***Please note that this ICE! at Gaylord National Harbor Travel Guide will be updated and recirculated periodically to reflect the most up-to-date information. This travel guide was most recently updated as of December 2025.***

Sparkling light displays, Christmas trees galore, and alll things holiday cheer, the Gaylord Hotel at National Harbor is truly a magical place to be during the holidays! Ever since I was a kid, I have been visiting the magic of Christmas at the via ICE! Gaylord National Harbor. Truly, Christmas at the Gaylord is a holiday tradition that I have enjoyed for decades now! And, with ALL of its holiday magic and glory, the Gaylord has become a popular spot to spend Christmas time for folks both near and far. At the same time, I am someone who gets SOOO overwhelmed by the holiday crowds: something I know I am not alone in experiencing. As someone who has visited the Gaylord National Harbor pretty much every Christmas season, I’m going to share a bit about how to avoid the holiday crowds (to the best that you can!) while still enjoying some Christmas cheer!

Please note that this content is apart of my exploring the Washington, DC area series. For more information on planning your own trip to Washington DC (here), Northern Virginia (here), the Virginia Wine Country (here), Maryland (here), and beyond (here), please use the corresponding links for some recommendations and inspiration.

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

ICE! at Gaylord National Harbor Travel Guide

 

What is ICE! at Gaylord National Harbor?!

One of the most popular offerings that the Gaylord National Harbor has is its annual ICE! Christmas display. ICE! Is an ice sculpture display based on a well-known Christmas-themed movie (themes rotate each year amongst all of the Gaylord Hotels across the country!). 2025’s ICE! at Gaylord National Harbor theme is … The Polar Express (2024’s ICE! Display is themed around A Charlie Brown Christmas). Other rotating themes include: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & Elf!.

My Experience at ICE! at Gaylord National Harbor

Here are a few key notes to keep in mind for your ICE! experience:

• Upon arrival at the Gaylord National Harbor, all guests are to immediately follow the signs to ICE!. If you get lost in the big hotel that is the Gaylord National Harbor, then don’t fret, as several staff and fellow guests are happy to help guide you in the right direction. As of 2024, ICE!’s entrance and exit was housed in the Christmas Village, filled with magical Christmas gifts, a Build-A-Bear station, and fun holiday-themed activities.
• Staff will let guests in based on their timed entry on their ticket. It is worth arriving at the Gaylord National Harbor 30 minutes-1 hour before your ticketed time to ensure you make it in on-time to fully enjoy your experience.
• Come bundled up! Although big, blue puffer jackets are provided to all guests as the interior temperature of the ICE! displays are around 9 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s still worth bringing a hat, gloves, and wearing lined leggings/pants to ensure you stay warm and have the best experience possible.
• Photos are welcomed all throughout the ICE! Christmas displays. Whether it be a camera, phone, or anything in between, ICE! at Gaylord National Harbor is the perfect opportunity to take all of the photos and capture all of your best memories!

Now, in addition to ICE!, what does the Gaylord National Harbor offer at Christmas time?!

The Gaylord Hotel offers everything from onsite restaurants and shops to Christmas trees and displays galore to sparkling lights and trees at every turn. Some of the many Christmas offerings in addition to ICE! at Gaylord National Harbor is listed below:

• Sparkling lights line the trees that line the main hotel entrance. Truly, it’s a magical welcoming! And, once inside, Christmas trees lining the lobby hallway with an on-display gingerbread village.
• An atrium Christmas tree that showcases unique atrium performances and periodic light displays galore throughout each evening. The lobby and second floor atrium balconies offer superb views of the tree and lights. At the lobby balcony, there is a restaurant and bar for guests to enjoy drinks and light bites on a first-come, first-served basis (crowds vary based on timing). To avoid the crowds though to get the optimal atrium tree views, it is recommended to take photos on the second floor balcony.
• Onsite restaurants including the Old Hickory Steakhouse, a market and cafe, and a rooftop bar. Usually, I choose to dine at one of the many restaurants outside of the Gaylord in National Harbor (see the list here!). My favorites over the years include Redstone American Grill and McCormick & Schmick’s for more of a splurge and Potbelly and Chipotle for a more budget-friendly meal.
• ICE! Christmas displays are truly an asset to the Gaylord National Harbor! As previously mentioned, the Christmas themes rotate amongst the Gaylord hotels across the United States, so visitors can enjoy a new theme year-after-year. ICE! Is an excellent photo opportunity and time to truly take in ALL of the holiday magic. Buy tickets here!
• Outside the entry to ICE!, the Gaylord has its Christmas Village with several vendors, including a holiday-themed Build-A-Bear workshop, and boasts several opportunities to purchase holiday gifts for loved ones. Beyond the Christmas Village, the Gaylord has multiple onsite shops for your Christmas shopping (or treat yourself moments), too!

Crowds at ICE! at Gaylord National Harbor

Now, you are probably thinking, how do I avoid the holiday crowds to the best of my ability while visiting the Gaylord National Harbor?!

The best days/times to visit the Gaylord National Harbor are the following:

• Thanksgiving Weekend and more specifically on Black Friday or the Sunday after in the evening
• Any weeknight from Sunday evening-Thursday evening
• Late afternoons on a weekend

The worst days/times to visit the Gaylord National Harbor are the following:

• The weekend before Christmas
• Any weekend after Thanksgiving during peak times (specifically anytime not late afternoons on the weekends)
• The week of/before Christmas

Wrap-Up

Above all else, I find the Christmas cheer at the Gaylord National Harbor to be such a beautiful thing! Indeed, I go year after year and have been for decades to see this magical hotel light up every holiday season. And, I know that many of y’all get nervous about the Gaylord National crowds during Christmas. Crowds or not, the Gaylord National Harbor is an incredible place to be to ring the holiday season!

XOXO – Katie <3