If you’re looking for a delicious frozen treat to help you cool off, Downstate Illinois has the solution for you! There are dozens of unique, tasty ice cream shops throughout our 21 counties stretching across southern Illinois.

Western

New to Highland is local ice cream chain City Scoops Creamery. Located inside of Patty Cakes right off the square, City Scoops Creamery offers hard-scoop super-premium ice cream. Check out one of their many different flavors, or even try one of their dairy-free sorbets! 

Looking for a high-quality frozen custard? Look no further than Gator’s in O’Fallon! This shop offers traditional flavors such as vanilla and chocolate along with delicious concretes and sherberts. Even better, 10% of all sales at Gator’s are donated to charity!  

Mac’s Family Fun Time in Highland has amazing frozen custard, as well as a bounce house for the kiddos. This DELICIOUS ice cream actually started at the Lory Theater in town during the pandemic. When it was time for the theater to open back up in 2021, the McLaughlin’s (who own the Lory) opened Mac’s Family Fun Time for a place to continue serving their AMAZING custard. If you’re around Highland, it is most definitely worth a visit!

Feeling nostalgic for fall weather? Head over to Mr. E’s Cider and Donut Shop at Eckert’s in Belleville. Not only do they have tasty ice cream, they even have ice cream sandwiches made out of their creamy custard and apple cider donuts! This is a must-try.

Red Bud is home to Sling N’ Scoops, a locally owned ice cream shop that serves some of the best ice cream in the area. With a rotating menu of over 50 flavors, there is always something new and delicious to try at Sling N’ Scoops!

Walton’s Ice Cream & More is a staple in the small community of Smithton. Their frozen treats range from floats and shakes to cones and sundaes. They have countless specialty concretes, including unique flavors such as Gooey Butter Cake, Elvis Delight, and Puppy Chow! The menu at Walton’s has grown almost every day since its opening, so you never know what delicious dessert will be waiting for you!

Yo-Toppings in Waterloo, Illinois offers countless flavors of frozen yogurt which you can customize by adding your own toppings! Kids will love being able to create their own ice cream treat and it tastes delicious!

Central

C-Town Twist Ice Cream Stand in Centralia is sure to make your mouth water! Cool off this summer with one of their many tasty treats: including limited time specials, Dole whip, and a new addition to the menu: ice cream waffles! 

Dairy Dee in Ramsey is a local favorite with a constantly revolving menu of delicious flavors. You can even purchase pints of your favorite ice cream flavors to enjoy at home! Don’t miss out on Dairy Dee!

If you have ever been to Clinton County, there is a high likelihood that you have heard the legend of Dairy King. For over 25 years, Dairy King has expanded and expanded their concrete menu, so there are no shortage of options to choose from! From fruit and peanut flavors to chocolate and cake batter flavors, Dairy King has something for everyone! Be sure to try their Pineapple Upside Down concrete for a fruity treat! Dairy King has locations in both Breese and Trenton.

Located in Salem, the Dairy Mart has all of the makings of your next favorite ice cream shop. Between their countless options and creative flavor combinations, you're sure to leave Dairy Mart with a full stomach and a smile on your face. 

Ice Cream Korner in Iuka is well known for its specialty sundaes – but their claim to fame is the banana split that could easily just be a meal! This massive banana split is a dessert you don’t want to miss out on!

Marcoot Jersey Creamery in Greenville will provide you with some of the best ice cream you’ve ever had as well as the unique experience of meeting the cows who helped create your delicious dessert! Marcoot Jersey Creamery’s ice cream is incredible and meeting some adorable cows makes the experience unforgettable!

Eastern

If you’re looking for a sweet treat after a day of seeing sites such as the World’s Largest Mailbox, key, wooden shoes, and more in Casey – you have to check out The Big Dipper. Don’t miss out on their Donut Extreme, complete with your choice of ice cream drizzled with syrup and sandwiched between a donut with candy to top it off.

Chilly Willy’s Ice Cream & Grill in Olney not only has delicious meals, but they also have some of the best ice cream you’ll ever taste. Everyone loves their dipped cones, and their variety of sundaes is unbelievable. Be sure to taste the Mr. Presley and Grasshopper sundaes!

Located in Louisville, Fat Dad’s Ice Cream Shoppe has some of the best soft-serve ice cream you’ll ever have! Their Strawberry Butter soft-serve is to die for, and you have to try their chocolate vanilla twist! You will love this small town ice cream shop!

Famous J's Drive Thru in Mt. Carmel might be known for their tenderloin sandwiches and cheeseburgers, but their dairy treats are just as tasty! They offer twelve hand-dipped flavors that you can get in a cup, cone, or waffle cone. There is also soft-serve ice cream available in vanilla, chocolate, or swirl if you're a fan of old-school, traditional ice cream. Famous J's also offers up things called Spooners, as well as shakes, and they have over half a dozen toppings to add to your ice cream. 

Newton is home to The Freeze, a delicious ice cream stand that locals absolutely love. On top of their delicious ice cream, they also serve lunch and dinner items in addition to tasty desserts such as bread pudding and cinnamon rolls!

GT’s Ice Cream Shop in Cisne is a community favorite. Their peanut butter shake is popular among their customers as well as their delicious ice cream sandwiches. You will definitely want to try everything on their massive menu!

The Lawrenceville Drive-In in Lawrenceville serves up some solid dairy treats, and even features a menu item called the Monster Sundae. Sounds intriguing, right? They also offer brownie fudge parfaits, banana splits, and great old-fashioned sodas. The Lawrenceville Drive-In will definitely help your sweet tooth!