It’s always ice cream season in The Great Lakes State, and locals know just where to find some of the very best ice cream shops in Michigan. There is nothing like indulgent, chilly, melt-in-your mouth yumminess, and local sweet shops know just how to prepare the perfect ice cream dishes. Start working up an appetite now, because we’re about to set out to sample some of the best ice cream in the area. For an interactive map of our trail, click here.
Please note that for the sake of driving time, we’ve only included ice cream shops in the Lower Peninsula in this particular article. That said, we would love to hear your recommendations for the best U.P. creameries in the comment section! In the meantime, take a look at our picks for six of the best ice cream spots in Michigan — and prepare your taste buds for an incredible journey.
This Ann Arbor fixture has been serving up sweet treats for decades, and you’ll quickly understand why people keep coming back for more. Enjoy a generous scoop of one of the dairy’s various hard-serve flavors — whether you go for mint chocolate chip or moose tracks, you’ll never leave Washtenaw Dairy dissatisfied. Visit this local landmark at 602 S Ashley St, Ann Arbor, MI 48103.
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2. Erma's Original Frozen Custard (Shelby Township)
For several generations, Erma’s has been delighting Michiganders and visitors alike with its cold, creamy creations. The shop has multiple locations, but we recommend checking out the Shelby Township locale to get a taste of Erma’s authentic sweet treats. Try a coconut cream pie parfait or mix it up with a strawberry shortcake sundae — there’s something here for everyone! Swing by this sweet shop at 6451 Auburn Rd, Shelby Charter Twp, MI 48317.
Stop in at this East Lansing ice cream shop, which sits on the campus of Michigan State University and is operated by the college’s Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. There’s nowhere else in town that provides such fresh, delicious ice cream — and you’ll certainly be back for more. You can find this dairy dream shop at 474 S Shaw Ln, East Lansing, MI 48824.
Head to Grand Rapids and try a scoop or two from Pinkie’s, which combines friendly service with some truly top-of-the-line ice cream. You’ll enjoy generous portions, unbeatable tastes, and a fantastic atmosphere within the shop. Our personal favorite flavor? Chocolate-covered cherry! Keep an eye out for their ice cream truck, or swing by their brick and mortar at 1127 Wealthy St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506.
No visit to West Michigan is complete without a stop at the original Captain Sundae, which serves up all sorts of amazing nautical-themed ice cream creations. Try the famous "Tommy Turtle" or indulge in a "Kiss The Captain," which perfectly combines vanilla ice cream with hot fudge, crushed cookies, chocolate chips, whipped cream, a cherry, and a Hershey’s kiss on top! Visit this delicious destination at 365 Douglas Ave, Holland, MI 49424.
This South Haven fixture is a classic in the area, and people travel from all across Michigan to get their Sherman Dairy fix. With a long history (Sherman Dairy has been around since 1916) and all sorts of Michigan-made ingredients, it’s impossible to go wrong with a cone from this sweet spot. Dig into a sweet treat at 1601 Phoenix St, South Haven, MI 49090.
What’s your all-time favorite ice cream flavor? Which sweet shops should we include on our next Michigan ice cream list? We’d love to hear your thoughts on the best ice cream shops in Michigan in the comment section!
