Nights spent social distancing on the couch with a movie on the TV, or evenings kicking back on the back porch in quarantine call for dessert, and ice cream is sure to please.
With everything from pints filled with extras to farm-fresh cream, here’s where to get your ice cream fix during the coronavirus pandemic.
Please remember as days pass, offerings and location hours are bound to change. Please call in advance to confirm location details and availability.
Abner Butterfield
Ice cream is essential, says Fredericksburg-based Abner Butterfield, and that’s why the location is offering pickup of many of its 241 flavors. Have an oddly specific craving? You can expect anything from chocolate chip butter pecan, mint rainbow, cherry vanilla, German chocolate cake, black cherry bubblegum, cotton candy, coconut macaroon, toasted toffee, Guinness Sweet, lemon cheesecake … and so many more. // 821 Caroline St., Fredericksburg
Amore Congelato
South Riding resident and naval reserve officer Thereasa Black opened the doors of Amore Congelato in late 2019. As the temperatures warm up, you might be looking for a healthier, fresher substitute for your favorite dessert—and she’s got it. Sweetened with organic date syrup in fruit-filled flavors, order more than $16 of pints and you’ll get 10% off, plus pints can be picked up or delivered straight to your door. They’re sure to satisfy your craving without canceling out your Peloton workout. // 1201 S. Joyce St., Arlington
Ben & Jerry’s
Sometimes those grocery store pints just won’t do (even if there’s a cookie core involved). At the Vienna/Tysons location of Vermont’s Finest, ice cream fanatics who order three pints will get an additional one free, and that includes hand-packed. So you know what that means: Make your way to the website, browse the in-store selection (such as Cinndorella and Sweet Cream & Cookies and throw in the steadfast Cherry Garcia and PhishFood too. // 136-C W. Maple Ave., Vienna
Dairy Godmother
It’s hard not to smile when ice cream is coming your way, whether it’s in a cup or a cone. For the time being, it has to be in a pint, or smashed between two soft cookies for an ice-cream packed whoopie pie from Dairy Godmother. The Del Ray landmark has been giving off all of the positive vibes on Facebook since the outbreak began, and has been making customers’ favorite flavors to brighten each day, such as peppermint stick and toasted almond. Want an additional dessert? Grab a slice of sour cherry cobbler or peach cobbler too. // 2310 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
Dairy Queen
Another reason you might have been stuck inside this time of year? An early-spring blizzard. But that’s not the case. If you’re craving a blizzard of the dessert variety though, you’re in luck. Local Dairy Queen franchises are still open across the region and offering pickups for all of your favorite ice cream treats. Grab something off of the new summer menu when you’re longing for the dog days of summer with flavors like s’mores, frosted animal cookie and cotton candy. // Multiple locations
Great Falls Creamery
We’re all too familiar with the empty shelves of bread, milk and butter recently, but Great Falls Creamery is stepping up to the plate. For freshly churned ice cream from local cows, head over to the store to grab yourself a gallon or two and stock up the freezer. Not only will you be supporting a local family farm during these uncertain times, you can also find plenty of fresh bread, eggs and other dairy items to stock your fridge and pantry for a while. // The Village Center: 766-C Walker Road, Great Falls
Ice Cream Jubilee
All locations of this sweet DC-based business might be closed, but they are currently taking preorders for hand-packed pints to bring back to your freezers starting this week. Check out the website for pick-up locations in Washington, DC, and delivery dates. Current flavors vary from strawberry tres leches and Lemon Muffintop to gin and tonic sorbet and Chocolate Matzoh Crunch. Missing the Nationals this year? Order a pint of Nats Red Velvet to fill the void. // Multiple locations
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Still a newcomer to Old Town Alexandria, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is offering local delivery to your door and pickup for its signature flavors, from Brambleberry Crisp to Boston cream pie. Plus, the company has put together “Collections for Social Distancing” with combinations to celebrate birthdays at home, as well as to have an emergency chocolate stash. It also has dairy-free options. Catch founder Jeni Britton Bauer testing out new flavors for late 2020 and 2021 in her home on Instagram weekly too. // 102 S. Patrick St., Alexandria
JR’s NY Soft Serve and Italian Ice
“The Smooth Sailing sundae eases the Rocky Road we’re on with a yummy-yummy treat,” according to the Ashburn-based company’s Facebook page, and it’s probably right. It’s time to build your own sundaes with JR’s, fit with classic hot fudge, minty goodness and cookie madness. Order a two-scoop or three-scoop and make it a sundae with toppings, or just grab your favorite flavors to go. The location is offering free curbside pickup and delivery for the time being, and is even happy to deliver you a specialty milkshake if that’s what you prefer. // 20693 Ashburn Road, Ashburn
King Street Coffee
Your morning pick-me-up just isn’t the same when you’re on the hunt for a handcrafted latte or flavored iced coffee. Head to the walk-up window at King’s Street Coffee and the team will treat you to a much-needed caffeine boost, but they’ll also be happy to offer a cup or a pint of fresh gelato too. Grab classic vanilla and chocolate, or go for those feels-like-home flavors with honey and cinnamon. Whichever you try, you’ll have even more of a skip in your step as you head back home. // 110 S. King St., Leesburg
Lazy Mike’s Delicatessen
In the midst of the past two weeks, and thanks to the generous donations and sponsorships of local businesses and residents, Lazy Mike’s has been feeding the front-line workers at Virginia Hospital Center’s drive-thru testing facility during the spread of COVID-19. Its dining room is currently closed, but you can still grab its homemade ice cream (and other menu items) for pickup throughout the day. Black raspberry, butterscotch swirl, chocolate Bacardi, cinnamon toast crunch and so many more are sure to please your palette, and help this local business continue to serve. // 7049 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church
Milwaukee Frozen Custard
You came here to find out where to get ice cream, but we’re here to tell you there’s more to the story. This silky smooth frozen custard in Chantilly is another frozen treat you can’t miss, with pints and quarts to go in flavors such as brownie fudge, cherry pie, death by chocolate and pistachio. You can’t go wrong with picking up your favorite curbside, or ordering a sundae just for you. Top it off with hot caramel and fudge, or make it a banana split and you’ll be one happy social distancer. // 13934 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Chantilly
Moo Thru
Traveling is not permitted during the commonwealth’s stay-at-home order, but residents near Remington can happily drive by Moo Thru to get their dairy treat. Get freshly churned ice cream in a variety of flavors, and you just might be lucky enough to stop by when Moo Thru is all stocked up on fresh milk and pantry items. // 11402 James Madison Highway, Remington
Sugar Mama’s
If you’re on the hunt for fresh, homemade ice cream in Fairfax, Sugar Mama’s has the scoop … 20 of them to be exact. The local spot is offering carryout from the store and delivery through UberEats, so your sweet tooth doesn’t have to suffer. Find your favorite classics from vanilla to mint chocolate chip, as well as banana splits and brownie sundaes with flavors such as rum raisin, caramel praline and banana cream pie. It’s ice cream the old-fashioned way; you’ll just have to enjoy it on the way home. // 11208 Lee Highway, Fairfax
Tipped Cow Creamery
We’re getting into barbecue season (where hopefully we can all gather together once again!), and if you’re missing the warm days, the pulled pork sandwiches and the shared family meals, you can get it all at Tipped Cow Creamery (located in Monk’s BBQ). Of course you can get brisket and spare ribs, but you can also get freshly churned scoops of ice cream, ranging in flavors from blackberry and butter brickle, to sweet cream and cookie dough. Plus, rotating flavors have been popping up daily, so grab a spring-inspired dinner to dine on your back porch, support a local business, and be sure to get those crave-worthy pints to share too. // 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville
Trummer’s
Missing your reservation you made weeks ago at this local favorite? Order a meal fit for a family from Trummer’s to bring some of your go-to dishes home, and don’t forget to add dessert. The cinnamon sugar beignets (sold for $1 each in quantities of six or 12) may sound tempting, but there are even more enticing rotating flavors of gelato in take-home pints too. Flavors that have popped up include vanilla bean, Nutella swirl and salted caramel truffle, and can be found on the restaurant’s Facebook page. // 7134 Main St., Clifton
Peterson’s Ice Cream Depot
Calling all local “coneheads,” Peterson’s is still open and ready to serve you (with the exception of Easter Sunday). From homemade hard ice cream with rotating flavors, to gelato, soft serve and malted milkshakes, it would be hard not to get what you’re looking for at the Depot. So, treat yourself with The Grandpap (a waffle cone filled with vanilla ice cream covered with a chocolate hard shell and peanuts), a Sister’s Strawberry Shortcake or, if you need a caffeine kick, a Diego Frosty of iced coffee poured over your choice of soft serve ice cream, caramel and chocolate syrup, topped with whipped cream and a cherry upon request. // 7150 Main St., Clifton
Whitehall Farms LLC
Supporting local businesses, including local farms, is critical during this time, and if you’re looking to pick up milk, eggs and fresh ice cream, head to Whitehall Farms LLC. The Clifton-based farm recently got a new shipment of Misty Meadows Farm Creamery ice cream from Smithsburg, Maryland. To get you through quarantine, the market also offers seasonal vegetables, meats, sweet and savory pies and more. // 12523 Popes Head Road, Clifton
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