North America
Killington
For 2026-27, Killington is on the Ikon Pass (7 days combined with pico). Lifts run from 1,165 ft (355 m) to 4,241 ft (1,293 m), a vertical drop of 3,050 ft (930 m) across 1,509 acres, with about 250 inches of snow a year.
Killington - 'The Beast of the East' - spreads across six peaks in central Vermont with 3,050 feet of vertical, the most in New England. An enormous snowmaking system (2,600 guns) delivers the longest season in the East, typically November into late May, with legendary spring bumps on Superstar, Woodward terrain parks, and a rowdy access-road après scene.
Ski passes at Killington, 2026-27
| Pass | Access | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Ikon Pass | Access: 7 days combined with Pico | Full Ikon Pass = 7 days total across Killington and Pico with no blackouts; Ikon Base Pass = 5 days combined with blackouts (Dec 26-30 2026, Jan 16-17 and Feb 13-14 2027). No reservations required. Killington's own Beast 365 pass bundles an Ikon Base Pass. |
Not on the Epic Pass, Mountain Collective or Indy Pass this season.
Killington has been on the Ikon Pass since 2018-19 and is not on the Epic Pass (Vail's nearby Epic resorts are Okemo, Stowe and Mount Snow). In 2024 POWDR sold Killington and Pico to the Killington Independence Group, a group of longtime passholders, and the new owners kept the Ikon partnership.
Killington's 2026-27 passes cover both Killington and Pico: the Unlimited Pass ($1,339 adult early price, up to $1,899), the Beast 365 Pass ($1,848 adult early, up to $2,149; adds summer bike park/golf and includes an Ikon Base Pass), a Midweek Pass ($779-$999) and a College Pass ($529-$699).
Lift ticket prices
Peak walk-up adult day ticket, 2025-26: $266. Date-specific dynamic pricing - OnTheSnow sampled $205 for an adult ticket bought ahead for Dec 23; buying online early is the main saving and window prices on holiday weekends run higher.
Terrain Breakdown
Killington elevation, altitude and mountain stats
Peaks and base areas
| Peak | Peak: Killington PeakSecond-highest summit in Vermont; lift-served by the K-1 Gondola | 4,241 ft (1,293 m) |
| Peak | Peak: Pico Peak (sister mountain)Pico Mountain, same ticket/pass | 3,967 ft (1,209 m) |
| Base | Base: Lowest lift base (Skyeship base on US-4) | 1,165 ft (355 m) |
Getting to Killington: airports and drive times
The closest airport to Killington is Burlington International Airport (BTV), 85 mi (137 km) away and about 2 hr 20 min by car. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), the nearest major hub, is 170 mi (273 km) away and about 3 hr 20 min by car.
| Airport | Drive | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington (BTV) | 2 hr 20 min | 85 mi (137 km) |
| Albany (ALB) | 2 hr 45 min | 116 mi (187 km) |
| Boston (BOS) | 3 hr 20 min | 170 mi (273 km) |
| Hartford (BDL) | 3 hr 25 min | 157 mi (253 km) |
| Montreal (YUL) | 4 hr 10 min | 183 mi (295 km) |
| New York (JFK) | 5 hr 20 min | 279 mi (449 km) |
Typical driving time with no traffic and open roads, rounded to five minutes. Chain controls, storms and resort-weekend traffic add to it. Routed over OpenStreetMap road data.
Killington in 3D
Runs and lifts as mapped on OpenStreetMap, over terrain from elevation data (heights exaggerated slightly). Drag to look around; two fingers on a phone.
Highlights
Pros
- ✓Snowmaking firepower guarantees the most ski days in the East
- ✓Genuinely varied terrain from Outer Limits bumps to long green runs
- ✓Legendary access-road après (the Wobbly Barn, Pickle Barrel)
- ✓Ikon Pass access within driving distance of NYC and Boston
Cons
- ✗East Coast ice and variable conditions between refreshes
- ✗Big weekend crowds driving up from the cities
- ✗Terrain spread across six peaks involves flat traverses
- ✗Weekend window tickets around $266 - western-resort prices for eastern snow
Quick answers
Is Killington on the Ikon Pass?
Yes. For the 2026-27 season the Ikon Pass includes 7 days combined with pico at Killington. Full Ikon Pass = 7 days total across Killington and Pico with no blackouts; Ikon Base Pass = 5 days combined with blackouts (Dec 26-30 2026, Jan 16-17 and Feb 13-14 2027). No reservations required. Killington's own Beast 365 pass bundles an Ikon Base Pass.
What is the elevation of Killington?
Killington sits at an altitude of 1,165 ft (355 m) at the base and 4,241 ft (1,293 m) above sea level at the top of the lifts, for 3,050 ft (930 m) of vertical drop. Named peaks and lift tops: Killington Peak at 4,241 ft (1,293 m) and Pico Peak (sister mountain) at 3,967 ft (1,209 m).
How big is Killington?
Killington has 1,509 acres, 21 lifts and 155 runs.
How much snow does Killington get?
About 250 inches (635 cm) a year on average, as reported by the resort.
How much is a lift ticket at Killington?
A walk-up adult day ticket peaks at $266 for the 2025-26 season. Date-specific dynamic pricing - OnTheSnow sampled $205 for an adult ticket bought ahead for Dec 23; buying online early is the main saving and window prices on holiday weekends run higher.
When does Killington open for the season?
Typically: opening Typically early-to-mid November (Nov 12 in 2025-26); 2026-27 date not announced, closing Typically late May, sometimes into June. Dates move with snowfall, so check the resort before booking.
Is Killington on the Epic Pass?
No. Killington and Pico are Ikon Pass resorts (7 days combined on the full Ikon, 5 on Ikon Base). The closest Epic Pass resorts are Okemo, about 30 minutes south, and Stowe and Mount Snow.
How many acres and trails does Killington have with Pico?
Killington alone has 1,509 skiable acres, 155 trails (73 miles) and 21 lifts; adding Pico brings it to 1,977 acres, 213 trails (92 miles) and 28 lifts on one ticket.
Is the Woodward terrain park at Killington included with the Ikon Pass?
Yes - Woodward Mountain Park access at Killington is unlimited for Ikon Pass and Ikon Base Pass holders, even beyond the Killington day allotment, according to 2026-27 Ikon guides.
What is the closest airport to Killington?
The closest airport to Killington is Burlington International Airport (BTV), 85 mi (137 km) away and about 2 hr 20 min by car. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), the nearest major hub, is 170 mi (273 km) away and about 3 hr 20 min by car.
Skier Insightssummarized from skier trip reports and forum reviews
Killington is the East's volume king — biggest vertical, most terrain, longest season — and its community reputation just took a distinct turn for the better. The 2024 sale from POWDR to a local investor group ended seventeen years of corporate ownership, and the new owners immediately started spending: $65 million so far, headlined by the Superstar six-pack that debuted in December 2025, a thousand-plus new snowguns, and the first real progress on the base village Killington has promised for a generation. Forum sentiment, historically salty about deferred maintenance, has swung noticeably optimistic.
Day to day, the Beast rewards flexibility. The snowmaking fleet means it opens earliest and closes latest in the East, but between refreshes conditions swing from packed powder to dust-on-boilerplate — eastern skiers shrug, visitors adjust. Terrain genuinely spans the spectrum: Outer Limits and The Canyon's steeps for experts, endless blues off Skye Peak, Snowshed and Ramshead for learning, and Woodward parks throughout. Weekends bring the metro crush, so the plays are Bear Mountain and Pico (technically separate, blissfully quiet) or simply midweek trips. Spring is the signature: when everything else in New England closes, Superstar's white ribbon hosts mogul laps and parking-lot cookouts into late May.
It's best for east-coast weekenders who want maximum terrain and season length, spring-skiing romantics, and Ikon holders anchoring a season (seven full-pass days, no blackouts). Costs run high for the East — window tickets approach western prices — but the après road and broad lodging supply keep trip costs manageable versus Stowe. That's the classic comparison: Stowe is prettier, snowier, and more refined; Killington is bigger, rowdier, longer-running, and unapologetic about it. Pick your Vermont accordingly.
What skiers like
- +The season is a flex nobody else in the East can match — lifts spin from early November (sometimes October) into late May, with June turns in banner years
- +Independent local ownership since 2024 has poured $65 million into the hill — the new Superstar six-pack arrived December 2025, plus 1,000-plus efficient snowguns and new Skyeship cabins
- +Superstar's spring bump scene is a culture unto itself: May mogul laps, tailgates in the lot, and the East's longest goodbye to winter
- +Outer Limits earns its billing as the East's steepest, gnarliest mogul run — a rite of passage visible from the K-1 base
- +Six peaks plus quieter sister mountain Pico give the terrain range of a western resort: The Canyon's steep trees, Bear Mountain bumps, miles of cruisers
- +The snowmaking arsenal resurrects the mountain after every thaw-freeze cycle — no eastern resort recovers from bad weather faster
- +The access road après scene (Wobbly Barn, Pickle Barrel, McGrath's) is the rowdiest in New England and half the reason regulars keep coming
- +Seven full-Ikon days with no blackouts make it the natural eastern anchor for an Ikon season
Common complaints
- −It's still Vermont: thaw-refreeze cycles produce boilerplate ice that the Beast's grooming can mitigate but never abolish
- −NYC and Boston empty onto the mountain every weekend — K-1 and Snowdon queues balloon and Route 4 traffic crawls Sunday afternoons
- −The six-peak sprawl involves flat traverses and confusing wayfinding — first-timers burn half a day learning the map
- −The K-1 summit in a January wind event is genuinely punishing — face-shielding cold that sends everyone to the lower peaks
- −Window ticket prices flirt with western-resort levels — walking up without an Ikon Pass or advance purchase stings
- −The long-promised base village is finally breaking ground on the Ramshead and Snowdon lots, which means years of construction and parking shuffles
- −Natural powder days are rare and brief — fresh snow gets skied off in hours by the weekend armies
- −Lodging is scattered motels and condos along the access road; there's no walkable village until the new development delivers
Common Questions
How late can I actually ski Killington in spring?
What did the new owners change?
How do I avoid the weekend crowds?
Is Killington good for beginners?
Killington or Stowe for an East Coast trip?
Sources: killington.helpjuice.com, killington.com, killington.com, onthesnow.com, snowbrains.com, vnews.com, m.sevendaysvt.com, mountaincollective.com
Photo: EgorovaSvetlana / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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