Oregon rain has a way of sticking around from fall well into spring, but plenty of people here still want a cone when the sky turns gray. The good news is that a handful of ice cream shops across the state keep their doors open and their scoops moving no matter what the forecast says.
This list covers seven of them, from busy Portland and college-town Eugene and Corvallis to high desert Bend and three coastal towns where storms roll in often. Each one earns its spot for a different reason, so save this list for the next drizzly afternoon when only ice cream will do.
1. Salt & Straw, Portland, OR
Few shops have done more to put Portland ice cream on the map than this one. Salt & Straw is a small-batch, chef-driven ice cream maker that leans on local ingredients and is known for flavors you will not find in a grocery store freezer.
The NW 23rd Avenue parlor runs 11 AM to 11 PM every day of the week. That late closing time makes it an easy pick after dinner, even on a soggy Tuesday in January.
On the menu, expect regulars like Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons and Salted Malted Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough next to stranger picks such as Arbequina Olive Oil and honey lavender. The seasonal lineup rotates monthly, so a winter visit may turn up flavors that were not there in summer.
Vegan options include a Strawberry Coconut Water Sherbet.
Can’t pick one flavor? Ask for a Split Single Scoop, and add a house-made waffle cone on the side.
Milkshakes are on offer too.
A practical tip: weekend evenings get busy, and weekday mornings tend to be quietest. Dogs are allowed inside, and street parking is available in the neighborhood, both free and paid.
2. Prince Puckler’s Ice Cream, Eugene, OR
Ask around Eugene about ice cream and the name Prince Puckler’s comes up fast. It is a longtime shop on E 19th Avenue that serves housemade ice cream and frozen yogurt in cones, sundaes, and more.
Hours stay generous all year, from noon to 11 PM every day. That makes it one of the easier late-night treat stops in town when the Willamette Valley rain sets in.
Flavors cover the classics, including butter pecan, cherry, chocolate malt, and peppermint candy, plus Cookie Jar and Salted Caramel. Scoops are generous, and prices line up with other ice cream spots around Eugene.
Not in the mood for something cold? Coffee is on the menu as well, and milkshakes round things out.
Families will appreciate the playground behind the building for drier days. Free street parking is available nearby, and weekday afternoons are usually the calmest time to stop in.
3. Goody’s Bend — Handmade Chocolate, Popcorn, Ice Cream & Candy, Bend, OR
Bend gets more snow than rain in the cold months, but a treat run still makes sense here. Goody’s on NW Wall Street in downtown Bend is a nostalgic shop that does a little bit of everything sweet.
Handmade ice cream sits alongside assorted chocolates, candy, and popcorn. The popcorn is even vegan, which is handy if your group has mixed diets.
I like this stop because it works as both a dessert break and a gift shop. Grab a cone for now and a bag of chocolates for later.
Hours run every day of the week. It opens at noon Monday through Friday and 11 AM on weekends, closing at 8 PM most nights and 9 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
There is seating inside, and restrooms are available. Saturday evening is usually the busiest time, so an earlier visit is the calmer choice.
Delivery and takeout are both options if you would rather stay in when the weather turns.
4. Suzy’s Scoops, Cannon Beach, OR
Rain on the north coast is part of the deal, and Suzy’s Scoops plans for it. Along with outdoor seating, the shop has a pleasant indoor room to sit in when showers roll through Cannon Beach.
Suzy’s is a family-owned ice cream and espresso shop on Hemlock Street. It serves Tillamook ice cream, a fitting choice for a town not far from where that brand is made.
The doors open at 8 AM, which is early for an ice cream shop. That is because the menu also covers breakfast sandwiches, bagels, and coffee, so you can start your morning here and come back after a beach walk.
Here is a favorite combo for a wet day: the affogato, which pairs ice cream with espresso. Dairy-free options and Jarritos sodas are available too.
Scoops are large for the price, with most visits running about $1 to $10 per person. Keep the schedule in mind, since the shop is closed Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Parking downtown can be tricky, and dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables.
5. Frite & Scoop, Astoria, OR
Only in Astoria would a top-selling ice cream be named after the weather. Astoria Fog is one of the signature flavors at Frite & Scoop, and it fits a town where gray skies are a regular sight.
The shop pairs artisanal custard-style ice cream with made-to-order frites. Salty fries and rich ice cream on one order is a smart combination for a damp afternoon.
The flavor list goes well beyond the basics. Look for Hokey Pokey, Earl Grey, lemon curd with graham cracker, fresh mint chip, and a sweet cream paired with berry jam.
Dog owners get a bonus, since pup cups are on offer and dogs are welcome outside.
The shop on 14th Street opens at noon daily, closing at 6 PM on Mondays and 8 PM the rest of the week. It has seating, a view, and wi-fi, but no restroom, so plan ahead.
Weekend afternoons are busiest.
6. Sugar J’s Ice Cream Workshop Corvallis, Corvallis, OR
Vegan and gluten-free ice cream fans in the Willamette Valley should know this address. Sugar J’s Ice Cream Workshop on SW 1st Street in Corvallis is locally owned and turns out creative homemade flavors, with a solid vegan selection and gluten-free choices.
The menu changes, so repeat visits rarely look the same. Many flavors include homemade mix-ins, and waffle cones are made fresh, with a gluten-free cone available.
The space itself is bright, colorful, and playful in design. There is indoor seating for rainy days and an outdoor area when the clouds take a break.
Hours are steady all week, noon to 9 PM, stretching to 9:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Coffee is served, and free wi-fi makes it an easy spot for a short study break during a wet Corvallis winter.
Evenings tend to be the busiest stretch, while afternoons are usually quieter.
7. BJ’s Ice Cream, Newport, OR
Saltwater taffy and handmade ice cream under one roof is a very Oregon coast pairing. BJ’s Ice Cream in Newport serves both, close to the ocean and just off Nye Beach.
The ice cream is handcrafted and scooped generously into waffle cones. Favorites include chocolate mint with Andes mints and salted caramel, which can be topped with rich hot fudge.
The taffy selection is huge, so this is a good stop for a take-home treat when a coastal storm cuts beach time short. Coffee is also on hand.
BJ’s opens at noon every day. It closes at 8 PM most nights and stays open until 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
Dogs are allowed inside and out, and free street parking is nearby. There is no restroom, so plan accordingly.
For a smaller treat, the double junior scoop lets you try two flavors in one order.
That wraps up the list. From Portland to the coast, these shops prove a rainy forecast is no reason to skip a cone.
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