Some of the best ice cream in Virginia comes from small shops that still make it the old way, in-house and in small batches. You can find them on country highways, college town corners, island roads, and historic main streets.
Each stop on this list makes its own ice cream, and many use milk from nearby farms. Grab a cooler, plan a road trip, and bring home a pint or two.
1. Homestead Creamery, Wirtz, VA
Bottled milk is the headliner at this Franklin County stop, but the homemade ice cream earns its own fan club. Nearly everything in the store is produced locally by or for the creamery.
The shop has a vintage, country-market look. Shelves hold flavored milk, local vegetables, jams, jellies, and gourmet goods, and there are sandwiches and coffee too.
Wirtz sits in rural Franklin County near Smith Mountain Lake, so this makes an easy add-on to a lake weekend. I would grab a pint and a bottle of milk for the drive home.
Hours run 10 AM to 6 PM Monday through Thursday and until 7 PM on Friday and Saturday. It is closed Sundays, and Saturday afternoons are the busiest time.
2. Moo Thru, Remington, VA
Yes, you can get farm-fresh ice cream without leaving your car. Moo Thru has a drive-through, which feels like the most practical idea in dairy history.
The shop sits right on Route 29 at Route 28 near Remington in Fauquier County. Its ice cream, shakes, and milk come from local farms, and the cows behind it live on a farm in Remington.
The menu goes beyond scoops. Hot dogs, grilled cheese, and coffee round things out, and pints are ready for takeout.
Doors open at 7 AM Tuesday through Saturday and 8 AM on Sunday, and it is closed Mondays. Dogs are welcome, and military members can look for a generous discount.
3. Kline’s Dairy Bar, Harrisonburg, VA
Kline’s has been scooping since 1943, and the family-run shop still keeps its routine simple. The custard-style ice cream is made fresh daily.
Orders go through a walk-up window, with outdoor seating nearby. Black raspberry and chocolate are staples, and a flavor of the week keeps regulars checking back.
Portions run generous, whether you pick a waffle cone, sundae, or milkshake. Note there is no restroom on site.
The shop is on East Wolfe Street in downtown Harrisonburg and stays open until 10 PM every night. Friday and Saturday evenings bring the biggest lines.
4. Smiley’s Ice Cream, Bridgewater, VA
Can’t pick one flavor? Smiley’s sells an ice cream flight, which solves that problem neatly.
The homemade ice cream is made with Mount Crawford Creamery milk, keeping things local in the Shenandoah Valley. New flavors rotate in regularly.
Sundaes, banana splits, and birthday cake cupcakes fill out the menu. There is indoor and outdoor seating, free Wi-Fi, and a private room for gatherings.
Free parking and a dog-friendly patio make it easy to stop. Hours are 11 AM to 9 PM Monday through Saturday and 1 PM to 9 PM on Sunday.
5. Island Creamery, Chincoteague, VA
A trip to see the wild ponies of Chincoteague often ends in one place. Island Creamery has been making small-batch ice cream on Maddox Boulevard since 1975.
The ice cream uses milk from local dairies, and waffle cones are made fresh every day. Flavors range from mint chip and birthday cake to Java Jolt.
Scoops come large, though kid-sized portions are available. Milkshakes, banana splits, sundaes, and an affogato are also on the menu.
Lines grow on summer nights, especially Saturdays. It opens at 11 AM daily and stays open until 10 PM on Friday and Saturday.
6. Pop’s Old Fashion Ice Cream Co, Alexandria, VA
Old Town Alexandria has plenty of history, and Pop’s fits right in. The long-running parlor sits at 109 King Street, just steps from the waterfront.
Retro decor gives the shop a nostalgic look. The housemade ice cream comes in lots of flavors, including pistachio and chocolate peanut butter pretzel.
Hot fudge sundaes are a classic order here, and gelato and coffee are also available. The Big Papa is another menu name to look for.
I like this stop after a waterfront stroll. It opens at 11:30 AM daily, with later 10 PM closings on Friday and Saturday.
7. Sweet Things Ice Cream Shoppe, Lexington, VA
Hand-rolled waffle cones are made daily at this Lexington shop, and the ice cream is made in-house too.
Sweet Things sits on West Washington Street in the historic brick downtown. Inside, there is seating, a candy area, and a wide range of flavors, some unusual.
Hot fudge sundaes and shakes round out the menu. Free street parking helps.
Plan ahead, since hours are limited. It opens at 2 PM Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, at noon on Friday and Saturday, and stays closed on Mondays.
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