Soft-serve season in Maryland does not last forever, and the walk-up windows that line our back roads and boardwalks start thinking about winter sooner than most of us would like. Before the signs flip to see you in spring, there is still time for a few more cones.
This list covers seven stands across the state, from the mountains of Frostburg to the boardwalk in Ocean City. Some are tiny windows with simple menus, and some serve hot dogs, sandwiches, and banana splits too.
Each one earns its spot for a different reason, whether it is a famous dip, a weekly fruit flavor, or a snowball stacked with marshmallow. Save this list, grab a friend, and plan one last sweet road trip while the windows are still open.
1. Jimmie Cone, Damascus, MD
Sprinkles get top billing here, right down to the name. In Maryland, those little toppings are called jimmies, and this Damascus stand has built its reputation around a cone covered in them.
Jimmie Cone keeps things refreshingly simple. Orders go through the walk-up window, and the menu leans on soft-serve cones, frozen yogurt, and sundaes, with toppings like Oreo for anyone who wants a little crunch.
Philadelphia-style water ice is also on offer, which is handy on a hot day when something lighter sounds better. The line tends to move fast, so a quick stop on Ridge Road rarely turns into a long wait.
There is no indoor seating and no restroom, so plan accordingly. Dogs are welcome outside, and free parking is available nearby.
Hours run 11 AM to 10 PM Monday through Saturday and 1 to 10 PM on Sunday. I would save this one for a warm evening drive through upper Montgomery County.
2. Cindy’s Soft Serve, Elkridge, MD
Marshmallow on a snowball might be the most Maryland thing a dessert can do. Cindy’s Soft Serve leans into it, offering many snowball flavors alongside its soft-serve cones and sundaes.
The stand is locally owned and sits right on Washington Boulevard in Elkridge, which makes it an easy pull-off for Howard County families. The Snowball Sundae combines both worlds in one cup for anyone who cannot pick.
Soft-serve ice cream and yogurt come with a long list of toppings, and milkshakes round out the menu. Prices stay reasonable, which helps when ordering for a carload.
Picnic tables give everyone a place to sit, since there is no indoor dining or restroom. Dogs can join outside.
Cindy’s is open daily from 11 AM to 10 PM during its season. Because it is a seasonal stand, catching it before the cold arrives is the whole point.
3. Frostburg Freeze, Frostburg, MD
A town named Frostburg having a beloved ice cream stand feels almost too perfect. Frostburg Freeze has been a longtime mainstay on West Main Street, and it delivers more than cones.
Soft serve shares the menu with hand-scooped flavors, so both camps leave happy. The Boston Shake is a standout, and the banana splits come in generous portions.
Hungry travelers can also order fried food here. Fried vegetables and chicken wing dings make it a real meal stop rather than just dessert.
Plenty of outdoor seating gives the place a classic, nostalgic look, and unlike many stands on this list, there is a restroom and a free parking lot. Service runs quick, even with a crowd.
Hours are 11 AM to 9 PM Monday through Saturday and noon to 9 PM Sunday. It makes a smart stop on a Western Maryland road trip, especially once the mountain evenings start cooling off.
4. Shady Side Soft Serve Ice Cream, Shady Side, MD
Weekend planners, take note. Shady Side Soft Serve Ice Cream only opens Friday through Sunday, so this stop takes a little timing.
Hours are 3 to 10 PM on Friday, noon to 10 PM on Saturday, and noon to 9 PM on Sunday. Monday through Thursday, the window stays shut.
The menu keeps the classics front and center: chocolate, vanilla, and twist. From there, a big lineup of toppings and dips turns a plain cone into a custom sundae.
Shakes, shaved ice, and sno balls give non-cone fans plenty of options. Portions are generous, and the spot stays clean and friendly.
Shady Side sits on a quiet peninsula in southern Anne Arundel County, and the stand matches that relaxed pace. There is no restroom, so this works best as a quick treat on the way home from a day near the bay.
5. Debbie’s Soft Serve, Smithsburg, MD
Ask around Smithsburg about Debbie’s, and the Hurricane comes up fast. The ice cream treat is what this dairy bar is famous for.
Flavor variety is the other big draw. Debbie’s Soft Serve offers a surprisingly long list of soft-serve flavors, including peanut butter and blueberry, plus hand-dipped ice cream for traditionalists.
Sundaes, milkshakes, cones, sno-cones, and even lollipops fill out the menu. Kids tend to treat the place like a candy-and-ice-cream double feature.
The stand has ample parking and outdoor seating, and dogs are welcome outside. It opens early, at 7 AM daily, and stays open until 9 PM.
Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest stretches. For a calmer visit, weekday afternoons are usually quieter, which makes this an easy pick for an after-school stop in Washington County.
6. Little Red Barn Ice Cream Cafe, Jefferson, MD
Raspberry soft serve is a good reason to watch a menu closely. At Little Red Barn Ice Cream Cafe, weekly soft-serve flavors are made with real ingredients like berries and fruit, so the lineup keeps changing.
Classic cones and sundaes are always around, along with hand-dipped ice cream and banana splits. Toppings get creative too, with Reese’s and peanut butter as options.
Lunch is part of the plan here. Hot dogs come from an outdoor window, and the menu also lists a Reuben, grilled cheese, and a BLT, with coffee available.
Ingredients lean local, and portions run big. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, a restroom, and free parking, and dogs can hang out outside.
Hours are 11 AM to 8 PM Monday through Thursday, 11 AM to 9 PM Friday and Saturday, and 1 to 6 PM Sunday. Weekend afternoons draw the biggest crowds, so a weekday visit is the easier move.
7. Dumser’s Dairyland Boardwalk, Ocean City, MD
Few things say Ocean City summer like a cone on the boardwalk. Dumser’s Dairyland at 601 South Atlantic Avenue puts that experience right near the beach at the south end of town.
The soft serve here holds its own in a town full of ice cream choices. Plenty of boardwalk regulars rank it at the top.
Hand-dipped ice cream comes in a wide variety of flavors for anyone who wants scoops instead. Thick milkshakes and sundaes round out the dessert side, and food is available too.
Service is walk-up and quick, which matters when the boardwalk is packed. There is no table service, so cones usually travel along for a stroll.
Beach season is the prime window for this one. Once the crowds thin out in fall, it is a fine excuse for one more trip downy the ocean before winter.
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