Best ice cream shops in Northern Ontario that are worth the drive
12 Minute Read
Summary
- Exceptional Northern Ontario ice cream spots include Flurple’s vegan creations and Nani’s artisanal gelato.
- Find Kawartha Dairy cones, cereal-inspired shakes and rolled ice cream from Sudbury to Timmins.
- Enjoy waterfront patios, 1950s drive-ins and scenic highway stops perfect for summer road trips.
Discover the best ice cream shops in Northern Ontario, from Sudbury and North Bay to Manitoulin Island, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins. Whether you're craving handcrafted gelato, classic soft serve, rolled ice cream, vegan treats, or towering sundaes, this guide highlights local favourites worth a road trip.
Cool off at family-friendly roadside stops, nostalgic diners, waterfront scoop shops and hidden gems serving unique flavours and made-in-Ontario ice cream. If you're planning a Northern Ontario getaway or looking for your next sweet treat, these ice cream destinations deserve a spot on your itinerary.
Best ice cream spots around Sudbury
Sudbury’s ice cream scene pairs nostalgic diners with inventive shops serving vegan scoops and rolled creations.
Flurple’s
Address: 593 Kathleen St., Greater Sudbury, ON
This one is for the dairy-free ice cream lovers. Everything served at Flurple’s is one hundred per cent vegan! Sundaes in flavours like birthday cake and s’mores, mixed-up Flizzards or milkshakes, ice cream scoops with options like mint chocolate chip and St. Jacob’s apple pie, fruity sorbet, swirled soft serve, ice cream sandwiches and papaya pops fill the menu. Check out their detailed allergen list online if you have other allergies.
Huckleberries Chocolatiers
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Address: 110 Durham St., Greater Sudbury, ON
Curb your dessert craving and cool off with some rich scoops of ice cream at this local chocolate shop. Taste your favourite Kawartha Dairy hard ice cream flavour in a house-made chocolate-dipped cone, or order old-school sundaes and ice cream floats. New in 2026, they have milkshake buckets which you can bring back for a discounted refill. Find FROYO on the menu too, if that’s more your style.
Nani’s Gelato
Address: 4764 Regional Rd. 15, Chelmsford, ON
Made fresh daily, indulge in a cup of artisanal gelato. The rotating menu is updated every two weeks, so keep an eye on socials for new gelato scoops, handmade soft serve, milkshakes, cakes, and more. Expect options like pistachio, golden Oreo strawberry, chocolate brownie, mango lychee sorbetto, café mocha, mixed berry and many other flavour possibilities. Nani’s Gelato opened in Sudbury in 2025, marking the brand’s first Northern Ontario location.
Cerealously Creamy
Address: 3888 Regional Rd. 15, Chelmsford, ON
It’s all in the name; creamy cereal-inspired creations will have your taste buds going wild. Cerealously Creamy is known for signature blends like the Fruit Loop, a vanilla base mixed with Fruit Loops, frozen berries, and a drizzle, and the Sweet & Salty, a Captain Crunch mix with salted caramel, pretzel bits, and Skor. You can also create your own milkshake or blend from a list of cereals, mixins and toppings.
Not Only Ice Cream
Address: 3030 Old Hwy. 69, Val Caron, ON
Play pinball in the back of this nostalgic diner atmosphere as your ice cream creation is being rolled. Premium rolled ice cream can be made in a range of flavours, including cheesecake, fuzzy peaches, mixed berries, salted caramel, and more. You’ll also find classic scoops, bubble waffles, milkshakes, frozen yogurt, and ice cream nachos (rolled ice cream with waffle bits). There is a full lunch menu if you need fuel before dessert.
Dee Dee’s Delights
Address: 828 ON-64, Alban, ON
Known for their generous scoops, this highway diner has an ice cream stand with a variety of premium flavours for a sweet treat after your meal. You’ll also find soft serve with unique flavour dip options like s’mores, Smurf, unicorn and spicy latte at Dee Dee’s Delights. Customize your creation with toppings or turn it into a sundae. Order a pup cup for your furry friend. Note: They accept cash only.
White Birch Creamery
Address: 359 Taighwenini Trail Rd. #2, Capreol, ON
The menu lineup includes tons of hot meal options and a variety of sweet treats. Keep cool with an ice cream scoop, vanilla or chocolate soft serve, a root beer float, a milkshake, a razzle, or a sundae. Add a delicious dip to elevate your soft serve. Flavours rotate, so check out their board in person for what’s scooping. Can’t decide between ice cream and churros? Make it a combination dessert for a churro poutine!
Sweet Swirls
Address: 1895 Lasalle Blvd. nd 1942 Regent St., Greater Sudbury, ON
Your latest dessert cravings are no match for a visit to Sweet Swirls. Hand-rolled before your eyes, select your flavour from brownie bliss or Reese’s dream to match madness or pina colada, and watch it get made on a frozen slab. Turn your favourite flavour into a milkshake, add ice cream to a waffle or check out the frozen yogurt menu for more choices. There are unique Indian-inspired flavours too, like Rasmalai and Gulab Jamun. Vegan ice cream bases are available!
Best ice cream spots around North Bay
North Bay is home to waterfront ice cream counters and food trucks dishing out classic cones and bold flavours.
EverCool Ice Cream
Address: Travelling food truck including North Bay Museum, 100 Ferguson St., North Bay, ON
Cool off at parks and museums with a frozen treat from this picturesque pink ice cream truck. You can keep an eye out for scoops of lavender lemonade, espresso flake, peanut butter pretzel, cookie monster and other flavours as they rotate throughout the summer. Discover new tastes with a flight of ice cream! Add sprinkles and candy to your creation or sip a decadent milkshake.
The Dock Shoppe Ice Cream Parlour
Address: 200 Memorial Dr., North Bay, ON
You can’t beat a summer ice cream by the water. Visit the North Bay Waterfront and grab a scoop or two of Kawartha Dairy ice cream from this seasonal shop. Enjoy a boardwalk stroll or take your treat on a marina boat cruise. Find flavours from chocolate and vanilla to cotton candy and cherry cheesecake, or grab a fruity sorbet.
The Green Store
Address: 3761 Trout Lake Rd., North Bay, ON
This quaint gift shop serves sweet cones so you can treat yourself to ice cream while enjoying the view over Delaney Bay. There are 24 flavours of hard ice cream to choose from, along with frozen yogurt, milkshakes, and soft serve. Summer months mean extended hours, so you can grab a sunset scoop as you relax on the spacious patio.
Moose Crossing Ice Cream
Address: 1 Jocko Point Rd., North Bay, ON
Satisfy your sweet tooth and pick from 44 ice cream flavours at Moose Crossing Ice Cream. Turn your scoop into a milkshake or sundae, or indulge in a swirled soft serve cone. Can’t decide? Choose six flavours to create a sampler of mini scoops. No need to feel left out if you have dietary restrictions, as they also serve dairy-free options and have some no-added-sugar flavours too! This highway pit stop has a chip truck, so you can mix in some salty bites with the sweet and enjoy views of the surrounding nature from one of the many patio tables.
King Cone
Address: 6 Lakeshore Dr., North Bay, ON
Play a round of 19 mini putt holes and celebrate with a tasty ice cream cone. King Cone serves up both hard and soft ice cream, not to be confused with soft serve – you'll have to go and taste the difference! If you’re looking for vegan options, try the dairy-free Dole Whip. Pick a sundae or milkshake if that’s your go-to treat.
Sunnyside Resort
Address: 126 Sunnyside Rd., Bonfield, ON
No need to book an overnight stay to enjoy a sweet scoop on the waterfront dock. Choose from 24 different flavours of Chapman’s ice cream such as black cherry, bubblegum, heavenly hash, cookies n’ cream, mocha almond fudge, tiger tail and moon magic. Waffle cones are available, as are pup cups to treat your canine buddy. Take a loyalty card if you plan to return for a free scoop. Open seven days a week in July and August!
Best ice cream spots on Manitoulin Island
Manitoulin serves up small-town favourites, Ontario-made ice cream, and scenic spots for a sweet break.
3 Cows & A Cone Inc.
Address: 64 Meredith St. E, Little Current, ON
Open year-round, this udderly good ice cream stop offers 34 Ontario-made Farquhar’s flavours in the summer. They now serve lactose-free options in chocolate or vanilla. There are extra-large Freezies and many savoury meals for sale too. Grab a cup or cone as your first or last stop if you’re visiting the island, as it’s located right off the bridge. Turn your visit into an ice cream walk along the Waterfront View Trail.
Buttercup Ice Creamery & Candy Corner
Address: 67 Main St., Kagawong, ON
Enjoy a creamy scoop or swirl on the cozy front porch, then grab some candy to go. If you’ve been dreaming of decadent banana splits, vanilla soft serve with sprinkles, frozen slushies layered with soft serve, ice cream sandwiches made with freshly baked cookies or hard scoops in a waffle cone, this is a can’t-miss stop. All rotating soft serve flavours are lactose-free. Treat yourself to something sweet after hiking or swimming around Bridal Veil Falls.
Best ice cream shops around Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay mixes retro drive-ins with modern dessert stops offering soft serve, gelato, and extravagant sundaes.
Merla-Mae
Address: 346 Memorial Ave., Thunder Bay, ON
Travel back in time by grabbing a tasty frozen treat from a 1950s drive-in diner that is still locally owned and operated. You may want to start thinking about what type of dessert you’re craving, because Merla-Mae has an extensive ice cream menu. Choose from a list of soft ice cream, house-made hard scoops, tasty milkshakes, dairy-free sorbet, various sundaes, twisters with toppings, ice cream floats, and frozen cakes.
Slurp It
Address: 200 Red River Rd., Thunder Bay, ON
This Vietnamese Bahn Mi and Bubble Tea restaurant has replaced the former Prime Gelato location in Thunder Bay, and you can still satisfy your ice cream cravings. Treat yourself to sundaes, whether you choose classic vanilla or a unique option like matcha or blue Oreo, soft serve in vanilla or chocolate, or a hand-dipped scoop in a variety of flavours.
TJ’s Ice Cream Shoppe
Address: 500 Arthur St., Thunder Bay, ON
Offering dozens of sweet treats to choose from, including some lactose-free and no-sugar-added options, this local ice cream store is a dreamy summer stop. Enjoy a cup or cone of hard ice cream in 20 flavours, a swirl of dipped soft serve, more than 25 flavours of shaved ice, topped-up sundaes, custom banana splits, layered parfaits, mixed up twisters, creamy milkshakes, 10 flavours of icy floats, frozen cakes or ice cream sandwich novelties.
The Shake Shoppe
Address: 4763 Hwy. 11/17, Kakabeka Falls, ON
Post waterfall viewing, head to a quaint ice cream hut for something sweet. Sit on a picnic table, soaking up the sun, with a blended milkshake, a dipped soft-serve cone, a frozen slushie, a mixed ‘snowstorm’, frozen yogurt, or a classic scoop. Hard scoops are made from Canadian brands, such as Shaw’s and Kawartha Dairy, with many flavours to choose from.
Ice Creamery
Address: Travelling truck across Thunder Bay
This mobile red ice cream truck travels across Northern Ontario cities in the summer. Watch rolled ice cream made before your eyes or grab a smoothie or milkshake to go. Flavours include triple chocolate temptation, Nutella strawberry, rose pistachio, and pina colada.
Best ice cream shops around Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie boasts iconic scoop shops and gelato counters perfect for summer cravings by the water.
Holy Cow’s Ice Cream Parlour
Address: 938 McNabb St., Sault Sainte Marie, ON
Locally famous for its generous portions, grab a cup or cone to eat outside next to the iconic cow statue. Simple scoops in many flavour options cover the menu, which you can upgrade with a waffle cone or toppings, Slush Puppies and milkshakes, or specialty creations. The Twistie is your choice of hard ice cream, soft serve and toppings mixed in a tall cup. Take something home to enjoy later, like a one-litre tub of your top flavour or a custom flight of four flavours.
The Gelato Mill
Address: 83 Huron St., Sault Sainte Marie, ON
Serving up locally made Elliot's ice cream and a variety of other frozen creations, relax on the patio or take your treat on a riverfront walk. Ice cream scoops come in various flavours like birthday cake, cookie monster, and vanilla; soft serve options go beyond the classic chocolate and vanilla; and gelato options include salted caramel, butter tart, and dairy-free strawberry sorbetto. Level up your ice cream to a rolled cone in decadent, topping-covered flavours, including strawberry shortcake and caramel fudge brownie.
The Big Moose Ice Cream Parlour
Address: 1332 Great Northern Rd., Sault Ste. Marie, ON
At the Trading Post, discover a classic ice cream parlour offering a whopping 68 flavour choices! Hopefully you don’t get decision overload, because in addition to the many hard-scoop options, you can also get parfaits, sundaes, soft serve, and ice cream tacos! Turn your favourite scoops into ice cream nachos or try a Moose Stax, a mini cake-like dessert of layered soft serve with toppings.
The Voyageurs’ Lodge
Address: 11054 Hwy. 17 N, Batchawana, ON
Known for their massive apple fritters and one-stop-shop general store, you can also stop by The Voyageurs’ Lodge ice cream counter for a sweet summer scoop. Take your cup or cone across the road to enjoy it in a scenic beach setting.
Best ice cream spots in Timmins
Timmins delivers nostalgic dairy bars and creative trucks rolling out custom ice cream blends all season long.
Pine Dairy Bar
Address: 141 Pine St. S, Timmins, ON
Wash down some classic comfort food with a sweet scoop of ice cream. With so many flavour options available, the ice cream menu is organized alphabetically to make ordering easier, from almond and amaretto to watermelon and white chocolate. Enjoy classic soft serve and milkshakes in a retro diner booth as well. Pre-order an ice cream cake for special events.
Kiddie’s Korner
Address: 180 Joseph St., Timmins, ON
This small-town convenience store is known for its ice cream and sub offerings. There are many hard ice cream options, such as cheeky monkey, tiger tail, and bubble gum, as well as the classic three soft serve options: vanilla, chocolate, and swirl. Create a tasty milkshake with vanilla ice cream and flavours such as mango, root beer, watermelon, and more.
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