Ice Castles in North Woodstock, NH is a great winter attraction for kids and adults. Make it a day trip or plan a vacation to North Woodstock, NH this winter to fully enjoy the snowy beauty of New Hampshire and the White Mountains.
Ice Castles partnered with our family on this travel feature several years ago. I received free entry in exchange for sharing my experience.
What are the Ice Castles?
When I first heard of the Ice Castles I was immediately intrigued. 25,000,000+ pounds of ice? 10-foot thick walls? The list goes on but that alone is astounding. There is a short video on the website that shares more fascinating information. But no video or image can truly display how impressive the ice castles are. You have to see them for yourself.
Ice Castles is a winter attraction created by professional ice artists. Due to its makeup (ice!), it’s a limited-time attraction that is weather-dependent. Each castle is made up of water frozen into icicles and artfully displayed with ice sculptures, LED lighting, ice slides, tunnels, and mazes. My kids could have stayed for hours.
In recent years, they also added a Mystic Forest Light Walk and Winter Fairy Village. You can see more on these features here and reserve your tickets.
Where are the Ice Castles located?
Ice Castles has 6 locations across the northern United States and Canada. Each has unique features and pricing so I want to note that the information in the remainder of this article refers to the Ice Castles in New Hampshire. You can access location-specific information here.
- Colorado (2 locations)
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- Utah
Where is the Ice Castle in New Hampshire located?
Ice Castles New Hampshire is located at 24 Clark Farm Road North Woodstock, NH. It is easy to access from the highway so winter travel is still fairly smooth (unless it’s the middle of a snowstorm) as they maintain the highway very well. Keep your camera handy for the trip as you will want to snap photo after photo as you drive through the winter wonderland of the White Mountains.
Ice Castles isn’t far off exits 32 or 33 with signs directing you. As they say on their website, GPS doesn’t always work properly in that area. From experience, it can get a bit turned around itself. They have a simple map on their site that shows you the easiest way to avoid traffic when traveling there.
The view as we drove up to the Ice Castle was astounding. Layer upon layer of ice frozen into a castle-type shape and “dripping” with ginormous icicles. The icicles weren’t thawing this night, that’s for sure, with temps in the single digits before you factor in wind chill.
TIP: Layer up and wear mittens and boots!
Ice Castles NH Opening Date 2025
Opening and closing dates for all Ice Castle locations are highly dependent on the weather in any given year. As you can imagine, it needs to stay really cold out for the ice castles to freeze and stay frozen. This year they open on January 10.
How much are tickets to the Ice Castles?
You can buy tickets onsite if they have any available but the safest bet is to order ahead so you don’t risk them selling out the time you want. I selected the mobile delivery option. It was so easy! I didn’t worry about losing a ticket and could pull my ticket links up via text message.
Ticket price is dependent on the location you visit so check the website for more specific pricing but ticket prices in New Hampshire range between $12-$21. Standby (onsite) tickets cost a bit more.
What can you expect when you visit?
Once we were inside it was hard to know where to look first! Walls of ice loomed around us, icicles hung over our heads, lights danced from the ice, and music wafted through the air. It was so festive. Everywhere we turned was a perfect photo op! Do you know how hard it was to choose which photos to share?!
There were a few interactive displays like a mini tunnel slide, small tunnels through ice walls, and one longer tunnel slide, which they provide sleds for. I didn’t ride that one but the rest of the family did and they loved it.
At the back side of the ice castle there is a spot you can get hot cocoa to warm up without leaving the attraction. SCORE for them. You can also pick up some snacks and memorabilia at the gift shop you exit through.
What should you wear?
Wear gloves, boots, and coats. Layers are super helpful. Not only is this attraction outdoors but it’s made of ICE. It’s cold. (See the cute shivery kids pictured above.)
How much does parking cost?
The parking lot is on location and is free. You can find the address and more directions here.
What restaurants are near Ice Castles New Hampshire?
Here are several restaurant options to choose from. Our favorite is Gypsy Cafe. If your family has any food allergies be sure to mention it and ask for an allergy-friendly menu.
Are there hotels located nearby?
There are several popular chain hotels and AirBnB options located in Woodstock and Lincoln, which is the next town over and a very short drive.
Disclosure: Ice Castles partnered with us by giving us tickets in exchange for sharing our experience. There was no other compensation and all opinions are my own.
Original Post Published: January 12, 2017
Loved the insider tips on the kitchen setup! Can’t wait to plan my own trip to Ice Castles and experience the magic for myself 😍