How to Purchase Ski Tickets at King Soopers

Ever walked past the gift card rack at King Soopers and assumed those ski ticket vouchers were a gimmick? They're not. Knowing how to buy ski tickets King Soopers sells can cut your lift ticket costs by 10% to 40% — and that adds up fast when you're hitting the slopes multiple times a season. If you're part of the skiing community in Colorado, this program is one of the easiest money-savers you're probably not using yet. This guide covers exactly how the program works, which resorts participate, what to avoid, and how to build it into a long-term budget strategy.

King Soopers is a Kroger-owned grocery chain with hundreds of locations across Colorado, Wyoming, and surrounding states. Over the years it's built direct partnerships with several major Colorado ski resorts to sell discounted lift tickets right in-store. Most skiers drive straight past their local King Soopers on the way to the mountain — then pay full gate price, which can top $225 or more per person per day. That's real money left on the table every single trip.

Whether you're planning a solo day, taking the kids for the first time, or trying to squeeze more ski days out of a tight budget, this guide has everything you need. By the time you finish reading, you'll have a clear, repeatable plan for getting more days on the mountain without overpaying.

What the King Soopers Ski Ticket Program Actually Is

The King Soopers ski ticket program isn't a coupon deal or a flash sale. It's a direct partnership between Kroger (King Soopers' parent company) and participating ski resorts. The resorts agree to sell their tickets through King Soopers at a reduced price, and those savings pass straight to you at the register. No rebate forms. No waiting. Just a lower price.

How the Program Works

The process is straightforward. Here's what happens step by step:

1. Head to your local King Soopers customer service desk. Some stores also stock tickets near the gift card display.
2. Ask for ski tickets for your chosen resort — or browse what's in the rack.
3. Pay in full at the register.
4. Receive a voucher or pre-loaded ticket card to present at the resort window.
5. Exchange your voucher for a lift ticket or RFID card when you arrive at the mountain.

The discount is already baked into the price you pay at King Soopers. Savings typically range from $20 to $75 per ticket depending on the resort, the day type (weekday vs. weekend), and the season. Your Kroger Plus Card also earns Fuel Points on ski ticket purchases — a small but genuine bonus on top of the savings.

Which Resorts Participate

Participation shifts from season to season, but King Soopers has historically carried tickets for these Colorado ski areas:

• Arapahoe Basin (A-Basin) — One of the most consistent participants, famous for its long season extending into spring
• Loveland Ski Area — A budget skier's favorite; often the deepest discount per ticket
• Ski Cooper — Small, uncrowded, and ideal for families with young kids or beginners
• Eldora Mountain Resort — Popular with the Front Range crowd near Boulder
• Winter Park Resort — A larger resort that occasionally joins the program with limited ticket inventory

Always confirm with your local store before making the drive. Inventory changes, and popular weekend tickets sell out before you'd expect.

Pro tip: Call your nearest King Soopers customer service desk before making a special trip — peak holiday weekend tickets sell out faster than most people realize, sometimes weeks in advance.

What You Need Before You Buy Ski Tickets at King Soopers

Getting set up takes about five minutes the first time. After that, buying tickets is as quick as picking up a gift card.

Setting Up Your Kroger Plus Card

Your Kroger Plus Card is the foundation of the whole program. It links purchases to your account, tracks Fuel Points, and unlocks digital promotions. Here's how to get one:

• Sign up in-store at any customer service desk — it's free and takes about two minutes
• Or create an account online and download the King Soopers app to your phone
• Link a phone number to your card so you can access it without the physical card in hand

You can still buy discounted ski tickets without a Plus Card, but you forfeit Fuel Points and any digital coupon stacking. It's worth having one.

If you're thinking about the broader picture of how much skiing costs in total, lift tickets are usually the single largest expense. King Soopers is one of the easiest places to trim that number.

Planning Your Purchase

Before you leave for the store, lock in these details:

• Which resort you're going to — don't accidentally buy tickets for the wrong mountain
• Your exact ski dates — some tickets are date-specific or carry blackout restrictions
• Weekday vs. weekend — prices differ, and some resorts only sell one type through King Soopers
• Your group size — buy everyone's tickets in one transaction to maximize Fuel Points
• Age tiers — child, teen, adult, and senior tickets are usually sold separately

If rentals are part of the plan, it helps to know what ski rentals actually cost before you head out, so you're budgeting the full day — not just the lift ticket.

First-Time Buyers vs. Returning Skiers

Your experience level as a buyer — not necessarily as a skier — changes how you should approach this program.

If You're New to the King Soopers Program

Your first purchase has a small learning curve. Here's what to expect so nothing catches you off guard:

• Go to the customer service desk, not a regular checkout lane
• Ask specifically for the resort you want — staff don't always volunteer the full list of available options
• Clarify whether you're getting a paper voucher (exchanged at the resort ticket window) or a card (swiped at the lift gate)
• Read the terms before you leave the store — especially blackout dates and the expiration window
• Hold onto your receipt; some resorts ask for it as proof of purchase if there's any issue at the window

If this is also your first time skiing, start with our full guide to finding cheap lift tickets — it covers every discount channel available, not just King Soopers, so you can compare before you commit.

If You Ski Multiple Times a Season

If you're hitting the slopes five to fifteen times a year, your buying strategy should look different:

• Buy early in the season when inventory is at its highest — don't wait until January
• Use a season pass for your home mountain and reserve King Soopers tickets for secondary resorts
• Stack your group's purchases into one transaction to earn Fuel Points faster
• Watch the King Soopers app for 4x Fuel Point promotions — these sometimes apply to ski ticket purchases
• Keep a note of which resorts gave you the best savings last season so you can plan the next one faster

Frequent skiers planning multi-day trips should also explore discount ski vacation packages, which can beat individual ticket savings when lodging and transportation are factored in.

Warning: Ski tickets purchased at King Soopers are typically non-refundable and non-transferable — confirm your dates are locked in before you pay.

Comparing Resorts and Ticket Options

Not every King Soopers ski ticket deal is worth the same. Some resorts offer deeper savings, more ticket types, or better flexibility. Here's how to compare your options before you commit to buying ski tickets at King Soopers.

Price Breakdown by Resort

The table below reflects typical savings ranges based on past seasons. Always verify current pricing in-store or on the King Soopers app, as prices shift year to year.

According to Wikipedia's overview of Colorado ski resorts, the state hosts more than two dozen major ski areas — and many participate in third-party discount programs. King Soopers is the most accessible entry point for Front Range residents who want savings without going through a subscription or membership.

Reading the Fine Print

Confirm these specifics for every ticket before you pay:

• Blackout dates — peak holiday windows like Christmas week and Presidents' Day weekend are often excluded
• Expiration — most vouchers expire at the end of the current ski season, with no rollover
• Day type restriction — a weekday-only ticket cannot be used on Saturday or Sunday, period
• Age tiers — adult pricing typically starts at age 13 or 15 depending on the resort
• Refund policy — assume final sale unless the packaging says otherwise

Mistakes That Cost You Money at the Register

The program is simple, but there are a handful of specific ways buyers trip up — and some of these mistakes mean you either lose money or miss a ski day entirely.

Timing Errors

Timing is where most buyers go wrong. Avoid these common slip-ups:

• Buying too late — popular weekend tickets sell out weeks before the date, especially around February
• Buying the wrong day type — if you arrive on a Saturday with a weekday-only ticket, you pay full gate price or you don't ski
• Waiting for a bigger sale — the discount is already built in at purchase. There's no further markdown coming, so buy when you're ready
• Ignoring blackout windows — always cross-check your planned ski dates against the blackout list printed on the voucher before you leave the store

For families planning a full trip, family ski packages can sometimes outperform individual King Soopers tickets when you fold in lodging and group rentals under one booking.

Missing Out on Fuel Points

Fuel Points are a genuine secondary benefit — but only if you claim them. Here's how:

• Always swipe or enter your Kroger Plus Card number at the time of purchase, not after
• Check the King Soopers app before heading to the store for active 2x or 4x Fuel Point promotions
• Buy your whole group's tickets in a single transaction — splitting it across multiple purchases is less efficient for points
• Redeem earned Fuel Points at King Soopers gas stations for up to $1.00 off per gallon (up to 35 gallons per fill-up)

If you're driving to a mountain resort and back every weekend, that per-gallon savings adds up meaningfully over a full season. Every $100 in ski ticket purchases typically earns 100 Fuel Points — 10 cents per gallon off your next fill-up.

Making King Soopers Tickets Your Long-Term Ski Budget Strategy

Buying one discounted ticket is a nice win. Building your whole season around King Soopers pricing is a real strategy. Here's how to turn a one-time savings into a repeatable system.

Stacking Discounts the Smart Way

King Soopers tickets rarely stand alone as your only discount option. Layer them with these:

• Kroger gift card promotions — occasionally, gift card purchases earn 4x Fuel Points; if ski tickets qualify under this window, that's a compounding benefit
• Resort loyalty programs — some resorts track visits and reward frequent skiers with future discounts; pair this with your King Soopers ticket for the same day
• Off-peak day selection — buy a weekday ticket at King Soopers and ski Tuesday through Thursday for lower crowds and no weekend surcharge
• Group pricing at the resort — for parties of 15 or more, some resorts offer group rates at the box office; call ahead to see if that stacks with your King Soopers voucher

Gear costs belong in this calculation too. Knowing when to stop renting and invest in your own equipment is part of the bigger financial picture — check what ski rentals cost long-term to figure out when buying makes more sense than renting each trip.

Family and Group Planning

If you ski with kids or a group, King Soopers tickets make the biggest financial impact here. A family of four saving $50 per ticket per person saves $200 in a single day. Do that six times a season and you've kept over $1,200 in your pocket.

Key steps for planning a group purchase:

1. Buy all tickets in one King Soopers transaction to maximize Fuel Points and avoid splitting inventory
2. Confirm child and teen pricing separately — King Soopers sometimes carries dedicated youth tickets at further discounts
3. Check whether the resort offers free skiing for kids under a specific age — that benefit applies regardless of where the adult tickets were purchased
4. Budget rentals and lessons separately — King Soopers tickets cover the lift, not the full resort experience
5. Have a backup plan if your preferred resort's tickets are sold out — check the resort's own website for online advance pricing as an alternative

If you're bringing kids who are learning the mountain for the first time, read up on how to avoid ski injuries before you go — it's practical knowledge that makes a real difference for newer skiers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

The next time you're planning a ski day, stop at King Soopers first — it takes five minutes, saves you real money, and earns you a little off your next fill-up while you're at it. Head to the customer service desk, grab tickets for your whole group in one transaction, and hit the mountain knowing you already won before you even clicked into your bindings.