Ice skating is our go-to winter outing when the kids need to burn energy and it's too cold for the playground. Around DC you can skate on the National Mall, on the Georgetown waterfront or at a quiet indoor county rink on a weekday morning. The thing that matters most with little kids is one detail most rink pages bury: whether they allow skate aids. So we put that in the table.
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Ice Rinks Near DC, Side by Side
2026-27 details from each rink's own page. Where a rink hasn't posted this season yet, we say so and show last season's numbers.
| Rink | Season | Admission | Skates | Skate aids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sculpture Garden Ice Rink National Mall, DC | Nov 23 - Mar 7 | $15 (13+), $12 (12 and under) | $7 | Not allowed |
| Washington Harbour Ice Rink Georgetown, DC | Nov 19 - Feb 28 | $12 adults, $10 kids | $8 | Yes, $10 |
| The Wharf Ice Rink Southwest DC | December (dates TBA) | Coming soon | Coming soon | Not listed |
| Canal Park Ice Rink Navy Yard, DC | Not posted yet | $15 adults, $12 kids (last season) | $6 | Yes, $10 |
| Fort Dupont Ice Arena Southeast DC (indoor) | Year-round | $8-14 DC residents, skates included | Included | Not listed |
| Rockville Town Square Ice Rink Rockville, MD | Open now | $12-13 (13+), $11-12 kids | $6 | Not listed |
| Silver Spring Veterans Plaza Silver Spring, MD | Dec 4 - Mar 1 | $13 adults, $12 kids | $5 | Toddler double-blade skates |
| Color Burst Ice Rink Columbia, MD | Nov 20 - Jan 31 | $12 plus tax | $3 | Not listed |
| Cabin John Ice Rink Rockville, MD (indoor) | Year-round | $9 (5+), $5 (3-4) | $4 | Not listed |
| Wheaton Ice Arena Wheaton, MD (indoor) | Year-round | $9 (5+), $5 (3-4) | $4 | Not listed |
| Westpost Ice Skating Arlington, VA | Open now | $12 online (13+), $11 kids | $6 | Not listed |
| Reston Town Center Pavilion Reston, VA | Opens Nov 6 | Not posted yet | Not posted yet | Not listed |
| Harris Pavilion Manassas, VA | Reopens in November | $10 adults, $8 kids (last season) | $7 | Yes, penguin $10 |
| Fairfax Ice Arena Fairfax, VA (indoor) | Year-round | $10.25 weekday, $11.25 weekend | $4 | Not allowed |
Ice Skating in DC
National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink
$12-15Skating on the National Mall. Sessions start on the hour and last 45 minutes, and one fee covers two sessions back to back. Rental skates are $7 and lockers are free.
💡 Parent tip: Skate aids (penguins and seals) are not allowed here, so it is better for kids who can already stand on skates.
Official site →Washington Harbour Ice Rink
$10-12DC's biggest outdoor rink, right on the Potomac. Adults are $12, and kids 12 and under, seniors and military $10. Rental skates are $8.
💡 Parent tip: You can rent a skate aid for $10. Weather closures are posted on its Instagram and Facebook.
Official site →The Wharf Ice Rink
TBAA small rink on the Transit Pier next to The Anthem. Admission is good all day with your wristband. Prices are listed as coming soon.
💡 Parent tip: The smallest rental skate is a child size 9, which is too big for most toddlers.
Official site →Canal Park Ice Rink
LAST SEASON $12-15A neighborhood rink a block from Navy Yard Metro. Last season walk-up was $15 adults and $12 kids, with $6 skates.
💡 Parent tip: Skate aids were $10 last season. Check the rink site for this year before you go.
Official site →Fort Dupont Ice Arena
SKATES INCLUDEDReopened in December 2025 after a big rebuild. DC residents pay $8 for ages 0-4 and $11 for 5-17, skates included. Kids 13 and under need an adult.
💡 Parent tip: Reserve your session ahead. Benning Road on the Blue Line is the closest Metro.
Official site →Ice Skating in Maryland
Rockville Town Square Ice Rink
$11-13Tickets cover up to two hours, and online is $1 cheaper. Rental skates are $6 and the rink validates two hours of parking.
💡 Parent tip: It does sell out, and reservations open two weeks ahead. The tree lighting here is Fri Dec 4.
Official site →Silver Spring Ice Skating at Veterans Plaza
$12-13Skates go down to toddler size 7, about age 2, and there are double-blade toddler skates. Rental is $5.
💡 Parent tip: There is a Saturday parent-and-child class. Silver Spring Metro is a few blocks away.
Official site →Color Burst Ice Rink at Merriweather District
$12 + TAXOpens the same night as the Merriweather District tree lighting. Admission is $12 plus tax and skate rental is $3.
💡 Parent tip: Pair it with the Symphony of Lights drive-through nearby.
Official site →Cabin John Ice Rink
$5-9Indoor, so weather never cancels it. Ages 5 and up are $9 and tots 3-4 are $5, with $4 skates. Parent and Tot is $10 for one adult and one tot with skates.
💡 Parent tip: The Parent and Tot hour is the gentlest first skate we know of.
Official site →Wheaton Ice Arena
$5-9Same prices as Cabin John: $9, tots $5, Parent and Tot $10, skates $4. It sits in Wheaton Regional Park, so you can add the playground.
💡 Parent tip: Pair a morning skate with the Brookside Gardens trains, which are free in the daytime from Nov 28.
Official site →Ice Skating in Virginia
Westpost Ice Skating (formerly Pentagon Row)
$11-13The old Pentagon Row rink has a new name. Each ticket is good for two hours, online is cheaper, and rental is $6. Saturday youth lessons are $125 for five weeks.
💡 Parent tip: Reservations open two weeks ahead. Pentagon City Metro is right there.
Official site →Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion
TBAA classic Northern Virginia rink with more than 500 pairs of rental skates. This season's prices aren't posted yet.
💡 Parent tip: Garages are free on weekends and after 5pm on weekdays. Reston Town Center Metro is close.
Official site →Harris Pavilion Ice Skating
LAST SEASON $8-10A small Old Town Manassas rink with 90-minute sessions. Last season it was $10 adults and $8 kids, with $7 skates.
💡 Parent tip: It is the only rink on this list that rents penguin skate aids ($10), which is great for first-timers.
Official site →Fairfax Ice Arena
$10.25-11.25Indoor public skating with $4 rentals and free helmets. Tickets are sold in person at the box office only.
💡 Parent tip: No penguins or walkers here. There is a free Tots Open House for ages 3 to 6 on Sat Nov 7, with a reservation.
Official site →Parent Tips 💡
- ✓Check the skate aid rules. Some rinks rent penguins or walkers and some ban them. It decides whether a 3-year-old has fun.
- ✓Bring gloves and thick socks. Rental skates are cold and kids fall with their hands down.
- ✓Use a helmet for little ones. A bike helmet works. Fairfax Ice Arena lends them for free.
- ✓Go at opening time. The first session of the day is usually the least crowded.
- ✓Check weather closures. Outdoor rinks close for rain and warm spells and post it on social media first.
Questions Parents Ask
Which ice rinks near DC have skate aids for kids?
Washington Harbour rents skate aids for $10, Canal Park had them for $10 last season, and Harris Pavilion in Manassas rents penguins for $10. Silver Spring has double-blade toddler skates. The Sculpture Garden rink and Fairfax Ice Arena do not allow skate aids.
When does the Sculpture Garden ice rink open in 2026?
Monday, November 23, 2026. It runs through March 7, 2027, weather permitting, and is closed Dec 25 and Jan 1.
What is the cheapest ice skating near DC?
Indoor county rinks are the best deal: Cabin John and Wheaton charge $9 for ages 5 and up and $5 for tots 3 to 4, with $4 skates. Fort Dupont in DC includes skates in the price.
Where can toddlers ice skate near DC?
Cabin John and Wheaton run Parent and Tot sessions on weekday mornings for $10 per pair with skates. Silver Spring has toddler skates from size 7, and Harris Pavilion rents penguin skate aids.
Is there ice skating at The Wharf this year?
Yes. The Wharf says its rink returns in December 2026. Dates and prices are listed as coming soon.
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