Ice Skating in Houston: Year-Round Rinks and Holiday Rinks

Houston doesn't really do winter, so it rents it out by the session. On a 95-degree afternoon you can lace up under the Galleria's glass roof, and when December finally brings a cool night, downtown turns part of a park lake into an outdoor rink. Ice skating in Houston is a year-round habit, not a once-a-year novelty.

This guide covers the rinks open all year, the seasonal rinks that appear for the holidays, and a couple of ways to get on the ice that most Houstonians never try. Every place on it was checked on its own official website.

The quick list

• For skating under a glass dome while shoppers watch: Ice at the Galleria.
• For a first-timer's family session: Aerodrome Ice Skating Complex or Sugar Land Ice Center.
• For a two-rink hockey complex with an arena: Deep South Ice & Sports Complex in Richmond.
• For an outdoor skate with a skyline view: Ice at Discovery Green, in season.
• For a holiday skate in the suburbs: The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center.
• For a full holiday night out on the coast: Holiday in the Gardens at Moody Gardens in Galveston.
• For something completely different: learn to curl at Bellerive Ice Center.

How we chose

We started with every rink in the Houston area that sells public skating sessions, then added the seasonal rinks that return each holiday season and one rink that's worth knowing for what happens on it besides public skating. Each one had to show current sessions, tickets or programs on its official website as of October 2026. We left out rinks whose official sites we couldn't confirm, so the list is shorter than some you'll find, but every place here is real and open.

Session times change constantly, and rinks close for hockey games, shows and private events. Prices below come from each rink's own site, so treat them as "typically" and check before you go.

Year-round rinks

Ice at the Galleria

Galleria/Uptown, Center Food Court of The Galleria · public sessions year-round

This is the rink most Houstonians picture, and for good reason. You skate in the middle of the mall beneath a glass atrium, with shoppers on the levels above looking down. It's a little bit of New York in the middle of Uptown, and it works as well for a date as for a kid's first wobble.

Admission covers skate rental and the whole public session, but tickets are good for one entry only, so plan to stay rather than shop and come back. The rink also runs learn-to-skate classes, camps, birthday parties and broomball.

Insider tip: the rink's own site says the best way in is through the Orange parking garage at 5050 West Alabama. Around early November it also closes for a few days while the Galleria installs its holiday tree, so check the public session updates before planning a skate that week.

Best for: date nights, visitors, and anyone combining skating with a Galleria afternoon.

Aerodrome Ice Skating Complex

Northwest Houston, 8220 Willow Place Dr. North · public sessions year-round

The Aerodrome is a working rink, home to the Skating Club of Houston and a full slate of hockey and figure skating programs, and it's one of the friendliest places to learn. It keeps roughly 1,000 pairs of rental skates on hand. Daytime sessions are bright and busy; on seasonal evening sessions the lights go down and a special-effects lighting system and music turn the rink into a party.

Admission is typically $13, plus $7 for skate rental, and kids 2 and under skate free. Homeschool students and military or first responders get discounted rates that include skates.

Insider tip: nervous little skaters can rent a walker, or one of two limited-number skating aids with names worth the price of admission: Bobby the Seal and the Zamboni Express. They go first come, first served, so arrive early on weekends. The ICe Box snack bar sells hot chocolate and is card-only.

Best for: families in northwest Houston and Cypress, birthday parties, and kids who want to keep going after one session.

Sugar Land Ice Center

Sugar Land, 16225 Lexington Blvd · public sessions year-round

Sugar Land Ice runs two sheets of ice, so public skating happens alongside a busy learn-to-skate school, youth and adult hockey, a girls' hockey program and broomball. Public sessions typically run at midday and late afternoon on weekdays, Friday nights, and weekend afternoons, with Friday homeschool skates during the school year.

Two-hour sessions are typically $14 and three-hour weekend sessions $16, skates included. Rental sizes run from toddler 8 to adult 13.

Insider tip: bring a Visa, Mastercard or cash. The rink says it doesn't take American Express, Discover, tap-to-pay, Apple Pay or Zelle. Unusually for a rink, outside food and drinks are allowed for personal use, so you can pack snacks.

Best for: Fort Bend families and a skate before dinner in Sugar Land.

Deep South Ice & Sports Complex

Richmond, 8925 Harlem Rd · public skating plus hockey

Deep South describes itself as Houston's first large-scale, multi-rink ice facility: a 150,000-square-foot complex with two NHL-size sheets, a 1,500-seat arena and volleyball courts. It's home to the Houston Bulls hockey team, so you can skate in the afternoon and come back to watch a game.

Admission is typically $15 with skate rental $7, and you can rent walkers or seal skating aids for younger kids. The building is cashless: you buy admission online, then show the receipt at skate rental.

Insider tip: the rink's own advice is short and correct: it's cold, so dress warmly. Even in August, bring a jacket.

Best for: west Fort Bend and Katy-area families, and hockey fans. Pair it with a day in Richmond.

Seasonal rinks

Ice at Discovery Green

Downtown, 1500 McKinney St · typically mid-November into February

Each winter, the downtown park turns the model boat basin of Kinder Lake into a skating rink, which Discovery Green calls Houston's only outdoor ice rink. You skate under the downtown towers with lights overhead, and the rink's equipment runs on renewable energy, with a border made from recycled plastic.

Tickets are sold online only, every skater has to sign a waiver online before tickets arrive, and admission covers a 75-minute session with skates. Skaters under 12 can have a parent or guardian on the ice with them. Ticket sales support the Discovery Green Conservancy.

Insider tip: read the rink's events list before you pick a night. Past seasons have included DJ skate nights, discount Monday nights, nights when kids skate free, figure skating demonstrations, and Bumper Cars on Ice after the holidays. On Inclusive Skaters nights, skaters with disabilities skate free. Warm weather can close or delay the rink; Discovery Green refunds tickets and emails ticket holders if it does.

Best for: a classic holiday date, and a skate before dinner or the lights. Our downtown Christmas guide has more to pair it with.

The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center

The Woodlands, 2005 Lake Robbins Dr · holiday season

Presented by The Woodlands Township, this seasonal rink sets up next to the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in a 21,000-square-foot facility, with a smaller rink for beginners, toddler skates and rental walkers. Sessions run in two-hour blocks, and the ice is resurfaced between sessions.

Admission is typically $16 for ages 6 and up and $8 for 5 and under, skates included. Reservations are encouraged, and walk-ups are sold based on capacity.

Insider tip: the rink runs sensory-friendly sessions with reduced lighting, music and effects for skaters with sensory sensitivities. No outside food or drink is allowed.

Best for: families north of the city. Make a day of The Woodlands.

Holiday in the Gardens at Moody Gardens

Galveston · typically late November to early January, nightly

Moody Gardens adds an ice skating rink to its Holiday in the Gardens festival, alongside a mile-long Holiday Lights Trail, train rides and an Arctic Slide. In recent seasons, evening skating has been included with a Holiday Lights ticket and with Moody Gardens' value and evening passes.

Insider tip: walk through ICE LAND, the hand-carved ice sculpture exhibit inside a tent kept at a chilly 9 degrees. After that, the skating rink feels balmy.

Best for: an overnight holiday trip. Our Galveston day trip guide covers the rest of the island.

Beyond public skating

Bellerive Ice Center

Southwest Houston, 7300 Bellerive Dr · curling, sled hockey and figure skating

Bellerive doesn't offer public skating, and it says so right on its website. It's on this list because it's where you can do something most people assume is impossible in Houston: learn to curl. The Curling Club of Houston plays here and runs learn-to-curl classes, leagues and corporate team-building sessions. Bellerive also hosts sled hockey on Saturdays and daily freestyle sessions for serious figure skaters.

Best for: office outings, Winter Olympics fans, and anyone who's already done the Galleria twice.

Broomball

Not a skater? Rent the ice and play in your sneakers. Ice at the Galleria and Sugar Land Ice both offer broomball, a hockey cousin played in shoes with a ball and paddle-ended sticks. The Galleria rents its rink for broomball by the hour with sticks included, which makes it a good team outing.

Public session tips

• Dress for the cold, even in July. Long pants, a jacket you can take off, and gloves. Sugar Land Ice says the rink gets colder in winter, so add a hat.
• Gloves are your best protection. Falling is part of learning, and hands go down first.
• Lace skates snugly. Loose skates are the main reason beginners' ankles wobble. Ask the rental desk for help; they do it all day.
• Use the aids. Walkers, seals and toddler skates are there for a reason. Most rinks have a limited number, so get there at the start of a session.
• Skate with the flow. Go in the same direction as everyone else, at a moderate speed, and don't carry small children on the ice.
• Check the payment rules. Deep South and the Aerodrome's snack bar are cashless; Sugar Land takes only Visa, Mastercard or cash.
• Check the schedule the same day. Hockey games, shows and private rentals bump public sessions all the time.

Save this: a downtown holiday skate night

1. Buy your Discovery Green tickets and sign the waiver online the day before.
2. Skate a 75-minute session as the lights come on.
3. Walk the park and the holiday displays on our Christmas lights guide.
4. Finish with dinner from our downtown restaurant guide.

On a summer weekend, swap in the Galleria: skate first, then shop or eat nearby. For more ideas by season and age, see our family activities guide, and for the full holiday calendar, the Houston Christmas events guide.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Where can you ice skate in Houston year-round?

Ice at the Galleria, Aerodrome Ice Skating Complex in northwest Houston, Sugar Land Ice Center and Deep South Ice & Sports Complex in Richmond all offer public skating sessions year-round. Check each rink's schedule before you go.

Is there an outdoor ice rink in Houston?

Yes, in winter. Ice at Discovery Green, downtown, typically opens in mid-November and runs into February. Discovery Green calls it Houston's only outdoor ice rink. Tickets are sold online only.

How much does ice skating cost in Houston?

Public sessions at Houston-area rinks typically cost about $13 to $18, with skate rental included at some rinks and charged separately at others. Check the rink's official site for current prices.

What should I wear ice skating in Houston?

Long pants, warm layers you can remove, and gloves, even in summer. Rinks are kept cold, and gloves protect your hands when you fall. Beginners can add a helmet and knee pads.

Can toddlers ice skate in Houston?

Yes. The Aerodrome lets children 2 and under skate free and rents walkers and seal-shaped skating aids, Deep South rents walkers and seals, and The Woodlands' seasonal rink has toddler skates and a smaller beginner rink.

Can you go curling in Houston?

Yes. The Curling Club of Houston plays at Bellerive Ice Center in southwest Houston and offers learn-to-curl classes and leagues. Bellerive doesn't offer public skating.