Roller Skating Rinks in the Twin Cities

7/4/2017

My daughter and I started roller derby earlier this year. Suddenly, roller skating on a regular basis became a priority. I asked around with the Twin Cities Junior Roller Derby Parents, and got a few ideas on places to roller skate in the area.

In short, there are 5 roller skating rinks open year-round in the Greater Twin Cities area. Click here for general tips on roller skating rinks, and a few notes on each.

Brand new skates for our first mother/daughter roller skating outing.

How To Decide Where To Skate

For me, when figuring out where to go, it comes down to a few key factors:

When is it open?
Most rinks are open Friday and Saturday. Beyond then, it really depends on the rink.
What type of session? .
Session types could be for small children, families or adults only. Personally, I’m usually looking for a family session or an adults only skating time if it’s just me.
How easy is it to get to?
Most of the roller skating rinks are in the suburbs, so getting there is a big factor. Where you live or work, traffic, road construction and overall travel time are all factors.
What is the cost?
Skating can cost anywhere from free to $8 per person.

Roller Skating Center Possibilities

Cheap Skate, Coon Rapids, MN
Pros:

Open every day of the week during multiple time frames.
Open during most holidays.
Skating specials so skating with children is free on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
Roller derby-ish oval in the middle of the floor.
Fewer group games that interrupt regular skating.
A Ms. Pacman machine.
Bathroom that is actually skateable.

Cons:

They usually have a "Blackout Skate" where there is a smoke machine, disco lights, strobe lights and more. Kids seem to love it. I find it overwhelming.
Can take 45 minutes to get to from South Minneapolis.

Roller Garden, Saint Louis Park, MN
Pros:

Open almost most days with multiple sessions with different themes.
Practice area.
Several adults only skating sessions.
Roller derby-ish squared oval in the middle of the floor.
More centrally located within the Twin Cities.

Cons:

Closed around most holidays—including Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
Practice area is a different surface than the main floor.
No air conditioning.
Parking is a challenge.
The bathroom is tile with deep grooves and floor drains. It is a skating nightmare.

A busy day at Roller Garden.

Saints North, Maplewood, MN
Pros:

Nice skating floor. Closer to floors I've used for roller derby.
Roller derby-ish oval in the middle of the floor.
Even on a busy Saturday, they had a brief adults only skate.
Easy parking.

Cons:

Restrictive hours. They are open on weekends and currently 1 weekday.
Website is static and not very user friendly.

Skateville, Burnsville, MN
Pros:

Easily accessible from South Minneapolis.
$4 Sunday night skate in the winter.
Additional mid-day skate times available in the summer.

Cons:

Open limited hours in the summer, and many hours are designated as older adult skating.
The mid-day skate times in the summer vary a lot depending on the day. This makes remembering when they are open challenging.

Wooddale Fun Zone, Woodbury, MN
Pros:

Open from 6-8 on Monday nights for only $2.
Practice area that’s great for stops, transitions and backward skating.
Roller derby-ish oval in the middle of the floor.
Easiest rink for me to get to from South Minneapolis.
Several people are there wearing at least partial roller derby gear.

Cons:

Closed around most holidays—including Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
Their website isn't always up to date so finding current information on open hours can be challenging.

Find a Skating Buddy

If you're looking for a buddy or group for skating related fun, check out the Skate Dates group on Facebook.

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