Best Holiday Ice Skating Rinks in San Diego (2026)
Beachfront ice in Coronado, festive laps at Liberty Station, and the indoor rinks and holiday skating events worth knowing across San Diego County.
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Ice skating with the Pacific behind you is a pretty good argument for spending Christmas in San Diego. Hotel del Coronado is the rink that delivers that moment, but the right one for you depends on the rest of your plans. Liberty Station makes an easy skate-and-dinner night, Viejas brings the season to East County, and a neighborhood indoor rink is often the sensible call for an afternoon with the kids.
We've picked 11 places across San Diego County: three seasonal outdoor ice rinks, five indoor rinks and three holiday events with synthetic skating. The synthetic ones are clearly marked, so you know which glide you're getting. Prices below are adult rates with rental skates.
San Diego Holiday Skating at a Glance
| Rink | Area | 2026–27 dates | Adult price with rentals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel del Coronado | Coronado | Nov 20–Jan 3 | $40–$45; Value Skate $35 |
| Rady Children's Ice Rink | Liberty Station | Nov 19–Jan 3 | $20; $30 from Dec 21 |
| Viejas Ice Rink | Alpine | Nov 6–Jan 10 | $24 |
| UTC Ice | University City | Year-round | $30 |
| San Diego Ice Arena | Mira Mesa | Year-round | $20 |
| Kroc Center Ice | Rolando | Year-round | $25; $20 booked 48 hours ahead |
| Poway ICE | Poway | Year-round | $26 |
| Ice Realm Carlsbad | Carlsbad | Year-round | $28 |
| Fairmont Grand Del Mar | Carmel Valley | Selected dates Nov 26–Jan 2 | $30; $35 Saturdays |
| Coastal Christmas | Del Mar Fairgrounds | Selected dates Dec 11–26 | $42 plus fees |
| Poway Winter Festival | Poway Community Park | Jan 8–9 | Free |
Outdoor Ice Skating in San Diego: The Seasonal Rinks
These are the three to build a classic holiday skate around. Pick the setting and the part of the county that fit the rest of your day. For a drink or dinner after, see our San Diego Christmas bars guide or, for Coronado, our waterfront restaurants guide. The Del's free light show is one of the picks in our San Diego Christmas lights guide.
Skating by the Sea at Hotel del Coronado
1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118, USA
The signature San Diego holiday skate: real ice on the Windsor Lawn beside Coronado Beach, with the ocean on one side and the red-roofed hotel on the other. Go in the late afternoon, then stay for the free Founders Lawn light show, every half hour from 5 to 9 p.m. Details: 90 minutes with rentals, $40–$45 ($45 from Dec 18), Value Skate $35, and $5 off for hotel guests, members, military and first responders. Kids under 12 skate with an adult; no skate aids or helmets. Parking isn't validated and starts at $39 for two hours.
Rady Children's Ice Rink at Liberty Station
2875 Dewey Rd, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
The easy family pick: skate in the Arts District, then wander over to dinner, with net proceeds going to Rady Children's Thriving After Cancer Program. Go on a weekday if you can, since weekend rental lines run long. Details: Adults $20 and kids $15 through Dec 20, then $30 and $20; skates and helmets included. Kids under 8 skate with an adult. Three hours of free parking while you visit Liberty Station.
Viejas Ice Rink
5003 Willows Rd, Alpine, CA 91901, USA
The East County pick, set at the Viejas outlets so you can add shopping or bowling, and keep family plans on the outlet side of the road. Its season runs a week longer than the other outdoor rinks, so Jan 4–10 is the time for a post-holiday skate. Details: $24 ages 13+, $22 ages 12 and under, with rentals and 90 minutes. Usually 3–10 p.m., weather permitting; closed Thanksgiving.
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Indoor Ice Rinks in San Diego
Year-round rinks for winter break, repeat visits and rainy days. Book a public-skating session, and check the calendar for your date, since holiday weeks often run a different schedule.
UTC Ice Sports Center
4545 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, CA 92122, USA
Indoor ice inside Westfield UTC, where the dining terrace overlooks the rink, so non-skaters can sit and grab lunch while everyone else skates. Skate first, then shop, so you're not juggling bags at check-in. Details: $30 with skates and a helmet; skate helpers $15 an hour. The front desk validates four hours of free parking.
San Diego Ice Arena
11048 Ice Skate Pl, San Diego, CA 92126, USA
The best-value indoor family skate, and an easy one to repeat over winter break. Look for weekend Family Fun sessions, usually 1–3 p.m. Details: $20 with rentals, or $17 each for groups of 10+. Book and sign the waiver online; loaner helmets are available.
Kroc Center Ice
6845 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92115, USA
An easy indoor skate for the city's eastern side and La Mesa, and as cheap as it gets if you plan two days out. Details: $25 with rentals, or $20 booked online 48 hours ahead. Use the ice arena entrance at 6737 University Avenue. Kids under 12 need an adult with them.
Poway ICE
12455 Kerran St #100, Poway, CA 92064, USA
Real ice for Poway and inland North County, with skate mates for anyone still finding their balance. Not to be confused with the Poway Winter Festival across town. Details: $18 plus $8 rentals, nonrefundable. Online sales close an hour before each session; walk-ins when there's room.
Ice Realm Carlsbad
2283 Cosmos Ct, Carlsbad, CA 92011, USA
Coastal North County's indoor rink, formerly Icetown Carlsbad. For busy sessions, arrive 30–45 minutes early to check in and collect skates. Details: $20 plus $8 rentals; a training aid is $20. Set up your account before you go.
San Diego Holiday Events With Synthetic Skating
These events put you on synthetic panels rather than frozen water, so expect a slower, grippier glide. Choose them for the whole holiday night out. Downtown La Mesa's free Holiday in the Village on December 12 also lists a skating rink; check its event page for skating details. Coastal Christmas also appears in our San Diego Christmas markets guide, and Fairmont's Santa visits are in where to see Santa in San Diego.
Winter Wonderland at Fairmont Grand Del Mar
5300 Grand Del Mar Ct, San Diego, CA 92130, USA
Synthetic Glice rink. A resort holiday evening at Grand Social, with the Grand Express train, Santa or seasonal characters and fire-pit tables between turns on the rink. An easy sell for grandparents and little kids. Details: Adults $30, kids $20 ($35 and $25 Saturdays), skates included. Selected dates Nov 26–Jan 2, usually 5–9 p.m. Parking is $25.
Coastal Christmas at Del Mar Fairgrounds
2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014, USA
Synthetic Glice rink. A lights-and-market night with Santa photos and live music, where the rink is an add-on to your entry ticket. December 17 is Community Night, with two-for-one admission. Details: About $47 per adult with skating and fees, plus $22.20 parking. Dec 11–13, 17–23 and 26, 4–9 p.m.
Poway Winter Festival
13094 Civic Center Dr, Poway, CA 92064, USA
Synthetic rink. A free two-day festival after the Christmas rush, with snow play, sledding, crafts and a light walk alongside the rink. Admission, skating and rentals are all free. Dates: Friday, Jan 8, 5–9 p.m., and Saturday, Jan 9, 3:30–8:30 p.m., plus a special-needs session Saturday 2:30–3:30 p.m.
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