Nothing beats the simple joy of discovering a perfect scoop of ice cream on a warm summer day. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a cross-country adventure, ice cream trails offer the perfect excuse to explore new places while satisfying your sweet tooth.
These carefully curated routes take you through charming small towns, scenic highways, and hidden gems where local creameries have been perfecting their craft for generations. Here is a list of 20 ice cream trails that will transform your summer road trip into a delicious adventure worth remembering.
Vermont’s Maple Creemee Trail
Vermont’s dairy farms produce some of the creamiest soft-serve ice cream you’ll ever taste, locally known as ‘creemees.’ This trail winds through the Green Mountains, connecting family-owned stands that have been serving travelers since the 1950s.
The maple creemee at Morse Farm in Montpelier uses real maple syrup tapped from trees right on the property.
Blue Ridge Parkway Ice Cream Journey
The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina, offering mountain views and artisanal ice cream stops every 30 miles or so. Local favorites include goat cheese and honey at Spinning Spider Creamery and wild blackberries crafted from berries picked along the parkway itself.
The elevation changes keep you cool while the ice cream keeps you happy.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Wisconsin’s Dairy State Loop
Wisconsin takes its dairy reputation seriously, and this 200-mile loop through the state’s heartland proves why. Babcock Dairy Store near Madison serves up flavors made from milk produced by the university’s herd.
The trail includes stops at cheese factories that also churn out incredible ice cream, giving you the full Wisconsin dairy experience.
California’s Coastal Creamery Drive
Highway 1 along California’s coast offers stunning ocean views and equally impressive ice cream stops from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams in Santa Barbara has been family-owned since 1949 and still uses the same recipes.
The salty ocean air somehow makes every flavor taste more intense and refreshing.
Maine’s Lobster Roll and Ice Cream Trail
Maine combines two summer essentials: fresh lobster and creamy ice cream. This coastal route takes you from Portland to Bar Harbor, with stops at places like Goldenrod in York Beach, famous for both saltwater taffy and hand-dipped cones.
The contrast between savory lobster rolls and sweet ice cream creates the perfect Maine summer meal.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Pennsylvania Dutch Country Sweet Route
Lancaster County’s Amish communities have perfected the art of simple, quality ice cream made with fresh farm ingredients. Lapp Valley Farm makes its ice cream the traditional way, using milk from cows you can actually see grazing in nearby fields.
The flavors here stick to classics like vanilla bean and chocolate, but they’re executed with a level of craftsmanship that puts fancy gelato shops to shame.
Texas Hill Country Frozen Treat Trail
The rolling hills of central Texas hide some unexpected ice cream treasures between Austin and San Antonio. Amy’s Ice Cream in Austin pioneered the trick-scooping phenomenon, turning ice cream service into entertainment.
The trail includes stops at peach orchards that turn their fruit into seasonal ice cream flavors during harvest season.
Michigan’s Mackinac Island Fudge and Ice Cream Circuit
Mackinac Island bans cars, so you’ll explore this sweet trail on foot or by bicycle. The island’s fudge shops also serve some of Michigan’s best ice cream, often incorporating their famous fudge into creative flavors.
Murdick’s Fudge has been operating since 1887, and their fudge ripple ice cream tastes like summer vacation in a cone.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
New England’s White Mountain Ice Cream Loop
This trail circles New Hampshire’s White Mountains, offering both mountain views and artisanal ice cream experiences. Mount Washington Observatory Weather Discovery Center serves ice cream flavors inspired by weather phenomena.
The mountain air keeps you cool while you sample flavors like ‘Nor’easter Vanilla’ and ‘Hurricane Chocolate Swirl.’
Oregon’s Willamette Valley Dairy Trail
Oregon’s fertile Willamette Valley produces exceptional dairy products, and this trail connects the region’s most innovative ice cream makers. Salt & Straw in Portland started here before expanding nationwide, but their original location still serves exclusive flavors you can’t find anywhere else. Local partnerships with berry farms mean seasonal flavors actually taste like the fruit they’re named after.
Florida’s Key West Tropical Ice Cream Journey
The drive down US-1 to Key West offers tropical ice cream flavors that match the laid-back island atmosphere. Key lime pie ice cream is practically mandatory, but local shops also experiment with flavors like coconut rum and passion fruit.
The endless summer weather means ice cream season never ends, giving shops time to perfect their recipes year-round.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Colorado’s Rocky Mountain High Altitude Trail
High altitude makes ice cream melt slower, giving you more time to savor complex flavors while enjoying mountain views. Sweet Action Ice Cream in Denver creates flavors inspired by Colorado’s outdoor culture, like ‘Campfire S’mores’ and ‘Huckleberry Hike.’
The thin air somehow makes every bite taste more intense and satisfying.
North Carolina’s Cheerwine Float Trail
North Carolina’s beloved cherry soda Cheerwine pairs perfectly with vanilla ice cream, and this trail celebrates that combination. Local ice cream shops throughout the state serve Cheerwine floats alongside regional flavors like sweet potato and Carolina peach.
The trail connects small towns where ice cream socials are still community events.
Utah’s National Parks Ice Cream Adventure
Utah’s five national parks offer some of the most dramatic scenery in America, and nearby towns provide welcome ice cream relief after hot hiking days. Capitol Reef National Park’s visitor center serves ice cream made with fruit from the park’s historic orchards.
The contrast between desert heat and ice cream creates an almost spiritual-level satisfaction.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Illinois’s Route 66 Nostalgic Ice Cream Trail
Historic Route 66 through Illinois preserves the golden age of American road trips, complete with vintage ice cream stands that have been serving travelers since the highway’s heyday. The Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield claims to have invented the corn dog and serves ice cream in authentic 1950s surroundings.
Every stop feels like stepping back in time to when road trips moved at a more leisurely pace.
Washington’s Apple Valley Ice Cream Route
Washington’s apple country transforms into an ice cream paradise during harvest season, when local creameries incorporate fresh apples into seasonal flavors. Wenatchee Valley produces some of America’s best apples, and the area’s ice cream makers turn that fruit into flavors like caramel apple and cinnamon apple crisp.
The timing coincides perfectly with the fall foliage season.
Montana’s Big Sky Ice Cream Highway
Montana’s vast open spaces and small towns create the perfect setting for discovering hidden ice cream gems along lonely highways. Wilcoxson’s Ice Cream in Livingston has been family-owned since 1912 and still delivers ice cream by truck to some of the most remote towns in the state.
The wide-open spaces somehow make every ice cream stop feel like a special discovery.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
South Carolina’s Lowcountry Peach and Cream Trail
South Carolina’s peach season transforms the state’s ice cream scene every summer, when local shops compete to create the most authentic peach ice cream. The trail includes stops at actual peach orchards where you can pick fruit in the morning and taste it in ice cream by afternoon.
The humidity makes ice cream melt fast, but the flavors are worth the rush.
Alaska’s Midnight Sun Ice Cream Adventure
Alaska’s endless summer daylight creates a surreal ice cream experience. You can enjoy frozen treats at midnight under bright sunshine.
Wild Scoops in Anchorage serves flavors inspired by Alaska’s wilderness, like fireweed honey and blueberries. The novelty of eating ice cream in broad daylight at 11 p.m. never gets old.
Arizona’s Desert Oasis Ice Cream Trail
Arizona’s desert heat makes ice cream not just enjoyable but essential for survival, and local shops have risen to the challenge with creative cooling strategies. Some shops serve ice cream in frozen bowls, while others offer flavors inspired by desert plants like prickly pear and agave.
The extreme heat makes every ice cream stop feel like finding an oasis in the desert.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Sweet Memories That Last Beyond Summer
These ice cream trails represent more than just frozen treats—they’re pathways to understanding regional flavors, family traditions, and the simple pleasure of discovering something delicious in an unexpected place. Many of these establishments have been serving travelers for generations, creating sweet memories that get passed down through families like treasured recipes.
The best ice cream trails combine great flavors with memorable experiences, turning a simple dessert stop into the highlight of your journey. Whether you tackle one trail or attempt all twenty, you’ll discover that the best ice cream always tastes better when it comes with a side of adventure and a story worth telling.
More from Travel Pug
- 20 Best Beach Towns in the Carolinas
- 13 Destinations Where Tourists Regularly Regret Their Trip
- 20 Destinations That Are More Magical Without an Itinerary
- 20 Underrated Adventures That Belong on Your Travel List
- 20 Cities Where You Should Just Wing It, No Planning Required
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.