14 Pennsylvania Spots For Summer Treats Perfect For Memorial Day Travelers
Memorial Day travelers deserve treats that taste like the first real bite of summer.
Across Pennsylvania, sweet stops, creamy scoops, bakery cases, frozen drinks, doughnuts, pies, and nostalgic snack counters can turn a holiday drive into something a lot more delicious.
The best summer treats do more than satisfy a craving. They break up the miles, cool down a warm afternoon, and give everyone in the car something to get excited about.
A cone after a park visit, a pastry before heading home, or a roadside dessert stop can make the whole weekend feel brighter.
I have always loved trips where the food stops become part of the memory, and a Pennsylvania Memorial Day route with plenty of summer treats sounds like my kind of travel plan.
1. Penn State Berkey Creamery, University Park
Few places on earth can claim they have been scooping ice cream in the name of science, but Penn State Berkey Creamery pulls it off with style.
Located at 119 Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building on the Penn State University Park campus, this legendary creamery has been producing its own dairy products since 1865.
That is not a typo. The creamery doubles as a working research facility for Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, which means every scoop is basically a delicious experiment.
Berkey Creamery is famous for its Peachy Paterno flavor, a sweet nod to one of the university’s best-known ice cream traditions.
The shop offers dozens of rotating flavors made fresh on-site, and the portions are famously generous. It is the kind of place that makes you want to slow down and actually enjoy the moment.
Memorial Day travelers passing through central Pennsylvania should absolutely carve out time for this stop. Penn State Berkey Creamery reminds you that some traditions are worth going out of your way for.
2. Bassetts Ice Cream, Philadelphia
America’s oldest ice cream brand is alive, well, and absolutely thriving inside Philadelphia’s iconic Reading Terminal Market at 12th and Arch Streets.
Bassetts Ice Cream has been churning out rich, creamy flavors since 1861, making it a living piece of American dessert history.
Lewis Dubois Bassett started the whole thing with a hand-cranked freezer and a horse-drawn cart, and the family legacy has never skipped a beat.
Today, Bassetts Ice Cream serves over 40 flavors crafted with high butterfat content that gives each scoop a silky, almost luxurious texture.
Rum raisin and Swiss chocolate are among the longtime fan favorites. Walking through the bustling market and landing at the Bassetts counter feels like stumbling onto something genuinely special.
If you are spending Memorial Day in Philadelphia and want a scoop that carries real history behind it, Bassetts Ice Cream is the move.
Reading Terminal Market itself is worth the trip, and Bassetts is the sweetest reason to linger a little longer.
3. The Franklin Fountain, Philadelphia
Stepping into The Franklin Fountain at 116 Market Street in Philadelphia feels like the city just handed you a time machine and pointed it straight at 1915.
The restored-style soda fountain is one of the most visually stunning dessert destinations in the entire state.
Hand-painted signs, pressed tin ceilings, and staff dressed in period-appropriate attire make every visit feel like a living history lesson wrapped in hot fudge.
The Franklin Fountain is known for its elaborate sundaes, egg creams, and handcrafted ice cream made using heritage recipes.
The founders have a genuine passion for American culinary history, and it shows in every detail of the experience.
Fun fact: the shop was founded in 2004 as a carefully recreated old-fashioned soda fountain, which only adds to the atmosphere.
Old City Philadelphia is already a must-visit for Memorial Day travelers, and The Franklin Fountain makes the neighborhood even more compelling.
Grab a scoop or two and take your time soaking in the surroundings. The Franklin Fountain earns every bit of its legendary reputation.
4. John’s Water Ice, Philadelphia
Forget fancy. John’s Water Ice at 701 Christian Street in South Philadelphia is pure, unapologetic South Philly culture in a paper cup.
This cash-only, no-frills stand has been a neighborhood cornerstone for decades, and locals are fiercely loyal to it.
There are no tables, no indoor seating, and honestly no need for either because the water ice speaks entirely for itself.
The texture at John’s Water Ice is famously smooth and intensely flavored, hitting that perfect balance between icy and creamy.
Lemon and chocolate are the classics, but the cherry flavor has its own devoted following.
I once read about someone driving two hours just to get a cup of the chocolate, and after learning more about this place, I completely understand the logic.
Memorial Day weekend in Philadelphia is not complete without a stop at John’s Water Ice.
It captures everything that makes Philadelphia food culture so magnetic: no pretense, maximum flavor, and a community that rallies around the real stuff. John’s Water Ice is the real stuff.
5. Rita’s Italian Ice, Bensalem
Every great food story has an origin, and Rita’s Italian Ice has one of the best. Bob Tumolo opened the first Rita’s in 1984 in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, starting with a tiny shop and naming it after his wife, Rita.
That single Bensalem beginning has since spawned hundreds of franchises, but the original hometown still carries a special kind of pride about the whole thing.
Rita’s is famous for its Gelati, a layered combination of Italian ice and frozen custard that manages to be both refreshing and indulgent at the same time.
The mango and strawberry flavors are perennial crowd-pleasers.
Rita’s Italian Ice also has a beloved tradition of giving away free Italian ice on the first day of spring every year, which tells you a lot about the brand’s personality.
Visiting the Bensalem area during Memorial Day puts you right in the birthplace of a Pennsylvania success story.
Rita’s Italian Ice is more than a franchise; it is a piece of local history that grew into something much bigger without losing its roots.
6. Fox Meadows Creamery, Ephrata
Lancaster County has a way of making everything taste better, and Fox Meadows Creamery at 2475 West Main Street in Ephrata is proof of that theory.
This farm-based creamery produces its ice cream using milk from its own nearby dairy farm, which means the freshness factor here is genuinely off the charts.
You can practically taste the green fields in every scoop, and that is not hyperbole.
Fox Meadows Creamery rotates its flavors seasonally, leaning into whatever is fresh and locally available. The black raspberry is a standout, and the butter pecan has a devoted fan base that shows up regularly.
The setting itself is part of the appeal: rolling farmland, open skies, and the kind of quiet that reminds you why road trips exist in the first place.
Ephrata sits right in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, making Fox Meadows Creamery a natural stop on any Memorial Day drive through the region.
Fox Meadows Creamery delivers the kind of farm-to-cone experience that feels genuinely earned. Bring the family and take your time.
7. Chester Springs Creamery, Chester Springs
There is something genuinely grounding about eating ice cream made from cows you can see nearby on the farm.
Chester Springs Creamery at 521 East Uwchlan Avenue in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, offers exactly that kind of farm-fresh connection.
Chester County is already one of the most scenic corners of the state, and this creamery makes the most of its stunning surroundings.
Chester Springs Creamery crafts its ice cream from milk produced by the farm’s own dairy herd, keeping the supply chain refreshingly short.
The flavors tend to be classic and executed with real care, which is sometimes exactly what you want on a hot Memorial Day afternoon.
The strawberry and vanilla bean flavors consistently draw praise for their clean, honest taste.
Personally, I find there is something deeply satisfying about a food experience that has a sense of place, and Chester Springs Creamery has that in abundance.
The rolling Chester County landscape surrounding the creamery makes the whole visit feel like a mini getaway. Chester Springs Creamery is a quiet gem that rewards travelers who take the scenic route.
8. Crystal Spring Farm, Schnecksville
Lehigh County does not always get the credit it deserves on the Pennsylvania food map, but Crystal Spring Farm at 3550 Bellview Road in Schnecksville is quietly making a strong case for a detour.
This working dairy farm produces its own milk and turns it into small-batch ice cream that tastes like it was made specifically for days when the sun is blazing and the road trip playlist just hit a great song.
Crystal Spring Farm keeps things approachable and unpretentious, which is a big part of its appeal.
The soft serve here has earned a loyal following among locals who know that the best stuff rarely comes with a fancy sign out front.
Fun fact: the farm has been in operation for generations, giving every scoop a sense of continuity that you just cannot manufacture.
For Memorial Day travelers cutting through the Lehigh Valley, Crystal Spring Farm is a worthwhile pit stop that most out-of-towners overlook entirely.
Crystal Spring Farm rewards the curious traveler with flavors that feel rooted in the land. That kind of authenticity is hard to find and easy to love.
9. Betsy’s Ice Cream, Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon, just south of Pittsburgh, has the kind of neighborhood energy that makes you want to slow down and stick around for a while.
Betsy’s Ice Cream on Washington Road fits right into that vibe, offering a friendly, community-rooted experience that feels like exactly what a summer treat should be.
The shop has become a genuine local institution, the kind of place that gets passed down as a recommendation from one generation to the next.
Betsy’s Ice Cream rotates creative seasonal flavors alongside reliable classics, keeping regulars excited and newcomers pleasantly surprised.
The shop’s approachable size and warm atmosphere make it feel personal rather than commercial.
I have always believed that the best ice cream shops feel like they belong to the neighborhood, and Betsy’s Ice Cream absolutely does.
If your Memorial Day route takes you through the Pittsburgh suburbs, Washington Road in Mount Lebanon is worth a cruise.
Betsy’s Ice Cream is not trying to be the biggest or flashiest option in the region, and that quiet confidence is a big part of what makes it so good.
10. Hall’s Ice Cream, Millerstown
Some of the best ice cream in Pennsylvania hides in plain sight along small-town roads that GPS systems barely acknowledge.
Hall’s Ice Cream in Millerstown, located along Route 17 in Perry County, is exactly that kind of hidden gem.
Perry County sits along the Susquehanna River and offers some of the most underrated scenery in the entire state, which makes Hall’s a perfect excuse to explore this often-overlooked region.
Hall’s Ice Cream has been a local favorite for years, drawing in both regulars from the surrounding area and road-trippers who stumble upon it during summer drives.
The portions are generous and the flavors are made with the kind of care that only comes from a place that genuinely loves what it does.
Peach is a seasonal standout that draws repeat visits when summer fruit is at its peak.
Memorial Day travelers heading through central Pennsylvania should absolutely factor Hall’s Ice Cream into the itinerary.
Hall’s Ice Cream proves that you do not need a big-city zip code to deliver a memorable scoop. Perry County deserves more road trip attention, and Hall’s is a great starting point.
11. The Lands At Hillside Farms, Shavertown
Northeastern Pennsylvania does not always make the top of summer road trip lists, but The Lands at Hillside Farms at 696 Hillside Road in Shavertown makes a compelling argument for a detour.
This working dairy farm and creamery sits on stunning grounds in Luzerne County, where the landscape feels genuinely removed from the pace of everyday life.
The farm is also a nonprofit, with proceeds supporting agricultural education and land preservation.
The Lands at Hillside Farms produces small-batch ice cream using milk from its own grass-fed herd, and the quality is immediately obvious in the first taste.
The creamery offers a rotating selection of flavors, with seasonal specials that celebrate local ingredients. Visiting the farm feels like doing something good for yourself and for the region at the same time.
There is a rare kind of satisfaction that comes from supporting a place that is actively working to preserve farmland and educate future generations about agriculture.
The Lands at Hillside Farms earns that satisfaction deliciously. Plan the Memorial Day detour to Shavertown and let this creamery be the highlight of the drive north.
12. Page Dairy Mart, Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh has a deep, almost stubborn affection for its classic neighborhood institutions, and Page Dairy Mart at 4112 East Carson Street in Pittsburgh is a shining example of that civic loyalty.
Open since 1951, this retro dairy mart has outlasted trends, recessions, and the general chaos of the modern food industry by simply being excellent and consistent.
The vintage neon sign alone is worth a photograph.
Page Dairy Mart is beloved for its milkshakes, which are thick, old-school, and made with real ice cream that does not apologize for being indulgent.
The hand-dipped cones and sundaes have kept generations of Pittsburgh families coming back through the decades.
Fun fact: the original dairy mart was rebuilt after a 1958 explosion, which gives the whole place a real Pittsburgh comeback story.
For Memorial Day travelers exploring Pittsburgh’s south side neighborhoods, Page Dairy Mart is an essential stop.
Page Dairy Mart is the kind of place that makes you feel like Pittsburgh is sharing a personal secret with you. Treasure it accordingly.
13. Merrymead Farm, Lansdale
Merrymead Farm at 2222 South Valley Forge Road in Lansdale is the kind of place that turns a quick ice cream stop into a full afternoon adventure.
The farm features homemade ice cream, a dairy store, farm animals, gem mining, and seasonal market fun, making it a natural magnet for families looking to squeeze every drop of joy out of Memorial Day weekend.
Montgomery County has some great food destinations, but Merrymead Farm plays a different game entirely.
The ice cream at Merrymead Farm is made on-site, and the flavor lineup is both creative and comforting.
More than 32 hand-dipped flavors give travelers plenty of reasons to linger before heading back to the road.
The farm’s long-standing roots in the Lansdale community give it a warmth that newer operations simply cannot replicate overnight.
Merrymead Farm has the kind of all-ages appeal that makes every visit feel like participating in something genuinely time-tested.
Merrymead Farm is not just a place to eat ice cream; it is a place to make memories. That combination is pretty hard to beat.
14. Glen’s Custard, Springdale
Old-school charm, neon glow, and classic frozen custard make Glen’s Custard at 400 Pittsburgh Street in Springdale one of western Pennsylvania’s sweetest warm-weather traditions.
Glen’s is not just an ice cream stop; it is the kind of roadside dessert counter that makes a summer drive feel instantly more nostalgic and more delicious.
The frozen custard at Glen’s is rich, smooth, and made for people who believe simple treats can still feel special. Cones, sundaes, shakes, and rotating flavors keep the menu familiar without ever feeling boring.
Glen’s Custard draws visitors from across the region who come specifically for the creamy texture as much as the atmosphere.
Springdale sits just northeast of Pittsburgh, making Glen’s Custard an easy detour for food lovers looking beyond the busiest city stops.
Ending a Memorial Day adventure with a cone at Glen’s is the kind of decision that makes for a perfect final chapter. Glen’s earns every loyal fan it has.