Ice Castles in Minnesota – A Must See

Visiting the Ice Castles in Minnesota made me feel like I was in the movie Frozen. It was magical.

Artists make the ice castles by using little sprinklers to form the walls of the castles. It is very impressive to see them in person, and it’s amazing how much detail they have.

Getting to the Ice Castles

We visited the ice castles in Minnesota, in the town of Excelsior – just 30 minutes outside of the city. There was a beautiful lake in the middle of town, and it would be worth spending some time in Excelsior while you’re there.

You can check out the Ice Castles at the following locations:

Dillon, CO

Edmonton, AB

Lake Geneva, WI

New Hampshire

Midway, UT

Parking information and hours can be found at the Ice Castles website.

Dusk at the Ice Castles in Minnesota

Tickets

You can purchase tickets ahead of time online or you can show up for standby and hope for a ticket. I recommend buying tickets in advance, especially if you’re driving a good distance.

You pick an “entrance” time and are given a 30 minute window to show up. This staggers the visitors coming through. Fortunately, you are not limited in how long you can stay, but it is nice that the area isn’t packed full of people.

Admission price varies by location. It is cheaper during the week, cheaper for children, and more expensive for standby. For Excelsior, MN it is $10.95 during the week and $15.95 Friday-Sunday for adults.

Pro Tip: Figure out what time the sun sets and buy a ticket to arrive 30 minutes before it sets. This way, you’ll get to see the ice castles shimmering during the day but also see them lit up after the sun goes down. We did this, and one of the workers said it’s the best way to experience them.

See, how cool are they at night too?

Experience the Ice Castles

Great, you made it! Admire the beauty, go down the ice slides (yes, even if you’re an adult), and wander through every tunnel. Take a bunch of pictures.

There are little fire heaters to warm up and a place to buy hot drinks and sweets.

The workers were really excited and helpful when we were there. Ask them any questions you have.

An hour or so is enough time to appreciate the beauty of the ice castles.

Perfect date night.

Attire

Wear all the clothes! Ice will surround you, therefore it WILL be cold. Wear a hat, mittens, boots, and a heavy winter coat. I even wore 2 pairs of pants. And I highly recommend bringing some hand/toe warmers. We forgot, and as a result, my toes went numb. You will have a much better experience if you aren’t freezing your tush off the whole time.

All in all, I don’t think visiting the ice castles is something I would do every year, but I highly recommend seeing them once in your life if you can. You will feel like you’re in a frozen wonderland.

If you want to learn more about a Minnesota winter, learn how to run in it!

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