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Travel Inspiration | Foodie Finds
On Your Next Road Trip Try the Best Vanilla Ice Cream Across America

Page’s, Graeter’s Ice Cream, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Berkey Creamery…which is the best ice cream shop?

A good vanilla ice cream is far from, well, vanilla. Premium ingredients ensure that what you’re licking on what is essentially sweet, icy, decadent cream—A.K.A. summertime dessert perfection. It should also taste as delicious on its own as it does with your favorite toppings and mix-ins.

So I scoured some local regions to find the best of the best when it comes to this frozen treat. Aside from delivering exceptional taste and quality, many of these family-owned ice cream shops also deliver actual pints to those who are unable to try the product in person.

Check out the full ice cream shop list below. One thing’s for certain: There’s gotta be something special that they’re feeding those dairy cows in Ohio, because my first two picks (and favorites) hail from the Buckeye State.
 
Customer with Ice cream
 
GRAETER’S ICE CREAM (CINCINNATI OHIO)
The word “great” is in its name (at least phonetically), so it’s no surprise that this Ohio-based creamery ranks supreme when it comes to ice cream. Made with both ground vanilla beans and pure extract sourced directly from Madagascar, this family-owned ice cream shop (which still uses French pots to yield a sinfully rich and velvety texture) sets the standard when it comes to classic vanilla.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams has nearly a dozen locations in Ohio, including this one at the trendy Easton Town Center. Courtesy of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams has nearly a dozen locations in Ohio, including this one at the trendy Easton Town Center. Courtesy of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

JENI’S SPLENDID ICE CREAMS (COLUMBUS OHIO)
You may be able to find this ice cream in most major grocery stores, but nothing beats the experience of ordering a freshly made waffle cone in store and piling it high with scoops of the award-winning sweet stuff. What separates Jeni’s from most parlors’ vanilla is the addition of honey, creating what the company describes as “rich and complex with notes of amber, dried fruit, and buttercake.”

Peppermint Stick. Photo courtesy of Penn State UniversityPeppermint Stick. Photo courtesy of Penn State

BERKEY CREAMERY (UNIVERSITY PARK PA)
This Penn State gem boasts dozens of crave-worthy flavors like Bittersweet Mint and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, but they’re only as good as their vanilla bean base. Created on the 100-year anniversary of the creamery, this beloved college town haunt bills its vanilla ice cream as the perfect topper for birthday cake, pie, and cobbler—though it will certainly satisfy any sudden dessert craving on its own.

Getting Ice cream
Strawberry Conein front of Creamery. Photo courtesy of Woodside Farm Creamery

WOODSIDE FARM CREAMERY (HOCKESSIN DE)
The no-frills ice cream shop serves up a range of classics, from chocolate and strawberry to coffee and butter pecan, but its basic vanilla, for which they sources beans from across the world, is the unsuspecting star. Customers can also incorporate it into a milkshake, cookie sandwich, cake, pie, and, of course, a traditional sundae. Because the only thing better than vanilla ice cream is vanilla ice cream with hot fudge, caramel, whipped cream, and a cherry on top.

Roxy’s Ice Cream Social has four locations in Oklahoma. Courtesy of Roxy’s Ice Cream Social
Roxy’s Ice Cream Social has four locations in Oklahoma. Courtesy of Roxy’s Ice Cream Social

ROXY’S ICE CREAM SOCIAL (OKLAHOMA CITY OK)
The “name on everybody’s lips” is going to be Roxy, but you don’t have to head to “Chicago” to find her. The Oklahoma City staple started as an ice cream truck in 1969 before opening its first brick and mortar in 2015. While the vanilla bean is wonderful by itself, it’s even better when topped with root beer or orange cream soda to create one of the company’s iconic floats.

Scooping Ice cream into Ice cream cone

AUSTIN’S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM (CEREDO WV)

West Virginia is home to an
award-winning vanilla ice cream, as determined by the North American Ice Cream Association. But it’s this ice cream shop’s trendy, vanilla-based Cereal Killer Shakes that have people talking about the flavors, including Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Trix, Cocoa Krispies, and Golden Grahams. Needless to say, that morning bowl with milk will be a lot less exciting moving forward.

PAGE’S (PITTSBURGH PA)

When it comes to vanilla ice cream, take a page out of Page’s book. The Pittsburgh dairy mart has been churning out rich and creamy soft serve since 1951 and continues to be a favorite among locals. While sundaes and milkshakes are a must-order, their classic vanilla will not disappoint with a silky-smooth texture and even a dairy-free option for anyone who’s lactose intolerant.