Find Local North Carolina Ice Cream

July is National Ice Cream Month, and June is Dairy Month, so summer is the perfect time to treat yourself to some ice cream. Luckily, locally made ice cream isn’t hard to find. North Carolina ice cream shops and creameries are dishing up fresh, decadent ice cream treats.

Check out the map and list below to explore all the stops along the trail. Know of another local shop or farm we should feature here? Email us at ncff@farmflavormedia.com or leave a comment below.

1. Homeland Creamery

Homeland Creamery in Julian is a family-owned and operated farm offering velvety ice cream on site with cream from their cows. Dive into a cone of orange creamsicle, cake batter, lemon crunch or double dark chocolate. For more, visit homelandcreamery.com.

2. Maple View Farm

Maple View Farm in Hillsborough has been serving fresh frozen treats since 2001. Twelve permanent flavors are joined by seasonal flavors using local ingredients, such as blueberry, blackberry, North Carolina sweet potato, maple and piña colada. The farm also produces fresh milk and butter. Learn more at mapleviewfarm.com.

3. Howling Cow

Consumers can also reap the rewards of NC State University students’ hard work with Howling Cow ice cream, made on campus at the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Science’s Fedmeier Dairy Processing Lab. Made from milk and cream from the school’s farm in Raleigh, Howling Cow is available in a wide variety of flavors and sizes. Students can purchase the ice cream at several locations on campus and non-students can order it by calling 919-515-2760. Learn more about Howling Cow at howlingcow.ncsu.edu.

4. Celtic Creamery

Located in Smithfield, Carolina Beach, Hendersonville and Porters Neck, Celtic Creamery is an Irish/American fusion ice cream shop offering all handmade treats. The business began as “Sundaes” in 2005 on the west coast of Ireland, with locals loving the rich and creamy texture of the ice cream. While vacationing in Ireland, Jeff Hogan, of Carolina Beach, found himself in Sundaes and left with a business venture. The spot was opened in Carolina Beach, and now North Carolinians love it, too. Visit for more than 50 handmade flavors, 14 features each week, 22 fresh toppings and 20 years of experience. celticcreamery.com

5. Sunni Sky’s Ice Cream Shop

Sunni Sky’s Ice Cream Shop in Angier focuses on creating an ice cream shop that makes visitors feel like they have walked back in time. Since opening in 2023, Sunni Sky’s has been offering more than 130 different homemade flavors. Be adventurous with some of their outlandish flavors like the Exit Wound or Cold Sweat, filled with spicy peppers. sunniskys.com

6. The Parlour

Head to Durham this summer to enjoy the pretty, pink shop and creamy treats at The Parlour. Enjoy Durham’s favorite ice cream with a surprise because the flavors change regularly, but typically expect the classics like vanilla, chocolate, cookies and cream, and caramel. Other days, find unique offerings like Vietnamese Coffee, White Chocolate Amaretto or Vanilla Custard. theparlour.co

7. Tony’s Ice Cream

Visit one of the longest-running ice cream shops in the state in downtown Gastonia. Tony’s Ice Cream is a family-owned and operated business offering 28 flavors of homemade ice cream. Also, don’t worry if you come hungry because they also offer made-to-order sandwiches and locally awarded hot dogs. tonysicecream.com

8. Riverbend Creamery

Get ready for some farm-fresh ice cream from Riverband Creamery. Made from the fresh milk of their 220-head Jersey herd, the Lutz family crafts tasty ice cream flavors seasonally. Their summer flavors include Black Cherry, Bourbon Barrel Crunch, Cookie Monster, Cotton Candy, Jersey Tracks, Salty Heifer and many more. Plus, don’t miss Peach and Nanner Puddin’. riverbendcreamery.com

9. To the Moon and Back Frozen Treats

Located in Oak Ridge and Midway (with a Kernersville shop coming soon), this out-of-this-world ice cream parlor crafts all its ice creams (including some national award-winning varieties) and sorbets in-house. Flavors include everything from “Full Moon Vanilla,” “New Moon Chocolate” and “Cookie Crater” to “Satellite Strawberry” and “Asteroid Belt” (vanilla with M&Ms). moonandbackfrozen.biz