Iowa’s Favorite Local Ice Cream Shops, According to Iowa Road Trip Followers

Where do you go when you want a great ice cream cone, malt, concrete, or sundae in Iowa?

We asked Iowa Road Trip followers to name one local ice cream shop they would recommend—and to tell us what they order when they visit.

Hundreds of comments came in, recommending approximately 130 different ice cream businesses across the state. Some people followed the instructions and named one shop. Others admitted that choosing only one was impossible.

We counted every clearly identified Iowa business mentioned in the comments. The results are not a scientific survey, but they provide a fun look at the places Iowa Road Trip followers return to again and again.

One shop ran away with the top spot, while the remaining favorites formed a much tighter group.

Here are the 12 most-mentioned local ice cream shops in Iowa, along with their locations and the treats followers recommended ordering.

The 12 most-mentioned Iowa ice cream shops

All of the recommended flavors and orders below came directly from Iowa Road Trip follower comments.

1. Udderly Delicious in Atlantic

Address: 907 Sunnyside Lane, Atlantic, IA 50022
More information: Udderly Delicious official website

Udderly Delicious was the clear favorite in the Iowa Road Trip poll.

Followers did not simply name the Atlantic ice cream shop and move on. Many included detailed descriptions of their favorite concretes, shakes, malts, sundaes and rotating flavors.

The Muddy River concrete was one of the most frequently recommended orders. Several followers named it as their regular choice, while another recommended replacing the fudge with butterscotch.

Other popular concrete combinations included:

• Monster cookie concrete
• Butterfinger concrete
• Oreo concrete
• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup concrete
• Scotcharoo concrete
• Heath concrete
• Banana nut fudge concrete

Followers also recommended the raspberry malt, black raspberry shake, cherry shake with chocolate chunks, thick marshmallow malt, turtle sundae and hot fudge sundae.

Several people praised the monthly ice cream specials. Strawberry rhubarb, apple crisp and Coconut Castaway were among the flavors mentioned.

One family specifically appreciated that Udderly Delicious had a dairy-free vanilla option for a child who could not have traditional ice cream.

With cones, concretes, sundaes, shakes, Flavor Burst options and food also available, this appears to be the kind of stop where everyone in the car can order something different.

2. Jersey Freeze in Monroe

Address: 103 Ralph Street, Monroe, IA 50170
More information: Jersey Freeze Facebook page

Jersey Freeze earned the second spot on the list, with followers especially enthusiastic about its Jersey Freezers.

These blended ice cream treats can include candy, cookie dough and even slices of pie.

Recommended orders included:

• Snickers Jersey Freezer
• Cookie dough Jersey Freezer
• Strawberry ice cream
• Strawberry-rhubarb pie Jersey Freezer
• Vanilla ice cream with cheesecake bites and other mix-ins
• Twist cones
• Flurries

The pie-based Jersey Freezers stood out among all the responses.

One follower explained that a whole slice of locally baked pie can be blended with vanilla ice cream. Fresh-baked pie and ice cream already make a good combination, but blending them together makes this a particularly memorable road-trip treat.

Jersey Freeze is located along Highway 14 on the south side of Monroe. Hours and seasonal opening information are posted on its Facebook page.

3. Granny’s Sweet Freeze Shoppe in Des Moines

Address: 3417 Hubbell Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50317
More information: Granny’s Sweet Freeze Shoppe Facebook page

Granny’s Sweet Freeze was the most-mentioned Des Moines ice cream shop.

Located on the east side of Des Moines, Granny’s has a loyal following for its soft-serve cones, sundaes, Arctic Swirls and slush-based treats.

Recommended orders included:

• Strawberry Shortcake Arctic Swirl
• Brownie sundae
• Turtle sundae
• Bubblegum slush float
• Medium twist cone

Several followers simply wrote “Granny’s” or “Granny’s by far,” suggesting that the shop itself carries plenty of name recognition among Des Moines ice cream fans.

The Strawberry Shortcake Arctic Swirl may be the place to start if you are looking for one of the more distinctive follower recommendations.

4. Frosty Trete in Bedford

Address: 304 Pearl Street, Bedford, IA 50833
More information: Frosty Trete official website

Frosty Trete was one of the strongest small-town performers in the poll.

Followers repeatedly praised the Bedford shop’s sundaes, cyclones, cones and malts.

The turtle sundae was one of the most detailed recommendations. One follower described it as being loaded with hot fudge, caramel and pecans.

Other popular choices included:

• Peanut Butter Explosion Cyclone
• Cookie dough cyclone
• Twist cone
• Hot fudge malt
• Vanilla cone

Several people named Frosty Trete without specifying an order, simply describing it as their favorite or saying everything on the menu was good.

Frosty Trete also serves food, so it can work as either a quick ice cream stop or a meal during a road trip through southwest Iowa.

5. Cedar City Creamery in Cedar Falls

Address: 110 Lincoln Street, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
More information: Cedar City Creamery official website

Cedar City Creamery earned strong support for both its variety of treats and the size of its portions.

One family listed several different favorites, including a large vanilla cone described as being bigger than your head.

Recommended choices included:

• Blueberry Burst ice cream
• Caramel apple sundae
• Cookie dough Snow Cream
• Hot fudge sundae with peanut butter sauce and chopped peanuts
• Strawberry shake
• Blue raspberry Flavor Burst cone
• Michigan Pothole hard-scoop ice cream
• Chocolate sundae with peanut butter sauce

The comments suggest Cedar City Creamery is a good stop for families or groups with different preferences.

The shop offers soft serve, premium hand-scooped ice cream, Flavor Burst cones, sundaes, Dole Whip and homemade cookies.

6. Dari Barn in Grinnell

Address: 1810 Sixth Avenue, Grinnell, IA 50112
More information: Dari Barn official website

Dari Barn has been a longtime Grinnell favorite, and its appearance near the top of this list probably will not surprise many central Iowa ice cream fans.

Most followers praised the shop as a whole rather than naming one particular flavor, but one order stood out.

The Highland Cow was described as a must-try item.

Dari Barn’s signature offerings also include Highland Cow and Spotted Cow sundaes and cyclones. The shop serves Anderson Erickson chocolate and vanilla soft serve along with rotating frozen yogurt, Dole soft serve and other seasonal flavors.

Its black raspberry frozen yogurt has developed an especially loyal following.

Dari Barn also has a substantial food menu, so you can stop for a tenderloin, burger or cheese balls before ordering dessert.

7. Dairy Zone in Des Moines

Address: 2219 E. University Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50317
More information: Dairy Zone official website

Dairy Zone gives Des Moines a second shop among the top 12.

Located on East University Avenue, Dairy Zone was especially popular for its tornadoes and creamy vanilla ice cream.

Recommended treats included:

• Key lime pie tornado
• Cookie dough tornado
• French silk pie tornado
• Dipped cherry cone
• Avalanche
• Peanut Deluxe Bars
• Vanilla ice cream

The tornado-style treats were the strongest theme in the follower comments. Key lime pie, cookie dough and French silk pie all appeared as favorite combinations.

One follower praised the vanilla ice cream itself, describing it as especially creamy and flavorful.

Another said they purchase several Peanut Deluxe Bars at once so they can keep extras at home.

8. Delaney’s Ice Cream Shoppe in Farley

Address: 103 First Avenue E., Farley, IA 52046
More information: Delaney’s Ice Cream Shoppe Facebook page

Unlike some of the other shops in the top 12, Delaney’s did not have one particular order that dominated the responses.

Instead, followers repeatedly praised the ice cream itself.

One commenter described it as especially creamy and also complimented the employees working during the visit.

Others simply wrote that Delaney’s had the best ice cream or that they loved stopping there.

The Farley shop offers more than 75 ice cream flavors, along with malts, shakes, blended treats, Italian ice, snow cones and other options.

Delaney’s is located west of Dubuque, making it an easy potential stop during a drive along Highway 20.

9. Snack Shack Treats N Eats in Fort Dodge

Address: 11 S. 16th Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501
More information: Snack Shack Treats N Eats Facebook page

Snack Shack offers more than standard cones and sundaes.

Followers recommended its rotating razzle specials, seasonal treats and food menu.

The most frequently mentioned item was the shop’s special razzle, which changes regularly.

Specific recommendations included:

• Banana pudding razzle
• Weekly razzle special
• Watermelon ice with Tajín and chamoy
• Cheese balls

One commenter praised the banana pudding razzle and also described the cheese balls as among the best in Fort Dodge.

Snack Shack could be a useful stop when part of your group wants ice cream while someone else wants a more substantial snack or meal.

10. FISS in Carlisle

Address: 120 Highway 5, Carlisle, IA 50047
More information: FISS official website

Followers did not identify one permanent signature order from FISS.

Instead, the recurring advice was to check the flavor of the week.

Multiple commenters said you could not go wrong with whichever rotating flavor was currently available.

That makes FISS a place where your experience may be different each time you visit. Rather than arriving with one specific order in mind, check the current flavor and let that determine your choice.

FISS also serves subs, tacos, salads and other food, making it a convenient stop for a meal followed by ice cream.

Carlisle is southeast of Des Moines and can be an easy addition to a drive through Warren County or a trip between Des Moines and Lake Red Rock.

11. The Frosty Udder in Oskaloosa

Address: 215 Highway 432, Oskaloosa, IA 52577
More information: The Frosty Udder Facebook page

Followers recommended The Frosty Udder for its sundaes and homestyle ice cream.

Recommended orders included:

• Turtle sundae with homestyle ice cream
• Cherry Crisp Udder
• Other ice cream sundaes

The turtle sundae received the most detailed praise. One follower said the homestyle ice cream was unlike anything they had tasted elsewhere.

The creatively named Cherry Crisp Udder is another order worth watching for when you visit.

The Frosty Udder is a seasonal shop with soft-serve treats, homestyle ice cream, fruit crisps and outdoor seating. Check its Facebook page before visiting for current hours and announcements.

12. Junction Creamery in Osceola

Address: 212 E. McLane Street, Osceola, IA 50213
More information: Junction Creamery Facebook group

Malts were the strongest theme among the specific Junction Creamery recommendations.

Follower favorites included:

• Root beer malt
• Cherry almond amaretto malt
• Turtle-style treats
• Traditional sundaes and other ice cream treats

One commenter noted that Junction Creamery would make a root beer malt upon request, while another recommended the cherry almond amaretto malt.

If malts are your preferred way to order ice cream, Junction Creamery may deserve a spot near the top of your road-trip list.

The shop posts current opening information and seasonal updates through its Facebook group.

Honorable mentions

The top 12 were not the only ice cream shops to receive strong support.

The following businesses each received at least three recommendations from Iowa Road Trip followers. The list is organized alphabetically by town, followed by the shop name.

Combined with the top 12, the results provide 48 Iowa ice cream stops with especially strong support from Iowa Road Trip followers.

A few notes about the results

This list was built from responses to an informal Iowa Road Trip Facebook post.

Followers were asked to name one Iowa ice cream shop, but some people listed several. Each clearly identified business was counted once within that person’s comment.

Different spellings and obvious name variations were combined. Comments that did not provide enough information to confidently identify the business were not included in the rankings.

The results represent the opinions of the people who happened to see and respond to the post. They are not a scientific ranking of every ice cream shop in Iowa.

Menus, flavors and seasonal hours can change. Before making a long drive for one particular flavor, check directly with the business to confirm its hours and whether the item is currently available.

What is your favorite Iowa ice cream shop?

Did your favorite make the list?

Tell us which Iowa ice cream shop you would add—and what everyone should order when they visit.

There are clearly enough great local options for several Iowa ice cream road trips.