5 Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks to Visit in Metro Detroit

Hit the ice this winter at The Rink at Campus Martius Park, The Rink in Royal Oak, and other area ice skating rinks.
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Photograph courtesy of the Downtown Detroit Partnership

Cold temps don’t have to get you down when there’s still plenty to do in Southeast Michigan. Get out your winter gear and head to one of these metro Detroit outdoor ice skating rinks.

Buhr Park Ice Arena

This open-air ice arena is covered by a roof so you can enjoy a skate sesh outdoors without having to brave all the elements. Public open skate is available 3:15-5:30 p.m. Sunday, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Monday and Thursday, 4:45-5:45 p.m. Wednesday, 7-8:45 p.m. Friday, and 2:45-4:30 p.m. and 7:15-8:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $6 for adults, and $5 for seniors and youth 17 and under. Skate rentals are $3, and sharpening is available for an additional cost. Buhr Park Ice Arena, 2751 Packard Road, Ann Arbor; a2gov.org.

Dodge Park Ice Rink

This covered, open-air ice rink officially opens for the season on Dec. 1, and is open noon-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. Special hours run Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. The rink is closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission is free to residents of Sterling Heights, or $5 per person. Skate rental is $4 and skate sharpening is available for $5. Dodge Park, 40620 Utica Road, Sterling Heights; sterling-heights.net.

The Rink at Campus Martius Park presented by Visit Detroit

Some of the world’s best ice skaters have hit the ice at The Rink at Campus Martius Park. Pricing at this downtown Detroit attraction, which is located near the city’s Christmas tree and surrounded by holiday lights, ranges from $9 for kids to $12 for adults. Discounts are available for seniors and military/first responders. Skate rentals are $6 each. The rink is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday, and 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday through Dec. 11. Starting Dec. 12 through Jan. 1, there’s extended hours 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday, 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday, and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday. Jan. 2-March 5, the hours change again to 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, and noon-8 p.m. Special hours Christmas Day and New Years Eve. The Rink at Campus Martius Park, 800 Woodward Ave., Detroit; downtowndetroit.org

Riley Park Ice Rink

This 60-foot by 80-foot refrigerated rink in downtown Farmington is open — weather permitting — from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. There is no cost for admission, and skates are also available to borrow at no cost. Keep an eye on the rink’s Facebook page for fun events. Riley Park Ice Rink, 33113 Grand River Ave., Farmington; farmgov.com

The Rink at Royal Oak

The 60-foot by 90-foot rink in Royal Oak is open noon-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 2, 2024. The rink will remain open until Feb. 19, 2024. The hours change after Jan. 3 and have yet to be announced. Admission is $10 a person on weekdays and $12 per person on weekends. Skate rental is $5. Fire pits and warming stations are open during open skate. The rink will be taken down at the end of the season for spring activities in the park. Centennial Commons, 221 E. 3rd St., Royal Oak; therinkatroyaloak.com.

This post has been updated for 2023.