The Ultimate Guide To The Midway Ice Castles

What Are The Ice Castles & How Are The Ice Castles Made? 

Utah's Ice Castles in Midway are a real life winter wonderland of man-made structures created entirely out of ice! This winter wonderland is handmade annually by artisans who use thousands of icicles (around 12,000 a day over two months!) to form this attraction, which includes ice sculptures, tunnels, archways, slides, and fountains. If this wasn’t impressive enough, each attraction is built around colorful LED lights that bring the castle walls to life each night (if Elsa had her own Disney castle attraction, this would be it)!

How Much Are Ice Castle Tickets?

The cost of Ice Castle tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for kids Monday-Thursday, or $23 for adults and $16 for kids on the weekends. Additionally you can also buy a sleigh ride experience and meet the Clydesdale horses on Fridays and Saturdays for an extra $14 a person, which is something the kids really enjoy.

I felt these prices were a bit steep to be honest, but I paid them knowing it was a unique experience that can be hard to get, because tickets do sell out weeks or sometimes months in advance! Be sure to plan ahead and buy your tickets online early!

(Kids are considered ages 4 -11 years of age, and children under 3 are free. Keep in mind that the ice castles are also closed on Sundays, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day).

How Long Are The Ice Castles Open? 

Don’t forget to say hi to the reindeer while you’re there!

Opening day for the Ice Castles varies each season depending on the weather. Typically, you can visit from late December through early March, but if it’s not cold enough to keep the ice frozen, it might not open until January, or close as early as February. The Ice Castle season can be relatively short, so be sure to check the website for this season’s most updated information.

Visit during the week for lower ticket prices and less crowds.

How To Get There

The Midway Ice Castles are one of only 5 ice castle destinations in the US and are located just outside Utah’s popular ski town, Park City, in an area of Midway called Soldiers Hollow.

As there aren’t any public transit systems that travel through these canyons, (and an Uber or Taxi would be quite expensive going this distance) your best way of transportation is going to be by renting or driving a car.

The best way to get there from Salt Lake City (or farther north), is by driving up Parley Canyon along I-80 (this is about an hour’s drive).

If you’re making the trip from someplace south, like Provo or St George however, then I’d recommend taking I-89 through Provo Canyon as it’ll be 30 minutes faster.

Note: If you’re already in Park City then it’s a quick 25 min drive.

How Long Does It Take To Go Through The Ice Castles in Midway Utah? 

It takes about 40-60 minutes to walk through the ice castles depending on if you want to ride the slides, how many photos you want to take, or if you purchased a sleigh ride, but your ticket will allow you to stay as long as you want! 

Pro Tip: Dress in layers! Remember, you’re walking around Elsa’s castle from Frozen (basically) so it’s cold! Make sure you dress appropriately, especially with warm gloves and boots. 

When Is The Best Time To Visit The Ice Castles?

I recommend visiting during the week if possible to save money on ticket prices and to avoid the weekend crowds. I went on a Saturday so I could participate in the sleigh ride, but it also meant there were a lot of people and it took a lot more time to get photos without other people in the background. While I enjoyed the sleigh ride (and it might be worth it if you’re taking kids), if I went again I would go on a weeknight to cut costs and have more of the breathtaking ice castles to myself. 

If possible I’d also recommend choosing a time slot of around 4:30 pm so you can see the ice castles while there’s still daylight and also see the magic come to life at night. Pictures get a lot harder to take once it’s completely dark, but the magic really comes to life after the sun sets! 

Photo Tip: Plan to arrive at the ice castles before dark for the best photo opportunities. Cameras with flash are not allowed, and artificial lighting within the ice castles is limited. It’s also more crowded in the evening and harder to get great snaps without others photobombing your images.

Are the Ice Castles Worth It?

Yes! As you make your way through the icy corridors, you’ll discover elaborate hand-carved sculptures, crawl through igloos and tunnels (big enough for adults, too), explore a frozen maze, and even meet a few reindeer which makes for an incredible experience that’s definitely worth it. Not only is this a unique winter activity, but the illuminated ice structures are breathtaking and create a stunning visual you’re sure to remember. 

Always cheering for you,

Ashley

*All photos were taken by Robin Kunzler.