If you enjoy freshly made ice cream, you'll find plenty of it in Lancaster, PA. In the county of dairy farms, there are definitely a few places worth visiting for an ice cream fix. Some of the names on the list below have been around for decades, others are fairly new to the restaurant scene in the county.
1. Strasburg Creamery
This spot has been a local destination for ice cream since 1985. If you're a local millenial, odds are you have childhood memories of visiting this place. The creamery is located in the heart of Strasburg. They make their ice cream on-site, rotating over 140 flavor creations throughout the year, depending on the season.
You can get your ice cream to go, or sit down in their old-style ice cream parlor tables and booths.
Address: 1 W Main St, Strasburg, PA 17579
2. Good Life Ice Cream & Treats
Good Life Ice Cream & Treats is a local family-owned business that is all about celebrating the city's unique, diverse, and vibrant community. They have been around since 2005, and their bright and savory cakes are a local party hit. Good Life Ice Cream & Treats also specializes in custom cakes, whether you want unicorns or spiderman on your party cake.
Their ice cream is local and handmade, as well.
Address: 2088 Fruitville Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601
3. Rolled Cold Creamery
Have you ever had rolled ice cream? This is the go-to spot for it. The process they follow here begins with a fresh cream base made in-house daily. The base is then frozen on a steel pan that is set to -19 degrees. As the cream freezes, they add flavor to the mixture. To finish, they roll the frozen dessert up and let you add whichever toppings or syrups you prefer.
The mission at Rolled Cold Creamery is to create more than just ice cream. The owners want to give their visitors a unique experience of purity in a handcrafted, fresh, and exceptional dessert. The owner Dante DiCamillo lives for the motto: Life is made up of experiences - why shouldn’t dessert be one too?
Address: 24 East Orange Street, Lancaster, PA 17602
4. Fox Meadows Creamery
This place deserves a spot on the list. In 2020, the ice cream at Fox Meadows Creamery was voted the best one in all of Pennsylvania, by The Daily Meal. The creamery features hand-crafted ice cream made on-site with milk from their small family dairy farm, just across the field. The owners believe the best ice cream starts with farm-fresh milk and ends with delicious, creative flavors. Here you'll get everything from fruity to nutty to spicy.
One of their signatures, Baked Fox, an outer shell made out of fresh brownie, filled with vanilla ice cream, is worth the drive to this spot located in the northern part of Lancaster county.
Address: 2475 West Main Street, Ephrata PA 17522
5. The Milkhouse Ice Cream Shoppe
The milkhouse is located in The Market at Oregon Dairy. Among residents, The Milkhouse is known for their Lancaster County Mud Pie Signature Sundae. The ice cream is as local as it gets, it is made from fresh milk produced by the cows at Oregon Dairy Farm.
Address: 2900 Oregon Pike, Lititz, PA 17543
6. Son's
Son's is known for serving large portions, so if you come here with kids you'll make their day. This spot has what seems like an endless amount of options when it comes to ice cream, it can actually get hard to decide what to order. The staff is locally known for going above and beyond when it comes to customer service.
Son's have three locations in Lancaster, the main one being located in East Petersburg.
Address: 1991 Miller Road, East Petersburg, PA 17509
7. Greco's Italian Ices & Homemade Ice Cream
This place will make you feel like you're part of the local crew. This spot is popular in the local community in Lititz, whether you're a teenager or a retiree. Greco's serve Philly-style water ice and a wide range of housemade ice creams.
Owner Mike Greger opened this local gem in 2000 and named it after his great-great-grandfather, Giuseppe Greco. Greger is all about creating the best possible italian ice.
Address: 9 E Kleine Ln, Lititz, PA 17543
Lancaster County will not let you down when it comes to ice cream. These local spots know how to create deliciousness from farm-fresh cream and dairy, their own unique way. Whether rolled, squeezed between a fresh brownie, or as a simple vanilla ice cream cone, Lancaster, PA, probably has what you're looking for.