
A day that officially demands you eat dessert first, and a whole state ready to help you do it right.
National Ice Cream Day is Sunday, July 19, and West Virginia has the scoops to make it legendary.
This is not about grocery store tubs, this is about homemade ice cream made from scratch, towering banana splits, and flavors you will not find anywhere else.
From award-winning vanilla to retro vibes, the Mountain State is packed with spots that turn a simple cone into a summer memory.
Some shops have been serving locals for decades, others are new and already winning hearts with creative sundaes and fresh waffle cones.
You could hit a different creamery every hour and still not cover them all.
How many stops can you squeeze into one sweet Sunday?
1. Austin’s Homemade Ice Cream

Since 1947, Austin’s Homemade Ice Cream has been doing something most shops only dream about: perfecting the craft of making ice cream from scratch, every single day. That kind of dedication shows up in every scoop.
The shop has earned a serious reputation in Ceredo, and once you taste their award-winning chocolate ice cream, you understand why people keep coming back year after year.
With over 40 flavors rotating through the display case, boredom is simply not an option here. Their Grape Pineapple ice cream has earned national recognition, which is a remarkable achievement for a small-town shop.
It sounds unusual, but one taste makes the hype completely understandable.
Austin’s also takes dietary needs seriously, offering dairy-free options including their celebrated Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal flavor. The drive-thru makes it easy to grab your order without missing a beat.
Whether you are a first-timer or a lifelong regular, this shop delivers something genuinely special that feels rooted in community pride and old-fashioned quality.
Address: 1103 C St, Ceredo, WV 25507
2. Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream

Right in the heart of Charleston’s vibrant Village District, Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream brings a burst of color and sweetness to every visit. The atmosphere hits you first.
Bright, cheerful, and completely welcoming, it feels like the kind of place where good moods are basically required by law.
Everything here is crafted on-site, which means the quality is unmistakably fresh. Ellen’s serves up super-premium homemade ice cream in all the classic forms, from malts and milkshakes to hand-scooped cones and beautifully built sundaes.
Each option feels thoughtfully made rather than just assembled.
Unique flavor combinations keep things exciting and unpredictable. Past favorites like espresso Oreo have left lasting impressions, and the occasional homemade seasonal cookies make appearances that feel like a bonus gift.
Visiting Ellen’s is less like running an errand and more like treating yourself to a genuinely joyful experience. If you are celebrating National Ice Cream Day anywhere in Charleston, this spot deserves the top spot on your list without any hesitation at all.
Address: 225 Capitol St, Charleston, WV 25301
3. Dairy Creme Corner

Legendary is a word people throw around too easily, but Dairy Creme Corner in Fairmont has genuinely earned it. This spot is famous for serving what locals proudly call the biggest cones in town, and one look at the portions confirms that claim is not an exaggeration.
The real showstopper here is the Avalanche. Thick, creamy soft-serve gets blended with a staggering selection of toppings ranging from chocolate bar pieces to fresh fruit and nuts.
Each Avalanche feels custom-built for maximum satisfaction, and the combinations are nearly endless.
Families flock here because the generous portions mean everyone leaves happy and full. The welcoming atmosphere adds to the experience, making it feel less like a quick stop and more like a proper occasion.
Soft-serve this good rarely comes in servings this large, which is exactly why Dairy Creme Corner has maintained its cult status in West Virginia’s ice cream scene. Bring a big appetite and maybe an extra napkin, because this place plays no games when it comes to frozen dessert portion sizes.
Address: 187 Homewood Ave, Fairmont, WV 26554
4. Toni’s Ice Cream

Toni’s Ice Cream in Clarksburg has that rare quality of feeling both timeless and completely comfortable from the moment you arrive. It is the kind of local parlor that travelers seek out and residents never stop returning to, which says everything about the consistency of what they serve.
Hard-scoop varieties come packed into fresh waffle cones, and the soft-serve options in vanilla, chocolate, and blackberry are genuinely worth the trip alone.
Fun sundaes and generous flurries round out a menu that covers all the classic bases without cutting any corners on quality.
The setup here is wonderfully convenient. Walk-up and drive-up windows keep things moving, while outdoor tables with umbrellas create a relaxed space to sit and enjoy your treat at a comfortable pace.
Toni’s manages to feel both nostalgic and relevant, which is a balance not many ice cream shops achieve.
Whether you are stopping through Clarksburg or making a dedicated dessert run, this parlor delivers a homestyle experience that genuinely feels like a reward for being in the right place at the right time.
Address: 1700 W Pike St, Clarksburg, WV 26301
5. Molly’s Hand-Dipped Ice Cream

Molly’s Hand-Dipped Ice Cream in Philippi offers something that goes well beyond a simple scoop. The shop carries 24 flavors of hand-crafted ice cream, including thoughtful sugar-free and dairy-free options that make everyone feel genuinely included.
That kind of care in curation is something worth appreciating.
A rotating monthly flavor keeps things fresh and gives regulars a reason to keep checking back. Both hand-scooped hard ice cream and soft-serve in vanilla, chocolate, or a classic swirl are available, so preferences of all kinds get covered.
The brownie a la Molly, often paired with something like chocolate coconut almond ice cream, is a combination worth planning ahead for.
The location itself adds a whole extra layer of enjoyment. A spacious deck opens up to views of the lake and surrounding mountains, creating the kind of backdrop that makes every bite feel more meaningful.
Sitting outside with a scoop while taking in that scenery is exactly the kind of simple pleasure that makes a summer road trip feel worthwhile. Molly’s earns its place as one of West Virginia’s most charming ice cream destinations.
Address: 1 N Main St, Philippi, WV 26416
6. The Ice Cream Shop

Davis has a hometown creamery that locals treat like a well-kept secret, and The Ice Cream Shop is exactly the kind of place that deserves a much bigger spotlight.
Handcrafted ice cream and sorbet are the stars of the show here, made with the kind of attention to detail that separates a good scoop from a truly memorable one.
Old-time classics sit comfortably alongside inventive new flavors, which means there is always something familiar and something surprising waiting in the display case.
Vibrant parfaits, carefully swirled floats, and thoughtfully built sundaes give visitors plenty of ways to customize their experience beyond a basic cone.
For those who want to extend the sweetness beyond a single visit, pints and ice cream cakes are available to take home. That option alone makes this shop feel extra generous.
The Ice Cream Shop manages to capture the essence of a classic creamery while keeping things interesting enough to feel current. Any National Ice Cream Day celebration that includes a stop in Davis absolutely needs to include this spot on the itinerary without question.
Address: 451 William Ave, Davis, WV 26260
7. Hanging Rocks Ice Cream

Hanging Rocks Ice Cream sits on a multigenerational farm in Romney, and the setting alone makes it feel like a destination rather than just a dessert stop. There is something deeply satisfying about eating a hand-spun milkshake while surrounded by open farmland and fresh country air.
The menu covers all the beloved classics with real confidence. Hershey’s hand-dipped ice cream, traditional soft-serve, and unique sundaes give visitors a solid range of options to work through.
Every item feels like it belongs on a farm this authentic and well-loved.
What makes Hanging Rocks especially memorable is the invitation to slow down and stay awhile. Rocking chairs, a round of checkers, and corn hole games are all part of the experience, turning a quick ice cream run into a genuine afternoon activity.
The serene farm scenery adds a peaceful quality that is hard to find anywhere else. This is the kind of stop that makes you put your phone away and just enjoy where you are, which is honestly one of the best things any ice cream shop can offer.
Address: 3753 Cumberland Rd, Romney, WV 26757
8. A Lot O’ Gelato

Walking into A Lot O’ Gelato in downtown Martinsburg feels like stepping into a vacation you did not plan but immediately want to extend. The travel-inspired theme sets a playful tone, and the gelato behind the glass makes it impossible to rush through the decision-making process.
Over 70 rotating flavors cycle through the menu throughout the year, which keeps the experience exciting no matter how many times you visit.
The commitment to quality is obvious in the texture and richness of every flavor, and the variety never feels overwhelming because everything looks equally tempting.
Vegan options, including sorbets and rotating vegan gelatos, mean that dietary preferences do not have to limit the fun.
A Lot O’ Gelato has built something genuinely special in Martinsburg, offering a European-style gelato experience in the middle of West Virginia that feels both surprising and completely earned.
If your National Ice Cream Day celebration calls for something a little different from the standard scoop shop, this is the place that delivers that experience with both style and substance.
Address: 121 W Burke St, Martinsburg, WV 25401
9. Mountaineer Country Ice Cream

Ninety flavors of soft-serve ice cream sounds like a number someone made up to win an argument, but Mountaineer Country Ice Cream in Morgantown makes it a reality.
The sheer scope of what this shop offers is genuinely staggering, and the hard-scoop selection featuring Hershey’s ice cream adds even more depth to an already impressive lineup.
Allergy-friendly choices are built right into the menu, with gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free options available for guests who need them. That kind of inclusivity makes the shop a reliable destination for groups with mixed dietary needs, which is something not every ice cream shop gets right.
Specialty cones like M&M and pretzel varieties add a fun, creative twist to the classic cone experience. Mix-and-match options mean you can build something completely your own, which is always a satisfying way to approach dessert.
Mountaineer Country Ice Cream delivers scale without sacrificing quality, and that balance is exactly what earns it a well-deserved spot on any serious West Virginia ice cream tour.
Address: 659 Point Marion Rd, Morgantown, WV 26505
10. The Frozen Barn

Winning the title of Best Ice Cream Shop in West Virginia in 2021 is not something that happens by accident.
The Frozen Barn in Oak Hill earned that recognition through 24 flavors of hand-dipped ice cream, daily homemade waffle cones, and a commitment to quality that shows up in every single serving.
Dairy-free and no-sugar-added options sit alongside classic vanilla and chocolate, and special seasonal flavors rotate through to keep things fresh.
The custom banana splits are a real highlight, loaded with flavor combinations and toppings that turn a simple dessert into something worth lingering over.
The Barn Sampler is the move for anyone who struggles to choose just one flavor, offering five different scoops in a single order. Refreshing milkshakes and soda floats round out the menu with the kind of old-fashioned charm that feels genuinely nostalgic rather than manufactured.
The Frozen Barn captures what a great ice cream parlor should feel like, and the award on the wall is just confirmation of what every satisfied customer already knows from the first taste.
Address: 1106 Main St E, Oak Hill, WV 25901
11. Pizzas & Cream

Pizzas & Cream in Nebo might be the most unexpectedly delightful ice cream stop in all of West Virginia.
Set into a mountainside backyard with free-roaming chickens and sweeping views, the setting alone earns a story worth telling at dinner parties for years to come.
The frozen dessert menu is seriously creative.
Homemade specialty ice cream flavors like Chocolate Amore, Peach Cobbler, and Blackberry Cobbler bring a distinctly Southern warmth to the experience, while the refreshing Strawberry Italian Ice offers a lighter option for anyone craving something a little less heavy.
Rich gelato adds another dimension to the menu, giving visitors three distinct frozen treat categories to explore in a single visit. The rustic, open-air setting makes eating here feel like an event rather than a quick stop.
Pizzas & Cream has built a reputation on being genuinely one-of-a-kind, and that reputation is well-deserved. If you enjoy your ice cream with a side of mountain charm and roaming poultry, this spot delivers that combination better than anywhere else in the state.
Address: 133 Nebo Walker Rd, Nebo, WV 25141
12. Fat Eddie’s

Fat Eddie’s near Summersville Lake has the kind of relaxed, come-as-you-are energy that makes a post-lake-day ice cream run feel absolutely mandatory.
The rustic decor and inviting outdoor patio set a casual tone that fits perfectly with the surrounding landscape and laid-back summer vibe.
Open seasonally from March to October, this shop operates with a focused menu built around Hershey’s Ice Cream.
The standout item is their mudslide storm, a seriously satisfying blend of vanilla ice cream with peanut butter, Heath bar pieces, and hot fudge swirled together into something that is hard to stop eating once you start.
The combination of flavors and textures in that mudslide is genuinely impressive, balancing sweetness, crunch, and richness in every spoonful. Fat Eddie’s keeps things simple and does them well, which is often the most effective approach to running a great ice cream shop.
The seasonal nature of the place actually makes each visit feel a little more special, like catching something good while it lasts. Plan your summer calendar around this one.
Address: 2243 Summersville Lake Rd, Mount Nebo, WV 26679
13. Sweet Escape

Sweet Escape in Summersville lives up to its name in the most straightforward and satisfying way possible.
The atmosphere is warm, family-friendly, and completely unpretentious, making it the kind of place where everyone from toddlers to grandparents feels right at home from the moment they walk through the door.
Frozen treats here come alongside a menu of classic American fast-food items, which makes Sweet Escape a practical and enjoyable stop for families who need more than just dessert.
The ice cream options provide a sweet finishing touch to a full meal, and the casual setting encourages guests to relax rather than rush.
There is something genuinely comforting about a shop that keeps things simple and consistent. Sweet Escape does not try to be everything to everyone, but what it offers, it delivers with a friendly, welcoming spirit that makes each visit feel easy and pleasant.
For anyone exploring Summersville on National Ice Cream Day, this spot provides a reliable and cheerful place to wrap up the day with something cold and sweet in hand.
Address: 860 Broad St, Summersville, WV 26651
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