Winter is here! We live in Utah where winter is in full throttle. I have been thinking about all the Salt Lake City winter activities around town and trying to do as many as possible.
The Midway Ice Castle has been on my list for a few years. We decided that this was the year we would check it out!
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What is the Midway Ice Castle and Why Should it Be on Your Salt Lake City Winter Activities List?
The Midway Ice Castle is a hand-crafted ice structure. There are tunnels and slides made of ice to explore. It really is a beautiful work of art. The ice castle is built entirely by hand using hundreds of thousands of icicles. The ice castle includes LED -lit ice sculptures (at night), ice thrones, ice carved tunnels, and slides.
Ice Castle Locations in North America
This frozen attraction is located in six cities across North America. These cities include: Colorado, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Utah, and Alberta.
I feel pretty lucky that there is an ice castle in Utah and that I do not have to travel too far to see it. If you are traveling to Utah in the winter this really needs to be on your Salt Lake City winter activity list!
Where is the Midway Ice Castle?
The ice castle is located in Midway, Utah. Midway is an up and coming mountain town. It is about 25 minutes from Park City. The area is really beautiful. A few years ago it was chosen to house the HGTV Dream Home.
The Midway Ice Castle is about a 50 minute drive from Salt Lake City and about 43 minutes from Provo.
Homestead Resort
The ice castle is at the Homestead Resort and Golf Course. The location is great because if you wanted to make a weekend of it you have a nice place to stay at the resort. There is also a crater located near by with warm natural hot springs.
Ice Castle Tickets and Reservations
Reservations
Reservations are needed. There are time slots all day starting at 12:00 pm on weekends and 4:00 pm on weekdays.
One of the reasons I did not go until this year was because in the past I have wanted to go and it has been sold out.
I was really lucky this time because it just happened to be the day it opened and I don’t think everyone knew about it opening. All the nighttime slots were filled. At nighttime it is lit up and even more beautiful.
We chose to go at 3:00 pm.
Ticket’s to the Midway Ice Castle
Ticket prices vary from weekday to weekend. During the week adults are $14 and children (4-11) are $10. Weekend Prices for adults are $18 and $12 for children.
Buying tickets online is pretty important to guarantee your spot. But if you want to risk it, there are stand by tickets available that are more expensive.
Coupons for the Midway Ice Castles
Use code Planningaway to get a 15% discount on your tickets.
What are the Midway Ice Castle Hours ?
Hours for the Midway Ice Castle are as follows:
Weekday
4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Weekends
12:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Prepare for The Midway Ice Castle
What to Wear to the Ice Castle
With all outdoor Salt Lake City winter activities, certain clothing should be worn. For starters, put on some good quality snow boots that will keep your toes warm.
I wish I would have put my little kids in ski bibs. Not so much for the cold, but mostly because there are ice slides and if you are sliding down without the proper material you will get wet and be cold.
Gloves, hat, face mask , and earmuffs would be a good idea to take with you. I happened to go and it was only 32 degrees out so it wasn’t super cold. If you go at nighttime I would prepare to bundle up!
Bring a Sled
Bring a sled for your little children. I saw a few parents pulling sleds around the castle and thought that was a genius idea.
Parking At The Midway Ice Castle
Parking is pretty easy. You will park at the golf course because the Midway Ice Castle is actually built on the golf course. There are four lots available. If you park farther away there is a shuttle tram to take you to the entrance.
Entering the Midway Ice Castle
As you enter, you will go in a ticket area and be directed to the right location. You will need to show your online purchased tickets which will be scanned. The ticket master will give you a card with your party size on it and you will proceed to the ice castle entrance.
Rules at the Midway Ice Castle
There are a few rules that you can read in this picture. I think the most important ones were to not touch the ice and that if you leave the ice castle you may not re-enter.
Meet Elsa and Anna at the Midway Ice Castle
Before you enter the ice castle there is a great photo opportunity. There is a sign that says, ” ice castle.” Plus Elsa and Anna from Frozen will be there to greet you and take a picture with you.
My little kids were so excited to go to the ice castle and then the added bonus of getting to meet the princesses was pretty awesome!
What to Expect at the Midway Ice Castle
I really wasn’t sure what to expect when I went in. As you enter, you get to walk between tall sheets of ice crystals. It is pretty awesome.
Once inside the area opens up and you are surrounded by the walls of the castle. Within the ice castle there are mazes, ice chairs, and slides to explore. You can explore the whole area and take as many photos as you want.
What Surprised Me
I knew that it would be fun to take pictures and see the castle but I had no idea there was slides and mazes. There were 3 slides. Two of the slides are short and fast. In my opinion, one slide stands out above the rest at the Midway Ice Castle. It is both long and fast! You will know which one I am referring to because it is the only slide that a mat is provided.
Slides at the Midway Ice Castles
There is really something for everyone at the Midway Ice Castle. Even toddlers can enjoy one of the slides. It is designed especially for little children. My 4 and 7 year old went on this smaller slide and loved it.
Height Requirements
There are two other slides do have a height requirement of 42″. The first one we went on was not extremely fast and I think kids ages 4 and up would do just fine.
The more intense slide that I mentioned above is extremely fast. With that said my four year old loved it but if you have a timid child it might not be the best option. One thing I liked about this particular slide was the mat to sit on. This was nice so your pants would not get wet!
My kids loved the intense slide and went down multiple times. Even adults will love this. I went down and thought it was fun!
What is the Best Time of Day to Go to the Ice Castles?
Daytime
This is solely my opinion. I have little kids and I thought it was tough to keep track of them at the ice castle. They were running in all the mazes and coming down different slides.
I would be so stressed out if it had been dark and I could not see where they were running off to. So, I would say daytime is best with little kids. Plus, it is more crowded at night!
One benefit of going in the daytime is that the time slot’s do not sell out as quickly. When we arrived, the crowd level wasn’t bad. We did not have to wait in any lines for the slides. As the next time slot opened it became busy. The lines grew rather large toward the end of our visit.
Nighttime
Now if this had been a date, nighttime would totally be the way to go. You might not be able to stay as long because you may get cold but the Midway Ice Castle will be lit up with beautiful colored lights.
If you are there for photography in mind you should be able to get some great shots. I like the contrast in colors at night for sure.
The nighttime time slots are usually sold out, so you can expect it to be pretty crowded.
How Long Should I Plan to Stay at the Ice Castle?
I would plan to stay 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. If the weather is nice you can easily stay longer. We were able to go on all the slides multiple times and we stayed over an hour.
Obviously, if you go later and they are sold out it is going to take you a lot longer to go down all the slides. You will also have to wait in line to take pictures at particular spots as well.
Will I Be Warm Enough at the Ice Castle?
First, I would say dress warm no matter what. We went and it wasn’t bad at 32 degrees. I was chasing kids around and was not cold at all.
Space Heaters
In the middle of the Ice Castle is an open space with huge space heaters. There are log benches available to sit and relax on as well.
Refreshment Stand
If you are still too cold there is a refreshment stand that sells hot chocolate. You can grab a cup and head to the space heaters to warm up.
Some people in our party got too cold because they didn’t have the right shoes. Shoes really make a difference (get snow boots). They decided to go back to the car because they couldn’t handle being in the cold for any longer!
Salt Lake City Winter Activity List
The Midway Ice Castle is a great activity but if you need more ideas for your Salt Lake City winter activities list, be sure to check out my Ultimate Salt Lake City Ski Trip Post.
Soldier Hollow is another great place for snow tubing. And of course heading to Park City for some winter fun is always an option!
Facebook Travel Community
If you have any questions or know of other great places to add to our Salt Lake City winter activities list please comment below!
Also, join my Planningaway Travel Community on Facebook. This is a place where I post travel deals, and you can ask any questions about your Salt Lake City skiing trip or any other upcoming trips!
Shirley
January 23, 2020 5:32 amWhat a great, thorough, and informative article. If I’m ever in the area, a stop at Midway Ice Castle is a must!
Lisa
January 23, 2020 11:11 amYes, it is only open for a short time because it will melt!
Jennifer
January 28, 2020 1:12 amwill they build another one next winter?
Lisa
January 29, 2020 9:44 amYes, I think so. It has been coming back for several years now here and they keep adding locations other places.
Jennifer
January 23, 2020 6:35 amAmazing experience. You’d feel like you were in a Frozen.
Lisa
January 23, 2020 11:10 amIt makes you want to break out in song!
Missy
January 23, 2020 7:16 amI think it is great that Elsa and Anna from Frozen are there to greet you. I also would go down the slide many times over.
Lisa
January 23, 2020 11:07 amIt was a special treat!
LaurenGlobe
January 23, 2020 7:23 amThat looks so lovely and yet so cold!!!
Lisa
January 23, 2020 11:07 amThe temp wasn’t too bad during the day but nighttime would be cold!
jen
January 23, 2020 10:32 amThis looks rather epic and magical! WOW I had no idea something like this existed so close by…. worth a road trip !
Lisa
January 23, 2020 11:05 amI like that there are several locations too!
Yuri Barber
January 23, 2020 10:48 amDefinitely on my bucket list. Beautiful photos
Lisa
January 23, 2020 11:05 amThanks, yes it was on my list for a few years and I am glad I made it!
Crystal @ Our Little Bunch
January 23, 2020 10:48 amSliding down slides in an ice castle?! My kids would love this!
Lisa
January 23, 2020 11:04 amYes, they would love it for sure!
Christina Siwik
January 23, 2020 11:08 amWe may have to visit this place one day. ?
Lisa
January 25, 2020 11:11 pmOh yes it is fun!
Chantelle
January 23, 2020 1:41 pmThis is absolutely magical 🙂
Lisa
January 23, 2020 2:08 pmIt really was magical!
Cindy
January 23, 2020 1:52 pmIce castles are so exciting-especially at night. This one looks great!
Lisa
January 23, 2020 2:08 pmIt is like being in Frozen!
Amy
January 23, 2020 3:36 pmwow, this place looks awesome! Def adding this to my list to visit in the future.
Lisa
January 23, 2020 7:31 pmIt is only open for a short time so be sure to check that out!
jordin
January 23, 2020 6:12 pmGreat post about the ice castle! You answered many of my questions that I wondered if I was going to visit. I can’t wait to visit Utah one day.
Lisa
January 23, 2020 7:31 pmOh good!
Leeanne
January 23, 2020 6:49 pmWe’re hoping to get to the New Hampshire ice castles soon. It looks like so much fun, I’m sure my girls will love it.
Lisa
January 23, 2020 7:30 pmYour kids will love it!
Jordan
January 23, 2020 7:21 pmHaving lived in Georgia and now D.C., an ice castle is something I’ve never come across before, but it sounds awesome! It would be hard to choose between day and night, but I would love to see the ice all lit up. What a fun winter activity!
Lisa
January 23, 2020 7:30 pmYes, It probably is more magical at night!
Tricia Snow
January 23, 2020 7:48 pmThis looks like such a cool adventure! I would love to see this in person!
Lisa
January 23, 2020 10:05 pmIt was really cool to see!
kmf
January 23, 2020 9:51 pmSo cool you finally got the opportunity to go…it is so popular! And love the day shots – just as magical as the night. Wish I would have went down the slides last season but was much too cold when we visited in Minnesota. Maybe this year!
Lisa
January 23, 2020 10:05 pmLast year the Midwest was crazy cold! Hopefully, this year you can!
Taci- Life Beyond Zebra
January 24, 2020 1:05 pmI have never been in an ice castle, not have I ever heard of one. It looks so fun!
Lisa
January 24, 2020 7:57 pmOh cool, yes, it has been around for a few years but I just did it for the first time this year.
Cynthia
January 24, 2020 2:47 pmWhat a great article. I’ve heard people mention this in the past but never really knew much about it. Now I want to go! I’m assuming it would be best to stay in Salt Lake as far as that is where there are the most things to do? Enjoyed the article. Pinned to refer to later.
Lisa
January 24, 2020 7:56 pmI would probably stay in Park City or on the Homestead Resort where the ice caste is located. The Homestead resort has a natural hot spring that is really cool.
Stacey Billingsley
January 24, 2020 4:54 pmThis is so cool! I didn’t think about ice castles having slides and mazes, either. My family would be all over this!
Lisa
January 24, 2020 7:54 pmIt was a totally surprise to us, I just thought it would be cool to walk around in.
Brianna Creef
January 25, 2020 7:47 amI cannot believe ice castles exist in the US and I didn’t know about them! Thanks so much for the heads up!
Lisa
January 25, 2020 8:51 pmSuch a cool thing huh! You should look up Alex boye frozen on youtube from a few years ago. It is a really cool video.
heather jandrue
January 26, 2020 7:14 amThese have become so popular. I am not sure how the one in New Hampshire is doing this winter. We are having a relatively warm season.
Lisa
January 27, 2020 1:33 pmWe had a warm season a few years ago and it wasn’t open for too long.
Courtney
January 26, 2020 11:30 amMy kids would love to play Frozen in this. Dream place to be Elsa! ?
Lisa
January 27, 2020 1:32 pmYes, it is perfect for that!
Julie Gazdecki
January 27, 2020 6:45 amWinter’s beauty!! This is something I would brave the cold to see.
Lisa
January 27, 2020 1:32 pmBundle up and get some hot chocolate!
Sydney Delong
January 27, 2020 11:20 amHow cool! Going at night would be a fantastic idea for a date, it sounds romantic!
Lisa
January 27, 2020 1:31 pmIt would be a great date location!
Debbie
January 27, 2020 12:05 pmWow! How fun! It reminds me of the ice hotel on a Hallmark movie that I re-watched last nite. Lol
Lisa
January 27, 2020 1:30 pmIt was probably filmed there!
Lora Rovegna
January 27, 2020 12:32 pmWho knew there was a place like that in Utah? That looks like it would be up in Canada or Alaska. So very cool!
Lisa
January 27, 2020 1:29 pmIt is very near Park City in the mountains.
KENDRA
January 27, 2020 3:00 pmThis is so cool! I’ve been wanting to go to the one here in Colorado for several years but haven’t been yet. This makes me want to make it more of a priority.
Lisa
January 29, 2020 9:46 amI know I was the same way. I wanted to go but didn’t want to get out in the cold but I am glad I did!
Lucy
January 27, 2020 6:32 pmWow that looks like a real life frozen movie!! ?
Lisa
January 29, 2020 9:45 amIt is pretty cool. They have shot music videos here.
Katherine Wolfe
January 27, 2020 7:21 pmAnother place I have never been to but would like to get to some day!
Lisa
January 29, 2020 9:45 amI hope you get to!
Kareena
January 27, 2020 7:51 pmThis looks amazing! Cold, but amazing! 🙂 I’m putting this one on the list! Great article!
Lisa
January 29, 2020 9:43 amThanks!
Lora
January 27, 2020 8:55 pmWe are going to Utah in December with family and friends so I will add this to our list of things to do as it looks great!
Lisa
January 29, 2020 9:42 amIt didn’t open until January this year. It depends on weather, December may be too early!
Lisa
January 28, 2020 12:06 amSuch a great post! We never knew ice castles could have a maze, that sounds so neat and amazing! Thank you for sharing your adventure.
Lisa
January 29, 2020 9:44 amIt surprised me as well. My kids loved that part.
Lee Anne
January 28, 2020 3:49 amWhat a unique experience! I didn’t know this type of thing existed in the states. You know how much I love all the photos!!
Lisa
January 29, 2020 9:41 amI know it was really overcast too I wasn’t sure how our photo’s would turn out!
Amanda
January 28, 2020 12:53 pmOh my goodness my girls would love this so much! I need to make sure to put this on my list for next season. Thanks for sharing!
Lisa
January 29, 2020 9:40 amOh for sure and I know there is one one the east coast too!
judean
January 28, 2020 1:21 pmI wish we had those in my neck of the woods! It seems so awesome and I enjoy winter that this would be an awesome day trip! Thanks for sharing!
Lisa
January 29, 2020 9:40 amIt was a great day trip!
vanessa
January 28, 2020 5:33 pmJust looking at the pictures gave me super chills. It looks fun though. Thanks for sharing.
Lisa
January 29, 2020 9:39 amI know right!
Justine
January 28, 2020 7:04 pmThis looks like so much fun!! I had to chuckle though when you said 32 degrees so it wasn’t too cold. I’ve been out of Colorado for 9 years now and living in SoCal. I’ve clearly changed because my eyes doubled in size when you said 32 wasn’t too cold. We’re in hiding when the temperature drops below 65 out here! But I do remember when I growing up, I was fine until it hit the 20s. I’m going to pin this as an idea for a future trip!
Lisa
January 29, 2020 9:39 amHa Ha. That is funny. I think I am good until it gets below 20. I have been in Park City at 0 degrees and that was cold! I could handle 32!
Lisa
January 28, 2020 10:36 pmI have never heard of an ice castle…this looks amazing!!
Lisa
January 29, 2020 9:38 amIt was pretty cool!
Tonya | the Writer Mom
January 28, 2020 10:54 pmThe ice castle looks awesome! My 3 yo would lose her mind…she’s obsessed with Frozen.
Lisa
January 29, 2020 9:37 amOh yes she would love it! She would have to dress like Elsa!
Tanya
January 29, 2020 5:33 pmThis looks like such a fun activity for the kids!
Lisa
January 31, 2020 1:56 pmFor sure! We my kids had a lot of fun!
Adrian
January 29, 2020 5:51 pmMy daughter would love this
Lisa
January 31, 2020 1:56 pmIt was really fun for my kids!
Adrienne
February 1, 2020 4:12 pmThis looks awesome! I’d love to check it out.
Brianna
February 1, 2020 7:00 pmThis looks like such an awesome thing to do with family. I’ll have to do this with my kids one day and I’ll make sure to bring a sled
Lisa
February 3, 2020 10:26 amThe sled would be fun for the littles!
T.M. Brown
February 2, 2020 3:33 pmI am soooo not a fan of the cold, but this place looks fantastic! What a spectacular place to visit if you can tolerate the frigid temperatures.
Lisa
February 3, 2020 10:23 amI know right!
jody
February 3, 2020 3:32 pmThis is something I have always wanted to see i think it is so pretty. I would love to got there someday.
Lisa
February 3, 2020 7:05 pmOh yes! If you live close to one you should!
Cindy
March 1, 2020 11:31 pmThis would be a fun and enchanting experience!
Lisa
March 3, 2020 9:18 pmIt is really cool!
Alexis Farmer
September 28, 2020 2:25 pmNormally, I’m not one to go from my cold wintery state to another one, but this ice castle looks amazing! Definitely need to make a trip to Utah.
Lisa
September 29, 2020 2:16 pmI know right. There are a few other locations as well if one is closer to you!
Michele
September 28, 2020 2:50 pmI have always wanted to visit an ice castle. Living in south GA there are none near us of course. We were very excited to go ice caving in Iceland in February. Maybe we will make it to Utah one winter!
Lisa
September 29, 2020 2:16 pmThat would be awesome! It is a really neat experience!
Kendra
September 29, 2020 8:47 amWow! The Midway Ice Castle is so impressive! This sounds like a perfect family winter activity to do in Utah! Thanks for sharing!
Lisa
September 29, 2020 2:11 pmIt is really cool and beautiful!
Casandra
September 29, 2020 2:18 pmMy kids would lose their minds if we could go there! That sounds so much fun.