Direct Flights to Ski Resorts

In the past, taking a ski vacation usually began with a lengthy car trip through the mountains from your home to the ski resort. In recent years, airports near ski resorts have upgraded facilities and expanded airline service to accommodate the larger planes of major airlines. Ticket prices are becoming more and more affordable in the competitive marketplace, and skiers and snowboarders are taking advantage.

There are several ski resorts in the United States that have airports nearby with non-stop and/or direct flights to ski resorts from big cities. Popular destinations like Aspen Snowmass, Jackson Hole, Mammoth and Telluride have airports just outside of town within 15 minutes (or less) from the slopes. These airports are smaller but have several flights arriving daily from destinations like Denver, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Seattle.

Catch a direct flight to one of these airports near a ski resort and you'll be on the lifts in no time.
Catch a direct flight to one of these airports near a ski resort and you’ll be on the lifts in no time.

Time vs. Money

Choosing direct flights to ski resorts ultimately comes down to a time-versus-money debate. Airline tickets to ski destinations can be costly, but it can save you lots of travel time and maximize your time on the mountain. For example, a flight to Denver would result in about a three- to four-hour drive to get to parts of the mountains (not all). You’d need to arrange transportation from the Denver airport, which would involve either a car rental or paid transportation through a shuttle service like Summit Express. In contrast, a direct flight from Denver to Aspen is about 30 minutes and downtown Aspen is only a five-minute drive from the Aspen airport.

Below, we take a closer look at the top airports that offer direct flights to ski resorts. We’ll tell you how far each airport is from the ski area, and what airlines service it. We’ll also dig into some of the major connecting hubs along with other tips that can save you money on flights. Here are the top airports near ski resorts with direct flights.

Aspen Snowmass, Colorado

The closest airport to a ski resort is the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport just outside of the town of Aspen. In fact, the airport is near to four area ski resorts. Buttermilk, home of the Winter X Games, is right next to the airport. The airport is about five miles from the Aspen Mountain gondola in downtown Aspen. It is also less than five miles from Aspen Highlands and only about six miles from Snowmass.

During skis season, Aspen-Pitkin County Airport has daily nonstop flights from Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and San Francisco. The airport is serviced by American, Delta and United Airlines.

Telluride, Colorado

Telluride has two nearby airports for those looking to ski or snowboard in southwestern Colorado. First, Telluride Regional Airport is only about 10 miles from the popular vacation town and epic ski resort. The airport has nonstop flights from Denver during ski season from Boutique Air and United Airlines.

Montrose-Telluride Regional Airport is bout 75 miles from town and the ski resort and presents a greater number of nonstop flights. During ski season, the airport has daily nonstop flights from Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Newark, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and San Francisco. Airlines offering service include Allegiant, American, Delta and United Airlines.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Skiers and snowboarders looking to escape to Jackson Hole for some powder therapy can fly directly to Jackson Hole Airport on either American, Delta and United Airlines. The airport is about 20 miles from the ski resort the town of Jackson, and offers daily nonstop flights from Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Newark, New York-JFK, Salt Lake City and Seattle during ski season.

Sun Valley, Idaho

Skiing or snowboarding at Sun Valley Resort in Idaho is easy with a convenient flight to Friedman Memorial Airport, only 15 miles from the ski area. The airport has incoming flights daily during ski season from several U.S. cities: Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle. Carriers with flights to the airport during ski season include Delta, United and Alaska Airlines.

Mammoth Mountain, California

Big adventure awaits at Mammoth Mountain in California, where skiers and snowboarders can get on the slopes with easy by flying directly to Mammoth Yosemite Airport. The airport is about 30 minutes from Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and just 10 miles from the beautiful mountain town of Mammoth Lakes. There are daily nonstop flights during the ski season from Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco courtesy of Alaska Airlines and United.

Beaver Creek, Vail and Summit County, Colorado

Eagle County Regional Airport presents amazing access to several ski resorts in Colorado. The airport is only about 40 miles from epic skiing and snowboarding Beaver Creek and Vail, and just under an hour to Copper Mountain. Three other ski areas in Summit County – Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge and Keystone – are about an hour drive from the airport. (In comparison, Denver International Airport is over two-and-a-half hours from these ski resorts.)

Several airlines service the airport, including Air Canada, American, Delta and United Airlines. During ski season, nonstop flights arrive daily from Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York (JFK), Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Washington D.C.

Perfectly groomed corduroy awaits at one of these epic ski resorts only a short drive from the airport.
Perfectly groomed corduroy awaits at one of these epic ski resorts only a short drive from the airport.

Big Sky and Bridger Bowl, Montana

It’s easy to get away for some breathtaking skiing and snowboarding at Big Sky and Bridger Bowl in Montana. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is about 40 miles from Bridger Bowl and 50 miles from Big Sky.

The airport has daily nonstop arrivals during ski season from Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Newark, New York-LaGuardia, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle. It is serviced by Alaska Airlines, American, Delta and United Airlines.

Stowe and Smuggler’s Notch, Vermont

Hit the East Coast for skiing and snowboarding with a direct flight to Burlington International Airport in Vermont. The airport is about 50 miles from Stowe Mountain Resort, a New England favorite. Smugglers’ Notch outside of the town of Cambridge, Vermont, is just about an hour from the airport.

Burlington International Airport has daily nonstop flights from Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, New York, Philadelphia, Toronto and Washington D.C. during ski season. Airlines offering service include American, Delta, jet Blue, Porter and United Airlines.

Alpine Meadows and Palisades Tahoe, California

Skiing and snowboarding at Lake Tahoe is only a short flight from several U.S. cities. Reno-Tahoe International Airport is the closest airport to skiing at Alpine Meadows and Palisades Tahoe in California. Both ski resorts are about 50 miles from the airport.

During ski season, the airport has daily nonstop flights from Austin, Boise, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York-JFK, Oakland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and San Jose. Airlines offering service include Alaska Airlines, American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest and United Airlines.

Crested Butte and Monarch Mountain, Colorado

The Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is about 45 minutes from Monarch Mountain and 55 miles from Crested Butte Mountain Resort. The airport is one mile southwest of the town of Gunnison. Major airlines include American, United and United Express with nonstop flights from Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver and Houston.

Park City and Deer Valley, Utah

The largest airport near ski resorts is the Salt Lake City International Airport. The airport is less than an hour away from 10 ski resorts, including favorites like Alta, Deer Valley, Park City and Solitude. Alaska Airlines, American, Delta, Frontier, jet Blue, Southwest and United Airlines offer daily non-stop arrivals from most major U.S. cities.

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