We checked four places to ice skate with little kids in and around Washington, DC: one holiday or outdoor rink and three indoor rinks with public skating. Washington Harbour Ice Rink opens Thu, Nov 19 and runs to Feb 28. One posts skate aids for beginners, like Washington Harbour Ice Rink. They’re spread over three areas, with the most in Montgomery Parks.
Season at a glance
Every rink on one timeline, so you can see what’s open the weekend you want to go. Tap a rink for prices and hours.
Holiday season
Seasonal and pop-up rinks, soonest first. The four boxes are what parents ask first: season, price, skate rental and skate aids.
The Washington Harbour, 3000–3050 K St. NW · Georgetown
Public skating runs in 90-minute sessions starting at 11am, weather permitting. Weather closures go up on the rink’s Instagram and Facebook.
Outdoor rinks close for warm or wet weather. Check the rink’s page the morning you go.
Any season
Public skate sessions open to families. Session times change week to week, so each card links to the rink’s own page.
DC Department of Parks and Recreation · Southeast DC
Reservations are required for public skating.
Montgomery Parks · Wheaton, MD
County-run indoor rink with public sessions most days.
Montgomery Parks · Rockville, MD
Inside Cabin John Regional Park, which also has a playground and a miniature train.
Before you go
SafetyBring a helmetFalls are part of learning. A bike or hockey helmet protects little heads, and some rinks ask for one.Skate aidsAsk about skate aidsA walker-style aid lets new skaters push and glide on their own. Each card says whether the rink posts them.
FitThin socks, warm mittensOne pair of thin socks fits rental skates best. Waterproof mittens keep hands dry after a tumble.Keep planning
November: things to do in DCEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in DCEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in DCFree days, free events and places that never charge
Indoor play in DCIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in DCBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Thanksgiving weekend in DCParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in DCKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in DCParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
Christmas trains in DCPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in DCBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in DCChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas break in DCWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1
This week in DCDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every ThursdayGood questions
Washington Harbour Ice Rink (Georgetown); Fort Dupont Ice Arena (DC Department of Parks and Recreation · Southeast DC); Wheaton Ice Arena (Montgomery Parks · Wheaton, MD); Cabin John Ice Rink (Montgomery Parks · Rockville, MD). The holiday or outdoor rink is listed first; indoor rinks with public skating follow.
Washington Harbour Ice Rink: Nov 19 – Feb 28. Dates come from each rink’s own page, and warm or wet weather can close outdoor rinks for the day.
Washington Harbour Ice Rink: Skate aids $10. Rinks that don’t mention aids say Not listed on their card.
Washington Harbour Ice Rink: $12 adults; skate rental $8. Fort Dupont Ice Arena: DC residents $8 child, $14 adult; skate rental Included. Wheaton Ice Arena: $9; skate rental $4. Cabin John Ice Rink: $9; skate rental $4. Prices are the rink’s own and can change on holidays.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them every week from October through February. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in DC that weekend, rinks included.
