11 New Hampshire Ice Cream Shops That Have Become Summer Traditions
What’s the official sign that summer has arrived in New Hampshire? For many locals, it’s not the calendar.
It’s the first trip to their favorite ice cream shop.
These beloved spots have turned a simple scoop into a seasonal ritual, where families return year after year, flavors become personal favorites, and deciding what to order somehow becomes the hardest part of the day.
From classic cones that bring back childhood memories to creative combinations that keep people curious, these shops know exactly how to make a warm afternoon better.
Because in New Hampshire, ice cream isn’t just a dessert. It’s a tradition, a reward, and sometimes the perfect excuse to take the scenic route home. These shops have earned their place as must-stop summer favorites.
1. Jordan’s Ice Creamery
Some places just have that magic ingredient you cannot quite name, and Jordan’s Ice Creamery in Belmont is absolutely one of them.
This family-run creamery has been scooping happiness for over two decades, and the numbers alone are enough to make your jaw drop. Located at 894 Laconia Road, Belmont, NH 03220, Jordan’s churns out roughly 45,000 gallons of ice cream every season.
That is not a typo.
With more than 200 flavors on rotation, choosing just one scoop feels borderline impossible. You might find yourself staring at salted caramel crunch with pretzel for a full three minutes before committing.
The waffle cones, cookies for ice cream sandwiches, and whipped cream are all made fresh daily, which makes every visit feel a little bit special.
Beyond the cone, Jordan’s creates ice cream cakes, pies, yogurts, sorbets, and even sugar-free options for those who want a lighter treat.
Their specialty ice cream flights let you sample experimental flavor combinations without any commitment. Jordan’s has even earned recognition as the best food experience at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
That is the kind of reputation that takes real dedication to build.
2. Lago’s Ice Cream
Since 1981, Lago’s Ice Cream has been the kind of place that turns first-time visitors into lifelong regulars. Tucked along the Seacoast at 71 Lafayette Road, Rye, NH 03870, this shop carries a legacy that stretches back generations.
The ice cream craft was passed down with genuine care, and that tradition is something you can taste in every single scoop.
Multiple “Best Ice Cream” honors from New Hampshire Magazine, Yankee Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal back up what loyal fans already know.
Lago’s homemade flavors are something else entirely. Cookie Monster, a blue vanilla loaded with Chips Ahoy, Oreos, and Animal Crackers, is the kind of flavor that makes adults feel like kids again without any apology.
Cow Pie is another fan favorite, and despite the name, it is absolutely irresistible. Rich brownie batter ice cream packed with homemade brownies, chocolate chips, and a fudge swirl makes it impossible to share.
Dairy-free options round out the menu beautifully.
Lago’s is proof that when you build something with heart, people keep coming back, summer after summer, decade after decade.
3. Ilsley’s Ice Cream
There is something undeniably charming about getting your ice cream from a little red shed while cows graze just a few feet away.
Ilsley’s Ice Cream at 33 South Sugar Hill Road, Weare, NH 03281, is exactly that kind of place, and it is so much better than anything you could find at a generic chain. This is a fifth-generation dairy farm, and the ice cream reflects every bit of that deep-rooted commitment to quality.
The National Ice Cream Retailers Association named Ilsley’s strawberry ice cream “First in the Nation,” and their chocolate flavor earned an impressive second-place finish nationally.
Those are not small honors. When fresh milk comes straight from the farm’s own cows, the difference in taste is genuinely noticeable from the very first lick.
Breakfast maple cream and brown sugar oatmeal are two flavors that sound like they were invented on a cozy Saturday morning and somehow turned into ice cream perfection.
Homemade waffle cones seal the deal completely. Ilsley’s is the kind of off-the-beaten-path discovery that makes you feel like you found a secret, and you will absolutely want to keep going back all summer long.
4. Richardson’s Farm
Over 120 years in the dairy business is not something you just stumble into. Richardson’s Farm has earned every single one of those years by doing things the right way, the slow way, and the delicious way.
Located at 170 Water Street, Boscawen, NH 03303, this farm makes its super-premium ice cream and sherbet right on the premises using a formula that has been trusted since 1956.
What really sets Richardson’s apart is the small-batch philosophy. Only 10 gallons of ice cream are churned at a time, which means every batch gets the attention it deserves.
Local New Hampshire heavy cream and milk go into every scoop, and you can genuinely taste the difference between this and anything mass-produced. Rich, creamy, and deeply satisfying are the best words for it.
Ice cream flights are available here too, which is a brilliant way to explore multiple flavors without making an impossible single choice.
Beyond frozen treats, the farm also sells homemade pies, crisps, pastries, and fresh produce. Richardson’s is the rare place where everything on offer feels intentional and genuine.
Summer in New Hampshire simply feels more complete with a stop here built into the plan.
5. Beech Hill Farm And Ice Cream Barn
Nine generations of farming on the same land since 1771 is the kind of history that makes a place feel truly rooted.
Beech Hill Farm at 107 Beech Hill Road, Hopkinton, NH 03229, turned one of its dairy barns into an Ice Cream Barn back in 1996, and it has been a summer staple ever since. The Kimball family has poured generations of love into this land, and it shows in every corner of the experience.
More than 75 flavors of New England-made premium ice cream are on offer, alongside low-fat yogurts, sherbet, sorbets, and no-fat or no-sugar options.
The real showstopper, though, is the make-your-own sundae bar. Picking your toppings and building your own creation is the kind of hands-on joy that never gets old, no matter how many times you have done it.
Beyond the ice cream, the farm offers a country store, a garden center, friendly farm animals, a nature trail, and corn mazes that make it a full afternoon adventure.
Beech Hill Farm has been honored as a “New Hampshire Farm of Distinction,” and it is easy to see why. This is a place where the whole family leaves happy, sticky, and already planning the next visit.
6. Moo’s Place Homemade Ice Cream
Twenty consecutive “Best of NH” awards from New Hampshire Magazine is the kind of track record that makes you stop scrolling and pay attention.
Moo’s Place Homemade Ice Cream at 27 Crystal Avenue, Derry, NH 03038, has earned every single one of those honors by making ice cream the right way, right there in the shop, without cutting corners. This is not a franchise.
This is the real thing.
The secret behind the extraordinary creaminess is locally sourced cream with a 16% butterfat content, which is significantly richer than what most shops use.
Every frozen yogurt and Italian ice is also crafted in-house, which means quality control is baked into every single batch. When ingredients are this good, the flavors speak for themselves without needing any extra convincing.
The “Moovelous Sundaes” menu is where things get seriously fun. The Double Fudge Brownie Sundae is exactly as indulgent as it sounds, and the Peanut Butter Lovers Sundae has converted more than a few skeptics into full believers.
Hard and soft-serve options keep the menu interesting for everyone. Moo’s Place is the kind of neighborhood gem that becomes a non-negotiable part of summer the moment you try it.
7. Super Secret Ice Cream
The name alone is enough to spark curiosity, and Super Secret Ice Cream at 2213 Main Street, Bethlehem, NH 03574, absolutely lives up to the intrigue.
Nestled in the White Mountains, this women-owned small business takes tiny-batch ice cream making seriously in the most wonderful way possible. Every flavor starts from scratch, and every ingredient is chosen with genuine intention.
Milk and cream come from Hatchland Dairy Farm, keeping the supply chain local and the quality remarkably high. The menu rotates frequently based on what is fresh and what is in season, which means every visit has the potential to surprise you.
Honeycomb ice cream made with local honey is the kind of flavor that sounds simple but tastes like someone bottled New Hampshire summer into a scoop.
Trillium Coffee, featuring beans roasted right in the shop, is another standout that proves Super Secret is thinking beyond the ordinary.
This is the kind of place that food writers and ice cream lovers seek out specifically. Once you find it, keeping it a secret feels genuinely difficult.
8. Annabelle’s Natural Ice Cream
Portsmouth has a lot going for it as a city, but Annabelle’s Natural Ice Cream at 49 Ceres Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801, is one of its most beloved treasures.
Open since 1982, this waterfront shop has been serving super-premium, kosher ice cream made with only the highest-quality natural ingredients for over four decades. That kind of consistency is genuinely rare and worth celebrating.
With around 30 ice cream flavors available, the menu balances classic comfort with creative ambition beautifully.
Yellow Brick Road, a golden vanilla swirled with caramel and packed with pecans, is a flavor that sounds like a fairy tale and tastes even better than one.
Swiss Chocolate Avalanche piles on pecans, walnuts, chocolate-covered almonds, and white chocolate swirls in a way that feels almost too generous, almost. Frozen yogurts and refreshing sorbets round out the options for those wanting something a little lighter.
Sitting near the waterfront with a scoop from Annabelle’s is one of those simple summer moments that somehow becomes a core memory every single time.
9. Kellerhaus
Operating since 1906 puts Kellerhaus in a category that very few ice cream spots anywhere in the country can claim.
This family-run institution at 259 Endicott Street North, Laconia, NH 03246, has been crafting chocolates, candies, and ice cream for well over a century. Otto G.
Keller introduced homemade ice cream in the early 1920s, and the shop still uses original recipes alongside their 1929 York ice cream machines. That is living history in the most delicious form possible.
Situated near Weirs Beach with lovely views of Lake Winnipesaukee, Kellerhaus offers an atmosphere that feels like stepping into a New Hampshire postcard.
The famous ice cream smorgasbord is the main event, a buffet-style toppings bar where you build your own sundae exactly the way you want it.
The creativity unleashed at that toppings bar is something to witness.
Handmade chocolates, decadent homemade fudge, and beloved buttercrunch make Kellerhaus a full-on confectionery adventure beyond just ice cream. There is a warmth to this place that comes from generations of genuine care.
Visiting Kellerhaus feels less like a transaction and more like being welcomed into a long-running family tradition that just happens to involve extraordinary sweets.
10. Memories Ice Cream
Walking into a remodeled dairy barn to get your ice cream already sets a pretty fantastic tone for the experience ahead. Memories Ice Cream at 95 Exeter Road, Kingston, NH 03848, has been crafting homemade treats since 1992, and the commitment to freshness and quality has never wavered.
Over 35 regular flavors are always on the menu, with weekly and monthly specialty creations keeping things exciting all season long.
Everything is churned fresh, which is the kind of detail that makes a noticeable difference from the very first taste. Ice cream cakes and sandwiches are made daily, so taking a treat home for later is always a tempting option.
The dedication to sourcing the finest and freshest ingredients, often locally, runs through everything this shop produces.
Rotating vegan flavors in both hard and soft-serve formats mean that no one has to sit out the fun. Coffee drinks are also on offer for those who want something warm alongside their cold treat.
Memories Ice Cream is the kind of place where the name matches the experience perfectly, because every visit tends to stick with you in the best possible way. Is there a better summer afternoon than one that ends with a fresh scoop here?
11. Arnie’s Place
Arnie’s Place at 164 Loudon Road, Concord, NH 03301, is the kind of spot that shows up in your plans before you even realize you have made them.
One of the most extensive ice cream menus in all of northern New England lives here, covering everything from classic cones and sundaes to flurries, frappes, and floats. Hard ice cream is also available by the pint, quart, or half-gallon for those who want to bring the party home.
Beyond ice cream, Arnie’s is genuinely famous for its slow-smoked BBQ, with meats cooked on-site the patient, low-and-slow way.
Juicy burgers and tasty hot dogs round out a menu that makes this place a full meal destination, not just a dessert stop. The combination of smoky savory food and incredible frozen treats is a pairing that just works.
Weekly summer car shows add a retro, festive energy that transforms Arnie’s into a community gathering spot with serious personality.
The signature Chocolate Chili Chunk ice cream is the kind of flavor that raises eyebrows first and then converts skeptics immediately.
New Hampshire summer traditions come in many forms, but Arnie’s manages to pack several of them into one lively, welcoming destination that keeps the season feeling electric.