Best Ice Cream and Frozen Treats in Union County & South Charlotte

We've added some incredible Union County spots to the mix this year — scroll down and you'll still find every one of your original Charlotte favorites too!

Union County Picks (New!)

🍦 Waxhaw Creamery (Waxhaw) A downtown Waxhaw institution — homemade ice cream and Italian ice made fresh daily (no soft serve here). Grab a cone and stroll past the iconic Waxhaw bridge while it melts just fast enough to keep things exciting. 🍨 Try: Double Dark Chocolate, Butter Pecan, Creamsicle 📱 Instagram: @waxhawcreamery

🍧 The Bridge Creamery & Soda Shop (Indian Trail) An old-school soda shop attached to The Bridge Restaurant, complete with a drive-thru and weekend karaoke some nights. Sundaes, milkshakes, floats, and Dippin' Dots mean everyone in the family gets their order. 🍨 Try: Butter Pecan, Hot Fudge Cake, Campfire Ice Cream 📱 Instagram: @thebridgecreamery

🍦 Hank's Carolina Creamery (Monroe) Homemade ice cream made with locally sourced ingredients, with portions generous enough that reviewers keep coming back for more. A true hidden-gem stop for Monroe families. 🍨 Try: Chocolate Velvet, Pistachio, Strawberry Golden Oreo 📱 Instagram: search "Hank's Carolina Creamery" 🔗 https://hankscarolinacreamery.com

🍦 Dollar Cone & Sprinkle Cart (Mineral Springs, + a grab-and-go "Cottage" location in Indian Trail) Family-owned, budget-friendly soft serve with lactose-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free options — plus board games to play while you wait. Keep an eye out for their mobile Sprinkle Cart, which shows up at events around Union County too. 🍨 Try: Upside Down Banana Split, Biscoff Parfait, Turtle Pretzel Parfait 📱 Instagram: @dollar_cone 🔗 https://dollarconenc.com

Charlotte Area Favorites

🍨 Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams (South End and Blakeney) A favorite for a reason — ultra-creamy, creative flavors that change seasonally and keep kids (and parents) debating samples for way too long. 🍦 Try: Brambleberry Crisp, Buttercrisp Waffle Cone, seasonal specials 📱 Instagram: @jenisicecreams 🔗 https://jenis.com

🍧 Jeremiah's Italian Ice (Matthews) A perfect "everyone gets what they want" stop — mix Italian ice + soft serve for endless combinations. 🍧 Try: Jelati (Italian ice + custard), mango + vanilla swirl 📱 Instagram: @jeremiahsice 🔗 https://jeremiahsice.com

🍦 Andy's Frozen Custard Drive-up classic that feels like summer nostalgia in a cup. Thick, rich custard + mix-ins = chaos in the best way. 🍨 Try: Concrete with Reese's + hot fudge 📱 Instagram: @andysfrozencustard 🔗 https://eatandys.com

🍦 Golden Cow Creamery Small-batch, scratch-made ice cream with rotating flavors that feel special every visit. 🍦 Try: Honey Lavender, Cookie Dough 📱 Instagram: @goldencowcreamery 🔗 https://www.goldencowcreamery.com

🍪 Two Scoops Creamery (South End + Plaza Midwood) Big scoops, fun flavors, and very "family can't decide so we all sample everything" energy. 🍦 Try: Cookie Monster, Strawberry Shortcake 📱 Instagram: @twoscoopscreamery

🍦 The Local Scoop (Ballantyne + Matthews + SouthPark area) A true neighborhood staple — simple, friendly, and consistently family-packed after sports and dinner. 🍦 Try: Cookie Butter, rotating seasonal flavors 📱 Instagram: @thelocalscoopcharlotte 🔗 https://www.thelocalscoopcharlotte.com

🍧 Pelican's SnoBalls (Multiple Charlotte locations) Bright, fun shaved ice with endless flavor combos — this is pure kid joy and summer chaos in a cup. 🍧 Try: Tiger's Blood, wedding cake, blue raspberry 📱 Instagram: @pelicanssnoballs 🔗 https://pelicanssnoballs.com

🍦 Tifa Chocolate & Gelato A cozy sit-down gelato + chocolate shop — slightly more "treat yourself" but still very family-friendly. 🍫 Try: pistachio gelato, chocolate truffles 📱 Instagram: search "Tifa Charlotte"

🍨 Honeysuckle Gelato (Optimist Hall or The Bowl) 🍦 Try: cinnamon roll, honey lavender 📱 Instagram: @honeysucklegelato

🍦 Artisen Gelato (Matthews) A hidden gem with creative flavors and allergy-friendly options that families really appreciate. 🍦 Try: dairy-free fruit gelato, seasonal flavors 📱 Instagram: @artisengelato

🍦 Whit's Frozen Custard (South Charlotte area) Rich, creamy custard with daily rotating "Flavor of the Day" — simple and consistently good. 🍨 Try: Turtle sundae, vanilla + mix-ins 📱 Instagram: @whitscustard

🍦 Bruster's Real Ice Cream (Matthews) Old-school scoop shop energy with huge portions and tons of mix-in options. 🍦 Try: banana pudding, cookies & cream 📱 Instagram: @brustersicecream