The 10 Best Ice Cream Shops You Need To Visit In Wisconsin

Wisconsin calls itself America's Dairyland, and for good reason. The state produces more cheese than anywhere else in the country, and its dairy heritage runs just as deep when it comes to ice cream.

According to the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, the state produced nearly 7.7 million gallons of ice cream in 2021 alone, and the average Wisconsin consumer eats 12.1 pounds of ice cream per year, nearly 2.6 gallons per person. So, you could say that ice cream is a way of life for Wisconsinites.

There's also a fun fact I discovered: the ice cream sundae was invented in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, in 1881, originally sold only on Sundays and priced at a nickel.

WIsconsin doesn't just eat ice cream; it basically invented the way we eat it.

So, iit's not surprising that, from farm-to-cone creameries to old-fashioned soda parlors that have been scooping since before your grandparents were born, Wisconsin is loaded with outstanding ice cream options. I decided to do a little research to find the best places in the state.

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The Top 10 Ice Cream Shops In Wisconsin

After combing through countless customer reviews on Yelp, Trip Advisor, and Travel Wisconsin, with a little help from AI, here are ten shops that consistently rise to the top.

These are listed in no particular order; just visit them all, and you'll have a heck of a summer!

Kelley Country Creamery - Fond du Lac

If any ice cream shop in Wisconsin has earned the right to brag, it's Kelley Country Creamery. Situated on the Kelley family's Oak Lawn Farm, a 220-acre farmstead with roots going back to 1861, this place has been hand-dipping premium ice cream since 2010, and the accolades have piled up ever since.

Good Morning America dubbed it the best ice cream in America. Multiple national publications have ranked it among Wisconsin's best. With over 300 flavors created since opening, including seasonal specialties like Strawberry Rhubarb Kuchen and fan favorites like Turkey Lurkey and Maple Bacon, there's always something new to try.

Wilson's Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor - Ephraim

Established in 1906 by Oscar and Mattie Wilson, this Door County landmark is one of the oldest ice cream shops in the country, and it hasn't lost a step.

The red and white striped awning, the old-fashioned soda fountain, the home-brewed draft root beer, and the jukeboxes playing the classics make Wilson's feel like a step back in time, but the ice cream is as good as anything you'll find anywhere. Wilson's is enjoying its 120th season in 2026.

Purple Door Ice Cream - Milwaukee

If you're in Milwaukee, don't leave without visiting Purple Door Ice Cream. There are two locations available, at Walkers Point and Mequon.

Founded by Lauren and Steve Schultz, two educators who traded the classroom for the kitchen, Purple Door produces super-premium, homemade ice cream daily using locally sourced ingredients, with a flavor lineup that runs from classic butter pecan and chocolate chip cookie dough all the way to adventurous creations like whiskey, lavender, dark chocolate, and butternut squash.

The shop also runs a community initiative called Milk-for-Milwaukee, donating gallons of milk each week to local shelters. Great ice cream and a great cause, that's a combo that's hard to beat.

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream - Madison

A Madison institution since 1962, Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream has been crafting rich, super-premium ice cream from real Wisconsin dairy, premium ingredients, and all-natural sugars for over six decades.

The Deadman family operation has multiple locations across the Madison area, and the shop consistently ranks at the top of TripAdvisor's Madison ice cream lists, with reviewers calling it the best ice cream they've ever had. Whether you go classic or try one of their more inventive rotating flavors, Chocolate Shoppe has certainly earned its loyal following.

Door County Ice Cream Factory - Sister Bay

Located on Highway 42 at the corner of Beach Road in Sister Bay, the Door County Ice Cream Factory has been handmaking its super-premium ice cream on site since 1992, on the same ground where Door County merchant Al Mickelson first offered ice cream treats back in 1912.

With over 30 flavors, weekly limited edition offerings, fresh homemade waffle cones, and historic photographs of northern Door County lining the walls, this place has a sense of place that's hard to replicate. The Death's Door Chocolate and Door County Cherry flavors are the ones locals will tell you to order first.

Sassy Cow Creamery - Columbus

Located 20 minutes north of Madison on the Baerwolf family farm, Sassy Cow Creamery opened as a milk bottling operation in 2008 and has grown into one of the most beloved farm-to-cone experiences in the state, with 20 flavors available.

Brothers James and Robert Baerwolf farm their grandfather's land in both traditional and organic ways, and the creamery offers both conventional and organic dairy products. The large viewing windows let you watch milk being bottled while you enjoy your ice cream, and during the summer months, the kids can meet farm animals on the grounds.

Babcock Hall Dairy Store - Madison

There might not be a more uniquely Wisconsin ice cream experience than stopping at Babcock Hall Dairy Store on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.

The store is part of the university's own dairy science program, meaning the ice cream is made fresh from UW's research dairy herd and crafted by students learning the science behind the scoop.

The legendary orange custard chocolate chip is the flavor reviewers mention most, and the line can get long, but it moves.

South Pier Parlor - Sheboygan

South Pier Parlor in Sheboygan is the kind of place that shows up on every Wisconsin ice cream list for good reason. Known for towering ice cream creations, inventive specialty shakes, and presentations that are as fun to look at as they are to eat, South Pier has built a following that extends well beyond the Sheboygan area.

The location along the waterfront doesn't hurt either. If you're making your way down Lake Michigan's western shore, this is a stop worth building into the route.

Adrian's Frozen Custard - Burlington

A local legend since 1974, Adrian's Frozen Custard in Burlington has kept generations of southeast Wisconsin families coming back for its rich, creamy frozen custard.

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Custard is a Wisconsin signature that people love. It's denser and creamier than ice cream, made with egg yolks in addition to cream and sugar, and Adrian's has been doing it right for more than 50 years. It's the kind of place that earns its place on a list like this not through publicity, but through five decades of making an amazing treat.

The Windmill Ice Cream Shoppe - Tomahawk

The Windmill Ice Cream Shoppe in Tomahawk definitely deserves a spot on the radar. The iconic landmark building was built in 1939, and it was one of the 12 nominees for the 2025 Found in Wisconsin Best Ice Cream Shoppe award.

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The Windmill has built a strong reputation in north-central Wisconsin for quality ice cream and a welcoming small-town atmosphere. They're open from May through September, serving up Cedar Crest and Kemps ice cream, 28 flavors at a time.

The bottom line is that whether you're on a road trip through the Badger State or stumbling upon a hidden gem in your own community, great ice cream is never far away in Wisconsin. If you've visited any of these shops, or if you think we missed one that deserves to be on this list, we'd love to hear from you.