Where to Get Ice Cream in Northern Virginia
It’s only April but it’s already hot! Cool off with some frozen treats - ice cream, popsicles, custard, and sundaes, oh my! Don’t worry if you’re lactose-intolerant - ice cream shops offer tons of non-milk options and they’re just as delicious as the original. There’s nothing quite like having a sweet treat when the weather is muggy and sunny.
Best Ice Cream in Alexandria
Nicecream, Old Town Alexandria
Nicecream is ice cream made to order with liquid nitrogen.
Pop’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream, Old Town Alexandria
Enjoy 63 flavors at this old-fashioned ice cream parlor.
The Creamery, Old Town Alexandria
The Dairy Godmother Del Rey, Alexandria
A Del Rey mainstay for frozen custard.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Old Town Alexandria
Best Ice Cream in Arlington
Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream, Arlington
Try creamy ice cream with over 15% butterfat.
Nicecream, Clarendon/Arlington,
Rasa, Crystal City/Arlington
The mango lassi or masala chai soft serve is perfect when you don’t want anything too sweet.
Best Ice Cream in Fairfax
Woody’s Ice Cream Shop, Fairfax City
This staple of over 20 years.
Rita’s Italian Ice, Fairfax City
Sugar Mama’s, Fairfax City
The best part about this ice cream parlor is the variety that you can get. In addition to 1 scoop costing $3.75, you can get mini scoops (1.5 inches) for $0.75 each. You can also order fried ice cream or homemade old-fashioned candy.
Sweet Berry, Fairfax City
Great Falls Creamery, Great Falls
Burke Lake Park Ice Cream Parlor, Open in the summer in Burke
Munch Ice Cream Annandale
Ciao Gelato, Centreville
Milwaukee Frozen Custard, Chantilly
Every day has a new flavor.
Peterson’s Ice Cream Depot, Clifton
This Clifton landmark
Kiln & Custard, Vienna
For a twist on dinner and a movie, paint your own pottery and then get some ice cream. The milkshakes are incredibly huge and decadent.
Scoop of the Hill, Herndon
Gelato, macarons, and crepes, oh my!
Trendy Asian Ice Cream in Fairfax
Honestly, there are so many Asian ice cream options in Fairfax, I had to make a separate category
Smash’d Creamery, Fairfax City
SnoCream Company, Annandale
Try Taiwanese-inspired ice cream - like a mix of shaved ice and ice cream meaning it’s a very light ice cream that has the texture of snow. SnoCream used to be served in a SnoBus - a converted school bus serving the best ice cream behind a (now closed) K Mart. But now there’s a food hall.
Iron Ice, Centreville
Try that trendy bubble waffle with ice cream.
520 Ice Cream and Tea, Mosaic District/Fairfax and Springfield
520 is the OG for Thai-inspired rolled ice cream in Northern Virginia. Try the Rainbow Roll, which is fruity pebbles, not sushi. Or the Trip to Hawaii - pineapple, coconut, and mango.
Monster Roll, Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax
Handcrafted rolled ice cream and freshly made boba tea.
Best Ice Cream in Falls Church
Lil City Creamery, Falls Church
Kiln and Custard, Falls Church
Jake’s Ice Cream, Barcroft Plaza/Falls Church
Small batch 14% butterfat ice cream with rotating flavors. Past flavors include vanilla salted caramel ribbon, coconut patty and blackberry with real blackberry puree mixed in.
Mango Mango Dessert, Falls Church
Lazy Mike’s Deli, Falls Church
Not an ice cream-atorium - but known for its generous banana splits.
Best Ice Cream in Fauquier
Moo Thru, Remington
In this barn-inspired ice cream drive thru, the ice cream comes from local dairy farms.
Best Ice Cream in Fredericksburg
Carl’s Frozen Custard, Fredericksburg
This family-owned curbside ice cream shop has been serving delicious frozen custard since 1947.
Village Creamery, Fredericksburg
Ice cream made fresh daily on site with an Asian twist. Try flavors like ube, buko pandan, lychee, or jackfruit Indulge in new sensations like Halo Halo (shaved ice with condensed milk, flan, tapioca, ice cream, fruits, nuts, and beans) or a Taiwanese bubble waffle.
Jimmy T’s Soft Serve, Fredericksburg
If you can’t find your favorite ice cream combo here, it might not have been invented yet. Jimmy T’s boasts over 26 flavors of soft serve ice cream (including amaretto, creme de menthe and bubble gum), 14 flavors of sundaes, and 35 flavors of shaved ice. But my favorite thing ever is a Jimmy Mombo’s - soft serve with a mixed-in ingredient like cookie dough or Reese’s peanut butter cups. Yum!
The Battlefield Country Store, Fredericksburg
Coffee, ice cream, and groceries - perfect for busy families.
Best Ice Cream in Manassas
Nathan’s Dairy Bar, Manassas
Best Ice Cream in Loudoun
Gruto’s Soft Serve, Purcellville and Lessburg
Abbott’s Frozen Custard, Sterling
Abbott’s is a chain located in New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, the Carolinas, and Florida offering fresh frozen custard treats including ice cream sandwiches, cakes, flurries, sundaes, splits, milkshakes, and floats.
Honey Bee Creamery, Ashburn and Leesburg
An artisan chocolate shop turned into ice-cream and fruit bouquet mom-and-pop. Come for the inventive ice cream flavors (i.e. Birthday Cake or Bananas Foster) and inventive toppings (i.e. Ferrero Rocher, artisan chocolate, cotton candy).
Tipped Cow Creamery, Purcellville
Best Ice Cream in Prince William County
Cookies and Cream, Haymarket
Judging from the name, it’s clear that the cookie ice cream sandwich is a must try. Family owned and operated, try 28 flavors of ice cream, 15 toppings, or 10 types of cookies. Your sweet tooth will be satisfied!
Frostie Moose, Woodbridge
Campbell’s Frozen Custard, Woodbridge
Bring a friend because these ice cream servings are generous. Try frozen custard, Italian ice, and affogato. Family owned and independently operated.
Swirlie’s Soft Serve, Haymarket
Try Hawaiian shaved ice or flavor burst cones.
Jimmy T’s Soft Serve, Dumfries
Fredericksburg’s favorite ice cream shop also has a location in Dumfries.
Dunbri’s Dessert Cafe, Haymarket
Home of the “pure Barry.” which is ice cream surrounded by cotton candy with a choice of toppings.
A La Mode, Gainsville
Have your ice cream with a side of pie from this local shop.
Best Ice Cream in Winchester
Pack’s Frozen Custard, Winchester
Pack’s is an old school circus cart. Try the unique pretzel cone and the interesting flavors like Nutter Butter and Cherry Cheesecake.
Conclusion - Where to Get Ice Cream in Northern Virginia
Grab a spoon, get some ice cream!