Locals’ Favorite Ice Cream Spots in Lancaster, PA

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream… Ice cream in Lancaster County is not like ice cream from anywhere else. With many creameries producing their creamy goodness of fresh milk straight from the farm and flavors created from local ingredients, you are sure to get a delicious, refreshing experience. We have compiled a list of some of our favorite places to grab a cone and cool down around the county.

You can also download a printable ice cream trail of Lancaster county here!

Lancaster Sweet Shoppe
Ice cream between two freshly made stroop waffles- need we say more! The stroopie ice cream sandwich at the Lancaster Sweet Shoppe is a must try in our book. They also offer a cones, milkshakes, and floats in your choice of flavor. Another crowd pleaser is the chocolate pretzel sundae.

The Jigger Shop
The Jigger Shop is the perfect place to grab ice cream after swimming in the lake at Mt. Gretna beach, watching a show at the Gretna Theatre, or hiking and biking on the surrounding trails. If you have never been to the Jigger Shop before we recommend you try their namesake specialty, “The Jigger.” It is two and a half scoops of French-vanilla ice cream with your choice of chocolate or butterscotch topping, whipped marshmallow, and jigger nuts. It taste just as great as it did when it was first served in 1895.

Freeze and Frizz
Freeze and Frizz is an old Lancaster staple, with delicious food and soft serve ice cream, hand dipped ice cream, and sundaes!

Son's
Drive through or walk up to Son's and explore their large menu! Milkshakes, soft serve, Italian ice, sundaes, avalanches, and more! Their ice cream is worth the wait.

Rolled Cold Creamery
Want to see your own flavor created before your eyes? At Rolled Cold Creamery they use heavy cream which is poured onto a -19 degree frozen steel pan, as the cream freezes fresh fruits, cookies, candies and other items are added to the mixture. Finally the ice cream is rolled up and served to you- watching the process is half the fun!

Fox Meadows Creamery
A farm-to-table creamery in Ephrata, Fox Meadows Creamery creates hand-crafted ice cream made on-site with milk from the family’s dairy farm located across the street- it doesn’t get fresher than that! We recommend their signature treat the “Baked Fox,” which is a hot pressed outer shell like a chocolate chip cookie or chewy brownie with cold ice cream of your choice inside… YUM.

Bird-in-Hand Bakery & Café
Made on location with local fruits, all-natural flavorings and stir-ins from the bakery, ice cream from the Bird-in-Hand Bakery & Café is delicious. Flavors change month to month offering guests a wide variety to try, from traditional vanilla to localized flavors like shoofly pie.

Greco’s Italian Ices & Homemade Ice Cream
A Lititz local favorite, Greco’s is always packed- but don’t worry the line moves quickly! They offer Philly-style water ice and house-made hand-dip ice cream in a multitude of flavors. The variety changes weekly, and 40+ flavors are offered daily so you will have plenty of options to choose from.

Isabella’s Ice Cream Parlor
Located on Lititz’s charming Main Street, Isabella’s Ice Cream Parlor invites guest to step in and enjoy the simple goodness of ice cream. They offer hand-dipped cones and sundaes with a variety of toppings. For an extra special Lancaster treat try the homemade waffle cone dipped in Wilbur chocolate.

Lapp Valley Farms
Located a few miles from Kitchen Kettle Village, Lapp Valley Farms makes some of the purest, most delicious homemade ice cream you can try. With 16 different flavors to choose from you are sure to find one you like. In addition they also make homemade potato chips, which pair surprisingly well with ice cream to make a salty-sweet combo.

Lickity Split
Located in an old hardware building Lickity Split in New Holland offers a wide variety of ice cream desserts for you to choose from. From milkshakes, to cones, to over 15 sundae options you can certainly find a treat that suits your tastebuds. They also offer a full lunch and dinner menu at the cute café.

Little Dippers
In Mount Joy, try delicious handmade ice cream, soft serve, or try a variety of flavors made at the Penn State Berkey Creamery!

Oregon Dairy
Scooping out ice cream in the “milk house” in a calf or a cow size Oregon Dairy is a great ice cream option for kids. In addition to ice cream they also have a farm themed play area and goat petting area. If you are looking for a loaded treat to indulge on try their whoopie pie sundae.

Pine View Dairy
A part of Lancaster County since 1971, Pine View Dairy continues to offer some of the best ice cream around. They offer fresh from the farm ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sherbet both in cones and cups, and also in hand-packed half-gallons for you to take home and share. Pet some calves while you’re here to round off your Lancaster County experience.

The Pretzel Hut
Offering soft serve ice cream in traditional chocolate, vanilla, and twist cones, The Pretzel Hut also offers two specialty soft serve flavors per week like teaberry or peanut butter. Try it in a pretzel cone for a unique salty-sweet experience. They also have a petting zoo on the property making it a great family stop on the way to or from the Wolf Sanctuary of PA.

Scoops Ice Cream and Grille
If you and your crew are up for a challenge try to finish the “Mountville Meltdown” at Scoops Ice Cream- it is 12 scoops of ice cream, four toppings, loads of whipped cream and cherries. For a smaller option there are also a variety of floats, shakes, sundaes, and traditional cones to choose from too. Be sure to keep an eye out for one of thier food trucks around town as well.

Strasburg Country Store & Creamery
Have you ever tried homemade ice cream in a freshly baked waffle cone? If you haven’t you must go to the Strasburg Country Store & Creamery. Not only do they make their waffle cones fresh each morning, this old fashioned ice cream parlor offers delicious homemade flavors of both ice cream and fudge.

Turkey Hill Experience
For true ice cream aficionados, stop by the Turkey Hill Experience and learn how their famous ice cream is made. Then venture into the taste lab where you can create your own flavors! (Note for the taste lab, seating is limited so reservations are required).