New Brighton Minnesota Ice Castles 2023 Guide & Discount Code

The Minnesota Ice Castles are located in New Brighton, just a 20-minute drive from the Twin Cities. New Brighton is a town with plenty to do, bringing the ice castles to a city with a small-town feel. Explore the downtown before ending your evening at the stunning lit-up ice castles.

The ice castles are beautiful at night time when they are illuminated by colored LED lights that give the chilly structures a fairytale quality. But, daytime can be just as fun, and you can really appreciate the detail of the sculptures, castles, and everything else made of ice in the natural light. 

*The Stillwater Ice Castles have moved! Please note the new location like last year. The location is at Long Lake Regional Park in New Brighton*

Are the Minnesota Ice Castles open? – No

No, they are not open! The official opening date is set for January 14, 2023. They are scheduled to be open until February 20, 2023, or longer if the weather remains cold enough. 

Don’t forget to bring a sled (strollers aren’t allowed)! This is the cutest sled ever and is great for pictures. 

New Brighton Minnesota Ice Castles Opening Times

The Minnesota Ice Castles will open January 14 to February 20, 2023 open. If the cold weather remains, you can expect closures to be delayed into early March. They are closed on Tuesday.

Opening hours are:

• Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 4 pm – 9 pm
• Friday: 4 pm – 10 pm
• Saturday: 11:30 am – 10 pm
• Sunday: 11:30 am – 8 pm

Related Article: Visiting the Wisconsin Ice Castles

Where to Purchase Minnesota Ice Castle Tickets – Tickets on Sale NOW

Tickets are on sale now. There are two levels of ticket pricing: weekday and weekend. Kids under 4 get in for free. Purchase tickets online here.

You can purchase tickets on-site, but they are not guaranteed to be available. To avoid disappointment, it’s best to order online. If you do plan to show up for standby tickets, be prepared to pay a little bit more since they are subject to higher pricing.

• Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday
  • Ages 12 and up $15
  • Ages 4-11 $11
  • Children under 4 are free 
• Friday – Sunday
  • Ages 12 and up $22
  • Ages 4-11 $15
  • Children under 4 are free 
• Holiday Pricing (January 16 & February 20) is the same as weekend pricing

Ice Castle Discount Code

We have an exclusive Ice Castles discount code for our readers, get 15% off with promo code stamped2023 good for the 2023 Ice Castle season.

Remember to bring hand warmers. These cheap ones do the trick!

Ice Castles in Minnestoa Address

• Long Lake Regional Park, 1500 Old Highway 8, New Brighton, MN 55112

The previous location was the Stillwater Ice Castles, but the new location is New Brighton.

Parking & Shuttles for the New Brighton Ice Castles

Parking is limited, be prepared to be directed to other nearby parking lots. During peak hours, free shuttles will be running from all the Ice Castles parking lots at the Long Lake Regional Park.

If you visit on the weekend, they run free Ice Castle shuttles from The Exchange every 30 minutes (Fridays 5-11 pm, Saturdays 3-11 pm, and Sundays 12-9:30 pm). This is what we would suggest doing, parking on the weekends can be a headache.

Amenities at the Minnesota Ice Castles

The Minnesota Ice Castles have all the best features you’ll find across all locations. Inside the castle itself, walk through dazzling archways and tucked-away caverns and marvel at the beautiful opaque walls. Race down the slippery ice slides, find your way around the ice maze full of twists and turns and crawl through narrow passageways made entirely of ice. These are great for both kids and adults, as long as you are not claustrophobic! 

For a really special experience, rent the Arctic Alcove, a VIP experience in a fully private area with seating and a fireplace. Perfect for special occasions like anniversaries and birthdays or for marriage proposals in a truly magical setting.

If you are lucky, you may witness an evening performance by fire dancers. You would think that fire and ice castles don’t mix, but these trained performers do a mix of fire twirling, breathing fire, and other dances and tricks—all without melting the ice. 

Accommodation Near the Minnesota Ice Castles

The hotels right in Stillwater itself (which is fairly small) tend to be a little more expensive than your average budget hotel. The Stillwater Inn & Suites will have the best value at the lowest price. Meanwhile, hotels like the Lora and the Hotel Crosby will be able to offer a higher quality of stay.

There are a lot of small towns and cities southwest of Stillwater, the closer you get to Minneapolis. If you don’t mind a slightly longer drive, then you will have a lot more hotel options the closer you get to the center of the Tri-Cities area. 

Tips for Visiting the Minnesota Ice Castles 

1. Buy Your Tickets In Advance

Ice Castle tickets are valid for a specific date and time entry. You’ll need to purchase them in advance to guarantee admission. We cannot urge you enough to buy them online as soon as they go on sale.

2. Check the weather

The days that we visited were below zero. It was super super cold and uncomfortable. Make sure to check the weather 24+ hours before, so if needed, you can change your ticket for free or dress for the weather.

3. Dress in layers

Dress warm. You can always take off your jacket for a picture if needed. You don’t want to rush through the ice castles because you are cold.

4. Wear boots

No matter if it’s below zero or 30+ degrees outside, wear boots in the ice castle. It’s the easiest way to walk around, and your feet will stay much warmer. Remember, you’ll be walking on snow & ice the entire time it gets really cold!

5. Bring Hand Warmers

We wish we had hand warmers last year, you can get these cheap hand warmers that come with 10, or they have these rechargeable hand warmers for slightly more money. They are nice to have in your gloves & boots, or take them out and warm up your face. 

6. Bring A Sled

Pulling children in a sled is much easier than attempting to push a stroller, and they don’t allow strollers, but they do allow sleds. We think this is the cutest sled ever. 

7. Don’t Rush

Remember that the time on your ticket is just your entry time period, but once you are inside the ice castles, you can stay as long as you want. If you do get cold, go warm up by the outdoor fire!

Other Ice Castles in the United States to Visit

• Lake Geneva Wisconsin Ice Castles
• Midway Utah Ice Castles
• Lake George New York Ice Castles
• Woodstock New Hampshire Ice Castles