Did you know that today is National Ice Cream Day? That’s right, this cool, contested, confectionary treat, favored by billions of people throughout the world, has its very own national day to commemorate its signature crave-worthy creaminess.
These days, ice cream is pretty popular to come by, and you’re sure to find dozens of destinations vending out the works per capita, wherever you go. So, it should be obvious that a major tourist destination like Ocean City, Maryland would boast loads of premium picks for ice cream, all in convenient locations to one another. And that is certainly the case indeed! Here is a list highlighting Ocean City’s most top-rated local ice cream spots of utmost fan favor and universal renown.
A-LA-CONE
Located at 2501 Coastal Highway, A-LA-CONE is known for its specialty “bubble waffle” ice cream pairing concoctions. Guests get to build their own unique creamy culminations utilizing the shop’s original crafted air-crisped bases. From elaborate sundae-filled waffle cones to those same waffles serving platters for dished-up ice cream variations and toppings, A-LA-CONE certainly elevates the overall ice cream experience for Ocean City visitors and locals alike.
By the Bay Creamery
Even though it is one of the newer contenders in the Ocean City ice cream business, By the Bay Creamery is already making a name for itself as one of the best in the area. Here they feature all the traditional favorites you already know and love but done up better somehow. They also offer a broad range of unique flavors and combos. In addition, there’s plenty to be said about the warm, friendly ambiance. Find By the Bay Creamery at 7801 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842.
BYOC—Build Your Own Cookie
There are currently two locations for this unique ice cream and cookie-combo shop. One is in Chincoteague, Virginia. The closest one to Ocean City, however, is conveniently located in Berlin, Maryland at 8428 Stephen Decatur Highway.
This is a unique treat shop that “double dips” so to speak in that it is a cookie destination and an ice cream destination (a combination of the two). Try their cookie sundaes if you don’t believe me. All the cookies are homemade and the ice cream is Hershey’s Premium, featuring all those favorite flavors and unique adorning toppings to boot. You can get ice cream served in cups, cones, milkshakes, ice cream floats, and even waffle cone sundaes. They also have edible cookie dough, which can be added to ice cream or enjoyed independently.
DoDo Edible Cookie Dough & Ice Cream
The name pretty much says it all in regards to what they offer here. Equally famous for various kinds of edible cookie dough and a wide range of unique ice cream flavors, you can even combine both mediums into custom creations. Cookie dough flavors include traditional Chocolate Chip, Snickerdoodle, Sugar, Cake Batter, Brownie Batter, Oatmeal M&M, Peanut Butter, Cookies ‘n Cream, and Red Velvet Cupcake. As for the ice cream, you have Vanilla Bean, Chocolate, Minty Moose, Praline Pecan, Raspberry Sorbet, Sea-Salted Cookies & Cream, Salted Bananas Foster, Honey Roasted Peanut Butter, Rainbow Cream, Cappuccino Crunch, Birthday Cake.
Remember, you can have either component independent of one another in addition to mixing and matching. You can have all your favorite classic ice cream renditions with toppings served as sundaes, in cups, waffle cones, or prepared as shakes.
There are currently three DoDo Edible Cookie Dough & Ice Cream locations throughout Ocean City. They can be found at 82nd, 33rd, and on the Boardwalk.
Dumser’s Dairyland
Here’s a true classic staple to the Ocean City scene that’s been serving up smiles since 1939. That’s when Mrs. Gladys first started the business of making and selling homemade ice cream on the Boardwalk.
Dumser’s Dairyland has since grown to full-service restaurant operations. But they’re still largely renowned for their ice cream features and perpetual nostalgic vibes. Even their ice cream classics retain that soda fountain/malt shop transcendence feeling.
Just the same, the offerings here never go out of style and are forever popular with folks of all tastes and interests. They serve up classic ice cream by the scoop, decadent sundaes, soft-serve cones and cups, milkshakes, ice cream sodas, floats, and more.
Dumser’s remains the epitome of the classic Ocean City ice cream scene. They currently boast seven locations in the area. These can be found at 123rd Street, 40th Street, 501 South Philadelphia Avenue, the Boardwalk/Caroline Street, the Boardwalk/Wicomico Street, the Inlet (601 South Atlantic Avenue), and at 12702 Ocean Gateway.
House of Ice Cream
Located at 2 Dorchester Street # 102, this is truly a unique ice cream spot offering a wide range of ice cream-specific concoctions. Offerings include traditional hits like soft-serve and ice cream sandwiches as well as unique upgraded takes on the classics. An example of the latter would be their specialty freakshakes, which are like milkshakes but enhanced with cake, candy, or other confectionary components. You can also enjoy sundaes and fancy sundaes, Dippin Dots, Italian ice, waffles, donuts, and more.
Island Creamery
Originally started in 1975 in Chincoteague, Virginia, those in Ocean City can now enjoy the small-batch goodness of this specialty scoop shop at two nearer locations. The first is in Berlin (120 N. Main Street), and the other is in Salisbury (306 Dogwood Drive).
Whichever shop you visit, know that you’ll be diving into all-natural premium ice cream with flavors and ingredients that are largely locally sourced. You can get ice cream by the scoop, doled out in cups, decked up in sugar or waffle cones, served as sundaes, or mixed into shakes and floats. They even feature ice cream cakes and special dietary offerings, including vegan, and reduced/no-sugar-added options. Items containing gluten and trace alcohol are carefully marked on the menu for consumer convenience.
Justine’s Ice Cream Parlour
A longtime staple featuring 42 premium flavors, Justine’s on 122nd Street is an ice cream connoisseur’s dream come true. Here they offer it all, from hand-dipped to soft-serve, frozen yogurts to sorbet, and even sherbet. They even boast no-sugar-added, reduced-fat, fat-free, and dairy-free delights.
Additionally, they offer more than 77 classic and signature milkshakes. Just check out their famous Wall of Shakes. Other specialties include ice cream sodas, floats, sundaes hurricanes, snow cones, and even made-in-house fudge.
King Kone
From the moment the doors first opened more than 28 years ago, King Kone has been garnering fame as another ultimate ice cream go-to. Now with two locations, one at 69th and the other at 143rd, you have double the delights to dive into.
They use Hershey’s Ice Cream and offer these flavors in traditional format as well, but what they do in the way of customized creations is nothing short of unique. They even feature a specialty sundae crafted in honor of the Eastern Shore. It is their Chesapeake—a combination of vanilla ice cream, caramel, peanuts, and (yes) Old Bay seasoning, all served with whipped topping and a cherry. Other unique items worth trying include their Boston-style milkshakes and Krunch creations.
Kohr Bros.
A New Jersey transplant founded in 1919, Kohr Bros. now boasts chain locations throughout Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia as well. With a reputation as makers of the best custard on the East Coast, folks in Ocean City have the chance to experience it themselves at three locations—the Ocean City Pier Entrance, 5 Rehoboth Avenue, at 709 South Atlantic Avenue, and Talbot Street/112 S. the Boardwalk.
They offer classic soft-serve single flavors and swirl combinations alike. They also have more unique fruity flavors available. Additionally, Kohr Bros. presents shakes, malts, sundaes, and company signatures like their Cruisin’ Smoothies and Snowstorms.
PopCe’s Homemade Ice Cream
Located at 11312 Manklin Creek Road, Berlin, PopCe’s boasts both a family-friendly ambiance and a plethora of sweet treats galore. The ice cream here features primarily locally sourced, all-natural ingredients whenever possible, even purchased from local vendors. PopCe freezes a lot of what he buys to keep things fresh and stocked year-round.
Some of the novelty goods you can enjoy here include pretzel cones, the PopCe’s Platter (Your choice of 1-2 scoops of ice cream with any topping, and waffle chips), super sundaes, and a whole lot more. Rest assured that conventional well-loved classics are also on the menu, including ice cream sandwiches, shakes, floats, and good old-fashioned ice cream scoops in cones or cups.
Snow Daze
This quaint family-owned and operated establishment at 9533 Stephen Decatur Highway has an ongoing commitment to delivering “top-notch homemade shaved ice and ice cream in Ocean City.” While their snow cones are refreshing and plentiful so are their decadent sundaes. You need to try them for yourself to understand what all the rage is.
Vanderwende’s at Fenwick
While Ocean City doesn’t technically have its own Vanderwende’s Creamery location, it’s still one of the greater surrounding area’s “legen-dairy” go-to ice cream favorites. You need only venture a little to the north, just over the state line to the Village of Fenwick Shoppes to enjoy the most convenient location. Others can be found throughout Delaware in Dewey Beach, Seaford, Bridgeville, Greenwood, and in certain parts of Pennsylvania.
The Vanderwende family has been in the dairy business since 1954. In all those 70 years they’ve perfected the art of crafting small-batch, homemade ice cream that’s both farm-fresh and full of flavor. You have all the classics, of course, along with upgraded signature selections like Rocky Road, Salty Caramel, Peanut Butter Fudge Crunch, Cookie Dough, Birthday Cake, and many others. Some locations, even offer sugar-free and dairy-free options. Certain times of year also offer changing seasonal selections, like S’mores (summer), Caramel Apple (fall), Pumpkin Pie (fall), Eggnog (winter), Hot Chocolate (winter), and more.
They dish up their premium scooped ice cream in cones, cups, and even homemade waffle cones. You choose. Additionally, you can enjoy the creamy concoctions served in milkshakes or floats or done up as sundaes. They even have ice cream cakes available!
There are plenty of other awesome ice cream locations to check out throughout Ocean City in addition to those featured on this list. You’ll also find plenty of well-known national ice cream brand chains with Ocean City designations. Wherever your travels take you in and around the greater Ocean City region, remember there are plenty of optimal ice cream options, to keep things cool.