Taste your way through the delicious ice cream scene the Cedar Rapids area is scooping up.
Downtown C.R. Ice Cream Loop
Distance: 2.3 Miles
1. LP Scoop Coop
During the summer months, this local favorite opens the patio and the ice cream bar to feature multiple flavors of hand-scooped ice cream from Iowa made brands like Ely-based Dan and Debbie’s Creamery! For the 21+ crowd, add a little kick to your tasty dessert with their boozy float menu.
2. Sweet Mercantile
Kids of all ages will delight in the nostalgia of Sweet Mercantile Soda Fountain & Candy Shop located in the historic Czech Village. Step back into an old fashion soda shop for a fun, family experience indulging in treats inspired by Cedar Rapids and the state of Iowa including the Crunch Berry Blast, Sweetie’s Cherry Kolache Sundae and the Iowa Nice Cream Sundae.
3. Luna Gelato and Ice Cream
Do you prefer gelato to cool you down? Luna Gelato and Ice Cream in the NewBo City Market offers local and regional gelato and ice cream for you to snack on. This business is an expansion of Aroma Artisan Pizza and offers pints, ice cream sandwiches, and "pupsicles" for your pets!
4. Almost Famous Popcorn
There’s not just popcorn within this stop! Almost Famous has a wonderful selection of ice cream and sorbet to choose from at their shop in the NewBo District. While you’re visiting, take home one of their many flavors of unique popcorn or an old fashion soda as an extra treat!
5. Debs Ice Cream & Deli
Enjoy naughty hour during the week for a deal on your favorite flavor of ice cream at Deb’s Ice Cream and Deli in Downtown Cedar Rapids. Former President Barack Obama even stopped here for a scoop of mint chip back in 2012.
Marion Ice Cream Trail
Distance: 3.3 Miles
1. The Freeze
Slinging out delicious ice cream treats since 1969, The Freeze offers soft serve creations including shake collaborations with local favorites like Kathy’s Pies and Sweetopia. Find them at their permanent location, or on the go in their ice cream food truck!
2. Frydae
For milkshakes that will wow you, you can’t miss Frydae! These treats are almost too pretty to eat, but once you try the first bite, you won’t regret it. Grab an ice cream cake for your next party or make it a meal and order some of their delicious gourmet fries.
3. Barkers Ice Cream
You won’t leave disappointed from Barkers Ice Cream and More. Start off with their food menu of loose meat sandwiches and hot dogs, and end your meal with a cold ice cream shake, float, twister or sundae. Treating a crowd? Take home one of their beautifully decorated ice cream cakes for the whole family to enjoy!
4. Earl’s Chill & Grill
New to the ice cream scene is Earl’s Grill & Chill! Enjoy multiple flavors of soft service ice cream, candy blended mixers, shakes, carbonated slushies and more.
Extra Credit Ice Cream Route
Distance: 43.7 miles
1. Nelson’s Meat Market
Yup we said it. You may be as surprised as we were, but once you taste the delectable homemade ice cream, you will be back! Visit their permanent location on Old Marion Road to pick up a pint. Check out their locally-inspired flavor, Mt. Trashmore!
2. Kool Moo
Family Owned since 1973, Kool Moo was built with quality and friendliness in mind. Walk up to the window and choose from their amazing menu of ice cream sandwiches, moo bars, frozen yogurts, avalanches and more.
3. Parlor City
This local favorite has been serving fresh soft-serve ice cream and their famous low-fat yogurt of the day since 1962. Parlor City offers over 50 different shake and malt flavors, you might find it hard to pick just one!
4. Bloomsbury Farm – Atkins
Enjoy fun for the whole family at Bloomsbury Farms during their spring, summer and fall seasons! Throughout their festivals and events, pair locally sourced ice cream with homemade donuts or fudge, kettle corn, caramel apples and more mouth-watering snacks.
5. Dan & Debbie’s – Ely
Take a short trip down the road to Ely for locally made ice cream from Dan and Debbie’s Creamery – if you’re feeling active, ride your bike from Cedar Rapids on the Hoover Trail! Once you arrive, choose from a variety of flavors to enjoy, and then add in some of their homemade cheese curds, cream top milk, salted butter, ground beef and more.
6. Bass Farms – Mount Vernon
Bass Farms is a beautiful vegetable farm located directly across the street from Palisades State Park on Highway 30, but if you love ice cream, you have come to the right place! Bass Family Farms is serving up ice cream tons of REAL ingredients for boat-loads of luscious flavors. Visit their farm for a festival, or just drop in to buy some produce while you’re at it.
