Hot summer days mean a trip to your favorite ice cream shop for a delicious ice cream cone, hot fudge sundae or banana split is in store.
Everyone has at least an ice cream memory or two as you think back to your childhood. Mine is heading to a cousin’s house in the winter to pack snow around the ice cream maker and wait for it to freeze our homemade ice cream,.
Another is my dad saying let’s jump in the car and get custard at the custard stand 15-minutes down the road.
Whatever your inspiration, if you are in the mood for a frozen treat, we’ve rounded up the best ice cream in Virginia for you to sample on your next visit.
We are digging into the best ice cream shops across the state where you can make a few new memories as you devour ice cream, gelato and frozen custard on a weekend getaway, D.C. road trip or just a day trip from home.
There is sure to be one nearby or along your route of travel with so many delicious options. So, satisfy your sweet tooth and savor that drippy ice cream cone at one of your favorites or one of our recommendations.
Table of Contents
Best Ice Cream in Norfolk, VA
Doumar’s Cones and Barbecue
- Address: 1919 Monticello Ave, Norfolk, VA
Since 1934, Doumar’s Cones & Barbecue has been welcoming customers on the corner of Monticello Avenue in Norfolk, VA. Customers can enjoy a delicious North Carolina-style barbecue, made from scratch limeade, and creamy ice cream in their waffle cones.
Doumar’s famous waffle cones began at the 1904 World’s Fair when Abe Doumar curled his waffle and put a scoop of ice cream on top. He then built a waffle machine with four irons, which still sits at the restaurant today.
If your timing is right and it’s a lovely day, you can watch employees outside using this machine and the original waffle recipe to cook and hand roll cones for eager customers.
Dine inside at a booth or the soda fountain counter and enjoy the pictures of how Doumar’s has evolved over the years, or park your car under the awning for authentic curb service. They will take your order and then hang your tray of food on your window.
USA Today has listed Doumar’s as one of the “Most Nostalgic Ice Cream Parlors in America,” and Doumar’s made an appearance on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
Are you ready to pop in to enjoy a taste of Norfolk’s history?
More Norfolk VA Ice Cream Shops
Strawberry Fields Smoothies and Gelato
- Address: 1510 Colley Avenue, Norfolk, VA
Urban Ice
- Address: 245 Granby St, Norfolk, VA
Best Virginia Beach Ice Cream
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
- Address: 12 Locations across Virginia
- 5317 Indian River Rd, Virginia Beach
- 4921 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream is a favorite place to stop for humongous ice cream sundaes, banana splits, waffle cones piled high with creamy ice cream, and of course, milkshakes. They make their ice cream on-site and pack it with lots of fresh ingredients and sugary-filled goodies.
The hardest part is trying to decide which of the roughly 20 flavors of ice cream, yogurt, sorbet, sherbet, and non-dairy flavors you want to pile onto your cone.
My favorite? A waffle cone or pint of fresh black raspberry on the bottom, and mint chocolate chip or butter pecan on the top.
More Amazing Ice Cream in Virginia Beach, VA
Lolly’s Creamery
- Address: two locations
- 4000 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach
- 414 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach
The Yard Milkshake Bar
- Address: 3229 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach
Kohr Brothers Frozen Custard
- Address: multiple locations
- 1800 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach
- 2204 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach
- 1500 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach
- 1704 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach
Gilly’s Creamery
Address: 3640 Dam Neck Road, Virginia Beach
Best Ice Cream in Williamsburg, VA
Josephine’s Creamery de Chocolat
Address: Busch Gardens Williamsburg
There is nothing better than an ice cream sundae from Josephine’s to end your day at the beautiful Busch Gardens Williamsburg. The sundaes may seem a bit expensive but plan on sharing it with at least one other person, if not the whole family, since it comes with four scoops of ice cream and a pile of delicious toppings.
My favorite is the Mint chip sundae with mint chip ice cream, thin mint cookies, chocolate chips and chocolate syrup.
More Williamsburg Ice Cream
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
Address: 5289 John Tyler Hwy, Williamsburg
Shoofly Dairy Bar
Address: 7127 Merrimac Trail, Williamsburg
Kilwins
Address: 421 Prince George St, Williamsburg
Best Ice Cream in Poquoson and Gloucester
Bean’s Ice Cream
- Address: two locations
- 475 Wythe Creek Road, Poquoson
- 2060 George Washington Memorial Highway, Gloucester Point
At Bean’s Ice Cream, Poquoson local Jenna Horning, nicknamed Jenna Bean, owns and operates the family-owned business that carries Hershey’s Ice Cream.
Every day they offer between 24 and 32 flavors and have seasonal rotating flavors. They also serve local Newport News Canvas Coffeehouse Coffee.
Specialties not to miss: Australian Spider, a Bean’s Banana Split Milkshake, or Sondra’s Frozen Coffee with vanilla ice cream.
We also love that Bean’s Ice Cream has excellent and safe options for you to enjoy if you have allergies to peanuts, eggs, and wheat.
More Ice Cream in Gloucester
Short Lane Ice Cream Company
Address: 6721 George Washington Memorial Hwy, Gloucester
Best Ice Cream in Alexandria, VA
Nicecream
- Address: 726 King Street, Alexandria
Nicecream offers a variety of yummy ice cream flavors created with liquid nitrogen right in front of you.
Enjoy a scoop of ice cream, a cookie sandwich, milkshake, or sundae made with grass-fed milk and local ingredients. Choosing what you want is the easy part; choosing between Nana’s Carrot Cake, Nutella, Purely Pistachio, or their other creamy flavors may be more of a challenge.
Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Co.
Address: 109 King Street, Alexandria
This old-fashion ice cream parlor will bring back memories of your childhood. Choosing between a soda, sundae, shake, or scoop of ice cream will be a piece of cake compared to deciding which of the 63 flavors you want to enjoy.
For those that are lactose intolerant, enjoy Pop’s lactose-free soft serve.
The Dairy Godmother
- Address: 2310 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria
The retro-style ice cream stand features daily flavors like banana pudding, cherry blossom, and cinnamon oatmeal cookie. They also offer sorbets and the standard chocolate and vanilla custard.
Bring your dog with you when you visit, and they can enjoy a banana or pumpkin Puppy Pop.
More Alexandria VA Ice Cream
The Creamery
- Address: 110 King Street, Alexandria
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
- Address: 102 S. Patrick Street, Alexandria
Best Ice Cream in Arlington VA
Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream and Coffee
- Address: 5849 A Washington Blvd, Arlington
When you get one of Toby’s ice cream cones, you will get a super creamy ice cream made in small batches with natural ingredients made with more than 15% butterfat. This high butterfat content is what makes it so creamy and will have you craving more.
Toby creates a lot of delicious flavors, but only has around two dozen flavors to choose from at any one time. Besides your typical choices, you may be able to have cinnamon, fresh banana, black raspberry, salted caramel, peppermint, or green tea ice cream. They also have several sorbet flavors like mango, raspberry and lemon.
If you need to warm up after your ice cream, order an Alexandria-roasted Swing Coffee or expresso drink.
More Ice Cream in Arlington VA
Nicecream
- Address: 2831 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington
Excellent Ice Cream in Fairfax VA
Sugar Mama’s
Address: 11208 Lee Highway, Fairfax
Sugar Mama’s is a family-owned ice cream and old-fashion candy shop. The uniquely flavored ice creams, like espresso chocolate chip, coconut chocolate crunch, butter brickle, and rum raisin, are created right on on-site.
Your ice cream comes in generous scoops, but if you can’t decide which flavor you want, try the sampler bowl with as many 1½” scoops as you like. They also offer milkshakes, fried ice cream, banana splits, and turtle sundaes.
While you wait, enjoy drawing or writing a message to the staff on their giant chalkboard.
Before you go, grab some old-fashion candy or a quart of ice cream to go.
More Fairfax VA Ice Cream
Great Falls Creamery
- Address: 766 Walker Road, Great Falls
SnoCream Company
- Address: 4221 John Marr Drive, Annandale
Ciao Gelato
- Address: 14117 St. Germain Drive, Centreville
520 Ice Cream Roll and Tea Mosaic
- Address: 2985 District Avenue, Suite 160, Fairfax
Kiln and Custard
Address: 455 S. Maple Avenue, Suite G, Falls Church
Lil City Creamery
Address: 114 W. Broad Street, Falls Church
Woody’s Ice Cream
Address: 10435 North Street, Fairfax
Ice Cream in Woodstock, VA
Sugar Creek Snowy and Sweet
- Address: multiple locations
- 150 S Main Street, Woodstock, VA
- 154 E. King Street, Strasburg, VA
At Sugar Creek Snowy and Sweet, enjoy amazing hand-dipped Pennsylvania Mennonite creamy ice cream. Choose between banana splits, sundaes, smoothies, malts, floats or even a sno cone.
In 2021, Snowy and Sweet received a nomination for Best of 2021 Ice Cream Shop by the Northern Virginia Daily.
Ice cream in Front Royal
C & C Frozen Treats
- Address: 409 E Main Street, Front Royal, VA
B & L Kustard
- Address: 416 South St, Front Royal, VA
Best Ice Cream in Harrisonburg VA
Kline’s Dairy Bar
- Address: multiple locations
- 58 E Wolfe Street, Harrisonburg
- 2425 S. Main Street, Harrisonburg
- 10020 Spotswood Trail, McGaheysville
- 906 Greenville Avenue, Staunton
- 1235 W. Main Street, Waynesboro
If you are in the Harrisonburg area, a stop at Kline’s is a must. They have been serving premium ice cream to the Harrisonburg community since 1943.
Each location has different daily specials like peanut Butterfinger, cherry cheesecake, orange cream, lemon gingersnap, and peach, so check out their website for their weekly specials at each location.
Best of all, Kline’s Dairy Bar is dog-friendly and offers outdoor seating.
More Harrisonburg Ice Cream
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
- Address: 221 University Blvd, Harrisonburg, VA
Smiley’s Icecream
- Address: multiple locations
- 797 Old Bridgewater Road, Mount Crawford, VA
- 205 Don Litten Parkway, Bridgewater, VA
Bella Gelato and Pastries
- Address: 49 W Water St, Harrisonburg, VA
Best Ice Cream in Remington VA
Moo Thru
- Address: 11402 James Madison Highway, Remington, VA
Cool Lawn Farm makes their creamy ice cream from the milk of the grass-fed cows on their farm. As you drive down Route 29, look for the cow lawn art at the Moo Thru.
Besides chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, they also offer 17 other flavors, including raspberry sorbet, mint chocolate, orange and cotton candy.
Order a scoop or turn your scoop into a shake, malt, banana split, sundae, or put your scoop on a cone.
Moo Thru is pet-friendly, so be sure to order a Pup Cup that comes with ice cream and dog biscuits for your pup.
Ice Cream in Culpeper VA
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
- Address: 16170 Rogers Road, Culpeper, VA
Scoop on Davis
- Address: 172 E Davis St, Culpeper, VA
Out-Bache Ice Cream
- Address: 22577 Zachary Taylor Hwy, Culpeper, VA
Best Ice Cream in Richmond, VA
Bev’s Homemade Ice Cream and Cafe
Address: 2911 W. Cary Street, Richmond
For more than 25 years, Beverly Mazursky has been dishing out some of Richmond’s best homemade ice cream.
Stop in and enjoy one of her 13 regular flavors that include butter pecan, mocha almond, and cookies and cream, or one of three unique flavors that rotate weekly. Choose between a scoop, a cone, or a sundae. If you choose a sundae, you will have to decide between a classic, Cary Street, Brownie, or a Shockoe Banana Split.
Bev also serves sherbet, vegan sorbet, and gelato.
More Richmond Ice Cream
Charm School Social Club
- Address: 311 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220
Scoop
- Address: 403 Strawberry St, Richmond
Ruby Scoops Ice Cream & Sweets
- Address: 120 W Brookland Park Blvd, Richmond, VA 23222
Crossroads Coffee and Ice Cream
- Address: 3600 Forest Hill Ave, Richmond
Station 2
- Address: 2016 E Main St, Richmond, VA 23223
NarWhals Rolled Ice Cream
- Address: 3313 W Cary St, Richmond, VA
Gelati Celesti Ice Cream
- Address: multiple locations
- 1400 N Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond
- 3004 Stony Point Road, Richmond
- Short Pump – 11805 West Broad Street, Richmond
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
- Address: multiple locations
- 9101 Staples Mill Rd, Richmond
- 11221 Hull Street Rd, Midlothian
- 11501 Robious Rd, North Chesterfield
- 8309 Bell Creek Rd, Mechanicsville
- 11731 Sherbet Lane, Chester
- 2602 Anderson Hwy, Powhatan
Best Ice Cream on the Virginia Eastern Shore
Ice Cream in Cape Charles VA
Brown Dog Ice Cream
- Address: 203 Mason Avenue, Cape Charles
Rated by TripAdvisor as the #1 restaurant in Cape Charles and voted best desserts by Restaurant Guru 2020, Brown Dog Ice Cream should be a place you stop and enjoy a delicious ice cream cone on a hot summer day.
If you don’t have time to make it to Brown Dog’s, you can also get their ice cream at The Shanty, The Oyster Farm Seafood Eatery, The Coach House Tavern, and pints at The Gull Hummock Gourmet Market.
Choose to get your scoops of banana pudding, black raspberry, cherry chocolate chip, or turtle scoops in a waffle cone, malt, milkshake, or prepacked quart.
They also offer Tailwaggers Frozen Dog Treats for your furry companion.
Chincoteague Ice Cream
Island Creamery
Address: 6243 Maddox Blvd., Chincoteague Island
Mister Whippy
- Address: 6201 Maddox Blvd, Chincoteague, VA
Ice Cream in Tasley VA
Sugar Shack
- Address: 24387 Lankford Hwy, Tasley, VA
Best Ice Cream in Fredericksburg VA
Carl’s Frozen Custard
Address: 2200 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg
Since 1947 Carl’s has been serving up soft-serve ice cream at their family-owned curbside stand.
A few accolades: The stand is a Historic Place on the National Register. The Food Network recognized Carl’s as having some of America’s Best Ice Cream.
Be warned that Carls often has a line waiting for his delicious maple nut sundae.
They also serve shakes and old-fashioned malts, and hot-fudge sundaes.
More Fredericksburg Ice Cream
Village Creamery
- Address: 1 Towne Centre Blvd Suite 3650, Fredericksburg
Jimmy T’s Soft Serve
- Address: 10631 Courthouse Rd, Fredericksburg
The Battlefield Country Store
- Address: 6150 Plank Rd, Fredericksburg
Best Ice Cream in Winchester VA
Pack’s Frozen Custard
- Address: multiple locations
- 185 Lee Highway, New Market, VA
- 2021 N Frederick Pike, Winchester, VA
- 2580 Northwestern Turnpike, Winchester, VA
You can find Pack’s Frozen Custard in the boxy circus-style stand where you can enjoy the perfect refreshing treat.
In the spring of 2021, they were nominated for “Best Ice Cream” by the Northern Virginia Daily.
In this little walk-up shop, you can choose to put your soft serve ice cream in a milkshake, sundae, or a cone (regular, waffle, or pretzel).
NOTE: The Dairy Corner at 177 Dairy Corner Place, Winchester, VA 22602, is now in the original location of Pack’s Frozen Custard.
More Winchester Ice Cream
CD’s Coffee and Cream
- Address: 2953 Northwestern Turnpike, Winchester, VA 22602
Frenchies Frozen Yogurt Lounge
- Address: 555 Adams Dr, Winchester, VA
A & M Ice Cream
- Address: 2021 N Frederick Pike, Winchester, VA
0-60 Energy Cafe – Valley Avenue
- Address: 2430 Valley Ave, Winchester, VA 22601
Red Fox Creamery & Country Store
- Address: 146 N Loudoun St, Winchester, VA 22601
New Town Creamery
- Address: 320 Fairfax Pike, Stephens City, VA 22655
A&L Scoops and Swirls
- Address: 7597 Main St, Middletown, VA 22645
Best Ice Cream around Staunton VA
The Split Banana, Co.
Address: 7 W Beverley Street, Staunton, VA
According to Trip Advisor, The Split Banana is one of the “top 10 U.S. gelato shops” in the nation. It was also voted “Best of Virginia” by the Virginia Living Magazine in 2012.
So, head to Staunton’s historic downtown that features unique monthly flavors, like Sticky Rice and 18 other flavors that rotate. Some of their daily flavors are just as unique, like papaya pineapple, apple pie, and caramel peanut butter.
More Staunton Ice Cream Shops
Wright’s Dairy-Rite
- Address: 346 Greenville Ave, Staunton, VA
Kline’s Dairy Bar
- Address: 906 Greenville Ave, Staunton, VA
Best Ice Cream in Charlottesville VA
Chap’s Ice Cream
Address: 223 E Main Street, Charlottesville, VA
Stop in at Chap’s retro 1950s shop for lunch, a coffee, a soda from the classic fountain, homemade donuts, or just delicious ice cream. Chap’s has been a local favorite for over 75 years along Charlottesville’s historic downtown mall.
All of their ice cream comes from the family’s 75-year-old recipe. Choose between a sundae, shake, ice cream cake, homemade waffle cone, or frozen yogurt.
The shop offers more than 25 flavors, including birthday cake, black raspberry, Heath Bar, pistachio, and German chocolate.
If you don’t see what you like, they will even make a custom flavor just for you with a minimum order of 2½ gallons!
More Charlottesville Ice Cream
La Flor Michoacana
- Address: 601A Cherry Ave, Charlottesville, VA
Kilwins
- Address: 313 E Main St, Charlottesville, VA
Best Ice Cream in Roanoke
Homestead Creamery
- Address: 7254 Booker T. Washington Highway, Wirtz, VA
At Homestead Creamery Farm Market, you will find delicious creamy ice cream.
If you are in the area and can’t make it to the market, try out their home delivery!
Whether you like to stick with the classics like vanilla and chocolate or try a more robust flavor with a bit of crunch, like the Espresso Chocolate Chip or Chocolate Pecan, or the fruity Apple Pie or Blueberry Pomegranate, there is something there for everyone.
More Roanoke Ice Cream
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
- Address: 6498 Williamson Rd, Roanoke, VA
Blue Cow Ice Cream Co.
- Address: 1115 Piedmont St SE, Roanoke, VA
Bratcher’s Ice Cream Parlor
- Address: 3436 Orange Ave NE, Roanoke, VA
Ice Cream in Ridgeway, VA
Dippers Ice Cream
- Address: 4970 Greensboro Road, Ridgeway, VA
The winner of Virginia is for Lovers Culinary Madness Championship in 2014, Dippers continues to prepare small batches of homemade ice cream with the freshest ingredients.
Dippers’ menu includes their classic ice cream flavors, as well as rotating and seasonal flavors. They also offer sorbets and coconut milk ice cream.
Try a cone or get a little fancy and go for a signature sundae, ice cream sandwich, or a piece of their delicious pound cake or cinnamon roll with your choice of ice cream on top.
As you indulge in your creamy treat, sit back and relax in one of the Adirondack chairs, hang out on the porch, or play a lawn game.
More Martinsville Ice Cream
Ape’s Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 2820 Greensboro Rd, Martinsville, VA
Livy’s Ice Cream Shop
- Address: 2824 Virginia Ave, Collinsville, VA
Best Ice Cream in Lexington VA
Sweet Things Ice Cream Shoppe
- Address: 106 W Washington Street, Lexington, VA
For more than 30 years, you have been able to get hand-rolled waffle cones and delicious candy at Sweet Things in Lexington, VA.
You can pick between the traditional chocolate or vanilla, or try some of their honeydew sherbert or pumpkin pie homemade gourmet ice cream when you stop in.
In 2013, Sweet Things won the “Best of Virginia” award for Ice Cream Shops.
More Lexington Ice Cream Shops
Pronto Caffé & Gelateria
- Address: 26 S Main St, Lexington, VA
Best Ice Cream in Haymarket VA
Cookies & Cream
- Address: 14650 Washington Street, Haymarket, VA
Cookies and Cream is a mom-and-pop shop that is famous for homemade ice cream sandwiches. Be ready to try out a muddy boot, moose tracks, or wild blueberry ice cream in between your fresh baked cookies.
You can enjoy the hand-dipped ice cream indoors or at their outdoor seating area that is also pet friendly.
More Haymarket Ice Cream
Dunbri’s Dessert Café
- Address: 6410 Trading Square, Haymarket Village Center, Haymarket, VA
A La Mode Pies and Ice Cream
- Address: 14698 Lee Highway, Gainesville, VA
Campbells Frozen Custard
- Address: 4125 Merchant Plaza, Lake Ridge, VA
