Ski Resort Parking Reservations: Do You Need One?

Seven of these nine Western ski resorts want a parking reservation on 2026/27 weekend mornings: Alta ($25), Brighton ($25, $10 for 4+), Solitude ($35, free for 4+), Arapahoe Basin ($20, from January 2), Palisades Tahoe (mostly free), Park City Mountain ($29, every day) and Crystal Mountain. Snowbird and Deer Valley need none. Arrive after the morning window and their general lots need none.

How to use it

Pick the resort, your ski day and how many ride in the car. The answer says whether that day needs a parking reservation, for which hours and what it costs your car (a carpool of four or more parks cheaper or free at Brighton, Solitude, Arapahoe Basin and Park City), when that weekend's spots go on sale, and, on a free day, the next day that needs one. Under it, the same day at every other resort, so you can ski where you can still park.

Every day, hour and price comes from the resort's own parking page, read on 2026-10-20. Brighton and Palisades Tahoe print their full list of reservation days; the others give a rule (Fridays to Sundays and holidays between two dates, weekends between two dates, every day of a span), which the planner turns into days. Crystal Mountain has said only this about 2026/27: The 26/27 Winter Parking Reservation plan will remain similar to last year's, with reservations required on Saturdays, Sundays and certain holidays.

Who needs a parking reservation, 2026/27

The days, the morning window and the price of one reservation on a Saturday in January. Outside the window, parking needs none.

At Alta a lift ticket bought online brings the reservation to $10, and Reservations are required daily if you would like to park before 8am. At Brighton: Qualifying Brighton Season Passholders park free via your reusable parking code, any time your pass is valid, but reservations are still required. Snowbird: As long as there are first-come, first-served spaces available, you do not need a reservation to park. Deer Valley: You can park at Snow Park Lodge or Deer Valley East Village, both offering easy access to the resort.

Reservation days per month

How many days each month need one, counted from each resort's list or rule. Crystal Mountain asks on Saturdays and Sundays (its dates are not posted yet); Snowbird and Deer Valley never ask.

When the spots go on sale

• Alta: On sale for 2026/27 since the fall release; more spots every Sunday at 3:00 PM MT for the following weekend or holiday period.
• Brighton: A few spots for the whole season went on sale August 10; each weekend's go on sale the Monday before at 6:00 PM, the rest the day before at 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
• Solitude: Some spots for every date went on sale October 15; more every Sunday at 6:00 PM MT for the following weekend, and a few at 6:00 AM on the day.
• Arapahoe Basin: The first wave goes on sale November 1 at 10:00 AM MT; then every Monday at 2:00 PM MT for the coming weekend.
• Palisades Tahoe: Paid $30 spots for the whole season have been on sale since September 15; the free ones every Tuesday at 12:00 PM and 7:00 PM PT for the coming weekend or holiday period.
• Park City Mountain: Online from early November, until a day sells out, up to when you arrive; five future reservations per account at a time.
• Crystal Mountain: Crystal has not posted its 2026/27 booking dates; last season the system opened November 22 at midnight.

Worked examples

A January Saturday at Alta. Alta, Saturday, January 9, 2027: you need a parking reservation from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM — $25. Arrive after 1:00 PM and you need none. A lift ticket bought online makes it $10; qualifying Alta and Alta-Bird passholders reserve free. The weekly release for that weekend: Sunday, January 3, 2027 at 3:00 PM MT.

Martin Luther King Day at Brighton with four in the car. Brighton, Monday, January 18, 2027: you need a parking reservation before 12:00 PM — $10 for a 4+ carpool. Arrive after 12:00 PM and you need none. A 4+ carpool is checked on arrival; Brighton season passholders park free with their parking code. The weekly release for that weekend: Monday, January 11, 2027 at 6:00 PM MT.

A December Saturday at Arapahoe Basin. Arapahoe Basin, Saturday, December 19: no parking reservation needed yet. Arapahoe Basin’s reservations start Saturday, January 2, 2027: Saturdays and Sundays from January 2 to May 2, from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The first wave goes on sale November 1 at 10:00 AM MT; then every Monday at 2:00 PM MT for the coming weekend.

Presidents’ Day weekend at Palisades Tahoe. Palisades Tahoe, Saturday, February 13, 2027: you need a parking reservation before 1:00 PM — free, or $30 booked ahead. Arrive after 1:00 PM and you need none. Free if you get one in the Tuesday release; $30 to book it ahead. No carpool rule: everyone in the car rides on one reservation. Paid $30 spots for the whole season have been on sale since September 15; the free ones every Tuesday at 12:00 PM and 7:00 PM PT for the coming weekend or holiday period.

Common mistakes

• Getting to Alta before 8 AM on a free weekday. Reservations are required daily if you would like to park before 8am.
• Thinking a full car parks free without booking. At Solitude: On reservation days before 11:00 a.m., parking is free for vehicles with 4 or more people. A free parking reservation is required. At Arapahoe Basin: Vehicles with four or more people are still required to have a reservation, but the reservation is free. At Park City: Free carpool parking is available in the First Time lot for vehicles with 4+ occupants and an advanced reservation
• Arriving early at Park City to beat the window. A reservation is required for any vehicle that is present in one of these lots between 8:30 am and 12:00 pm, regardless of the time the vehicle arrived.
• Not cancelling a reservation you will not use. At Alta: Your first no-show is a warning. After that, a $100 fee applies for each no-show At Arapahoe Basin: You must do so by 9:00 A.M. MST the morning of your reservation or you are subject to violation and fees. At Palisades Tahoe: If you do not cancel by 9am PST on the day of your reservation, initial violations are $100.
• Parking without one. The fine for parking without a reservation will be $150 Violations are $200 with a $100 discount if paid within 10 days.
• Sleeping in the Brighton lot. The parking lot is closed 12am – 7am daily to allow for overnight lot grooming.
• Booking Snowbird when you do not need to. The majority of parking at Snowbird is free. Remaining spots in preferred parking lots, reserved lots and paid parking lots will open at 1 pm to afternoon guests as free parking.

Questions people ask

When are Alta parking reservations required?

Fridays to Sundays and holiday periods from 8 AM to 1 PM, from December 11, 2026 to April 4, 2027, and on closing day, April 25. The holiday periods are December 18 to January 3, January 18 and February 15. A reservation is $25 a day, or $10 with a lift ticket bought online; parking before 8 AM needs one every day.

How much are Brighton parking reservations?

$25 for a car with 1 to 3 people before noon Friday to Sunday and on holidays, and $10 for 4 or more (checked on arrival). Monday to Thursday and after 12 PM it is free. Brighton season passholders park free with their parking code but still need the reservation.

When do Solitude parking reservations open?

Some spots for every date went on sale October 15, 2026 at 8:00 AM MT; more go on sale every Sunday at 6:00 PM MT for the following weekend, and a few at 6:00 AM on the day. They are needed in the Moonbeam lot before 11 AM Fridays to Sundays and holidays from December 18 to March 28: $35 a car, free for 4 or more.

Do you need Snowbird parking reservations?

No. Snowbird: "As long as there are first-come, first-served spaces available, you do not need a reservation to park." Most of its parking is free; a paid reserved spot is optional, its 2026/27 prices are not posted yet, and carpool-only spots wait for 3 or more people.

Are Crystal Mountain parking reservations required on weekdays?

Not on ordinary weekdays: Crystal asks on Saturdays, Sundays and certain holidays, before noon, and says its 2026/27 plan will be similar to last year's. Last season's holidays were December 26 to January 2, Martin Luther King Day and Presidents' Day; Monday to Friday otherwise needed none.

When do Arapahoe Basin parking reservations start?

On Saturday, January 2, 2027, and then every Saturday and Sunday to May 2, from 6 AM to 1 PM: $20 a car, free for 4 or more (still booked). The first wave goes on sale November 1 at 10:00 AM MT, then every Monday at 2:00 PM MT for the coming weekend.

Are Palisades Tahoe parking reservations free?

Most are: "The vast majority of spots that require a reservation are FREE." The free ones are released every Tuesday at 12:00 PM and 7:00 PM for the coming weekend or holiday period; a paid spot booked ahead is $30. They are needed on weekends and holidays from December 5 to April 11, before 1 PM.

How much is a Park City parking reservation?

$29 a day in the Mountain Village lots from December 5 to April 3, needed every day between 8:30 AM and 12 PM; free but booked from November 20 to December 4; free in the First Time lot for 4 or more, booked ahead. The Mountain Village garage is $50. Canyons Village needs no reservation.

Read next

Packing first: the ski trip packing checklist. Staying in the city for the Cottonwood Canyons: the best spots in Salt Lake City. Driving up: winter road trips and the gear that keeps them safe. More cold-season trips: the best winter destinations.