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The cheapest Vail lift ticket is the one you buy early. Vail gives its lowest prices to buyers four or more weeks ahead, and for the 2026/27 season an advance adult ticket starts at $202, against a same-day price of up to $374 on the busiest days. An Epic Day Pass lowers the daily price further, to $118 a day for four days, an Epic Pass pays for itself in about five days of skiing, and pass holders can share Epic Friend Tickets. What you save depends on how many days you ski and whether they fall on a restricted peak date.
What one day costs, and when
Vail prices every date separately and shows a lower advance price beside a higher same-day price. The adult (ages 13 to 64) prices below are for four dates in the 2026/27 season, fees included.
| Date | Adult, advance | Adult, same day |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Nov 13, 2026 (opening day) | $202 | $239 |
| Mon, Dec 28, 2026 (holiday week) | $259 | $374 |
| Tue, Jan 12, 2027 | $209 | $319 |
| Sat, Feb 13, 2027 (Presidents' Day weekend) | $259 | $374 |
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Prices move with the date and how far ahead you buy. Enter your own dates on Vail's lift ticket page for current figures.
The lowest prices go to buyers four or more weeks ahead. A ticket bought seven days ahead saves up to 10 percent off the peak window price, a much smaller discount. Vail limits the number of tickets it sells each day, and popular dates sell out. An unused ticket can be refunded in full if you ask before 5 p.m. Mountain time on the last day it is valid. How much lift tickets cost at Vail covers multi-day tickets, and what a Vail ski trip costs covers the wider budget.
Which Epic product fits your days
| Product | Adult price | What you get at Vail |
|---|---|---|
| Epic 1-Day Pass (restricted) | $144 | One day, with up to 7 days bundled across up to 39 resorts; non-refundable but includes Epic Coverage |
| Epic Day Pass, 4 days, all resorts | $471 ($118 a day) | Any 1 to 7 days, chosen later; adding peak dates costs $85 more |
| Epic Local Pass | $849 (ages 31+) | 10 total days combined with Beaver Creek and Whistler Blackcomb, excluding peak dates |
| Epic Pass | $1,145 (ages 31+) | Unlimited access with no restricted dates |
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Epic prices rise on October 7. Child and young-adult prices are lower; the Epic Local Pass is $445 for ages 5 to 12 and $675 for ages 13 to 17 and 18 to 30, and the Epic Pass is $909 for ages 13 to 30 and $585 for ages 5 to 12.
- A few days at Vail. The Epic Day Pass is built for one to seven days, chosen before the season, and the daily price falls as you add days. It is sold for a limited time and is not offered later in the season. If your dates include a holiday, price the peak-date option.
- Many days. The Epic Local Pass costs less than the Epic Pass but caps Vail at 10 days and blocks November 27 to 28, December 26 to 31, January 16 and February 13 to 14, 2027. Breckenridge and Keystone are unlimited on the Local Pass, so a Local Pass holder can spend most days there and save the Vail days for a few visits. The Epic Pass has no blackout dates, and at $1,145 it costs about what five or six advance tickets do.
- Sharing. Season pass holders can pass on Epic Friend Tickets at up to 50 percent off the window price, and five come with a pass bought during the current sale. Pass holders also get 20 percent off food, lodging, lessons, rentals and Epic Mountain Express through Epic Mountain Rewards. The Epic Pass listing summarizes the products, and epicpass.com has the current terms.
Choose dates around the peaks
The restricted dates above are the clearest sign of when Vail is busiest, because pass access is limited then and same-day prices reach their highest. A midweek day in January costs noticeably less than a holiday week or Presidents' Day weekend, as the table shows. Opening day is November 13 for 2026/27; see when Vail opens for opening details and how long lift lines are at Vail if crowds are part of your decision.
Packages and resellers
If you find a lift ticket in a package or from a reseller, price the same dates on vail.com first and confirm whether the ticket is refundable. Where you sleep changes the total as well: where to stay in Vail on the cheap compares options, and getting from Avon to Vail covers commuting from a cheaper base.
Saving on the rest of the trip
- Parking and buses. Vail's town structures charge $2 an hour after a free first hour in summer, capped at $10 a day. In winter 2025/26 they charged $10 an hour, capped at $30 on non-peak days and $50 on peak days. Entry after 3 p.m. is free in both seasons. The Town of Vail runs free in-town buses all year. Where to park at Vail Ski Resort covers the options.
- Valley buses. Core Transit's Highway 6 route connects Vail, Eagle-Vail, Avon and Edwards and is fare-free, and its Valley Route is fare-free except to or from Gypsum and Eagle County Regional Airport.
- Rentals. Booking rentals online in advance saves up to an extra 20 percent, and Epic Pass holders take 20 percent off through Epic Mountain Rewards. How much ski rentals cost in Vail and the Vail ski rentals directory are the starting points.
If part of your group skips a day on the mountain, what to do in Vail if you do not ski has alternatives.
