Ah, one of the joys of summer, and a favorite past-time in New England -- enjoying rich, delicious locally-made ice cream. We're lucky in Greater Lowell to have some amazing ice cream shops where local families have been making handmade ice cream for decades.
Here's a list of local ice cream shops and the favorite flavors at each location, based on a completely unscientific survey we did on our Facebook page:
BILLERICA
CHELMSFORD
Chelmsford Creamery
131 Gorham St (across from Chelmsford Bible Church)
East Chelmsford MA
One of the oldest ice cream shops in continuous operation in the Merrimack Valley, Chelmsford Creamery serves home made ice cream and still make their own hot fudge sauce, fruit bases and more!
Sully's
55 Graniteville Rd
Chelmsford MA
978-256-5971
Fans rave about their favorite flavors at Sully's: mocha chip, coffee almond chip, buttercrunch, purple cow, maple walnut, mint chocolate chip, moose tracks. A top pick in our survey!
DRACUT
Frosty Boy serving Richardson's Ice Cream
1167 Lakeview Ave
Dracut MA
978-957-3655
Super rich ice cream in a wide variety of flavors, including unique ones like Crunchasaurus, Maine Black Bear, Ginger, Green Tea, and Phantomberry. Frosty Boy does not have a website so call ahead for hours.
Frobie's Cafe
101 Broadway Rd
Dracut MA
978-455-7789
This very popular and highly-rated cafe serves specialty coffees, juices, smoothies. bagels, and homemade ice cream. Favorite flavors from readers: cookies and cream.
Mike's Ice Cream Stand
466 Nashua Rd
Dracut MA
978-957-7077
No website but updates and their flavors are posted on their Facebook page. They serve Hayward's premium ice cream.
Shaw Farm
204 New Boston Rd
Dracut MA
978-957-0031
The Shaw family raises its own cows, and Shaw Farm is known for its incredibly thick and rich chocolate milk. Enjoy a cone or sundae at the ice cream stand and then check out the shop for all kinds of dairy and gourmet products and pre-packed ice cream. If you need a regular fix of Shaw Farm products, they even deliver regularly right to your door in Greater Lowell. Favorite flavors from readers: peanut butter cup, Oreo cookie.
GROTON
Johnson's Restaurant and Dairy Bar
164 Boston Rd (Rt. 119)
Groton MA
978-448-6840
Johnson's offers a full breakfast menu and also fried seafood, kids meals, salads, sandwiches, and subs for lunch and dinner, along with homemade ice cream. The stand is located in a quiet area with plenty of picnic tables and trees.
LOWELL
Heritage Farm Ice Cream & Restaurant
163 Pawtucket Blvd.
Lowell
978-459-0802
Heritage Farm features a full restaurant with burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, subs and fried foods plus an ice cream stand with homemade ice cream and a huge variety of decadent sundaes. They sponsor events all summer long -- 7pm concerts and 6pm car shows on Monday nights and kids shows on Thursday nights.
The F & F Sweet Bar
500 Pawtucket St.
Lowell
978-212-9712
This just might be your new family favorite! They serve a wide range of allergy friendly options, including dairy free ice creams and gluten free cookies. With plenty of outdoor seating and rotating food trucks, there is always something new at Sweet Bar!
TEWKSBURY
Mac's Dairy Farm
1863 Main St (Rt. 38)
Tewksbury MA
978-851-9565
This old-fashioned ice cream stand serves Richardson's Ice Cream and Richie's Slush. Call ahead for hours. Cash only.
Meadowlands Ice Cream
328 North Billerica Rd
Tewksbury MA
978-454-6701
Homemade ice cream, hot dogs, and special desserts such as ice cream pizzas, cow pies, and cupcakes. Favorite flavors from readers: purple cow (black raspberry with chocolate chips) and watermelon sherbet.
Merrimack Valley Pavilion serving Richardson's Ice Cream
2087 Main St (Rt. 38)
Tewksbury MA
978-988-2100
Super rich ice cream in a wide variety of flavors, including unique ones like Crunchasaurus, Maine Black Bear, Ginger, Green Tea, and Phantomberry. Merrimack Valley Pavilion also offers mini golf, laser tag and an arcade.
TYNGSBOROUGH
Max's Country Golf serving Richardson's Ice Cream
383 Middlesex Rd
Tyngsborough MA
978-649-2020
Super rich ice cream in a wide variety of flavors, including unique ones like Crunchasaurus, Maine Black Bear, Ginger, Green Tea, and Phantomberry.
Sullivan Farms
176 Middlesex Rd
Tyngsborough MA
978-649-9202
Sullivan Farms has a huge variety of flavors of their homemade ice cream, which can be enjoyed at picnic tables behind their stand, with a nice view of the Merrimack River. Favorite flavors from readers: Oreo frozen yogurt, Jen's cookie dough, Almond Joy.
WESTFORD
Kimball Farm
400 Littleton Rd (Rt. 110)
Westford MA
978-486-3891
This massive ice cream stand also features mini-golf, bumper boats, a grill and seafood shack, a driving range and pitch and putt, batting cages, arcade, and on the weekends, pony rides and animal shows. Their country store and coffee shop is open year-round. Favorite flavors from readers: chocolate chip cookie dough, cherry vanilla chip, mint Oreo, chocolate peanut butter, Kahlua crunch, coffee Oreo, mocha almond assault, and black raspberry. A top pick in our survey!
Lowell Macaroni Kid is a free weekly newsletter and website focused on fun family events and information in the greater Lowell area.
We gather together all kinds of local family events and activities each week, and add useful information about classes, family-focused businesses, book and product reviews, recipes, crafts, school and camp guides and more. We proudly serve 9,500+ families in Lowell, Dracut, Chelmsford, Westford, Tyngsboro, Dunstable, Littleton, Groton, Billerica, Tewksbury, and other surrounding communities.
Subscribe today to receive our email newsletter every Wednesday!
