31 Shops That Serve the Best Ice Cream in Maine

Do you have a sweet tooth? Grab some of the best ice cream in Maine!

Move over lobster rolls and lighthouses — Ice cream is another must-try food during a visit to Maine. The sweet treat is often paired with the famous whoopie pie, Maine’s official state treat.

From Kittery to Caribou, everyone screams for ice cream with unique stands and stores that bring out the best flavors of the Pine Tree State. Locals look to ice cream stands — not the weather forecast — to determine when summer actually starts. Some are roadside booths, while others are tucked into quintessential Maine villages.

Skipping the national chains and exploring the ice cream options in local communities not only fuels the economy but also gives you the rare flavors of Maine, like the impressive blueberries and maple. Satisfy your sweet tooth by touring this Maine ice cream trail.

Gelato Fiasco

74 Maine Street, Brunswick, Maine

If you’re anywhere near Brunswick and even thinking about dessert, Gelato Fiasco is one of the best stops in Maine. This is their original flagship shop, and they’re turning out up to 40 flavors a day, from Maine wild blueberry crisp to dark chocolate that actually tastes like chocolate.

You can sample as much as you want, mix flavors, and they’ve got dairy-free and gluten-free options that don’t feel like an afterthought. It’s open late and right in the middle of downtown.

John’s Ice Cream

510 Belfast Augusta Rd, Liberty, ME

John’s Ice Cream in Liberty has built a reputation that goes well beyond its small-town setting. This is a roadside stop with serious follow-through. They’ve been making ice cream in-house for decades, using real fruit, house mixes, and no shortcuts, which you taste immediately.

The flavor list runs deep, classic chocolate peanut butter alongside Maine-driven options like strawberry rhubarb and coffee toffee. Scoops are generous, samples are part of the experience, and it’s an easy pull-off on Route 3 if you’re cutting between the coast and inland Maine.

Butterfields Ice Cream

946 W Main St, Dover-Foxcroft, ME

Butterfields in Dover-Foxcroft has been doing this longer than most, and it shows. This stand dates back to 1950, originally tied to a working dairy farm, and they’ve stuck with the same homemade approach ever since. You’ll find more than 30 hard-serve flavors, all rich, dense, and unapologetically old-school, nothing flashy, just really good ice cream done right.

Tubby’s Own Ice Cream

512 Main Street, Wayne, ME

Tubby’s in Wayne feels like a full Maine summer packed into one stop. They’ve been making their own ice cream for over 20 years, using local dairy and scratch-made toppings, and the flavor list runs from classics to playful house creations like “Tree Hugger” and “Buttah-Fingah.” What sets it apart is everything around it. You can grab a lobster roll or a foot-long hot dog, then sit by Mill Pond with the sound of the dam in the background.

Ice Cream Dugout

3 Storm Dr, Windham, ME

The Ice Cream Dugout leans all the way into its baseball theme, and it’s a home run for ice cream fans. Located just off Route 302 in Windham, it pairs more than 40 flavors of Maine-made ice cream with a menu full of ballpark-style sundaes and fresh waffle cones. Sizes are named like innings, think bunt to “really big,” and the whole place runs on Red Sox energy from opening day through the end of the season.

Shaine’s of Maine

1491 Main St, Sanford, ME

Shain’s of Maine has been quietly setting the bar for small-batch ice cream in southern Maine for decades. Everything is made in-house, and the flavor list goes deep: Maine Tracks, butter crunch, frozen pudding, and a rotating lineup that rewards repeat visits. The texture is dense, the flavors are dialed in, and the portions don’t disappoint.

There’s a full menu with lobster rolls, fried seafood, and grill items, but the ice cream is the reason to pull in.

Scoop Deck

6 Eldridge Road, Wells, ME

Scoop Deck in Wells doesn’t do subtle. They’ve been serving ice cream since 1983, and the first thing you’ll notice is the flavor board, more than 70 options staring back at you, ranging from straightforward classics to over-the-top combos. The portions are generous, the waffle cones are made fresh on-site, and yes, the line will likely stretch toward the road.

Big Daddy’s

2165 Post Road (US Route 1), Wells, ME

Big Daddy’s Ice Cream in Wells keeps it simple and does it well. Everything is made in-house using traditional recipes, and that homemade difference shows up fast in both flavor and texture. The menu leans classic with a big lineup of flavors, think blueberry, coffee Heath bar, peanut butter, and plenty more, plus sundaes that don’t hold back.

Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium

66 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME

Start with the lobster ice cream, because yes, it’s real and yes, people actually order it. At Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium in Bar Harbor, they’ve been serving it since the late ’80s, folding chunks of buttered lobster into a vanilla base. Beyond that headline act, the shop is packed with options. Dozens of ice cream flavors, house-made chocolates, and fudge recipes that go back generations.

Polar Treat

816 US Highway 1, Perry, ME

Polar Treat in Perry is a classic Downeast roadside stop that goes bigger than you’d expect from its quiet stretch of Route 1. Ice cream leads the way with soft serve, rotating hard flavors, and options like sherbet and dairy-free sorbet mixed into the lineup. What stands out is the range. You can grab a cone or go all in on a sundae, then pivot to lobster rolls, fried seafood, or burgers if you’re hungry. It’s seasonal, cash only, and built for summer traffic heading toward Eastport.

Willard Scoops

429 Preble St., South Portland, ME

Willard Scoops in South Portland keeps things tight and intentional, small batches, made in-house, and focused on getting the details right. Located near Willard Beach, it’s the stop you hit after a salty, windy walk along the water. Flavors lean classic with a thoughtful edge, Maine blueberry, salted caramel, maple walnut, plus seasonal rotations that change often enough to keep it interesting.

Big Licks

8 West Grand Avenue, Old Orchard Beach, ME

Big Licks in Old Orchard Beach doesn’t mess around with portions or options. They’re making ice cream on-site daily, with more than 80 flavors in rotation, plus over-the-top sundaes, frappes, floats, and cookie sandwiches. The texture is rich, the scoops are massive, and flavors lean fun, brownie batter, cake batter, coffee Kahlua brownie. If you’re the kind that dunks French fries in ice cream, be sure to grab some Pier Fries nearby.

Gifford’s Ice Cream

Bangor, Skowhegan, Waterville

Gifford’s scoop stands are one of those “plan your day around it” stops, not just a grab-a-cone situation. This is a five-generation, family-run Maine brand, and the stands in places like Bangor, Skowhegan, and Waterville are where it all comes to life. The ice cream is made from scratch with local dairy, slow-churned for that dense, ultra-creamy texture, and packed with real ingredients like Maine wild blueberries and house-made mix-ins. You can find Gifford’s in stores, but the stands bring additional flavors and mix-ins.

The Big Dipper

501 Lisbon St, Lisbon Falls, ME

Big Dipper in Lisbon Falls leans into fun in a way that doesn’t feel forced. The menu mixes homemade-style flavors with some more playful, almost over-the-top options, think things like cookie dough twists and brightly named specialty scoops. It’s right along Lisbon Street, close to walking trails and the river, so it works as both a quick stop and somewhere to hang out for a bit.

Round Top Ice Cream

526 Main Street, Damariscotta, ME

Round Top Ice Cream in Damariscotta is old-school in a way that doesn’t feel staged. They’ve been making ice cream since 1924, originally tied to a working dairy farm, and they still produce everything on-site today. The flavor list is long, 50+ options, with everything from straightforward vanilla and chocolate to Maine staples like blueberry and more offbeat picks like lavender or orange creamsicle. The setting adds to it. It’s built like a barn, with a small gift shop stocked with Maine-made goods.

Blanchard’s Creamery

660 Boothbay Road, Edgecomb, ME

Blanchard’s Creamery in Edgecomb is worth the short detour off Route 1, especially if you’re heading toward Boothbay Harbor. Everything is made on-site in a renovated 1800s barn, with more than 60 small-batch flavors ranging from Maine blueberry cobbler to caramel waffle crunch. It’s part ice cream stop, part coffee-and-baked-goods hangout, which makes it just as easy to swing by in the morning as it is after dinner.

Softie Delite

5 Bridge Street, Livermore Falls, ME

Softie Delite in Livermore Falls keeps things creative without losing that classic roadside stand feel. You’ve got both soft serve and hard ice cream, but the draw is the specialty builds, loaded sundaes, flavor mashups, and seasonal combos that go a little beyond the usual. They’ll mix in everything from cookies to candy to fruit, and the menu changes often enough that regulars keep coming back to see what’s new.

Mrs & Me Ice Cream

400 US-1, Kittery, ME 03904

Before or after visiting the Kittery Outlets, cross the street to Mrs & Me Ice Cream in Kittery Maine to get a heaping scoop (or three) of revolving flavors of ice cream or sherbet.

Dairy-free and no-sugar-added options are on the menu. Take some to go in pints, quarts, or gallons. And, don’t forget to ask about the rotating special called the Nor’Eastah.

Wicked Good Ice Cream

2 Beach St, York, ME 03909

Look for the hot pink chairs outside the Wicked Good Ice Cream shop in York Maine. You’ll need one of them to go through the expansive menu.

Traditional ice cream is just the start — beach blasts, Italian ice, coffee, frozen lemonade, fruit smoothies, ice cream beverages, and specialized sundaes round out the menu with pastries.

Rococo Ice Cream

8 Western Ave STE 5, Kennebunk, ME 04043

A Kennebunk Maine classic, Rococo Ice Cream does more than satisfy your sweet tooth. It takes you on an international taste bud tour.

From bestsellers like Goat Cheese Blackberry Chambord and Maine Whoopie Pie to Googling “What is Sambayon?” or going all in on Glogg Mulled Wine Sorbet, you truly have never tasted frozen treats like this before.

Ship yourself some sweet treats once you’re back from the beach, or send a Pint of Kindness to a beloved friend.

Dairy Joy

311 Elm St, Biddeford, ME 04005

Dairy Joy in Biddeford Maine proves that you don’t need to change a good thing. After more than half a century of scoops and cone swirls, this business is still going strong with standard sweets and shakes, bars, energy drinks, and parfaits.

Dogs get a discounted cone, and your pup can be considered for the Dogs of Dairy Joy Dog of the Week. Also, the shop serves the only Nor’easter you’ll ever look forward to, with a forest of soft serve mixed with your favorite candy.

Kettle Cove Ice Cream & Shack

2 Bowery Beach Rd, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107

Get one-stop meal ordering done at the Kettle Cove Ice Cream & Shack in Cape Elizabeth. One side serves some of the best lobster in Maine, while ice cream takes over the other side.

Hard serve, soft serve, sorbet, and frozen yogurt fill the menu with a dizzying number of options using fresh farm ingredients whenever possible. Consider the ice cream sandwiches too, and there are even a few dog dishes available.

Beals Famous Old Fashioned Ice Cream

12 Moulton St, Portland, ME 04101

Beals has a patented Maine-made process to dish up Beals Super Premium Ice Cream. This Old Port staple in Portland Maine corners the market on ice cream, frozen yogurt sorbet, sherbet, dairy-free ice cream, and sugar-free options. It also shatters the cone with ice cream pizzas, pies, and cakes.

“This place is true baller status and I can see Beals standing its own in NYC.”

Yelp reviewer

Mainely Custard

150 US-1, Freeport, ME 04032

Mainely Custard is a classic choice while exploring the mothership of L.L. Bean in Freeport Maine. This female-owned business serves four classic flavors with a carousel of seasonal options changing every week or so. Vegan ice cream is even on the menu, and all flavors are available to go in pints or quarts.

Bresca & the Honeybee

106 Outlet Rd, New Gloucester, ME 04260

This historic location is housed in the old building of Sabbathday Lake’s shoreline while being on a beach and offering rental equipment. How much more “Maine” can you get?

The fine folks who run The Purple House churn the ice cream from local ingredients purchased on a nearby farm. Ice cream, gelato, sorbet, and vegan options fill the menu with a view of Outlet Beach while you test out the flavors announced weekly.

Pine Tree Frosty

2459 Main St, Rangeley, ME 04970

A rare treat among rare treats on the menu of Pine Tree Frosty — you can eat your ice cream on the 45th Parallel, halfway between the Equator and the North Pole. Special changes occur throughout the season, with creations like the Dino Dig, and if you’re lucky, it will be Lobster Roll Day.

Scenic lake views mix with the charm of Rangeley Maine and the true spirit of family. This local business has been scooping for several generations of Rangeley families and tourists.

Fielder’s Choice Ice Cream

271 Bath Rd, Brunswick, ME 04011

From small-town origins in Sabattus Maine to a prime location in the legendary summer vacation town of Old Orchard Beach, this ferocious franchise keeps winning accolades, like the Best of Maine and Retailer of the Year.

You’ll need a little baseball knowledge to decide between the Papi and the Closer on the baseball-themed menu. Flavors range from the all-star cookie dough to rookie standout baked Indian pudding. With five locations throughout Maine, but we really like the Brunswick Maine location best.

Dorman’s Dairy Dream

189 New County Rd, Thomaston, ME 04861

Dorman’s Dairy Dream is another local legend that has been in business since 1951, serving the greater Rockland Maine area. Raspberry ice cream flavors are among the favorites, and peppermint stick is always in demand.

The owners are a sentimental bunch, now offering a take-out grill service with dishes named after the founding family members. Additionally, you can purchase the Dorman Family Cookbook.

Harris Drug Store Dairy Bar

10 Pritham Ave, Greenville, ME 04441

Moosehead Lake visitors can’t miss a stop at the historic Harris Drug Bar. During the high season, the dairy bar next door serves sweet treats.

Inside throughout the year, the old soda fountain bar has more seasonal sugary sensations. Tables are set up across the street at Thoreau Park for a cherry on top of an ice cream date with wonderful views of the lake.

Mount Desert Island Ice Cream

7 Firefly Ln, Bar Harbor, ME 04609

325 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609

You know ice cream must be good when two locations are less than a half-mile from each other! This team really goes above and beyond when calling its cream homemade:

“If we make a vanilla bean ice cream, we scrape the beans; if we make a lemon sorbet, we squeeze the lemons, one at a time.”

Even with all the ice cream parlors in all of Maine, President Barack Obama chose this one when he visited Bar Harbor with his wife. Is that the reason there’s a Washington, D.C., location? You can find this brand in Portland Maine and Japan too.

Houlton Farms Dairy Bar

98 Bennett Dr, Caribou, ME 04736

Why buy just the ice cream when you can get items from the whole cow? Houlton Farms Dairy is an Aroostook County signature treat, with three dairy bar locations — the Caribou Maine shop is our favorite.

Soft serve options come in cones, waffle bowls, and a dipped version of both. Don’t forget your favorite dip or sprinkles on top. Sundaes, shakes, and specialty drinks are on the menu, too.

Hard-serve ice cream containers of more than two dozen flavors are available in local retailers, along with milk, butter, sour cream, and eggnog sold by the farm year-round.

Prepare for Your Tour of the Best Ice Cream in Maine

If a Maine ice cream parlor says that it has a “third flavor,” that means there are two staple flavors — usually chocolate and vanilla — and then a “third flavor,” which is some kind of special concoction.

The parlors that serve the best ice cream in Maine are well known for being cash-only. You can check social media pages or call ahead to confirm. In any case, you can’t go wrong with any Maine-made ice cream.