Whether you like yours piled high in a waffle cone or served in a simple tub, there are plenty of great places across the US where you can grab a delicious ice cream. From old-fashioned parlors to farm shops, we've picked the best place for ice cream in every state and Washington DC. Read on to discover the places that scoop the rest.

Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.

The colorful and cozy Matt’s Homemade Alabama Ice Cream parlor serves more than 40 flavors of house-made ice cream including Blueberry Cheesecake, Mint Chocolate Chip, and Cookie Monster – a blue ice cream with cookies in it. Choose your flavor, then decide if you want it in a cone, tub, or in one of the many splits, shakes, floats, and sodas on the menu.

Wild Scoops in Anchorage regularly creates new, inventive flavors in its test kitchen, much to the delight of its loyal customers. Recent popular scoops include This Pretty Planet (vanilla butterfly pea flower base with matcha almond cookies), plus Ginger Limeade freezer pops, Cold Brew Floats, and Baked Alaska. There are three locations, as well as regular pop-ups at farmers' markets.

At Sweet Republic they really go the extra mile – everything that goes into their artisan ice cream is made from scratch, such as handmade marshmallows and freshly baked chocolate brownies. They also peel, pit, and chop ripe whole fruit to make the sorbets. It's one of the reasons the parlor was awarded a James Beard entrepreneur fellowship. Popular flavors include cherry cheesecake, brownie fudge swirl, strawberry buttermilk, and coconut sorbet. They also have parlors in Phoenix and Tempe.

Cute ice cream parlor Loblolly Creamery makes everything from scratch, down to the brownie chunks and marshmallow fluff that goes into its ice creams. There's an array of flavors and plenty of vegan and dairy-free options, plus they make their own macarons, cookies, and whoopie pies, if you want even more of a sweet treat. Customers love the ice cream flight, where you can try up to 12 ice cream flavors at a time.

Your chosen ice cream is made right before your eyes at Smitten Ice Cream – in 90 seconds flat. It's all thanks to the Brrr machine, invented by parlor founder Robyn Sue. There are six flavors on the menu including classic vanilla, chocolate ganache, and strawberry cream, plus a variety of toppings and sauces available. Ice cream is served either in a cone, as a sundae in a waffle bowl, or as a two-scoop float with orange soda. There are locations in San Francisco and San Jose, plus Las Vegas.

Chic gelateria Smith+Canon specializes in award-winning gourmet ice cream and freshly roasted coffee, which can be enjoyed together as an affogato. Flavors include Thai tea, honey hotness, salty caramel, and peanut buttercup, and the place receives rave reviews with many customers saying it's the best ice cream they've ever tasted. They also praise the friendly service.

You know you’re getting the real deal when you’re greeted by grazing cows and the smell of waffle cones being made. Rich Farm Ice Cream Shop serves an array of flavors, which change daily, but customers particularly love black raspberry, toasted almond, and peanut butter flavors. There are three other locations in Connecticut, plus one in California.

Customers rave about family-owned Woodside Farm Creamery, which dates back to 1796. Pay a visit to see its beautiful Jersey cows and taste some of its ice cream flavors such as chocolate peanut butter, cookie dough, and Motor Oil (coffee ice cream with caramel and fudge). They also host regular activities like story time for kids, jazz performances, and arts and crafts shows.

Mount Desert Island Ice Cream has one store in Washington DC, two in Maine (one of which was visited by the Obamas), and two in Japan. The mini-chain is known for its menu of unusual flavors, such as Blueberry Sour Cream Crumble and Lemon Curd Coriander Streusel. It revamps its flavors regularly, though, so be quick to bag your favorite.

Proper Ice Cream combines both imported Italian and locally sourced ingredients to make its range of artisan ice creams, soft serves, frozen custards, vegan ice creams, and sorbets. Served in its two locations, plus at several restaurants and markets across the state, there's a huge range of flavors available, or you can go for a flight and try several. Popular choices include Key lime pie, butterscotch cocoa brownie, and cherry sorbet.

Sweet-Stack Creamery calls itself an 'odd but fun inspired dessert bar' serving a menu of handcrafted ice creams and cookie and donut sandwiches. Regulars love the innovative flavors such as Cereal Milk, Cuban Coffee, and Cookie Monster, plus there's a great range of vegan flavors on offer including French Press (coconut cream and cane sugar) and Let The Man Go (mango). 

San Francisco restaurateur Walter Lappert’s dream of spending more than two weeks a year in Hawaii led him to founding his own gourmet ice cream shop. Now with three locations on Kauai, plus several others in the state, Lappert's Hawaii also roasts its own premium coffee and has an onsite bakery for extra sweet treats. But it's the ice cream that keeps people coming back for more, with signature flavors including Kauai Pie (coffee, coconut flakes, dark chocolate fudge, and macadamia nuts), Banana Fudge, and Green Tea.

An acronym for The Sweetest Things in Life, The STIL opened in Boise in 2017 to rave reviews, and now has a further three locations in the Treasure Valley. Customers love the award-winning ice cream flavors, all named after the sweetest things in life, including Easy Like Sunday Morning (espresso and caramel), Licking the Spoon (brownie batter), and the alcohol-infused Somewhere in Mexico (tequila lime Margarita).

Situated in Forest Park, a village on the outskirts of Chicago, The Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor is a firm favorite for locals. This old-fashioned soda fountain has served up handmade ice cream, as well as a menu of pastries, cakes, and pies, since 2004. Using locally sourced ingredients, flavors include apple cider donut, cheesecake, and coffee toffee. It's a popular place so you may find customers lining up outside waiting to get their ice cream fix.

Family-owned Wyliepalooza's original location in Irvington is now under new ownership, but the original mother and daughter owners can be found at the Sobro store serving up a delicious range of ice cream flavors including Peach, Pumpkin, and Lemon Poppy Seed. Dairy-free options include Black Cherry Soy and Espresso Oreo Soy. 

The Outside Scoop serves up mouth-watering ice cream flavors made from scratch using local ingredients, all served up in handmade waffle cones, as a sundae, or in a shake or soda float. Flavors are served in rotation, but favorites include apple crisp, white chocolate strawberry cheesecake, blueberry lemonade, and triple berry sorbet. There's a second store in Ankeny, plus pink ice cream trucks serving the Des Moines metro area.

Churn & Burn is an essential stop for coffee and ice cream lovers. The spot is famous for its special namesake drink, Churn & Burn: a made-to-order combination of freshly brewed coffee churned into ice cream, with mix-ins such as Snickers or amaretto. You can also customize ice cream flavors to order, or try one of the ready-made flavors including cheesecake, fresh mint, or buttered popcorn.

When people started visiting their family-run restaurant, Thai Orchid Cafe, just for the coconut ice cream, Toa and Mark Green knew they were on to something. They started mixing up more and more flavors – fast-forward 10 years, and they now run two hugely popular Crank & Boom ice cream parlors in Lexington. Signature flavors include blueberry lime cheesecake, banana and chocolate, and strawberry balsamic sorbet.

The Creole Creamery serves colorful ice cream in refreshing flavors, with seasonal options as well as sorbets and sherbets. Popular choices include lavender honey, cotton candy, matcha, blueberry Mojito, and rosemary peach tea. Customers say the portions are big, prices reasonable, and service spot on. There are three more locations: in Lake View, Metairie, and Mississippi's Bay St. Louis.

Owned by Italian couple Mariagrazia Zanardi and Donato Giovine, who moved to Portland from Milan in 2011, Gorgeous Gelato is one of the top-rated dessert shops in the state. Using fresh, natural ingredients to create both vegan and dairy gelato in flavors like amaretto, hazelnut, and stracciatella, the gelato parlor is rated by customers as the best you’ll find outside of Italy.

Consistently voted best ice cream in Annapolis for the past 20 years or so, the Annapolis Ice Cream Company serves premium homemade ice cream. Popular flavors include oatmeal cookie, cherry pie, mint brownie, and strawberry lemonade. You can also order decadent milkshakes, such as coffee chocolate chip topped with whipped cream and extra chocolate sauce, and customers also love the cute toy penguins dotted around the shop.

Established in 1981, Toscanini’s is a long-time Cambridge favorite. Over the years it's received glowing reviews, including being billed as 'The World's Best Ice Cream' by The New York Times. Customers agree, describing it as smooth, rich, and creamy. Choose from classic and unusual flavors such as French vanilla, burnt caramel, churro, and cherry with chocolate chip. You can also order custom-made ice cream cakes for special occasions.

Moomers Homemade Ice Cream in Traverse City is located on a dairy farm, so you can see the cows where the milk used to make the ice cream comes from. Moomers makes more than 160 flavors, with 20 on the menu rotating each day. Favorites include banana bread, bubble gum, chocolate malt, and caramel sea salt. There's also a menu of frozen yogurts, sorbets, sundaes, and ice cream cakes.

Family-owned Sebastian Joe's was founded in 1984 and has two stores, in Uptown and South Minneapolis. It's stood the test of time with flavors such as chocolate amaretto, raspberry chocolate chip, and blueberry mint sorbet. You can have your ice cream in a homemade waffle cone or in a tub, plus the menu has affogato, ice cream sandwiches, cakes, and smoothies.

Small-batch artisan ice cream shop Area 51 serves interesting flavors, with new creations regularly added to the menu. Recent menu highlights include peach lemonade sorbet, bourbon butter pecan, cherry vanilla, and salted dark chocolate. It has another location in Crosstown, and works closely with Hernando Famer's Market to ensure it used the freshest local ingredients.

The brainchild of Tamara Keefe, who grew up in a family who couldn't afford weekly trips to the ice cream parlor like her friends, Clementine's has six locations in the greater St. Louis area. Tamara's love of ice cream developed when her mother bought the family a $2 hand-crank ice cream maker. Today she's known for her innovative flavors, including alcohol-infused and vegan versions. Menu highlights include Carrie's Cosmo – tart cranberry, triple sec, lime juice, and vodka – and pink Champagne.

Big Dipper never disappoints, with ultra-creamy, homemade ice creams in flavors like cardamom, maple walnut, tangerine sorbet, and customer favorite huckleberry. There's a variety of toppings available including Oreos, peanuts, strawberries, and chocolate chips, plus milkshakes, sundaes, and floats on the menu. There are two stores in Missoula, plus locations in Helena and Billings. Look out for the bright yellow ice cream truck traveling around Missoula, too.

Regulars say retro style ice cream parlor Ivanna Cone in Lincoln serves the best scoops in the area, and they love the excitement of trying the ever-rotating flavors. There are typically more than 15 flavors available each day, with highlights including salted melon, pineapple orange sorbet, and Bailey's fudge cake. The ice cream is served in cups, cones, and waffle cones, and regulars say it's reasonably priced as well.

Handel's has been wowing customers with its 100-plus flavors of ice cream since 1945, with at least 45 of these available in store each day. Customers highly rate the strawberry chunk cheesecake, blueberry cobbler (complete with sugar cookie gems(, and Graham Central Station (Graham cracker–flavored ice cream with cracker ripple and chocolate-covered crunchies).

Lago’s Ice Cream, which dates back to 1981, is known for its exceptional service as well as delicious sweet treats. There's a long menu of ice cream flavors, including dairy-free, no added sugar versions, sherbets, and frozen yogurts. Lago's original flavors include Monkey Mess (chocolate banana ice cream with a Nutella swirl) and Salty Sailor (salted caramel ice cream with chocolate-covered pretzels).

A popular spot since opening in 1968, expect a line snaking down the street at Torico ice cream parlor. Customers say it moves quickly, though, and appreciate the extra time to decide which of the 65-plus flavors they want. As well as the traditional favorites, Torico serves tropical flavors such as lychee and pineapple coconut, a range of sorbets, and seasonal flavors like chocolate cinnamon brownie.

Chef owner Joel Coelman spent time in kitchens all over the world before deciding his heart lay in opening an ice cream parlor. The result is La Lecheria – a trendy spot serving innovative, locally inspired flavors such as red chili honey, black sesame, and prickly pear Margarita sorbet, as well as classics like vanilla bean and chocolate sea salt.

Morgenstern's serves small-batch ice cream with flavors devised by owner and founder Nicholas. It's a chic spot also serving burgers, if you want a full meal, but it's the wide range of ice cream flavors that keeps people coming back for more. Bestsellers include Rockiest Road, Peanut Butter Cup, and raspberry black sesame. The flagship parlor is in Greenwich Village, plus there's a Lower East Side location. 

As well as an impressive list of ice cream flavors, The Local Scoop serves a great menu of non-dairy versions including birthday cake, mint chip, and coconut, available in waffle cones or a pint tub to take home. The parlor also serves ice cream cakes and runs a special offer every day where, if your name is selected, you get a free scoop. There are three locations.

Scoop N Dough Candy Co., which has two locations, is a one-stop shop for sweet treats, serving popcorn, cookie dough, floats, and milkshakes, alongside its impressive list of ice cream flavors. Customer favorites include blueberry, bubblegum, and Firecracker (strawberry with chocolate-covered Pop Rocks). You can also add toppings such as peanut butter cups, gummy bears, and hot fudge. Customers say you can't go wrong here: the quality is great, the service is friendly, and the prices good.

Honey Hut Ice Cream has five locations throughout Cleveland and has remained family operated since it first opened in 1974. There are 13 regular flavors, with extra specialty ones rotating every two weeks. The parlor is famous for its honey pecan, chocolate peanut butter, and orange blossom flavors, with seasonal favorites including pumpkin pie, blackberry, and chocolate-covered strawberry.

Roxy’s Ice Cream Social has two outposts in Oklahoma City serving cones, ice cream floats, ice cream sandwiches, and sundaes. Classic flavors include Graham cracker, salted caramel, cherry, and coconut, plus there are eight seasonal rotating flavors. Customers especially love the Donatello sundae – pecan ice cream with hot fudge and caramel sauce, topped with whipped cream, candied pecans, and a cherry.

Opened in memory of the owner's mom, with many flavors inspired by her favorite desserts, Cloud City Ice Cream in Portland is loved for its varied menu, friendly staff, and delicious ice cream. Favorites include roasted cherry mascarpone (inspired by cheesecakes of the owner's childhood), sea salt cookie dough, and the great vegan options including Thai coconut and marionberry lime.

Artic Scoop specializes in Asian-inspired flavors with fun toppings, served in Thai coconut bowls, Hong Kong-style egg waffles, flavored cones, and cups. Favorite ice cream flavors include pandan, taro, and lychee rose, while the toppings menu features strawberries, banana, coconut flakes, teddy Grahams, and sprinkles. Customers love the decadent dessert creations and interesting choice of flavors.

Tricycle Ice Cream used to bike around selling its ice cream sandwiches, waffle tacos, drumsticks (ice cream in a cone), and push pops, before opening its first store in 2019. Customers love the dessert creations, such as dulce de leche ice cream sandwiched between two brownies, and tart lemon ice cream between vanilla cookies. 

Off Track Ice Cream believes ice cream tastes better when its ingredients are stripped back and natural. All ice creams start off with four key ingredients – cream, milk, eggs, and cane sugar – before real foods and clean ingredients are used to create flavors. There's also a great list of vegan ice creams – using raw cashews, organic coconut cream, sunflower oil, and cane sugar. The menu includes traditional chocolate-chip cookie dough, Key lime pie, and espresso chip, while vegan options include raspberry fudge, strawberry cheesecake, and peppermint chip.

Family-run Leones’ Creamery serves hand-crafted small batch ice cream to customers from its to-go window. Flavors change regularly, with highlights including vegan lemon poppyseed, blueberry goats' cheese, and coffee and cookies, all made with ingredients sourced from nearby farms and businesses. It also has a selection of ice cream sandwiches, popsicles, and hot chocolate floats.

Mike’s Ice Cream is a popular spot in downtown Nashville, regularly opening past midnight to make sure customers get their fill of ice cream, sundaes, floats, and shakes. Popular flavors include white chocolate banana pudding (banana ice cream with white chocolate sauce and vanilla wafers), Tennessee fudge (vanilla with chunky fudge), and blueberry cornbread. Customers particularly love the waffle cones, praising how fresh and tasty they are.

Lick Honest Ice Creams prides itself on using fresh, locally sourced ingredients to make its interesting selection of craft ice creams, with flavors such as roasted beets with fresh mint, dark chocolate, olive oil and sea salt, and goats' cheese, thyme and honey. Everything, including the waffle cones, is handmade, plus they serve a selection of dairy-free and vegan flavors and ice cream sandwiches. Customers praise the friendly, laid-back, and helpful staff. There are several branches across Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and College Station.

Up there with some of the oldest vendors in America, Aggie Ice Cream has been in business since 1888. Located at Utah State University and used by food scientists to hone their craft, the parlor offers a range of flavors including Aggie Blue Mint (mint ice cream with white chocolate and cookies), lemon custard, huckleberry, and orange sherbet. It's praised for being super creamy, and is famous throughout the state and beyond.

You’ll find soft serve, regular ice cream, waffle bowls, sorbets, sundaes, ice cream cakes, shakes and smoothies on the menu at friendly local ice cream shop The Village Scoop. Located in Colchester, it has great reviews from customers who love its personable servers, with popular flavors including maple walnut, strawberry, and sea salted caramel truffle.

More than just an ice cream parlor, Doumar’s Cones and Barbecue in Norfolk is an all-American diner and drive-in. Around since 1919, its founder claims to have created the world’s first ice cream cone – and customers flock to try them. The mighty floats and sundaes are loaded with whipped cream and cherries, but the real draw of this place is the nostalgia and experience.

Frankie & Jo’s, in Seattle's Capitol Hill district, has created a menu of vegan, plant-based options, all served in gluten free waffle cones or in tubs. Flavors include brown sugar vanilla, chocolate date, and salty caramel ash, and customers say they are just as creamy and delicious as dairy versions. There's a second store in Ballard.

Austin’s Homemade Ice Cream opened in 1947 and has built up a big fan base, with people happily lining up to get their fix and customers traveling to the area just to try the ice cream. Popular flavors include grape pineapple, campfire s'mores, cherry nut, and cookie dough soft serve. There's a second location in Huntington.

The Kelley family’s Fond du Lac farm has been around since 1861 but it only started producing ice cream in 2011. Now customers come from far and wide to sample it, while soaking up the relaxing farm atmosphere. Flavors include blackberry pie (blackberry ice cream with vanilla cake and pie pieces), blueberry almond (blueberry ice cream with almond slices), and blonde brownie (blondie ice cream with white chocolate and walnuts). There are picnic tables overlooking the farmland, or you can bring your own lawn chairs, and there's a viewing window to watch the ice cream being made.

The award-winning wild huckleberry flavor from Moo’s Gourmet Ice Cream is a must-try for anyone visiting Jackson. However, there are tons of other exciting options to choose from, such as blood orange, lemon honey, and mango sorbet. There's also a selection of alcohol-infused ice cream for adults, including chocolate Cabernet Sauvignon and Jameson whiskey pecan.

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