Last summer we casually mentioned 10 of our favorite local ice cream shops in a post on our social media channels. To say people responded passionately would be an understatement. We used the hundreds of comments received to create this ultimate list of local ice cream shops. Happy eating!

Western Iowa

Some ice cream shops are area icons and have been for a long time. When traveling in western Iowa during the warm summer months, be sure to check out shops like Christy Creme, a popular spot since 1954 that is known for sweet ice cream treats and a daily sherbet selection. For a year round treat, visit Wells Ice Cream Parlor and discover a tasty, interactive experience with their interactive kiosks, movie theater and rooftop patio.

Christy Creme, Council Bluffs Iowa

Christy Creme
2853 N Broadway, Council Bluffs

Wells Ice Cream Parlor
115 Central Ave. NW, Le Mars

Porch on Main
307 9th Street, Sibley

Storm Lake Candy Company
510 LKake Ave, Storm Lake

Kathy's Corner
300 3rd St., Lake View

Dairy Dandy
1116 2nd Ave., Sheldon

The Sweet Spot
1407 White Pole Rd., Anita

Udderly Delicious Ice Cream
700 Walnut St., Atlantic

Casey Creamery
103 E Logan St., Casey

Doozies
321 Comanches St., Council Bluffs

Zaltes Ice Cream
229 Bennett Ave., Council Bluffs

Dairy Mart
325 E 9th St., Glidden

JC's Dairy Den
420 W Erie St., Missouri Valley

Frosty Trete
304 Pearl St., Bedford

C&M's Cafe
306 Main St., Malvern

Northern Iowa

Sky Kone
407 Main St., Ackley

Dariette
1242 2nd Ave. S, Fort Dodge

Stan's Drive In
1614 Main St., Osage

The Viking
3 S Main St., Ventura

Central

A must-stop in central Iowa is this family-owned shop that lets patrons top off an ice cream cone or shake with animal crackers. Snookies Malt Shop is a great place for all family members, even those that are four-legged! Bring your dog for a free pup-cone while you enjoy a full range of malts, shakes, sundaes and specialty items plus both hard pack and soft serve ice cream served out of this tiny renovated 1920s-era filling station. 

Discover another hidden ice cream gem at the Filling Station. Their malts, shakes, flurries, sundaes, cones and banana splits helped earn their place as one of the Top 30 Independently Owned Ice Cream Shops in Iowa from the Des Moines Register. Bonus: it's located just two blocks from the High Trestle Trail.

Snookies Malt Shop, Des Moines Iowa

Snookies Malt Shop
1810 Beaver Ave., Des Moines

The Filling Station
129 S Water St., Madrid

The Filling Station, Madrid Iowa
Photo Courtesy The Filling Station Facebook Page<

Billy's
308 Nile Kinnick Dr. S, Adel

Big Kahuna
1105 W Mamie Eisenhower Ave., Boone

Korner Kone
502 14th St., Dallas Center

Classic Frozen Custard
4000 SE 14th St., Des Moines 

Dairy Zone
2219 E University Ave., Des Moines

Granny's Sweet Freeze
3417 Hubbell Ave., Des Moines 

Heavenly Delights
105 E 1st St., Grimes

Dari Barn
1810 6th Ave., Grinnell

Van Dee's Ice Cream Shoppe
5915 Merle Hay Rd., Johnston

Ev's 
2205 S Center St., Marshalltown

Tastee Freez
1803 S Center St., Marshalltown

Jersey Freeze
103 Ralph St., Monroe

Dairy King
400 N Front St., Montezuma

Starbuck's Drive-In
1620 Lincoln Hwy., Nevada

Wendy's Ice Cream Shop
1043 Sunset Dr. #5, Norwalk 

Over the Top
955 NE 56th St., Pleasant Hill

Goldie's Ice Cream Shoppe
304 W 2nd St., Prairie City

Dairy Shoppe
617 1st St., Redfield

Uptown Dairy
617 SW 3rs Street, Ankeny

South Central

Stop by Frostee's to discover a huge variety of shakes, malts, cyclones, cones and sundaes made with your choice of ice cream or frozen yogurt. A visit to this historic shop gives visitors the chance to experience a piece of ice cream history as the building exterior is the same as it was 50 years ago.

Frostee's, Winterset Iowa

Frostee's
101 E Green St., Winterset

Elena's Ice Cream Shop
201 N Washington St., Bloomfield

Fiss'
120 IA-5, Carlisle

Raymond's Dairy Creme
315 W Maple St., Centerville

The Outside Scoop
602 N Jefferson Way, Indianola

Captain's Landing
21264 Hwy. J5T, Moravia

Junction Creamery
212 E McLane St., Osceola

Frosty Udder
215 Hwy. 432, Oskaloosa 

Graham's Dairy Freez
627 W 2nd St., Ottumwa

Rock N Roll Dairy Bar
1110 S Madison Ave., Ottumwa

Northeast Iowa

Visitors flock to the Cedar Valley area to try Hansen's Dairy ice cream, which features more than 20 homemade ice cream flavors, sundaes, shakes and malts, plus ice cream in bulk. All products are made with milk from Hansen's Farm Fresh Dairy. This small town, walk-up ice cream stand also lets you customize your vanilla or chocolate ice cream with a plethora of mix-ins.

Another great walk-up ice cream spot is The Whippy Dip, whose soft serve ice cream treats and shakes provide the best way to cool down in the summer. If you need more than a treat, they also serve lunch items such as BBQs, tacos and hotdogs. 

Hansen's Dairy, Waterloo Iowa

Hansen's Dairy 
127 E 18th St., Cedar Falls
8461 Lincoln Rd., Hudson
3015 Kimball Ave., Waterloo

The Whippy Dip
121 College Dr., Decorah

4 Queens Dairy Cream
1310 W 1st St., Cedar Falls
3640 Lafayette Rd., Evansdale
207 E. Tower Park Dr., Waterloo

Cedar City Creamery
110 Lincoln St., Cedar Falls

Sugar Bowl
410 W Water St., Decorah

The Whippy Dip, Decorah Iowa
Photo Courtesy The Whippy Dip Facebook Page

The Sweet Spot
100 S State St., Denver

Tootsies
401 Commercial St., La Porte City 
210 North K Ave., Vinton

Lamont Dairy Sweet
320 Washburn Ave., Lamont

Dairy Treat
510 Sample St., Nashua

Flavor Stop
2301 Lafayette St., Waterloo

WW Homestead Dairy 
850 Rossville Rd., Waukon

Eastern Iowa

This renowned confectionary and soda fountain has "The Best Hot Fudge in the Solar System." The third generation of Lagomarcinos continues to create soda fountain drinks, homemade chocolates and candy and maintains its reputation as a longstanding Quad City attraction. 

Another historic ice cream shop is Whitey's, which was established in 1933 and has since received accolades such as being named "Best in the Midwest" by Midwest Living Magazine, and was voted as one of the "Best Ice Cream Shops in the World" by Conde Nast Traveler readers. 

Lagomarcinos, Davenport Iowa

Lagomarcino's
2132 E 11th St., Davenport 

Whitey's
3515 Middle Rd., Bettendorf
2419 E 53rd St., Davenport 
1230 West Locust St., Davenport 
114 N 1st St., Eldridge 

Grandpa's Parlour
306 S Riverview St., Bellevue

Here's the Scoop
1104 Mound St., Davenport 

Smilee's
911-11th St., De Witt

Beecher's
1691 Asbury Rd., Dubuque

The Cone Shoppe 
140 S Main St., Monticello

Korner Stop Ice Cream Shoppe
205 Sycamore St., Sabula

Dairy Mart
2521 Vine Ave., Ainsworth

Parlor City Ice Cream
1936-42nd St. NE, Cedar Rapids
955-29th Ave. A, Marion

The Popcorn and Ice Cream Connection
626 Lombard St., Clarence

Dan and Debbie's
1600 Main St., Ely

Dane's Dairy
1430 Willow Creek Ct., Iowa City

Yotty's
501 B Ave., Kalona

Heyn's
811 S 1st Ave., Iowa City
25 E Cherry St., North Liberty

The Freeze
915 S 11th St., Marion

Pearl City Popcorn
119 Chestnut St., Muscatine

Jon's Ice Cream Store and Restaurant
231 W Marengo Rd., Tiffin

Wilton Candy Kitchen
310 Cedar St., Wilton

Grandpa's Homemade Ice Cream
600 S Roosevelt Ave., Burlington

Hall's Ice Cream
2002 Avenue L, Fort Madison

Misty's Malt Shop
106 Main St., Keosauqua

Sprat's
102 W Main St., Mediapolis