Best Ice Cream Shops in Tennessee: Must-Visit Spots Statewide

You can get authentic gelato when you visit Johnson City at Mona Lisa's Gelato & Cafe. The artisan gelato is rich, creamy and full of flavors, some of which are quite unique like rum raisin, tiramisu and popcorn. The cafe also serves sandwiches, salads and soups. Come in for lunch and end your meal with indulgent gelato.

• Seasonal highlights: Unique summer flavors include cherry Grazie, tiramisu and popcorn. Dairy-free flavors include lemon raspberry, blood orange and strawberry raspberry among others.
   
• Hours of operation:
  Kitchen: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. Sunday
  Gelato: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 10 p.m. Sunday
   
• Parking: Ample paved parking is available in front of Mona Lisa’s Gelato & Café.
   
• Accessibility: Two ADA parking spots are available in front of the café. No-step entry available. Mona Lisa’s Gelato & Café is ADA compliant.
   
• Outdoor seating: Outdoor seating is available

If you’re in the Tri-Cities area of Tennessee, make a stop for ice cream, milkshakes, banana splits and sundaes at local The Scoop Ice Cream Parlor in Gray, Tennessee. Family-owned, full-service ice cream parlor Build your own sundae with toppings like brownie crumbles, peanut butter syrup, gummy bears, sprinkles, butterscotch, Reese’s Pieces, Snickers and more. Visit on a Tuesday to buy one scoop of ice cream and get one free as well as on Thursdays when banana splits are half-price.

• Seasonal highlights: Dairy-free, sugar-free and vegan-friendly flavors are available. Ice cream flavors rotate seasonally.
   
• Hours of operation: 1-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday 1-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
   
• Parking: Ample paved parking is available.
   
• Accessibility: ADA parking is available. There is a no-step entry into The Scoop Ice Cream Parlor. Wheelchair-accessible seating and restroom are available onsite.
   
• Outdoor seating: Outdoor benches line either side of The Scoop.

While exploring all that the Tri-Cities has to offer, make a sweet stop at the newest ice cream shop in Kingsport, Tennessee: The Golden Cone. You’ll enjoy homemade, hand-scooped ice cream, homemade Italian ice and more.

• Sundaes, banana splits and even the viral dot cakes are served daily
   
• Pet-friendly – get your pup a pup cup
   
• Tumbler Tuesday happens every month. Bring in your 30-40oz tumbler and The Golden Cone will fill it with 3 scoops of your favorite flavors for $10
   
• Seasonal highlights: Summer ice cream flavors include caramel, banana pudding, espresso, cotton candy and mint chocolate
   
• Hours of operation: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday
   
• Parking: Located inside Chef’s Pizzaria, The Golden Cone has parking on the street, in a paved lot to the right of the restaurant and in a paved across the street from the restaurant.
   
• Accessibility: ADA parking spots located nearby. There is a zero-step entry into Chef’s Pizzaria.
   
• Outdoor seating: Some outdoor seating is available.

Dip’s is a mobile ice cream trailer that serves the Tri-Cities area. Check out their website for up-to-date locations so you can enjoy sundaes, milkshakes (or milkshakes with a shot of espresso), Affogato, root beer floats and dirty sodas. 

• Seasonal highlights: Rotating flavors include sugar cookie, cotton candy and cappuccino crunch.
   
• Hours of operation: Check their locations daily for more information.
   
• Parking: Parking availability varies dependent on their location for the day. Consult their locations for venue information.
   
• Accessibility: Accessibility details vary by the mobile ice cream trailer’s location. Check their Facebook for their daily venue location.

Dig into rolled ice cream at Taste Buds for a quick treat while exploring downtown Bristol, Tennessee. They have over 1 million flavor combinations of rolled ice cream. Burgers, sandwiches and wings are also on the menu.

• Seasonal highlights: Shaved ice and rolled ice cream come in various flavors like pina colada, strawberry cheesecake, and Midnight Caramel River – golden vanilla ice cream with dark chocolate ice cream with a rich caramel swirl.
   
• Hours of operation: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 1-8 p.m. Sunday
   
• Parking: Paved parking is available in front of the restaurant.
   
• Accessibility: Taste Buds has a wheelchair accessible entrance and ADA parking.

While traveling through East Tennessee, stop into Cruze Farm for fresh churned ice cream from the Cruze Farm Dairy farm. Head to the original location to see where the famous ice cream shop got its start.

• Seasonal highlights: Enjoy various flavors at each location like sweet cream, honey graham cracker, peanut butter, brown butter, brownie batter, cookies n’ cream, cherry dole whip and more.
   
• Hours of operation: 
  East Knoxville location: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday
  Sevierville location: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
  Downtown Knoxville location: Noon to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; noon to 10:30 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday
  Morristown location: Noon to 9:30 p.m. everyday
   
• Parking: 
  East Knoxville location: Ample paved parking is available onsite
  Sevierville location: Paved parking is available in front of the shop.
  Downtown Knoxville location: Various paid parking garages are available throughout downtown as well as street parking.
  Morristown location: Paved parking behind the shop is available.
   
• Accessibility: All locations are ADA accessible.
   
• Outdoor seating: There is patio seating at the Morristown and Sevierville locations.

Summer is made sweeter at The Sugar Queen Creamery in South Knoxville. Traditional ice cream on a cone, ice cream desserts like ice cream cakes and baked goods can be enjoyed year-round. Once you order, grab a seat at one of the picnic tables to enjoy your sweet treat in the sunshine.

• Seasonal highlights: Choose from 28 flavors – 8 seasonal, 16 classic and 4 dairy-free flavors. Flavors include peanut butter Oreo, cookie monster made of chocolate chips, brownie and Oreo pieces mixed in blue sweet cream ice cream, browned butter pecan, banana pudding, and oatmeal crème pie.
   
• Hours of operation: Noon to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; noon to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
   
• Parking: Paved parking is available onsite.
   
• Accessibility: The Sugar Queen Creamery has a wheelchair accessible entrance, seating, parking and restroom.
   
• Outdoor seating: The Sugar Queen Creamery has patio seating in front of the shop.

Sundaes topped with your favorite toppings is easily shareable for two at The Phoenix Apothecary. Banana splits, classic brownie sundaes and handspun shakes as well as traditional ice cream scoops are on the menu.

• Seasonal highlights: Specialty flavors include cookie butter latte, mocha cherry cordial and more. Try them in a malt and soda.
   
• Hours of operation: 1-8 p.m. Monday-Tuesday; 1-8 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
   
• Parking: Nearby parking garages and metered street parking is available throughout downtown.
   
• Accessibility: The Phoenix has a wheelchair-accessible entrance.

Travel to Chattanooga for a visit to Clumpies and a stroll downtown. Clumpies has been serving the public generous portions of frozen dairy since 1999. If you want a stripped down version of ice cream, choose The Sweet Cream which has nothing but milk, sugar and cream.

• Seasonal highlights: Savor the flavors Firecracker, which is Tutti Frutti ice cream mixed with Pop-Rocks; French Silk, which includes extra fie chocolate flakes; and a Southern favorite, Pralines and Cream.
   
• Hours of operation: 
  Northshore Location: Noon to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; Noon to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday 
  Southside Location: Noon to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; Noon to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday
   
• Parking: Street and paid parking lots are available near both locations. ADA parking spaces are available near the locations as well.
   
• Accessibility: The Northshore location is ADA accessible from the Frazier Avenue entrance. The Southside location is ADA accessible from the side of the building.

Cool off from the summer heat with frozen treats from Mayfield Dairy Farms. T.B. Mayfield Jr. purchased 45 Jersey cows in 1910 and began delivering milk to his neighbors in Athens. The next generation picked up where he left off and in 1950 built the Southeast's most modern milk plant. Mayfield is one of the nation's leading dairies today. 

• Seasonal highlights: From fresh, cold milk to delicious ice cream flavors like Blueberry Cream Pie, Extreme Moose Tracks and Snickerdoodle, Mayfield continues to offer great selections for its customers.
   
• Hours of operation: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
   
• Ticket prices: Tours are $8.50 and come with a free scoop of ice cream.
   
• Parking: Ample parking is available in front of the visitor center.
   
• Accessibility: There are stairs on the tour. Accessible parking, a ramp into the store and a flat layout is in the parlor and gift shop. Please contact 1-800-629-3435 for tour accessibility details.

Family-owned and -operated Ember’s Ice Cream Shoppe is in downtown Pikeville. The town has several antique stores, restaurants and Bankwalker Brewing Co. along with historic homes and other structures. Step inside Ember’s for a scoop of your favorite ice cream flavor, then enjoy your ice cream while walking around town to learn about the history and do some shopping.

• Seasonal highlights: Ice cream flavors rotate, but expect seasonal flavors like strawberry cheesecake, lavender honey and chai spice.
   
• Hours of operation: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
   
• Parking: Ample paved parking is available in the downtown area of Pikeville where Ember’s is located.
   
• Accessibility: Ember’s Ice Cream Shoppe offers a wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking spots nearby.
   
• Outdoor seating: Yes, Ember’s Ice Cream Shoppe has bistro tables outside on pet-friendly, lifted patios with artificial turf, umbrellas and picnic chairs. There is also a bench nearby. Stop by the murals to the right of the shop to snap some Instagram-worthy photos of you with your ice cream.

Get your Wi-Fi and ice cream all in one place. Cream City Ice Cream & Coffee House in Cookeville serves its patrons 30 flavors (like Mocha Almond) that are hand-dipped and served by cup, cone, sundae, milkshake, sherbet freezes, and banana splits. Dairy-free options are plentiful as well. If you want a little kick to your treat, have a frozen frappe, iced coffee or latte, Italian soda, or, for a healthy option, fresh smoothies.

• Seasonal highlights: Seasonal flavors rotate like triple berry sorbet, maple blondie, cookie butter, blueberry cheesecake and many more.
   
• Hours of operation: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; noon to 9 p.m. Sunday
   
• Parking: Ample paved parking is available in front of the shop and around the walkable, downtown area of Cookeville.
   
• Accessibility: There is wheelchair-accessible seating, sidewalks leading to the entrance.

For delicious vegan and dairy-free ice cream flavors, make a stop at Lazy Cow Creamery in Cookeville. 

• Seasonal highlights: Handcrafted flavors with real fruit sorbets and sherbets include mango sorbet, Amarena cherry, orange cream and pineapple cream. Other flavors include coconut banana, coconut fudge, birthday cake and vanilla chunk can be ordered on a gluten-free and dairy-free waffle cone or in a cup. Keto and no sugar added ice cream is made in-house as well with must-have flavors such as cheesecake, chocolate mousse, mint chocolate, strawberry sweet cream and cotton candy among others.
   
• Hours of operation: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
   
• Parking: Parking is available in front of the Lazy Cow Creamery shop.
   
• Accessibility: ADA parking is available outside. The entrance is wheelchair accessible with wheelchair accessible seating inside.
   
• Outdoor seating: There’s a paved patio space in front and behind the Lazy Cow Creamery. Enjoy the pet-friendly space while enjoying ice cream. 

Visit Elliston Place Soda Shop for a retro ice cream parlor vibe in the heart of Nashville. The city's go-to soda shop since 1939, Elliston Place will make you feel like you stepped on the set of "Grease" with its red and white booths, neon light accents and chrome bar stools. Part meat-and-three, part soda fountain, the shop serves up homemade recipes and must-have shakes, sodas, malts and floats. Dig in to a hot fudge banana sundae, ice cream float, banana split or sundae.

• Seasonal highlights: Try the egg cream soda which is a fizzy chocolate milk, flavored sodas and milkshakes featuring flavors like Nutter Butter, Butterfinger, Oreo, pineapple, banana and many more.
   
• Hours of operation: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday
   
• Parking: The closest parking is at 2206 Ellison Place and surrounding parking garages.
   
• Accessibility: Elliston Place Soda Shop is wheelchair accessible.
   

With locations in Murfreesboro, Columbia, Franklin and Nashville, you can stop in for a scoop or two from Hattie Jane's Creamery. Everything is made in-house form scratch in small batches, so you're getting a quality cone or cup of ice cream every time. 

• Seasonal highlights: Order one of the Southern-inspired flavors like banana pudding, brown butter pecan, dairy-free strawberry jam or the popular Goo Goo & Jack - featuring Jack Daniels No. 7 whiskey and Goo Goo Clusters. Other fun flavors include  Unicorn Cotton Candy, classic vanilla, peanut butter and brownie batter and dairy-free toasted coconut.
   
• Hours of operation: All locations: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
   
• Parking: 
  Hattie Jane’s Murfreesboro: Street parking and garages are nearby. 
  Hattie Jane’s Columbia: Street parking around the square is available.
  Hattie Jane’s Nashville: A parking garage is onsite at the Assembly Food Hall location; a paved parking lot is located in front of the Donelson and East Nashville locations. 
   
• Accessibility: Hattie Jane’s is wheelchair accessible with wheelchair accessible parking, entrances and restrooms.  

In the heart of downtown Franklin, stop in at Kilwins for a tasty treat. The shop is full of nostalgia and the smell of waffle cone. Stroll up to the counter to see more than 75 flavors available for a cone, cup or milkshake. Once you choose your favorite ice cream concoction, enjoy the local shops that line the historic Main Street.

• Seasonal highlights: Enjoy more than 75 flavors such as chocolate toasted coconut, dulce de leche, blueberry waffle cone, cherry, cake batter, lemon sorbetto and much more.
   
• Hours of operation: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. everyday
   
• Parking: Nearby parking garages and nearby, limited street parking is available. 
   
• Accessibility: Kilwins is ADA accessible. 

Have you ever ordered ice cream from a trolley before? In Rock Island, you can. A great stop after hiking in Rock Island State Park, the Rock Island Trolley Stop serves specialty shakes and sundaes, ice cream by the cone or cup including waffle cones or waffle bowls, banana splits and Boba smoothies.

• Seasonal highlights: Specialty sundaes include the apple fritter sundae or s'mores sundae - a Belgian waffle topped with sugar pearls, toasted marshmallows, rocky road ice cream, whipped cream and smothered in Hershey's chocolate syrup. Order a Freak Shake, giant milkshakes covered in toppings, like the Sheriff's in Town which comes with a white chocolate sheriff's badge and features coffee ice cream.
   
• Hours of operation: 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
   
• Parking: Abundant parking in the gravel lot is available.

Over 20 ice cream flavors are made in small batches with high quality ingredients at Nash Family Creamery in Chapel Hill. Southern pecan, fairground caramel corn, chocolate brownie batter, cotton candy crunch and blueberry cheesecake are just some of the flavors you can order. Try the Bushhog Special - two flavors of ice cream of your choice, topped with a topping of your choice and whipped cream. You can also order a specialty grilled cheese or one of their cinnamon rolls, cheesecakes or cobbler.

• Seasonal highlights: The Cow Trough is a photo-worthy sundae featuring seven scoops of your favorite flavor ice cream, four house baked cookies, topped with hot fudge, marshmallow topping and whipped cream. 
   
• Hours of operation: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday
   
• Parking: Paved parking is available onsite.
   
• Accessibility: Nash Family Creamery is wheelchair accessible.
   

Homemade syrups and fresh-made waffle cones enhance your ice cream experience at A. Schwab on Beale Street. This store has been opened since 1876. Here, you'll see an authentic mercantile. Before you leave, enjoy a malt, milkshake, phosphate soda and more.

• Seasonal highlights: Specialty sundaes include the Memphis Mini featuring a warm brownie, vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream and cherry; and It’s a Southern Thing with chocolate ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate syrup and a mini chocolate MoonPie.
   
• Hours of operation: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday
   
• Parking: Parking is available on nearby streets and paid parking garages.
   
• Accessibility: A. Schwab has a wheelchair-accessible entrance and is ADA accessible.

Local shop The Levee Coffee & Creamery is a must-visit when in Collierville. You can order scooped ice cream, choosing unique flavors like fruit loop, vanilla cotton cream, sweet chair, rocky road and caramel cashew among others. Get a soft serve ice cream in a homemade waffle cone, a milkshake, Electric Fence (ice cream with espresso), affogato or the Avalanche that includes soft serve with a number of toppings.

• Seasonal highlights: You can order scooped ice cream, choosing unique flavors like fruit loop, vanilla cotton cream, sweet chair, rocky road and caramel cashew among others. Try the Electric Fence shake with two shots of espresso), affogato, or the Avalanche that includes soft serve with several toppings.
   
• Hours of operation: 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; noon to 9 p.m. Sunday
   
• Parking: Ample paved, free parking is available in front of the shop.
   
• Accessibility: Levee Coffee & Creamery is wheelchair accessible.
   
• Outdoor seating: Limited outdoor seating is located to the side of the front entrance.

You can find Sweet Jordan's in downtown Paris serving specialty coffee, pastries, sandwiches and ice cream. Get your scoops served on a waffle cone, small or large bowl. You can also order a half gallon of your favorite flavor. The shop is owned by Jordan, an individual with Downs Syndrome. He employs individuals with disabilities to show everyone has something positive to contribute to the community.

• Seasonal highlights: Seasonal ice cream flavors include banana pudding, Oreo, blueberry cheesecake and Dr. Pepper Chocolate Chip. Check out their Facebook page for up-to-date information.
   
• Hours of operation: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday
   
• Parking: Paved parking is available in front of the shop.
   
• Accessibility: Sweet Jordan’s is wheelchair accessible.
   
• Outdoor seating: Covered outdoor seating is available.

You'll want to try the burgers, macaroni and cheese and hot wings at The Grind Mac and Cheese Burger Bar, but save room for dessert. One look at the Over-the-Top milkshakes coming out of the kitchen will make you want one. These creations are smothered with toppings, the rims of the glass covered in icing and sprinkles, cookie dough, M&Ms and more. There are shakes with a toasted marshmallow or cotton candy, cookies or brownies on top. 

• Seasonal highlights: The Churro Champion is a cinnamon bun milkshake, rimmed with Cinnamon Toast Crunch and topped with a churro, whipped cream, caramel syrup, a dash of cinnamon and a cherry. The Chocolate Freak Shake is a chocolate milkshake rimmed with Coco Pebbles and topped with a chocolate ice cream treat, whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles, chocolate syrup and a cherry. 
   
• Hours of operation: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
   
• Parking: A paved lot is located to the side of restaurant. Street parking is also available.
   
• Accessibility: The Grind is wheelchair accessible with a wheelchair-accessible entrance, ADA parking spots in the front of the restaurant and accessible restrooms.
   
• Outdoor seating: Outdoor seating with umbrellas and twinkle lights is located to the side of the restaurant.

In Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store in Casey Jones Village in Jackson, there is a recreated 1890's Ice Cream Parlor & Fudge Shoppe. The parlor serves up delicious frozen treats like praline pecan, mint chocolate chip, vanilla and chocolate ice cream, milkshakes, sundaes, banana splits and more. Don't forget to buy some homemade, delicious fudge for the rest of your road trip.

• Seasonal highlights: Two or three scoops of your favorite ice cream flavors like chocolate chip cookie dough, butter crunch, oatmeal cream pie, blackberry cobbler and mocha almond fudge.
   
• Hours of operation: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
   
• Parking: Ample free, paved parking is available onsite.
   
• Accessibility: The museum and Old Country Store as well as the Shoppes are wheelchair accessible.
   
• Outdoor seating: Benches and a few picnic tables are outside, a perfect place to enjoy your ice cream.

Open all year long, Jerry's Snow Cones and Burger Shack in Cordova serves ice cream, snow cones and the snow cone supreme (a snow cone topped with a few layers of vanilla soft serve ice cream). Snow cone flavors abound with fun names like tigers blood, toxic waste, fuzzy navel, electric slide and candy crush. Classic flavors like root beer, raspberry, pink lemonade and blue raspberry are also on the menu. Chocolate dipped ice cream cones, banana splits, sundaes and soft serve ice cream in a cup or cone can be ordered, too. If you're hungry, Jerry's Snow Cones also has a hot food menu that includes their delicious burgers.

• Seasonal highlights: Sno cone flavors abound with fun names like tigers blood, toxic waste, fuzzy navel, electric slide and candy crush. Classic flavors like root beer, raspberry, pink lemonade and blue raspberry are also on the menu. 
   
• Hours of operation: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday
   
• Parking: Paved parking is available onsite.
   
• Accessibility: Yes, Jerry Sno Cones is ADA accessible with ADA parking spots and a wheelchair-accessible entrance. 
   
• Outdoor seating: Ample outdoor seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.