The Inside Scoop on Pennsylvania's Ice Cream Trails

Pennsylvania is prepared for the hot and humid months that loom ahead of us with the sweetest way possbile: the Pennsylvania Ice Cream Trails. The self-guided tours explore PA’s back-country roads by taking you to its local farms and creameries serving homemade ice cream. Find your favorite flavor or try something totally new; either way, we’re thinking you’ll probably be back for more. Starting June 1st until September 2nd, visit five stops for a free t-shirt and all twelve stops to receive a t-shirt and ice cream bowl. Divided into three separate “passports,” the Pennsylvania Ice Cream Trails are delicious ways to discover new areas of Pennsylvania while enjoying the sweeter side of life.

The Western PA Ice Cream Trail encompasses the greater Pittsburgh region and the counties east to State College. Visit Betsy’s Ice Cream in Mt. Lebanon for hundreds of varieties and 28 homemade ice cream, sorbet, and yogurt flavors available daily in the Pittsburgh area. In University Park, visit Berkey Creamery to experience ice cream that has it down to a science--literally. Their twelve-step, scientist-approved process starts with the university’s own herd of 200 cows. Developed by Penn State’s food and dairy scientists, Berkey Creamery has grown into a world authority on dairy and ice cream manufacturing. Don’t forget to check out the Hall of Fame Flavors while you’re on Penn State’s campus.

The South-Central PA Ice Cream Trail contains the capital area and its surrounding rural areas as well as Reading, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York. Here you will find the true meaning of “family farm” and homemade, small-batch ice cream. In York, visit the Perrydell Farm and Dairy, a fully self-sufficient dairy farm that supports four families from the milk of only 130 Holstein cows. Besides ice cream, Perrydell also sells homemade milk and butter. For an urban twist on your homemade ice cream adventure, head into downtown Harrisburg to try the unique flavors of Urban Churn. Urban Churn uses natural ingredients to make flavors you can’t find anywhere else. Alongside your regular vanilla, smooth chocolate, and real strawberry, Urban Churn makes flavors like wasabi, cucumber and melon, and mango.

The Eastern PA Ice Cream Trail will bring you to the metropolis of Philadelphia and the eastern reaches of the state like the Scranton and Allentown areas. Visit West Hazleton’s Milkhouse Creamery for a fun experience that will make you feel like a kid again. With flavors inspired by dreams and nostalgic childhood memories like Fluffernutter and Cookie Dough Coal Mine, Milkhouse Creamery completes its unique servings with spoons that change color when they touch ice cream. If you’ll be in the Philadelphia neighborhood, plan on stopping by Lansdale’s Freddy Hill Farm named “Best of Philly” by Philadelphia Magazine. Freddy Hill Farm offers more than 30 flavors of farm fresh ice cream, milkshakes, sundaes, flurries, floats, and homemade waffle cones.

To view a full list of the creameries along the Pennsylvania Ice Cream Trails and to download a passport in the region of your choice, click here.