Best Ice Cream Shops in the Upper Peninsula

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is full of fun things to do, stunning locations to visit and unforgettable places to eat! Plus, the whole family can appreciate some truly fantastic hidden gems when it comes to ice cream shops and creameries!

After all, what goes better with niche shops, beautiful scenery, outdoor activities, and family fun, than a cold ice cream on a warm summer’s day? Indeed, the U.P. has some of the best ice cream shops around! Here are some great ice cream parlors and shops to check out as you take in the rustic charm and small village feel of quaint Upper Peninsula towns.

Discovering Hidden Gems: Towns in the Upper Peninsula are Full of Family Fun

In the Upper Peninsula, there are plenty of unique eateries to explore. Topping off your meal by walking down to a local ice cream parlor is the perfect way to initiate that laid-back vacation atmosphere.

Many of the ice cream shops in the U.P. are known to locals but can be easily missed by visitors who don’t know just where to stop. Here, we will walk you through some top-notch local U.P. creameries that you definitely won’t want to miss as you browse downtown retail areas or relax with the family this summer!

Molly Moo’s in St. Ignace, MI

If you have been looking for the perfect place to cool off with a delicious treat in St. Ignace, look no further than Molly Moo’s. Located at 576 N State St., Molly Moo’s is known for having a delicious ice cream dessert selection! They offer a remarkably decadent Turtle Sundae, too.
No question, creamy, dreamy treats are always in abundance at Molly Moo’s, and the shop is renowned for having incredibly rich confections. You can get local Mackinac peanut butter fudge or delightful classic treats as you enjoy a lovely and quaint ambiance. While they’re known for their turtle Sundae, they also offer fresh classic banana splits, S’mores Sundaes, and much more!

Moreover, as far as ice cream shops in towns in the Upper Peninsula go, the creamery has a remarkably superb location. Molly Moo’s is positioned right next to the Chamber of Commerce. So, it is the ideal stop to refuel before you head across the street and catch the ferry over to Mackinac Island.

Reviews of This U.P. Ice Cream Shop:
“A wonderful little ice cream place with many flavors, all delicious (at least I assume they all are but I only tried 6 of them on our trip). The ice cream is high quality and the prices are in line with what you would expect.”
-Jessee B.
“Choice, Quality, Quantity, Price, and Service were all fantastic!”
-Donald C.
“Great place to eat some yummy ice cream.”
-Shirley S.

Momma Cow’s in Chatham, MI

If you’re in Chatham, you should definitely take the time to indulge in a delectable ice cream cone from Momma Cow’s. Located at E3686 M94, Chatham, MI, this eatery offers you delectable flavors and a way to add something sweet to your afternoon. With so many mouth-watering treats to try, it’s easy to see why this little shop has such an excellent local reputation!

On the outside, Momma Cow’s is a charming ice cream place between Au Train Falls and Laughing Whitefish Falls. Inside, you will find plenty of things to eat, savory and not-so-savory alike. This place has a chocolate shop, entree, and ice delectable freshly made ice cream in lots of flavors. Not to mention, Momma Cow’s sells some wonderful fudges and old-fashioned treats that can be hard to come by these days, like authentic malts and old-style candies!

Enjoy huge portions at a good value in a stunning area where you can sit and watch everything around you while eating a sweet treat. Here, the employees are also known for being friendly and helpful, which can make all of the difference if you can’t make up your mind about what to get!

Reviews of This Eatery & Ice Cream Shop:
“Great people serving delicious ice cream, burgers, and hot dogs.”
-Dean S.
“Husband got a chocolate malt with extra syrup, extra malt, and oh my yum.”
-Naomi A.
“Great service and selection.”
-Ken S.

Yoop-Phoria in Marquette, MI

As you travel through Michigan and explore all of the fun little towns in the Upper Peninsula, you may decide to check out Marquette. If you’re in the area and start craving something sweet and creamy, you will not want to miss Yoop-Phoria.

Located at 156 W Washington St. in Marquette, Yoopers know that in Marquette, Yoop-Phoria is the place to go if you want to satisfy a whole crowd. With a myriad of different toppings and frozen yogurt flavors, there’s something for all tastes! This is a fantastic destination for people.
A self-serve ice cream, frozen yogurt, and dairy-free sorbet dessert shop, Yoop-Phoria is located in downtown Marquette, Michigan. Here, you get to choose how you want to satisfy your sweet tooth and add your own toppings from a fun selection of candies, cereals, syrups, chocolates, fresh fruits, and more.

This place even has savory grab-n-go style crepes, Yoop-Phoria style push-up pops, pints, snacks, and drinks. The convenient location is perfect for walking down to the Lake Superior shoreline with your favorite dairy or non-dairy treat in hand. With long hours, it’s easy to get something tasty even later in the day. As of 2023, they were open until 11 P.M. during the summer.

Locally owned and locally loved, the frozen yogurt here is priced at under a dollar an ounce, which often surprises visitors, as this is a very reasonable rate for a build-your-own self-serve fro-you buffet. In particular, one with so many topping options! Hundreds of topping combinations and various frozen yogurt flavors make this spot great for those seeking lots of tasty options. There’s always something to satisfy those craving variety at Yoop-Phoria!

Reviews of This Frozen Treat Shop:
“Visited here yesterday. Self-service ice cream is great. Loved the choice of toppings too.”
– Kiran S.
“They have really good frozen yogurts!”
– Lindsey L.
“Frozen yogurt is the best and they have so many toppings!”
– Amanda M.

Jim’s Dari-Kreme in Escanaba, MI

For the last 65 years, Jim’s Dari-Kreme has been delighting locals with unique ice cream flavors, tantalizing frozen treats, and exceptional customer service. Located at 1201 Washington Ave. in Escanaba, MI, you can enjoy some truly great ice cream and an atmosphere that’s welcoming to families!

This shop has been offering a vast and tasty soft serve selection on the same corner for over six decades, specializing in over 25 shake options and 20+ avalanche flavors! Plus, they have many soft-serve flavor options to fall in love with.

Jim’s unique ice cream flavors and specials change weekly, with past flavor specials like blueberry, watermelon, mint, pistachio, and green apple! Take in the wonderful small-town atmosphere and get fresh-churned ice cream from this quaint local shop with something for everyone to love. This is a great place for families.

Reviews of This Ice Cream Shop:
“Great selection of soft-serve ice cream creations including shakes.”
– David B.
“Best ice cream in town, great service, family-owned.”
– Carol M.
“Yummy ice cream, lots of flavor choices, and friendly staff.”
– Kimberly M.

Northwoods General Store & Coffeehouse in Wakefield, MI

At Northwoods General Store and Coffeehouse, you’ll find over four variations of the infamous Mackinac Island fudge flavor of ice cream. Right along US 2, a few minutes from Ironwood, MI,Northwoods General Store & Coffeehouse is a fun place to stock up on treasures from the upper peninsula and snacks for the road. You can find this unique stop at 1010 U.S. Route 2 in Wakefield, MI.

In addition to serving ice cream, Northwoods General Store and Coffeehouse has delicious coffee, old fashioned candies and sodas, fudge, candles and gifts, and even a Christmas room! Be sure to take home some of their thimbleberry jam, something to savor and remember the time spent in the upper peninsula of Michigan.

Reviews of This U.P. Stop for Ice Cream:
“A regular stop when I am traversing US 2 in the UP for work or play. Great gift store with so many items from cooking to Christmas, snacks to books on the UP and Michigan. A must stop if you are on vacation, icecream too!”
– John D.
“Great Ice Cream and coffee! Cute store with lots of kitschy items for home decor. The ice cream alone is worth the stop!”
– Lisa F.
“Friendly atmosphere, unique gifts, and the BEST ice cream!”
– Jennifer H.

Ben’s Place in Ironwood, MI

Located at 112 W. Aurora St. in Ironwood, MI, Ben’s Place is where you can find good old fashioned comfort food and ice cream. Open 7am to 7pm seven days a week, Ben’s Place will make you feel right at home. Splendid breakfast options served all day, burgers, sandwiches, baskets, and salads round out this diner’s menu. Don’t forget the dessert! Ben’s Place offers homemade pies and cookies and of course hand dipped ice cream in downtown Ironwood.

Reviews of Ben’s Place:  
“Just unbelievable now-a-days! Diner food, hand made, and fresh cut real flowers at the table! Hand dipped ice cream!”
– Sandy D.
“Always greeted with a smile and friendly folks. Daily specials that are home made, soups, sandwiches and ice cream. The owner takes pride in a clean affordable place in Downtown Ironwood.”
– Woman from Ironwood
“Wonderful lunch! A short menu of sandwiches and some appetizers make this old style diner a hit! Don’t forget the ice cream, shake, or malt for desert!!!”
– Man from Merrillville, IN

Enchantment Awaits in Upper Peninsula Towns Now! Contact Travel Ironwood to Learn More

When you decide to explore towns in the upper peninsula, you can uncover an array of unique experiences and make unforgettable memories! It all starts now with Travel Ironwood.

Through Travel Ironwood, Michiganders and visitors will unearth a wealth of local knowledge. It has never been easier to plan your next perfect getaway! Decide where to visit in the U.P., find services, book places to stay, and more now. You can contact the Travel Ironwood team now or click here to find out more!