Gainesville’s ice cream scene offers a unique range of flavors and toppings, from soft serve and gelato to hand-made ice cream, sorbet and chocolate-dipped treats.
This guide highlights the best ice cream spots in Gainesville to cool off this summer, featuring various flavors, toppings, prices and atmospheres.
This list was curated using local restaurant menus, Yelp’s top-rated ice cream spots and my own personal favorites. (Spots are in alphabetical order.)
Carvel
LOCATION: 3411 SW Archer Road Suite A, Gainesville
HOURS: Sunday to Wednesday, Noon – 11 p.m.; Friday to Saturday, Noon – midnight
PRICING: About $5.99 – $8.49, depending on menu item and toppings
WHAT TO KNOW: Carvel offers everything ice cream, from classic ice cream bowls to cones, sandwiches, cakes, sundaes and milkshakes.
WHAT TO ORDER: Fan favorites include their flying saucer ice cream sandwiches, fudge pops and sundaes.
TOPPINGS TO TRY: Candies, syrups and more. Don’t forget to add their iconic crunchies topping to your dessert!
Dairy Queen
LOCATION: 3960 SW Archer Road B, Gainesville
HOURS: Saturday to Thursday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
PRICING: About $4 – $7, pricing varies
WHAT TO KNOW: Dairy Queen is best known for its Blizzard and for its affordable, unique flavor combinations.
WHAT TO ORDER: Dairy Queen offers the classic Blizzard, a blended soft-serve ice cream with mixed-in toppings like candy and cookies. Flavors include cookies and cream, s’mores, cotton candy and chocolate-dipped strawberry. The menu also includes plain soft-serve ice cream, sundaes and dips that harden on top of the ice cream.
TOPPINGS TO TRY: Hot fudge, caramel, strawberry sauce, candies, brownie pieces and more.
D’lites Emporium
LOCATION: 4216 NW 16th Blvd., Gainesville
HOURS: Sunday to Thursday, Noon – 9 p.m.; Friday to Saturday, Noon – 10 p.m.
PRICING: About $3.56 – $10, depending on menu item, size and toppings
WHAT TO KNOW: D’lites offers frozen soft serve ice cream, milkshakes, floats and take-home desserts made from a special mix that uses less sugar than standard ice cream places, according to the business’s website. The ice cream spot also states that it never uses artificial sweeteners.
WHAT TO ORDER: Flavors include chocolate and vanilla and daily to weekly rotating flavors. Check out their website to view a calendar of flavors!
TOPPINGS TO TRY: Toppings include sprinkles, Oreos and M&Ms.
GATE Gas Station
LOCATION: 506 NW 13th St., Gainesville
HOURS: Open 24 hours
PRICING: $5
WHAT TO KNOW: GATE offers one of the most affordable ice cream options in Gainesville, with an ice cream-and-topping bar where you can fill up on flavors and extras for a flat $5 charge.
WHAT TO ORDER: Flavor options include chocolate and vanilla frozen yogurt with additional seasonal rotating flavors.
TOPPINGS TO TRY: M&Ms, gummies, moon rock candy, Heath bar chunks, crushed Oreos, strawberries, graham crackers, caramel syrup and more.
Ice Cream & Crepes Eatery
LOCATION: Inside La Maracucha, 1023 W. University Ave., Gainesville
HOURS: Monday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Tuesday to Wednesday, 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m. – Midnight; Friday to Saturday, 11 a.m. – 2:30 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
PRICING: About $4.10 – $14, depending on menu item, size and toppings
WHAT TO KNOW: Located inside the Venezuelan eatery La Maracucha, this ice cream spot offers a great combination of lunch, dinner and dessert. Be mindful of parking, as nearby free parking is slightly limited.
WHAT TO ORDER: Enjoy various ice cream flavors and milkshakes, banana splits, smoothies and crepes, with healthy options as well. Ice cream flavors include chocolate raspberry truffle, birthday cake, cookie monster, vanilla and chocolate.
TOPPINGS TO TRY: Toppings include candies, fruits, crushed pistachios and other nuts, syrups like caramel and more.
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice
LOCATION: 3232 SW 35th Blvd., Gainesville
HOURS: Sunday to Thursday, Noon – 10 p.m.; Friday to Saturday, Noon – 11 p.m.
PRICING: About $3.59 – $6.99, depending on menu item and size
WHAT TO KNOW: Jeremiah’s offers an outdoor-only seating area and an overwhelming menu of freshly-made Italian ice flavors that can be served alone or with soft serve ice cream.
WHAT TO ORDER: Italian ice flavor options include chocolate, cherry, orange, cookies and cream, lemon, cookie butter and cotton candy. Soft serve is offered in chocolate, vanilla or swirl.
TOPPINGS TO TRY: Add-on toppings include sprinkles, crushed Oreos, chocolate chips and more.
Kilwins Chocolate and Ice Cream Shop
LOCATION: 4949 Celebration Pointe Ave. Suite 60, Gainesville
HOURS: Tuesday to Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Friday to Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.; Sunday to Monday, 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
PRICING: About $5.99 – $12.49, depending on menu item, size and toppings
WHAT TO KNOW: Kilwins offers the perfect after-movie treat, within a two- to five-minute walking distance of the Regal movie theater.
WHAT TO ORDER: The shop offers a variety of chocolates, fudges, treats, milkshakes and house-made ice cream. They also offer delicious waffle cones and bowls!
TOPPINGS TO TRY: Toppings include M&Ms, gummies, moon rock candy, Heath bar chunks, crushed Oreos, strawberries, graham crackers, caramel syrup and more.
La Diperie
LOCATION: 206 SE 1st St., Gainesville
HOURS: Sunday to Thursday, 1 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.; Friday, 4 p.m. – 9:45 p.m.; Saturday, 1 p.m. – 9:45 p.m.
PRICING: About $6.89 – $16, depending on menu item, size, cone and toppings
WHAT TO KNOW: La Diperie offers a uniquely delicious and interactive experience in the heart of downtown Gainesville, making it the perfect after-dinner dessert activity with the family. This spot lets customers choose an ice cream or soft-serve flavor and then dip it into an array of toppings. Customers can also design their own cookie sandwiches, ice cream bowls, milkshakes and soft serve combinations with dips and toppings.
WHAT TO ORDER: Ice cream flavors include vanilla, chocolate, cookies and cream, birthday cake, coffee, mint chip, watermelon sorbet and more.
TOPPINGS TO TRY: Dips include cookie dough, cheesecake, banana, mango, espresso, maple, red velvet, pistachio, mint and more. Toppings include sprinkles, Oreo, nuts, shredded coconut and more.
Lulus’ Gelato
LOCATION: 17015 FL-26, Newberry
HOURS: Friday to Sunday, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
PRICING: About $6 – $9, depending on menu item and toppings
WHAT TO KNOW: Lulus serves small-batch, fresh gelato and sorbetto (with vegan and dairy-free options) in a variety of flavors, such as pistachio and tiramisu.
WHAT TO ORDER: The menu includes gelato, sorbetto and treats like a banana boat, cheesecake, a bubble waffle and boba tea.
TOPPINGS TO TRY: Marshmallows, coconut flakes, M&M’s, syrups like caramel and blueberry and more.
SweetBerries on 5th Ave
LOCATION: 619 NW 5th Ave., Gainesville
HOURS: Monday to Sunday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
PRICING: About $3.25 – $7.99, depending on menu item, size and toppings
WHAT TO KNOW: SweetBerries has become well known for its custard, which offers a rich, heavy flavor that pairs well with an array of toppings.
WHAT TO ORDER: Menu items include sundaes, shakes, strawberry shortcake, a banana split, smoothies, ice cream cups and cones and frozen custard. Custard flavors are chocolate and vanilla.
TOPPINGS TO TRY: Toppings include cookie dough, brownie bits, nuts, fruits, candies and more.
WaWa
LOCATION: Multiple locations throughout Gainesville
HOURS: Open 24 hours
PRICING: About $5 – $9; pricing varies
WHAT TO KNOW: Wawa offers delicious and affordable milkshakes, ice cream sundaes, parfaits and cream smoothies with an array of mix-ins and flavors.
WHAT TO ORDER: Fan favorite milkshake flavors include cookies and cream, raspberry, and cheesecake milkshakes.
TOPPINGS TO TRY: Candies, fudge, chocolate chips, graham crackers and more.
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