7 Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks in the Washington, DC Area

The Capital Region offers a variety of destinations for outdoor ice skating during the winter months. You can skate right within Washington, D.C., itself overlooking the Potomac River, or head out to some of the charming suburbs in nearby Maryland or Virginia. The season at each rink depends on the weather, but they are generally open from mid-November to sometime in March, giving visitors plenty of time to make the most of this wintry activity.

For the 2020–2021 season, all of the rinks within Washington, D.C., are closed, and the rinks in Maryland and Virginia have new reservation systems in place. Be sure to confirm the most up-to-date details with the rink you plan to skate at before visiting.

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Silver Spring Ice Rink

Silver Springs Ice Skating rink — Silver Springs Ice Skating

Address

8523 Fenton St, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA

Get directions

Phone +1 301-588-1221

Web Visit website

The Silver Spring Ice Rink is a community favorite, located right in downtown Silver Spring with a wide selection of eateries and places to refuel nearby. Silver Spring, Maryland, is a suburb that's right on the border with Washington, D.C., and easily connected to the Capital via the red line of the D.C. metro—it's about 40 minutes on a direct train from the National Mall.

The rink is open from mid-October to mid-March in 2020–2021, but with a new reservation system for all skaters. Tickets must be purchased online in advance, and you'll be given a reserved time slot to skate. The rink is open seven days a week until 10 p.m.

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Rockville Town Square Ice Rink

Address

131 Gibbs St, Rockville, MD 20850, USA

Get directions

Phone +1 301-545-1999

Web Visit website

At 7,200 square feet, the Rockville Town Square Ice Rink is one of the largest in the D.C. metropolitan area. Laid over the ice is an abstract piece of art that skaters can glide over for a completely unique experience, designed by a local community artist. Rockville, Maryland, is just 25 minutes outside of downtown Washington, D.C., by car, or you can take the red line of the metro directly to the town in under an hour.

For the 2020–2021 season, tickets must be purchased in advance with a reserved timeslot of when you can skate, and reservations open up two weeks before the date. The rink is open daily until 10 p.m., including holidays like Christmas, New Year's Day, and Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.

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Pentagon Row Ice Rink

Address

1201 S Joyce St, Arlington, VA 22202, USA

Get directions

Phone +1 703-418-6666

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The closest ice rink to Washington, D.C., that isn't within the city limits is the Pentagon Row Ice Rink, which is just across the Potomac River and easily accessible via the blue or yellow line of the metro. It's within walking distance of the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery, so it's easy to tie in with a day of sightseeing (or right before your flight if you're leaving from Reagan National Airport).

As with most local ice rinks, tickets must be pre-purchased for a specific time slot during the 2020–2021 season. The rink is open daily until 10 p.m., and stays open on all of the major holidays, as well.

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Reston Town Center Ice Rink

Address

11900 Market St, Reston, VA 20190, USA

Get directions

Phone +1 703-579-6720

Web Visit website

Reston Town Center, a popular shopping and dining destination, is home to the family-friendly Reston Town Center Ice Rink. You can rent all types of skates at this community rink, including figure skates, hockey skates, and even double-bladed skates for beginners who are just getting started. The Reston Town Center is just a 25-minute drive outside of downtown D.C.

Reserve your tickets in advance and choose your timeslot in order to skate during the 2020–2021 season. For private group events, the rink is also available to rent out every morning if you want a more intimate skating experience with just your friends and family.

Continue to 5 of 7 below.

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Canal Park Ice Rink

Canal Park Ice Ink — Canal Park Ice Rink

Address

200 M St SE, Washington, DC 20003, USA

Get directions

Phone +1 202-850-0859

Web Visit website

The Canal Park Ice Rink is not open for the 2020–2021 winter season.

The Canal Park Ice Rink typically stays open for the entire winter season, beginning in November and not closing until the end of February. It's located in Washington, D.C., proper along the booming Capital Riverfront district, with plenty to do to stay busy before and after your skating session. The entire Riverfront is lined with plenty of tasty restaurants, hip bars, and interesting stores to fill out an entire day.

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Sculpture Garden Ice Rink

Address

Constitution Ave NW &, 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20408, USA

Get directions

Phone +1 202-289-3360

Web Visit website

The Sculpture Garden Ice Rink is not open for the 2020–2021 winter season.

For ice skating with an artistic flair, make an outing to the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden for a chance to skate at the seasonal ice rink. Here, you can skate while surrounded by extraordinary sculptures by renowned modern and contemporary artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, and Coosje van Bruggen. The skating season typically begins in mid-November and continues through mid-March.

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Washington Harbour Ice Rink

Address

3050 K St NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA

Get directions

Phone +1 202-788-0944

The Washington Harbour Ice Rink is not open for the 2020–2021 winter season.

Head to Georgetown, one of D.C.'s coolest neighborhoods, for a chance to skate at the Washington Harbour Ice Rink. It's located in the massive waterfront Washington Harbour property with views of the Potomac River, the Kennedy Center, the Watergate building, and neighboring Virginia. The bars along the boardwalk have heaters set up so you can enjoy a post-skating drink or meal while enjoying the view without freezing.