to prepare ski equipment for kids.
When people think about buying or renting ski equipment, they generally think about the price and value. In summary, it depends on your trip length and your budget.
Compare Buy vs Rent Ski Equipment>>
There is so much ski equipment to choose from. Hence, you need to know what’s best for you, whether buying or renting ski equipment. I’m happy to share these experiences of the ski gear my friends, and I used.
Children’s Activities in Snow Season
Colorado ski resorts are kid-friendly. It’s not only skiing and snowboarding, but many activities that families can explore together in the snow season and make the journey remarkable.
Here are fun activities for the family to try in Colorado Winter.
- Skiing—Beginner Tips>>
- Snowmobiling
- Ice Rafting / Ice Tubing
- Ice Sliding
- Snowboarding
- Ice Rafting / Ice Tubing
- Ice Sliding
- Cross-country skiing
- Snowmobiling
- Snowshoeing
- Ice Skating
- Dog sledding
- Hot springs
- Art Activities
Additionally, some restaurants provide tasty foods in Colorado. Give your family a bit foodie journey and get yourself and your family to try the local delicious food outside the ski resorts.
Additional Info: Transportation in Colorado
Here is the transportation information you need when you plan to Colorado. There are 3 ways to travel to Colorado from other states: by plane, train, or car.
Colorado is home to 14 commercial airports. Only one international airport and the others are domestic. The major airports are:
- Denver International Airport (DEN) aka D.I.A.
- Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (C.O.S.)
Riding the train with your little ones to Colorado can be a new experience to see America. Amtrak coach seats are often cheaper than coach seats on a plane, especially if you purchase tickets in advance. But an Amtrak roomette or bedroom will be more expensive than airfare as the price includes meals and private accommodations.
Amtrak Train Schedules and Rates>>
Road trips are a rite of passage. Although road trips with kids may be a challenge for parents, everyone has something during the trip.
Your road trip cost to Colorado depends on which state you start. Gas will be one of your most significant expenses. Finding a gas station with a sweet price may help you stretch your dollars.
Search Gas Prices around You>>
With this in mind, it is crucial to prepare yourself before driving in the snow. Before you embark on the journey:
- Change winter tyres and carry chains.
- Drive slowly and move off in second gear to help reduce wheel slip.
- Maintain a greater braking distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you.
- Wear sunglass to reduce the glare of the low winter sun on the snow.
Travel to Colorado from Overseas
There is 1 international airport in Colorado. After arriving at Denver International Airport (DEN), you can access your accommodation by plane, rail, or shuttle service.
There’s one international airport, Denver International Airport (DEN), aka D.I.A. After arriving at DEN airport, you can take a domestic plane to the ski resort. Then get into the local shuttle or shuttle that your lodging provided.
Denver Airport Rail and Amtrak
If you plan to visit Denver downtown or the ski resort next to Denver, rail is a good way for you. You can get from the airport to Denver Union Station and downtown Denver on any train and bus for $10.50. Check Here>>
From Union Station, you can access regional and local buses, Amtrak rail service, light rail, taxis, and free shuttles (MallRide and MetroRide) to most hotels in Denver downtown.
Check the Denver metro area on The Regional Transportation District (RTD), bus systems, and light rail.
If you plan to visit Winter Park ski resort, hop on the Winter Park Express via Amtrak. The Amtrak runs from Denver’s Union Station to the ski slope of Winter Park Resort from $39 up per person one way.
Shuttle Service from Denver Airport
Shuttle buses ride you to the most popular resort towns daily, including Breckenridge, Vail, Steamboat Springs, etc. Several shuttle companies can take you to the major ski resorts for around $60 per passenger. Additionally, you may get a discount when more people book together.
Side Note: Some hotels offer shuttle services that take you directly from the airport to the accommodation. Please check when you book accommodations.
Taxi
Taking a taxi to your accommodation is an option if you don’t carry large luggage. If the distance is a bit far, I won’t recommend this option.
Budget Tips: Taking Uber or Lyft will be cheaper than a taxi.
International Traveler: Before You Go
You are currently planning to travel to Colorado with a foreign passport. You need to check two things before you go, currency and visa.
The official currency in America is the United States dollar. The symbol is $ (USD). Foreign currency may not accept in most shops in Colorado. So you need to prepare some USD in cash, and better with a credit card available use in America.
If you check the exchange rate earlier, you can exchange at a better rate as the exchange rate changes every day. You can review live currency, transfer, and exchange money online—Click here>>
Don’t forget to contact your credit card company that you’re travelling to Colorado and the dates. Some credit card companies block oversea payment to avoid fraud. So you can tell your credit card company to active oversea payment service and let them know during the period you will use in Colorado.
If you’re not a United States citizen, preparing visas and fees is essential when planning a Colorado trip with kids. People from some countries may be eligible for visa-free travel to the United States. However, you may be refused entry into America if you and your kids don’t have permits. It’s always great to double-check whether you need visas to America or not before you go—Check here>>
Conclusion: Perfect Colorado Itinerary
I hope this planner can help you organise your next Colorado ski trip. Sometimes, people are unsure about should they make family ski vacations because of the cost. There’s an explanation of why family ski trips are worth it—Click here>>
Here is my The Excellent 7 Days Itinerary in Colorado for more Colorado family ski trip inspiration. (Updating)
