35 Spots to Grab an Ice Cream Cone

Get your hot-day sugar fix at these stands, shops, and creameries

By Brighid Driscoll | July 6, 2024

While it’s good all year round, ice cream in the summer (as the kids say) just hits different.

Yes, it’s a cold treat to quell hot weather, but even beyond temperature, ice cream seems to taste better after a busy day outside. Whether you’re a sucker for sundaes or a softie for soft serve, Northern Express knows of an ice cream place near you. (And keep in mind, this is by no means an exhaustive list—just the tip of the ice-cream-berg in the 13 counties we cover!)

Antrim County

1. Dairy Delite & Grill: 11 N Williams St, Mancelona
2. Ice Cream Peddlers: 141 River St, Elk Rapids

Benzie County

3. Jomo’s Ice Cream: 11539 Honor Hwy, Honor
4. The Dairy Maid: 1028 Forest Ave, Frankfort

5. Hill Top Coffee & Ice Cream: 7117 South St, Benzonia
It’s not heaven, it’s Hill Top! This local gem’s hype is real: Hill Top makes their own ice cream, serves freshly ground Higher Grounds coffee, and turns out fresh donuts daily. If they bottled the smell of the shop…that would sell out, too. Their ice cream is made from Michigan cows in small batches, with a 16 percent butter/fat content. The high fat content is what makes their ice cream particularly dreamy, with a rich flavor and smooth aftertaste that lingers more than its lower fat counterparts. They also make their own old fashioned soda. Pro tip: Try a root beer float and get the best of both worlds.

Charlevoix County

6. Charlevoix Dairy Grille: 1111 Bridge St, Charlevoix, MI
7. Sweet Tooth: 4108 M-75, Walloon Lake, MI

Cheboygan County

8. The Depot Ice Cream Cafe: 13062 Depot St, Wolverine

9. Scoops Cheboygan: 106 S Main St, Cheboygan
It’s a rare place that has a menu as diverse as Scoops. Where else can you get tacos, lasagna, various casseroles, and way more alongside a variety of ice cream flavors? Scoops is a one-stop shop for your tastebuds, and they’re not afraid to be different. They’re playful with new flavors like Black Licorice, Unicorn Magic Cake, or Dinosaur’s Egg, but they also provide the classics that we all know and love. It’s the perfect place to go with the family, as there truly is something for everyone.

Crawford County

10. Wimpy’s: 6415 W M-72 Hwy, Grayling
11. Dairy Queen: 305 S James St, Grayling

Emmet County

12. Dairy Zone Petoskey: 2264 M-119, Petoskey
13. Yummies: 220 E Main St, Harbor Springs

14. Kilwins: 316 Howard St, Petoskey (plus other locations)
Kilwins has established a cherished presence in northern Michigan, renowned for its delectable ice cream and fudge. (Plus, they have locations in Petoskey, Charlevoix, Harbor Springs, Boyne City, Traverse City, Frankfort, Mackinaw City, and Cheboygan!) Their ice cream offers a rich and creamy texture loved by both locals and tourists. Popular flavors include Toasted Coconut, Salted Caramel, and Traverse City Cherry. Beyond ice cream, Kilwins is celebrated for its hand-paddled fudge and other sweets. The welcoming, old-fashioned ambiance of their shops, combined with the aroma of freshly made waffle cones, makes every visit a memorable experience.

15. Snickerdoodlz Frozen Yogurt: 2170 Anderson Rd, Petoskey
Frozen yogurt gets a bad rap with kids who look at the sweet treat as an imposter of the ice cream they covet. But we’d be so bold to say that your littles won’t mind the difference at Snikerdoodlz…it’s that good. The combinations are limitless, with 12 yogurt flavors and over 50 toppings. The price of each creation is based on weight. Head in to cool down and unleash your taste buds creativity with a cup that’s all you.

Grand Traverse County

16. Kettlewell’s Ice Cream: 8840 M-72, Williamsburg
17. Little Red’s Ice Cream: 5862 US-31 #8601, Grawn

18. Bardon’s Wonder Freeze: 1100 E Front St, Traverse City
A nostalgic ice cream stand that has delighted locals and visitors for decades, Bardon’s is a favorite for classic soft-serve ice cream, sundaes, and milkshakes. The stand offers a charming, retro vibe located conveniently on East Front Street. This summer, the shop got a new paint job and a new fence, with rumors of a new sign coming soon (though it will be hard to replace the glowing antique topper that has graced the roof for decades!).

19. Buchan's West Bay: 13000 S W Bay Shore Dr, Traverse City
You’ll be able to find Buchan's homemade ice cream at several locations this summer—and to steal their line, it’s buchan good. There are two Traverse City locations—West Bay at the address above and Blueberry Hill located at the historic farm on Wilson Road—and both spots have a variety of flavors made from high-quality ingredients, like their famous lavender ice cream. West Bay offers a quick midday or post-dinner treat just beyond the confines of downtown TC, while Blueberry Hill provides a rustic setting where visitors can enjoy their ice cream while exploring the seasonal U-Pick of the farm’s blueberries, apples and peaches. You’ll also be able to get Buchan’s at their new Scoops 22 food truck outside of Suttons Bay.

20. Dairy Lodge: 405 N Division St, Traverse City
On any given summer evening, you’ll see groups of people surrounding Dairy Lodge. Like moths to a flame, you can’t keep folks away from this traditional ice cream stand. It’s a solid option for soft serve treats, and can be enjoyed at the picnic tables on the premises or after taking a stroll across the street to the beach. Their iconic sign is a woman dressed in a Santa outfit steering an ice cream cone towards the sky. Where she goes, we’ll never know, but we do know that she keeps the Lodge well stocked in ice cream delights.

21. Moomers Homemade Ice Cream: 7263 N Long Lake Rd, Traverse City
The smell of the farm only adds to the experience at Moomers. Located on Traverse City’s west side, the rural setting is home to the cows who provide dairy for this nationally beloved ice cream. (The creamery regularly makes Best Ice Cream lists all over the country!) There are over 160 flavors to choose from, including their well-known Cherries Moobilee and Cow Tracks. The farm-to-cone experience, picturesque setting, and unique flavors make it a must-visit destination for ice cream enthusiasts.

Kalkaska County

22. De Vor Dairy Farm & Creamery: 5436 Tyler Rd SE, Kalkaska
23. Cone Corral: 8145 Rapid City Rd NW, Rapid City

Leelanau County

24. Blue Moon Ice Cream Shop: 9032 S Kasson St, Cedar
25. Dam Candy Store: 197 River St, Leland

26. Dalzell Dairy: 403 N St Joseph St, Suttons Bay
New in Suttons Bay this summer, Dalzell Dairy is located in the old Buchan's Scoops 22 location. The Dalzell family has roots in Northport, and in a heartfelt tribute to the family’s 75-year legacy as milkmen, Haley Fox (née Dalzell) and her husband Jake opened their own shop this spring. Dalzell Dairy offers a variety of ice cream from Moomers and Guernsey Farms Dairy, plus soft-serve, vegan options, milkshakes, and malts.

Manistee County

27. Arcadia Ice House: 17073 Northwood Hwy, Arcadia
28. Sweet Vibes: 4825 Main St, Onekama

Missaukee County

29. Tasty Treat: 120 Main St, Lake City
30. Brinks Family Creamery: 3560 E Mulder Rd, McBain

Otsego County

31. Mooney’s Ice Cream Parlor: 601 S Otsego Ave, Gaylord
32. Drift Ice Cream Shop: 125 N Otsego Ave, Gaylord

33. Alpine Chocolat Haus: 208 W Main St, Gaylord
We don’t all have the time or cash to head to Switzerland, so when looking to escape to the Alps, where better than Gaylord? You won’t find snow capped mountains here in the summer, but you will find Alpine Chocolat Haus. Delight yourself in the wide variety of the house-made chocolate confections that use only the finest, real butter. Favorites like chocolate covered apples and strawberries line the shelves, as well as more elusive treats like chocolate dipped potato chips. Ashby’s ice cream is available, and guests appreciate that there are some harder to find flavors being scooped at Alpine.

Wexford County

34. Cone Lickers: 114 M-55, Cadillac
35. Pizzarama: 385 W Wexford Ave #9534, Buckley