Ice skating for the first time can feel a little scary — especially when there’s limited help on the ice. This guide shares beginner-friendly skating tips and highlights ice skating rinks around the DMV that offer skating aids to help first-time skaters build confidence. While we’re not experts, we’ve visited several local rinks and will continue updating this list as we explore more spots across DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
Notes: Follow the links to explore more information about ice skating in the DMV area. No affiliate links are included in this blog.
Check back for updates! As previously stated, the more rinks we visit; the more tips we’ll be able to share. Happy skating!
In this Article
Ice Skating Tips
While visiting Wheaton Ice Arena, we chatted with one of the instructors who happened to be enjoying open skate. She mentioned a couple of tips when learning how to skate:
- Make sure your ice skates are tied tight. They should hug your leg but not pinch.
- Wear gloves in case of falls!
- When standing up on and off the ice, point your feet slightly towards each other so you make a small triangle.
- Bend your knees slightly and march in smalls steps as though you’re in a marching band! ~ Marching helps on and off the ice.
- If you feel yourself falling, try falling on your side rather than your backside.
As we skate more and pick up tips, I’ll add them here!
Washington, DC Rinks
Canal Park Ice Rink
Our favorite outdoor ice skating rink!
Conveniently located next to an eatery with pizza and gelato, this space is perfect for parties and get togethers. It’s also very beginner friendly and also offers lessons and other amenities.
Skating sessions are 90 minutes long, with a break at the half-way point to resurface the ice. Each 90-minute session is separated by a 15-minute intermission to allow time for rental skates to be returned and disinfected before the following session.
Here are the general details for Canal Park Ice Rink:
- Location: 200 M St. in SE DC.
- The closest metro station is Navy Yard-Ballpark on the green line.
- Open Daily through March 2, 2026!
- Public skate hours vary from week to week
- General Admission: $13.00
- $2 discount for youth, college students w/ID, and seniors (age 60+)
- Skate Rental: $7
- Skate Helper Rental: $10
- 10 Admission Pass: $100 ~ does not include skate rental
- Individual Season Pass (ages 5+): $225 ~ does not include skate rental
- Family Season Pass (for up to 4 family members): $575
Read more about Canal Park Ice Rink through their website.
National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink
Another outdoor gem but this one is more for the intermediate skaters, in my opinion!
Fees cover two back-to-back, 45-minute skating sessions that begin on the hour. Ice maintenance happens the last 15 minutes of each hour. The last full session begins two hours
before closing.
Here are the general details for the Sculpture Garden Ice Rink:
- Location: 7th St. NW & Constitution Ave. NW (Across the street from the West Building)
- Enter or exit from 7th Street, Constitution Avenue, or Madison Drive on the National Mall.
- The closest metro station is Archives/Navy Memorial on the yellow and green lines.
- Open daily through March 1, 2026
- Public Skate Hours:
- Sunday – Thursday: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Friday – Saturday: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
- General Admission:
- Ages 13+: $15
- Ages 12 & under, 60+, military service members with ID, students with school ID: $12
- Season pass: $250
- Skate rental: $7
- Free lockers are available first come, first served!
- Food: Pavilion Café located on-site
- Monday – Thursday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Friday – Sunday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Washington Elite Skating School offers group and private lessons for all ages and abilities. You can purchase a walk-up pass for one lesson (if there is space) or a four-lesson session pass.
Read more about the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden Ice Rink through their website.
Fort Dupont Ice Arena
Newly renovated! DC’s only year-round, indoor ice arena
I remember skating here as a child! I’m so glad it finally reopened with some very cool amenities & artwork by local artists. This rink is very beginner-friendly and has free parking + an on-site concessions stand.
Fort Dupont also offers lessons through DPR but note that they’re a hot commodity so snag them when you can!
Here are the general details for Fort Dupont Ice Arena:
- Location: 3779 Ely Place in SE, DC
- The closest metro station is Benning Road on the blue and silver lines.
- Open daily except Sunday all year round
- Monday – Friday: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Saturday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- General Admission: Free for a limited time for DC residents (includes skate rentals)
Read more about Fort Dupont Ice Arena through their website.
Winter Skate Spectacular at the National Building Museum
Pop-up Glice skating experience in the Museum’s Great Hall
Skating on synthetic ice inside of a DC museum? I thought YES… but I didn’t love the experience. Skating was a bit hard to navigate in the skates. It felt more like a glided walking experience (if that makes sense). The rink also felt small with the amount of people on the “ice”. Lastly, I felt like I needed more from the experience for the price paid! I paid $54 for 1 adult and 2 kids.
Here are the general details for Winter Skate Spectacular:
- Location: 401 F Street in NW DC
- The closest metro station is Judiciary Square on the red line.
- Open Thursdays – Mondays, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm through February 8, 2026
- There’s also toddler time on Thursdays & Fridays at 11:00 am following storytime!
- After-hours sessions on Thursdays and Fridays from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- General Admission:
- Adults: $20
- Youth and seniors: $17
Read more about National Building Museum’s Winter Skate Spectacular through their website.
More Ice Skating Rinks in DC
Outdoor Ice Rinks:
- The Washington Harbour at Georgetown Waterfront in NW
- Open daily through March 1, 2026.
- The Wharf Ice Rink in SW
- Open daily except Wednesdays in February through February 22, 2026.
Maryland Rinks
Wheaton Ice Arena
One of two year-round indoor ice skating rinks in Montgomery County, MD.
We love Wheaton Ice Arena! As I mentioned previously one of the instructor’s offered advice for skating during one of our visits. We’ve also attended birthday parties here as well as open skate.
This rink is more for intermediate skaters in my opinion. There are only 5 skate helpers allowed on the ice at a time and it’s first come, first served! The ledge going around the rink is really small so it’s kind of difficult to hold on.
Here are the general details for Wheaton Ice Arena:
- Location: 11717 Orebaugh Ave. Wheaton, MD 20902.
- The closest metro station is Wheaton on the red line.
- 2026 Public Skate Hours:
- Sunday: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm & 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Monday: 9:15 am – 10:45 am (adult skate), 10:45 am – 11:45 am (Parent & Tot Skate) & 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
- Tuesday: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
- Wednesday: 9:15 am – 10:45 am (adult skate), 10:45 am – 11:45 am (Parent & Tot Skate), 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm & 6:45 pm – 7:45 pm (cheapskate)
- Thursday: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm & 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
- Friday: 9:15 am – 10:45 am (adult skate), 10:45 am – 11:45 am (Parent & Tot Skate), 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm & 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
- Saturday: 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm & 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
- General Admission: $9 per person (ages 5+)
- Ages 3 & 4: $5 per person
- Skate Rental: $4
- Parent & Tot Skate: $5 for admission and skate rental for one adult and one tot (age 3-4). Older siblings and additional adults pay regular admission.
- During Cheapskate hours (Wednesdays from 6:45 – 7:45 pm) skate admission + rental: $9/person
- Discount Ticket Book (10 admissions): $81
- Food: There’s a decently priced snack bar on-site. The pretzel we had was a bit overcooked and the soda was watered down! I recommend going with all bottled and prepackaged items.
- Additional offerings include birthday party packages, summer camps and lessons!
Read more about Wheaton Ice Arena through the Montgomery Parks’ website.
More Ice Skating Rinks in Maryland:
Outdoor Ice Rinks:
- Silver Spring Ice Skating in Downtown Silver Spring
- Open daily through March 1, 2026
- Rockville Town Square Outdoor Ice Skating
- Open daily
- Color Burst Ice Rink in Columbia
- Open daily
Indoor Ice Rinks:
- Herbert W. Wells Ice Rink in College Park
- Cabin John Ice Rink in Rockville
- Rockville Ice Arena
- Tucker Road Ice Rink in Fort Washington
- Bowie Ice Arena in Bowie
- Columbia Ice Rink
- Open August through June
- The Gardens Ice House in Laurel
Northern Virginia Rinks
More Ice Skating Rinks in Northern Virginia
Outdoor Ice Rinks:
- Westport Outdoor Ice Skating at National Landing in Arlington
- Ice & Lights – The Winter Village at Cameron Run in Alexandria
- Reston Town Center Ice Rink
Indoor Ice Rinks:
- MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington
- Ice Skating at The St. James in Springfield
- Fairfax Ice Arena
- SkateQuest in Reston
Thank you for checking out this listing of Ice Skating rinks in DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia. As we visit more rinks, I’ll update this blog with tips for visiting & other need-to-know info!
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