We are so lucky that here in the Kansas City Metro there are an abundance of locally owned ice cream shops where we can get our ice cream fix. Check out this guide to find your favorite new spot!
Best Ice Cream Spots in Kansas City
Alice Scooper’s | Northland
- 10207 N. Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 64155
- 4173 N Mulberry Dr, Kansas City, MO 64116
Serves small-batch homemade ice cream that is made in store. They also have keto, dairy-free, and vegan ice cream options. Check out their creative ice cream sundae offerings as well as their boba tea.
Betty Rae’s Ice Cream | Merriam, Olathe, Overland Park, Prairie Village, River Market, and Waldo Locations
- 5740 Antioch Rd, Merriam, KS 66202
- 10470 S Ridgeview Rd, Olathe, KS 66061
- 5330 W. 95th St, Prairie Village, KS 66207
- 6936 W 135th St, Overland Park, KS 66213
- 8051 W 160th St, Overland Park, KS 66223
- 22350 W 66th St, Shawnee, KS 66226
- 412 Delaware St ste D, Kansas City, MO 64105
- 7140 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64114
- 1636 SE Blue Pkwy, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
- 251 SW Greenwich Dr, Lee’s Summit, MO 64082
- 9711 N Ash Ave, Kansas City, MO 64157
We love the creative flavors they offer (although nothing beats brown butter and toasted pecan for me!) You can place your order online and skip the line (and there is usually a line!) They also offer ice cream sandwiches and pies. Check your local grocery store ice cream aisle to see if they carry Betty Rae’s by the pint!
Blue Chip Cookies & Ice Cream | Leawood, KS
5045 W 117th St, Leawood, KS 66211
They serve about two dozen flavors of ice cream and can also make ice cream sandwiches with their cookies or even a fancy shake! Just make sure you also get cookies to take home after you have your ice cream, you’ll thank me later.
Clementine’s Creamery | Prairie Village, KS
Clinton’s Soda Fountain | Independence, MO
100 W. Maple Ave. Independence, MO 64050
This spot is a blast from the past with phosphates, shakes, malts, floats, and lots of classic sundaes to choose from.
Creative Culture | KCMO and Leawood
- 207 Westport Rd., Kansas City, MO 64111
- 5235 W 116th Pl., Leawood, KS 66211
Even if you aren’t in the mood to do a fun craft project, you can still get a hand crafted over-the-top milkshake!
Dari-B Drive In | Excelsior Springs, MO
901 Isley Blvd, Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
This place has small town charm and lots of nostalgia (it opened in 1954!) You can get sundaes, shakes, malts, blizzards, frozen yogurt, floats—the options are endless! Only open March 1st – October 31st. Bring cash, rumor is that is all they take.
Elixir Soda Fountain | Kansas City, MO
3218 Gladstone Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64123
This old fashioned soda fountain is located in the basement of the Kansas City Museum. Try their specialty- the Corinthian crunch!
Fairway Creamery | Fairway, KS and Kansas City, MO
- 5938 Mission Rd, Fairway, KS 66205
- 809 W 17th St, Kansas City, MO 64108
They offer soft serve (and dip cones!), scooped ice cream in various flavors, and sundaes—sometimes even including one of their donuts! I can’t decide which I like more, their donuts or their ice cream.
Foggi Ice Cream & Coffee | Mission, KS
6015 Johnson Dr, Mission, KS 66202
This is a unique concept: ice cream made fresh in front of you using liquid nitrogen! Don’t forget to grab a punch card if you are going to be a frequent flier.
Fountain City Scoops & Floats | KCMO
419 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64105
If you like floats they have over 20 soda bases to choose from and just as many toppings!
The Golden Scoop | 2 Locations in Overland Park, KS
- 9540 Nall Ave, Overland Park, KS 66207
- 10460 W 103rd St, Overland Park, KS 66214
This is an ice cream and coffee shop with a purpose. They create jobs for and employ adults with developmental disabilities. These Super Scoopers are involved in all aspects of the business including creating new flavors and serving the community.
Learn more about The Golden Scoop in this Kansas City MomCast episode: Ice Cream with a Mission.
Handel’s Ice Cream | Overland Park, KS and Belton, MO
- 11885 W 95th St, Overland Park, KS 66214
- 1014 E North Ave, Belton, MO 64012
Handel’s is another new ice cream option in the KC metro but the brand has been around since the 1940s. There are 48 flavors rotating each month. They office ice cream, sorbets, sherbets, and ices.
Hey Sugar on Strawberry Hill | Kansas City, KS
426 N 6th St, Kansas City, KS 66101
This is a fun candy shop with a rotating variety of ice cream flavors to choose from. They also have Dippin Dots, Italian sodas, and shaved ice.
High Hopes Ice Cream | Kansas City, MO
5536 Troost Ave Ste. A, Kansas City, MO 64110
High Hopes is located in KCMO not too far from Loose Park and The Plaza. They make their own ice cream including unique flavors like bourbon butter pecan and maple bacon pancake. They also serve dairy-free and vegan options. Also be sure to check out their ice cream float menu!
Howdy Homemade Ice Cream | Lee’s Summit, MO
921 NE Woods Chapel Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064
This is a brand new ice cream shop that is on a relentless pursuit to create jobs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their menu boasts core flavors and rotating seasonal flavors.
I Am Frozen Dessert Cafe | Overland Park, KS
14357 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66223
Specializes in shaved ice cream dessert bowls (great for sharing!) with special toppings as well as honey toast and delicious drinks including boba tea.
Ice Cream BAE | Leawood and Plaza Locations
- 5260 W 116th Pl, Leawood, KS 66211
- 418 Nichols Rd, Kansas City, MO 64112
They offer creative and over the top milkshakes and macaron ice cream sandwiches. You can choose a signature combo like the “Not Your Average S’more” or create your own combination.
Just Chill | Gladstone, MO
6277 N. Oak Trafficway, Gladstone, MO 64118
This is one of the last spots serving rolled ice cream in the metro. They also offer milkshakes, smoothes, boba, and hand-dipped ice cream.
Martin City Ice Cream Company | Martin City, MO
411 E 135th St, Kansas City, MO 64145
This is an ice cream stand (formerly called The Scoop) in a parking lot in Martin City. They have about 10-12 flavors of their homemade ice cream available including dairy-free options. I tried their chocolate brownie chunk, and it was delicious! You can also find their ice cream at Rey de Oros Taqueria.
One More Scoop | Belton and Northland
- 803 E North Ave, Belton, MO 64012
- 3522 NE Vivion Rd, Kansas City, MO 64119
You’ll find homemade ice cream and waffle cones (including CHOCOLATE waffle cones!) here. Try a donut ice cream sandwich or an ice cream pie while you are there.
Palacana | Independence, KCK, KCMO, and Olathe
- 151 S 18th St, Kansas City, KS 66102
- 8159 State Ave, Kansas City, KS 66112
- 830 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108
- 1325 E Santa Fe St, Olathe, KS 66061
- 3622 S Noland Rd, Independence, MO 64055
Formerly called Palaterias Tropicana, Palacana has been been making authentic Mexican ice cream and popsicles for 18 years! They have a huge menu of ice creams, popsicles, smoothies, fruity desserts, and more.
The Paleta Bar | Overland Park, KS
8025 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66204
While you CAN just pick a popsicle from the case and be on your merry way, you really should consider all the add ons that are available like chocolate dips, toppings, and fresh fruit! I recommend the half dip and a side of strawberries.
Pop’s Sweet Shop | Lenexa and Spring Hill
- 13446 Santa Fe Trail Dr., Lenexa, KS 66215
- 115 S. Main St., Spring Hill, KS 66083
Pop’s has lots of treats to choose from including ice cream, sundaes, milkshakes, floats, malts, and homemade fudge!
Popculture Gourmet Popcorn & Ice Cream | Overland Park and Parkville
- 8004 Foster St, Overland Park, KS 66204
- 115 Main St, Parkville, MO 64152
Local ice cream options in the Northland are slim, and while Popculture doesn’t make their own ice cream, they do offer a variety of flavors for you to satisfy your craving and support a local business. The location in downtown Overland Park is across the street from Thompson Park, which has a fun splash pad!
Poppy’s Ice Cream | Lee’s Summit, MO
307 SE Douglas St, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
Poppy’s is in adorable downtown Lee’s Summit and prepares their own unique flavors of ice cream and sorbet in house. If you’re lucky you may even spot their ice cream truck around town. Or you can reserve it for your own event!
Simply Grand Kitchen & Creamery | Grandview, MO
504 Main St. Grandview, MO 64030
This locally-sourced spot has a full lunch and dinner menu as well as homemade ice cream, sundaes, and shakes.
Summer Salt Ice Cream Company | Leawood and Prairie Village, KS
- 4051 Somerset Dr, Prairie Village, KS 66208
- 3808 W 95th St, Leawood, KS 66206
I like that they have more “grown up flavors” as my husband and I call them, but still lots of classics like mint chip and cookie dough. You can go inside or use the convenient order window on their patio. Overland Park location coming soon!
Sweet EMOtion | Northland
312 Armour Rd., North Kansas City, MO 64116
This shop specializes in dairy free soft serve ice cream! All ice creams are made with oat milk.
Sweet Thang Cafe | Olathe, KS
1088 W Santa Fe St, Olathe, KS 66061
Sweet Thang opened in 2019 in west Olathe. While they don’t make their own ice cream in house, they do offer 44 different flavors as well as extreme milkshakes! Follow their Facebook page to see what new flavors they add each week!
Sylas and Maddy’s Homemade Ice Cream | Olathe, KS
11925 S Strang Line Rd, Olathe, KS 66062
I grew up on Sylas and Maddy’s, and it remains one of our favorites. Both their ice cream and waffle cones are homemade (and I love the Whopper they put at the bottom of each waffle cone!) Their ice cream can also be found at select Daylight Donuts locations and Sweet Caroline’s.
Truman General | Grandview, MO
809 Main St. Grandview, MO 64030
This adorable ice cream and mercantile shop in Grandview serves a variety of scratch made ice cream and also offers a great selection of candies.
