Best Ice Cream Spots in Eastern Connecticut
In the warmer months, one of my favorite things to do in Connecticut is grabbing ice cream with a friend. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of great ice cream spots in the state! Here’s a list of some of my favorite spots to stop for ice cream in the eastern part of the state.
Salem Valley Farms – Salem, CT
Salem Valley Farms has been a favorite ice cream spot of mine since I was a kid. This spot has plenty of flavors to choose from and they also rotate special flavors in regularly. If you’re dairy-free, they’ll rotate in some dairy-free flavors, and they usually have sorbet available as well. There’s plenty of outdoor seating. Sometimes, I’ll take my ice cream or milkshake to go and go enjoy it at Gardner Lake State Park.
Gum Drops and Lollipops – Niantic, CT
This ice cream spot is located in the heart of downtown Niantic. It’s a cute candy shop and ice cream shop located at the entrance to one end of the Niantic Bay Boardwalk. You can enjoy your ice cream inside the shop, on their back deck, or enjoy it at one of the benches along the boardwalk.
Boro Bodega and Scoopery – Stonington, CT
This ice cream spot nestled in the historic Stonington Borough has some seriously good ice cream and milkshakes. This spot is located very close to a coastal public access point. I’ll usually walk to Wayland’s Wharf to sit and enjoy my ice cream at the gazebo next to the water. If you don’t like street parking, I recommend parking at the lot at Wayland’s Wharf when you visit.
Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream – Mystic, CT
This ice cream is located in the heart of downtown Mystic. They serve delicious homemade ice cream. You can enjoy your ice cream in the shop, or talk a stroll through downtown Mystic while you enjoy it, or go sit at Mystic River Park and watch the boats go by.
Buttonwood Farm – Griswold, CT
Buttonwood Farm Ice Cream is a popular spot to get farm fresh ice cream. This ice cream spot has a large menu of flavors to choose from, and they’re all delicious. In the summer months, they have a sunflower field you can stroll through while you eat your ice cream. It’s so well-known for its sunflower fields that it’s the Sunflower Capital of Connecticut.
Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm Ice Cream – Moosup, CT
Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm is actually very close to Buttonwood Farm. However, instead of being known for sunflowers, this farm is known for their turkeys! This spot has delicious ice cream, but it’s also fun to visit. You can see their turkeys as well as some other farm animals. In the fall, they have a corn maze you can do!
Millie’s Ice Cream Stand – Norwich, CT
This seasonal ice cream stand has some delicious ice cream. There’s plenty of outdoor seating available to enjoy your ice cream. There’s also a driving range next door that you can check out once you’ve finished your sweet treat!
We-Li-Kit Ice Cream – Pomfret, CT
If you’re looking for another spot to enjoy fresh farm ice cream, look no further! This farm in Pomfret has been making their own ice cream for over 30 years. In addition to having delicious ice cream, this spot has games set up you can play and animals you can visit with!
Hallmark Drive In – Old Lyme, CT
This spot serves up small batch ice cream that is so creamy and delicious. You can also get some great food here too before you dig into some ice cream. It’s a great spot to grab seafood. In addition to serving up delicious ice cream and food, the location is beautiful.
Mel’s Downtown Creamery – Colchester & Pawcatuck, CT
Mel’s Downtown creamery is a 50’s style ice cream shop that serves up some seriously good ice cream and shakes. They have a great variety of flavors including dairy-free and vegan options. I’ve been to both locations, but I love going to the Colchester location because they have an air hockey table. My sister and I love playing once we are done with our ice cream.
Meyer’s Crazy Hollow Creamery – Franklin, CT
This is a great, family-friendly spot to grab ice cream or a shake. Their ice cream is delicious! There’s plenty of outdoor seating here and they also have fun things set up like cornhole and connect four to play while you’re there.
Michael’s Dairy – new London, CT
Michael’s Dairy is a great spot to grab ice cream. It started out as a milk processing business and began serving ice cream in the 1950s. The dairy processed milk until the 1970s and it is now owned by Mitchell College who devotes all proceeds to helping their students. This spot has great ice cream and plenty of outdoor space to enjoy your frozen treat!
Cowlick’s Creamery – Waterford, CT
Cowlick’s Creamery in Waterford is known for their specialty shakes and their ice cream sundaes. In addition to serving up great specialty treats, they also have a large outdoor space that is super kid-friendly. There’s plenty of things to keep them occupied on while you sit back and relax.
Great guide! Now I want an ice cream!!!
These options all look so delicious. Now I want a milkshake…
Honestly, I always want a milkshake LOL.
I never eat ice cream at home so it’s such a nice treat when I’m traveling – thanks for putting this list together
It’s more fun getting it as a treat while traveling!
As a “western CT”-er, I LOVE this list!!!! Buttonwood and Mystic Drawbridge are MUSTs on my list, too… but a Hallmark drive in? How did I not know about this spot? And there are a couple more on my must visit list… During the pandemic, my family drove to a new ice cream spot every weel…Now you need to make your way to Rich Farm and Ferris Acres in my neck of the woods 🙂
Funny you should say those two, Rich Farm has been on my list for a while and last year I went to Ferris Acres Creamery after a visit to Weir Farm National Historical Park in Wilton!
Grabbing an ice cream and strolling through sunflower fields just might be the perfect summer day in my books! I haven’t visited Connecticut yet but when I get there visiting an icecream shop is now on my list 🙂
Visiting Buttonwoods for the sunflowers and ice cream is a must!! The fields are usually in bloom in August. I look forward to it every year.