Discover The 7 Largest Ice Skating Rinks In Virginia This Winter

Written by Hannah Ward
Published: November 17, 2023
Share on:

Advertisement


Virginia has a long history of skating, with people heading out onto the ice as long ago as 1766. Today, ice skating is one of the classic family activities to enjoy during the winter months. Whether you’re a beginner who’s just learning to skate or whether you’re an expert who can glide gracefully across the ice, it’s one of those things that everyone can enjoy. If you’re wondering where you can go to skate, then you may want to check out the largest ice skating rinks in Virginia this winter!

Fairfax Ice Arena

Child skating on indoor ice rink. Kids skate.

Fairfax Ice Arena offers a starter skating program for children aged from three years old.

©FamVeld/iStock via Getty Images

All of the ice skating rinks on our list are indoor rinks and the first one is Fairfax Ice Arena in Fairfax, which is an NHL-sized rink that spans 17,000 square feet. Fairfax Ice Arena is open all year, although times vary. It offers group lessons for all ability levels and ages, from four years and above. However, it also offers a dedicated five-week starter program for children aged between three and five. Plus, for more experienced skaters there’s a variety of shows and competitions which are held throughout the year, as well as an adult hockey league.

Richmond Ice Zone

Young couple preparing to a skating. Close-up photo of their hands tying shoelaces of ice hockey skates in the locker room

Richmond Ice Zone is open all year and offers public skating sessions as well as skating lessons for all abilities.

©FXQuadro/iStock via Getty Images

Another NHL-sized rink is Richmond Ice Zone in Chesterfield County. It is open all year round and offers public skating sessions, which are $16 with an additional $4 if you need to hire skates. Richmond Ice Zone also offers private and group lessons for all ages and abilities, with various eight-week programs also available. Plus, the rink is also home to several youth and adult hockey leagues, as well as the Central Virginia Skating Club which runs figure skating lessons and competitions.

SkateNation Plus

At ice-skating rink

SkateNation Plus provides Learn to Skate USA courses for children learning to ice skate.

©Deklofenak/iStock via Getty Images

Located in Glen Allen, SkateNation Plus is the sister rink to Richmond Ice Zone and is another 17,000-square-foot ice arena. SkateNation Plus offers public skating sessions and lessons for the whole family. It runs Richmond Skating Stars, which is a Learn to Skate USA program and currently costs $172 for an eight-week course, plus a $25 registration fee. The rink also hosts the Richmond Figure Skating Club and runs several hockey programs.

Ashburn Ice House

ice skating rink

There are two NHL-sized ice rinks at Ashburn Ice House where they run skating lessons, as well as figure skating and hockey clinics.

©AigarsR/iStock via Getty Images

Ashburn Ice House is located in Ashburn and features two NHL-sized rinks. It offers public skating sessions, although you must pre-register prior to attending. There are also stick-and-shoot sessions available for all ages.

Ashburn Ice House runs group lessons for all ability levels as well as figure skating and hockey clinics with top-class instructors. It has an on-site shop that sells skating equipment and offers a skate sharpening and repair service.

Ion International Training Center

ice hockey stadium middle rink general view and camera flashes behind

Ion International Training Center boasts 100,000 square feet of space as well as two NHL-sized rinks.

©LeArchitecto/iStock via Getty Images

Whether you’re looking for somewhere to have fun with the whole family or you want to excel in your chosen sport, Ion International Training Center has something to suit you. It’s a world-class training center in Leesburg that boasts approximately 100,000 square feet of space, including two NHL-sized rinks.

It offers group lessons, with starter programs available in seven to 10-week blocks. Ion International also offers fun camps where ice skating is just one of several sports to take part in. The next camp runs over Winter Break, with two and three-day options available. Other activities at the center include curling, figure skating, and ice hockey, as well as public skating sessions.

SkateQuest

Close up of ice hockey stick on ice rink in position to hit hockey puck.

SkateQuest offers a variety of hockey clinics and runs hockey leagues for all ages.

©Eugene Onischenko/Shutterstock.com

The next skating rink is SkateQuest, which boasts both an NHL-sized rink and an Olympic-sized rink, the latter being 19,000 square feet. SkateQuest is located in Reston and offers a variety of lessons and camps for all ages and abilities.

There are private and group lessons available with experienced coaches, as well as a winter break camp for ages four to 12. SkateQuest also offers public skating sessions, although the times and availability may vary due to the busy schedule. However, for budding sports stars, there are also hockey clinics and leagues for all ages.

Prince William Ice Center

Empty stands of the ice arena and clean ice cut by skates.

The Prince William Ice Center offers public skating sessions as well as private and group lessons.

©Dmitry Piskarev/iStock via Getty Images

Also boasting an NHL and an Olympic rink is Prince William Ice Center in Woodbridge. Prince William Ice Center offers regular public skating sessions, which currently cost $10 per person per session with a $5 charge for skate rental if needed. It also offers private and group lessons for all abilities with Learn to Skate USA courses. Plus, if hockey or figure skating takes your interest, then there are lessons with top instructors as well as regular games and competitions. Prince William Ice Center also boasts a cafe and a pro shop.

Summary of the Largest Ice Skating Rinks in Virginia This Winter

RinkLocationSize (Square Feet)
Fairfax Ice ArenaFairfax17,000
Richmond Ice ZoneNorth Chesterfield17,000
SkateNation PlusGlen Allen17,000
Ashburn Ice HouseAshburn17,000
Ion International Training CenterLeesburg17,000
SkateQuestReston19,000
Prince William Ice CenterWoodbridge19,000

The photo featured at the top of this post is © New Africa/Shutterstock.com


Share on:
About the Author

Hannah is a writer at A-Z animals where her primary focus is on reptiles, marine life, mammals, and geography. Hannah has been writing and researching animals for four years alongside running her family farm. A resident of the UK, Hannah loves riding horses and creating short stories.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.