Epic vs Ikon Pass Calculator: Which Pays Off?

Epic works at Vail’s resorts, Ikon at Aspen, Jackson Hole, Mammoth and Alta. For 2026/27 an adult Epic Pass is $1,145 and an Ikon Pass $1,449; the Epic Local ($849) and Ikon Base ($1,019) cost less and limit days or dates. Add your resorts and days to see which pays off.

How to use it

Pick up to three resorts and type the days you plan at each. The calculator runs the plan through all four season passes: what each covers, where a day limit or a restricted date bites, and which covers the whole plan for the least. Say who is buying — the skier’s age, and a college student, a service member or a veteran — and each pass shows at that skier’s own price. Tick the box if any of your days fall on the holiday dates. Type the day-ticket price you are quoted to see each pass with tickets for the days it does not cover, and after how many days it pays for itself.

The four passes, 2026/27

Adult prices as the pass pages showed them on October 9, 2026 (Epic counts adults from 31, Ikon from 23; children, teens and young adults pay less — the next table). Epic’s pages had announced a rise on October 7; after it, they showed the same adult prices.

In the passes’ own words: the Epic Pass’s unlimited resorts are open “Every day of the season, including peak dates.” The Epic Local: “Ski or ride a total of 10 days combined at these resorts. Pass Holders will not have access on peak dates.” The Ikon Pass: “Every mountain, the most access, no blackout dates, and every Peak Perk.” The Ikon Base: “Most of the 70+ destinations, limited blackout dates, & select Peak Perks.”

Students, military and kids: what each pass costs them

Each pass’s own price for a skier of that age or group, 2026/27. Epic sells young adults (18–30) its passes at about 20% off — “Introducing new savings for skiers and riders 30 and under — save 20% off the price of an Epic or Epic Local Pass.” — with no student card needed; Ikon’s young-adult price runs from 13 to 22. College students get Ikon’s lower price through a college club: “If you are a college student looking to purchase a pass, please contact a participating club below.” and “The Ikon Pass College Club Program sales will end Dec. 1st, 2026.”

A dash: the page prints no price at that age. The Epic Military Pass is Epic’s own pass for service members — “Epic Military Passes will require verification.” — and it leaves out Telluride and the Canadian Rockies: “Epic Military Passes do NOT include access to the partner resorts listed below.” Ikon’s military prices are its base prices: “Armed forces: active duty, retired (with 20+ years of service), and reserve personnel can purchase on base with a valid military ID.” and “Spouses and dependents are also eligible when presenting a valid dependent military ID.” Online, Ikon says: “When Ikon Pass is available for purchase, discounts are available for active licensed nurses, enrolled college students, plus active duty and retired military personnel in North America (verified by SheerID).” — its pages do not print that discount, so the calculator uses the prices they do print.

Worked examples

Breckenridge 5 days and Park City 3. Epic Local Pass: $849 covers all 8 days — unless a day falls on its peak dates at Park City; then only the Epic Pass covers every day.

Vail 8 days and Whistler 5, with a quoted day ticket of $250. Epic Pass: $1,145 covers all 13 days; the Epic Local stops at 10 days across Vail, Beaver Creek and Whistler.

Aspen Snowmass 10 days and Jackson Hole 4, with a quoted $220. Ikon Pass: $1,449 covers 11 of 14 days: 7 days at Aspen Snowmass, then day tickets.

Three days at Winter Park, with a quoted $180. Day tickets: $540 — less than any pass.

A 20-year-old college student, six days at Aspen Snowmass. Ikon Pass: $949 covers all 6 days — the college-club price, $100 under Ikon’s young-adult $1,049.

An active-duty skier, Breckenridge 5 days and Park City 3. Epic Military Pass: $225 covers all 8 days.

Common mistakes

• Counting days a pass does not give. “Up to 7 days” on the Ikon Pass is 7 at each of those resorts; the Epic Local’s 10 are shared by Vail, Beaver Creek and Whistler together.
• Forgetting the holiday dates. The Epic Local and the Ikon Base are not valid on their restricted dates at the resorts they name — Christmas week and the MLK and Presidents’ Day weekends among them.
• Waiting for a price drop. Pass prices rise through the fall and the passes stop selling before the season.
• Paying the adult price for a young adult. Epic’s adult price starts at 31 and Ikon’s at 23: a 25-year-old pays Epic’s young-adult price.
• Buying through anyone else. Buy on epicpass.com or ikonpass.com (or, for Ikon’s military and college prices, on a participating base or through a club).

Plan the trip

Read the ski trip packing list, things to do in Whistler, Jackson Hole and winter travel destinations. Then size your gear with the ski size calculator, plan the first nights up high with the Altitude Sickness Planner and see your elevation.