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Indiana has a way of hiding great ice cream in towns you might only pass through on the way to somewhere else. This list covers seven small-town shops, from a college town sundae spot with more than 100 shake and sundae options to a drive-in that serves tangerine soft serve.
Some are tucked beside state highways, some sit near a courthouse square, and one is in Amish country. Each one has its own reason to earn a stop, whether that is a flight of flavors, rolled ice cream, or a menu that goes well beyond dessert.
Hours can change with the season, so check before you go. Fall is a good time to hit the road, because the cold will arrive soon enough and these windows will not stay open forever.
1. Ivanhoes, Upland, IN
A menu with more than 100 shake and sundae options is the kind of thing that changes how you plan a dessert stop. Ivanhoes sits at 979 S Main St in Upland, a small college community, and it has the sundae and shake lineup to match.
The food side is no afterthought. Menu favorites include the Hand-Breaded Tenderloin, the Cowabunga Burger, a Taco Salad, onion rings, and tator tots, so it works as a full lunch or dinner before the sweet part.
On the dessert end, the Hot Fudge Deluxe and the Banana Split are among the highlights, along with milkshakes. Ordering is at the counter, and there is seating inside plus outdoor seating if the weather cooperates.
Plan around the crowds. Sunday afternoon and evening, Friday evening, and Saturday afternoon and evening tend to be the busiest, and there is usually a wait since reservations are not taken.
Free parking is available in a lot and along the street.
Hours run Monday through Thursday 10 AM to 10 PM, Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 11 PM, and Sunday 2 to 10 PM. Hours may vary, so check before you go.
2. The Chocolate Moose, Nashville, IN
Two scoops is the smallest size here, which tells you how this place thinks about portions. The Chocolate Moose is at 278 S Van Buren St in Nashville, the Brown County village known as an artist colony.
Both hand-dipped and soft-serve ice cream are on offer, and the menu includes a Cookie Monster sundae, a Chocolate Explosion, Grasshopper ice cream, banana splits, and shakes. There is a vegan strawberry shake for anyone avoiding dairy.
Mornings are covered too. The shop also serves breakfast sandwiches, muffins, and coffee, so it is not only an afternoon stop.
A drive-through, dine-in seating, and takeout make it flexible when the village is crowded. Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings are the busiest stretches, while weekday mornings are quieter.
Free parking is available in a lot and on the street.
It is open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM, though hours may vary, so check before you go.
3. Vanilla Bean Creamery, Shipshewana, IN
Why settle for one flavor when you can order a flight? Vanilla Bean Creamery at 100 S Van Buren St in Shipshewana serves homemade, small-batch ice cream, and the flight lets you sample several flavors in one sitting.
Customers can also build their own flavor combinations, and shakes and handcrafted waffle cones round out the menu. Chocolate chip cookie dough is one named favorite.
Each table has games, which gives groups and families something to do while the ice cream lasts. Seating is available, takeout is an option, and the shop sits in a small Northern Indiana community in Amish country.
Hours are a little different from most shops on this list. It opens at 1 PM Monday through Friday, at noon on Saturday, and at 2 PM on Sunday, with closing at 9 PM most days and 8 PM on Sunday.
Sunday afternoon and evening are the busiest times.
Parking includes a free lot as well as paid lot and street options. Check ahead for current hours.
4. Jimmie’s Dairy Bar
Tangerine soft serve is not a flavor you see at every drive-in. Jimmie’s Dairy Bar in Pendleton has made it a signature, and it sits beside a menu of Indiana comfort food.
The food lineup includes tenderloins, coney dogs, hot dogs, sloppy joes, BBQ sandwiches, and fries. On the cold side there are malts, shakes, and a banana split, so you can build a full meal and finish with dessert.
The setting has a 1950s feel, and you can eat inside, use outdoor seating, order takeout, or go through the drive-through. There is a kids’ menu and high chairs, and free parking is usually easy to find.
Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoon and evening tend to be busiest. Mornings are quiet, though the doors open at 10:30 AM.
It is open daily from 10:30 AM to 9 PM. Hours may vary, so check before you go.
5. Yup’s Dairyland, Middlebury, IN
Bring a little patience and a good appetite. Yup’s Dairyland at 53018 IN-13 in Middlebury is an old-school ice cream stand where lines can form, and the flavors change often.
The ice cream is hand-dipped, and the shop also serves casual hot food along with a range of frozen treats. Picnic tables outside are the seating plan, and dogs are allowed in the outdoor area.
Service here is onsite or takeout, and there is no restroom, so plan accordingly if you are traveling with kids. Because the flavor list rotates, it rewards repeat visits more than a one-time order.
The shop is closed on Sundays. It is open Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 8 PM and Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM, though hours may vary, so check before you go.
6. Twisted Treats, Rockville, IN
Rolled ice cream is the draw in a town better known for covered bridges. Twisted Treats at 217 W Ohio St in Rockville is locally owned and specializes in rolled and soft serve ice cream.
Homemade waffle cones and bowls are part of the setup, so you can pick how you want to eat it. Rockville is often called the Covered Bridge Capital, which makes this an easy sweet stop on a fall drive through Parke County.
Service is onsite or takeout, and it is a quick-visit kind of shop. Kids are welcome.
Hours run Monday through Thursday 11 AM to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday 11 AM to 10 PM, and Sunday 4 to 8 PM. Hours may vary, so check before you go.
7. Lazy Cow Creamery & Sweets, Corydon, IN
Black Walnut, Coconut Almond Chip, and Unicorn all sit on the same flavor list. Lazy Cow Creamery & Sweets at 204-206 E Chestnut St in Corydon serves a wide range of ice cream flavors plus milkshakes and banana splits.
The shop is family owned and located downtown in Indiana’s first state capital, so it pairs well with a walk around the historic square. Portions are generous, and the shop is kept clean and friendly.
Seating is available inside, takeout is an option, and free wi-fi is on hand if you want to linger. Saturday afternoon and evening are the busiest times, and weekday mornings are quiet.
Hours are Monday through Thursday 11 AM to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday 11 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday 11 AM to 7 PM. Hours may vary, so check before you go.
