August 3, 2022
There’s a reason the ice cream in Lancaster PA is so amazingly delicious… it’s the COWS! The farms you see dotting our gorgeous landscape are predominantly dairy farms. The corn being grown is for feed. The silos hold fermented corn to feed the cows through the winter. This is the reason you can find fantastic cheese, chocolate and ICE CREAM in Lancaster PA.
There are so many fantastic creameries and ice cream shops across the county that you could easily spend your whole weekend tasting ice cream and we're here to help you do just that!
2475 W Main St, Ephrata | Website
1812 W Main St, Ephrata | Website
Udder Choice has been an Ephrata mainstay since 1988. The building is shaped like a barn and inside the walls are decorated with ice cream related memorabilia. Ice cream scoops of all shapes and sizes… This old-school ice cream & sandwich shop is a favorite of long-time residents. All the ice cream is produce right on site utilizing local ingredients like fresh peaches in August!
Known for: Also serving delicious soups
3160 N Reading Rd, Adamstown | Website
This seasonal ice cream shop has a cult-like following in Northern Lancaster County. Open from April – October, on a hot summer day there’s ALWAYS a long line coming out of either side of the building. There’s no indoor seating, you simply go inside to order and then bring your treats to the wood picnic tables set along the duck filled creek to enjoy.
244 Mentzer Rd, New Holland | Website
Lapp Valley Farm is always in a tight race with Fox Meadow Creamery for the title “Best Ice Cream in Lancaster PA”. If you ask them what makes their ice cream so stinking good, they’ll tell you it’s all about the cows! All the cows at Lapp Dairy are Jersey cows. The reason this matters is because this particular breed of cows produce VERY creamy milk, which translates into super-creamy ice cream. Arrive at 5:00 pm and you can see them milking the cows. At any time of day you can walk around the property & even pet / feed some of their calves.
If you want more of a tour experience to go with your ice cream, check out these options:
As you can see, there's a pretty solid list of Lancaster PA Ice Cream shops for you to try during your visit, so you should definitely plan to spend a night, or a few nights! The Historic Smithton Inn is centrally located in the county, making it easy for you to drive from shop to shop. We'll start off your day with a delicious homecooked breakfast, help you plan your trip & pamper you with top-of-the-line amenities. BOOK NOW to secure your favorite guest room. The one shown is the Smithton Gables, one of our newest & most luxurious suites!
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