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For a visitor, Vail prices almost everything by date. For 2026/27 an adult lift ticket runs from $202 to $374 depending on the day and how far ahead you buy, an adult Epic Pass is $1,145, and short-term rentals in Vail averaged $959 a night over the past year. Parking and taxes add to the total, and hotel and restaurant prices vary with the calendar too. If you are weighing Vail against Aspen, see Aspen vs. Vail for the overall comparison.
Lift tickets: the same day can cost $202 or $374
Vail's lift ticket page sets a price for every date and puts a lower advance price beside a higher same-day price; the lowest prices go to buyers four or more weeks ahead. Vail also limits the number of lift tickets sold each day, and popular dates sell out. A sample of 2026/27 dates, with fees included:
| Date | Adult (13–64), advance | Adult, same day | Child (5–12), advance / same day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, November 13, 2026 | $202 | $239 | $139 / $165 |
| Tuesday, January 12, 2027 | $209 | $319 | $145 / $220 |
| Saturday, January 16, 2027 | $259 | $374 | $179 / $258 |
| Saturday, April 10, 2027 | $256 | $303 | $177 / $209 |
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Buying ahead saves $37 on the November date and $115 on the January Saturday, and it is the clearest lever a visitor controls. How much lift tickets at Vail cost covers multi-day tickets, and how to get cheaper Vail lift tickets covers ways to pay less.
Epic Pass and Epic Day Pass: when a pass beats tickets
The 2026/27 Epic Pass is $1,145 for adults (31 and older), $909 for ages 13 to 30 and $585 for children 5 to 12. Prices step up through the fall sales season, so the earliest purchase is the cheapest. The pass covers every day of the season at Vail, peak dates included, and at $1,145 it equals about 4.4 tickets at $259 or 5.7 at $202. A trip of five or more ski days at those prices points to a pass.
For a shorter trip, Vail sells a restricted Epic 1-Day Pass at $144 for adults. Both the pass and the day pass carry Epic Mountain Rewards, which takes 20 percent off lodging, lessons, rentals and other purchases. The Epic Pass listing summarizes what the pass covers, and what it costs to ski in Vail adds lesson and rental prices.
Lodging: what a night costs
Short-term rentals on Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com in Vail were booked at an average of $959 a night over the twelve months to August 2026, and were occupied 46 percent of the nights they were available, AirDNA reports. That average blends studios with large houses and every season, so a peak-week price for your group could land well above or below it; treat it as a benchmark for how the market prices a night, not a rate.
Hotel rates move with the calendar the same way lift tickets do. Price your dates in more than one place and compare Vail Village, Lionshead and the rest of the valley: the in-town buses and Core Transit routes are free, so a bed outside the villages still reaches the lifts. The Vail hotels directory lists places to compare, and budget lodging ideas covers cheaper stays. Lodging also carries a 1.4 percent Vail Local Marketing District tax on top of sales tax. You can search Vail hotels on Expedia.
Parking: rates by season, and what stays free
The Town of Vail publishes its parking program each fall, and the town's parking page has the current rates. The most recent winter program and this summer's rates:
| Season | Vail Village and Lionshead structures | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Winter 2025-26 (Nov. 14 to April 19) | First hour free, then $10 per hour, capped at $30 on non-peak days and $50 on peak days | $60 |
| Summer 2026 (from May 29) | Under one hour free, then $2 to $10 by duration; $10 for five hours or more | $45 |
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Both seasons keep a "Free After 3" rate for cars entering the Vail Village and Lionshead structures after 3 p.m. The Donovan Park lot offers free day parking, with periodic event closures and no overnight parking from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. The in-town buses between Vail Village and Lionshead are free, as are Core Transit routes across the valley. The town's 2025-26 announcement and summer 2026 announcement carry the full rate tables, and where to park at Vail covers where to leave the car.
Sales tax on top
The Town of Vail's sales tax page gives a combined rate of 9.4 percent, made up of the state's 2.9 percent, Eagle County's 1.0 percent, the town's own 4.5 percent and transportation taxes. The table has been in effect since January 1, 2023.
Meals, activities and the rest
Restaurant prices differ by menu and season, so browse the Vail restaurants directory and compare menus before you book. Free things to do in Vail covers days off the ticket. For how Vail stacks up against its neighbor, read whether Vail or Aspen costs more; the reasons behind the prices are in why Vail is so expensive, and if your real question is about living here, the cost of living guide covers it.
