The Best Indoor & Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks for Families in Washington, D.C.

Photo Courtesy of The Washington Harbour Ice Rink

Ice skating is not only a fun family activity but also a healthy one! Even though it’s a year-round sport, there’s nothing better than ice skating during the winter months. Check out our ultimate guide to the best indoor and outdoor ice skating rinks in Washington, D.C. and the nearby Virginia and Maryland suburbs to chill out with your family this winter.

Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks

Gather up the family, pile on the hats and gloves, and head to one of these outdoor ice rinks for some wintry fun! Many rinks offer learn-to-skate programs, beginner skates, or special balancing pushables for little ones just learning to skate, so be sure to inquire. 

Photo Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art

Washington, D.C.

Sculpture Garden Ice Rink at the National Gallery of Art - Constitution Ave NW & 7th St.: Is there a more fantastic way to skate this winter than in the middle of the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden on the National Mall? A truly unique D.C. experience! The on-site Pavilion Café now has great weekday evening specials—delicious snacks, and $5 beer or wine for the adults. The rink is open Nov. 19th – March 10th, weather permitting. Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $8 + skate rental.

The Washington Harbour Ice Rink – 3050 K Street NW:  Enjoy majestic views of the Potomac River while skating at D.C.'s largest outdoor rink! Stop by on Saturday mornings for their weekly skating event, Cartoon Skate. The rink is open Nov. 18th - March 1st. Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $9 + skate rental.

Photo Courtesy of The Washington Harbour Ice Rink

Canal Park Ice Rink – 2nd & M St. SE: Located in the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood near Nationals Park, the Canal Park Ice Rink was designed to be reminiscent of skating the frozen canals of Europe. The rink is open from mid-Nov. through March. Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $8+ skate rental.

District Wharf Ice Rink - 960 Wharf St. SW: Located at Transit Pier right outside The Anthem, enjoy stunning water views as you glide over the ice at Wharf Ice Rink. The rink is open Nov. 20th through late February. Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $8 + skate rental.

Virginia Suburbs

Pentagon Row Outdoor Ice Rink - 1201 S Joyce St., Arlington, VA: The largest outdoor rink in Northern Virginia (second largest in the state!) has a dual-sided stone fireplace on location, perfect for lounging during your skating breaks. The rink is open late-October through mid-March, weather permitting. Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $8 + skate rental.

Reston Town Center Ice Rink - 1818 Discovery St., Reston, VA: Skate your heart out in the heart of Reston Town Center at their open-air pavilion. For the beginner youth skater, they have double bladed, flat edge skates to walk across the ice until ready to switch to single blades. The rink is open November – mid-March, weather permitting. Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $9 + skate rental.

The Harris Pavilion - 9201 Center St., Manassas, VA: Experience skating in historic downtown Manassas while enjoying music and dancing lights as you make your way around the rink. Stop in to skate before or after shopping and dining in the area. The location is just a 1-minute walk from the Manassas Train Depot and the VRE parking garage (with free parking after 10 a.m.). Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $8 + skate rental.

Maryland Suburbs

Silver Spring Ice Skating Rink at Veterans' Plaza - 8523 Fenton St., Silver Spring, MD: This rink is surrounded by great restaurants, shops and plenty of parking. Parking is free after 8 p.m on weeknights and all day on weekends. The rink is open mid-October – March, weather permitting. Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $8 + skate rental.

Skating at The Square - 131 Gibbs St., Rockville, MD: Located in the beautiful Rockville Town Square, this is the largest outdoor ice-skating rink in the area at 7,200 square feet. They will validate parking for 2 hours. The rink is open mid-October – March, weather permitting. Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $8 + skate rental.

Indoor Ice Skating Rinks

While there's only one public indoor rink in Washington, D.C. proper, there are plenty of indoor skating options in the nearby Virginia and Maryland suburbs, including the home of the 2018 Stanley Cup Champs! When it's too chilly or rainy to practice your axel, lutz, or Salchow outside, head to one of these indoor rinks instead. 

Washington, D.C.

Fort Dupont Ice Arena - 3779 Ely Place SE: Serving the Nation’s Capital for more than 20 years, Fort Dupont is the only public indoor ice arena in D.C. Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $4 + skate rental.

Virginia Suburbs

Ashburn Ice House - 21595 Smith Switch Rd., Ashburn, VA: This premiere ice facility hosts a monthly Parent’s Night Out and a very popular Santa Skate during the holiday season (Dec. 15th/16th this year). Tickets may be purchased in advance online. Click HERE for more information on special events and daily hours. Admission starts at $8 + skate rental.

Loudoun Ice Centre - 22149 Davis Dr., Sterling, VA:  This friendly 1/3-size rink is an excellent place to host a private party. Admission starts at $11 and includes skate rental. Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Save 34% off admission and skate rental at Loudoun Ice Centre or 23% off a birthday party. 

Photo Courtesy of Loudoun Ice Centre

Prince William Ice Center - 5180 Dale Blvd, Woodbridge, VA: This facility is home to a NHL and Olympic-sized rink. The center is hosting an exciting holiday treat - wear your ugly Christmas sweater and Skate with Santa on December 15th! Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $8 + skate rental.

Haymarket IcePlex - 15155 Washington St., Haymarket, VA: Located in Historic Haymarket, for over 7 years this two-surface ice arena has provided a family fun ice skating destination. Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $7 + skate rental. Save 40% off admission and skate rental with this CertifiKID deal.

MedStar Capital IcePlex - 27 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington VA: The official home of the 2018 Stanley Cup Champions, the Washington Capitals, MedStar Capital IcePlex is a state-of-the-art facility located on top of the Ballston Common Mall parking garage, and is easily accessible by Metro. Stop by to watch the Capitals practice (for free!) or join a public skate session. Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $6 + skate rental.

Mount Vernon RECenter Ice Arena - 2017 Bellview Blvd, Alexandria, VA: Fairfax County’s only publicly-owned ice arena is an affordable option for family-friendly fun! Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $5.50 + skate rental.

Fairfax Ice Arena - 3779 Pickett Rd., Fairfax, VA: This arena has public skating options EVERY day, all year round! Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $5.75 + skate rental.

SkateQuest, Reston - 1800 Michael Faraday Ct., Reston, VA: This is a two-rink arena with a full-service pro shop and café. Looking for a super COOL place to host a birthday party? SkateQuest has festive party rooms and plenty on-the-ice fun. Check out this CertifiKID deal to save 24% off a SkateQuest birthday party package. Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $7 + skate rental.

The St. James - 6805 Industrial Road, Springfield, VA: A brand new, state-of-the-art two-rink facility, The St. James is more than an ice rink. The massive sport multiplex has a climbing wall, virtual reality room, nerf battle zone, trampoline court, ninja obstacle course, indoor water park and so much more! Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $12 + skate rental for non-members.

Photo Courtesy of St. James

Maryland Suburbs

Rockville Ice Arena - 50 Southlawn Ct., Rockville, MD: Located in the heart of Montgomery County, this facility boasts three full-size rinks and an on-site Village Grill. Make it a family fun day with ice skating and a delicious meal! Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $9 + skate rental.

Cabin John Ice Rink - 10610 Westlake Dr., Rockville, MD: A three-rink facility with a pro shop, party rooms and a café with refreshments and free Wifi. Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $5 + skate rental.

The Gardens Ice House - 13800 Old Gunpowder Rd., Laurel, MD:  Located just 2 miles from I-95, this complex includes a seasonal outdoor rink, an Olympic-sized rink and two NHL regulation-sized rinks. Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Regular admission starts at $6.60 + skate rental. Save 33% off admission and skate rental with this CertifiKID deal.

Photo Courtesy of The Gardens Ice House

Wheaton Ice Arena - 11717 Orebaugh Ave., Wheaton, MD: A Montgomery Parks arena, this facility includes a NHL-sized rink, party rooms for rent, snack bar, pro shop, and free Wifi. Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $5 + skate rental.

Herbert Wells Ice Rink - 5211 Campus Dr., College Park, MD: This rink is a seasonal semi-enclosed ice arena open from October through April. Click HERE for more information and daily hours. Admission starts at $4 + skate rental.

Looking for more family-friendly fun at unbeatable prices? Check out our Washington, D.C. deals and coupons.

Tags: Winter fun ice skating indoor outdoor rinks DC MD VA

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