9 North Carolina Ice-Cream Trucks Everyone Should Try Once
Summer in North Carolina wouldn’t be the same without that familiar jingle of an ice cream truck drifting through the neighborhood. It’s a sound that instantly brings back childhood memories and sends kids, and adults, running with excitement.
These mobile sweet spots, with their vibrant exteriors and nostalgic charm, offer more than just frozen treats, they deliver pure joy on wheels.
I’ve spent countless sunny afternoons chasing down these traveling dessert havens across the state, discovering everything from classic cones and novelty bars to handcrafted popsicles. Each stop has added a scoop of happiness to my journey, one delicious memory at a time.
1. Two Roosters’ Rolling Scoop
Stumbling upon Two Roosters’ bright red truck at a Raleigh festival changed my dessert standards forever. Their ‘Grilled Cheese’ ice cream sounds bizarre but tastes like comfort food reimagined, sweet cream base with actual toasted cheese bits!
Founded in 2015, this truck-turned-empire collaborates with local businesses for monthly specials.
The line might stretch long, but watching the scoopers craft perfect portions while chatting about flavor inspiration makes the wait part of the experience.
2. Sweet Dreams Cruiser
Lightning cracked overhead as I ducked under Sweet Dreams Cruiser’s awning last summer. The owner, Marnie (who everyone calls Grandma), handed me a double scoop of her signature ‘Carolina Blueberry Pie’ and refused to take my money until the storm passed.
For twenty years, this baby-blue truck has roamed Charlotte’s neighborhoods with handwritten signs and homemade waffle cones that smell like heaven. Every flavor contains locally-sourced ingredients.
Kids follow her Twitter updates like treasure hunters tracking gold. The secret menu item? Ask for ‘Cloud Nine’, vanilla bean swirled with homemade marshmallow fluff.
3. The Parlour’s Wandering Wagon
Trumpets blare from The Parlour’s converted school bus before it even turns the corner in Durham. Yellow with rainbow trim, this behemoth serves scoops twice the size of your fist!
Their ‘Vietnamese Coffee’ flavor knocked me sideways, rich, intense, and somehow both bitter and sweet simultaneously. Everything’s made from scratch using milk from nearby dairy farms.
The owners, Josh and Vanessa, started with just a dream and a tricycle cart in 2011. Now they offer dairy-free options that taste better than the real thing, including a coconut-based ‘White Chocolate Amaretto’ that makes me weak at the knees.
4. Mountain Chill Mobile
Wind whistling through Asheville’s Blue Ridge Parkway carries the scent of Mountain Chill Mobile’s waffle cones for miles. Run by former pastry chef Eliza Morgan, this truck specializes in foraged-ingredient flavors that change with the seasons.
Spring brings ‘Wild Violet Vanilla’ while autumn introduces ‘Foraged Mushroom Caramel’, sounds strange but tastes magical. The truck itself looks like a log cabin on wheels, complete with tiny smoking chimney.
Eliza lets customers suggest flavor combinations on a chalkboard. Last year my ‘Rosemary Honey Pine Nut’ suggestion made the permanent menu! Nothing beats watching sunset over the mountains with their ‘Spruce Tip’ sorbet melting on your tongue.
5. Coastal Freeze Cruiser
Sand still clung to my feet when I first spotted Coastal Freeze Cruiser’s surfboard-adorned truck rolling onto Wrightsville Beach. Owner Darius Wade, a former competitive surfer, serves sea-inspired flavors from a window framed with fishing nets and shells.
‘Atlantic Sea Salt Caramel’ uses actual evaporated seawater, while ‘Beach Plum Sorbet’ features fruit harvested from coastal dunes. The truck runs entirely on solar power, even the freezers!
A hidden gem? The ‘Mermaid’s Delight’, blue spirulina ice cream with edible glitter that sparkles in the sun. Darius rings an old ship’s bell instead of playing music, drawing beachgoers like seagulls to a picnic.
6. Farm Fresh Freezer
Cows literally moo when Farm Fresh Freezer pulls up to Chapel Hill’s farmers market, they recognize their own dairy! This repurposed milk truck belongs to the Henderson family, fourth-generation farmers who create ice cream within hours of milking.
Their ‘Carolina Crunch’ combines honey-roasted peanuts with blackberry jam swirls. The truck features a transparent side panel where kids watch ice cream being churned in antique barrels while they wait.
Mrs. Henderson hands out sprinkles in tiny flower pots for self-decorating. The family’s commitment to sustainability means all cups are edible, waffle cones folded into squares that hold exactly three perfect scoops.
7. Sweet Carolina Rolling Parlor
Thunder rumbled as rain poured down at the Wilmington Riverfest, but nobody abandoned the line for Sweet Carolina Rolling Parlor. Their ‘Hurricane Warning’, dark chocolate with cayenne and sea salt, warmed me from the inside out.
Owners Maria and Javier Mendez transform traditional Latino flavors into frozen masterpieces. ‘Churro Cheesecake’ comes topped with actual fried dough, while ‘Mangonada Sorbet’ delivers the perfect sweet-spicy punch.
The truck’s exterior features hand-painted scenes from across North Carolina. They donate 10% of profits to hurricane relief efforts, having lost their first truck to Florence in 2018. Resilience never tasted so sweet!
8. Sunni Sky’s Mobile Scoop
Bravery medals should be awarded to anyone who tries Sunni Sky’s ‘Cold Sweat’ flavor from their traveling ice cream truck. My brother dared me to try this pepper-infused concoction in Angier last summer, I couldn’t feel my face for an hour!
With over 130 rotating flavors, this mobile extension of their famous shop offers something for everyone. The truck, decorated with cartoon suns wearing sunglasses, visits local baseball games and community events.
Owner Scott Wilson keeps a ‘Flavor Request Journal’ where visitors suggest new creations. The truck’s specialty? ‘Memory Lane’, a custom flavor based on your description of childhood ice cream memories.
9. Homeland Creamery Express
Golden hour bathes the Homeland Creamery Express in warm light as it parks beside Julian’s community garden every Thursday evening. Families bring lawn chairs and blankets, creating an impromptu ice cream social.
The Jersey cows responsible for this creamy goodness are pictured on the side of the truck, each with a name and personality description. Their ‘Double Dark Chocolate’ contains chunks of homemade fudge that melt on contact with your tongue.
Farmer Wright lets kids stamp their ‘ice cream passports’ with each visit. After ten stamps, they’re invited to the farm to help make a batch. The truck’s wooden interior feels like stepping into a country kitchen on wheels.