OBX Ice Cream Shops to Hit Up This Summer

When you think of summer, you think of hot days and cool treats. Even better? Cool treats on the OBX.

Ranging from old-fashioned hand-dipped ice cream shops to the ever popular froyo joints, we’ve compiled a list of the best places to grab a cone, cup, milkshake, or even a “booty treat” on the Outer Banks. So, when you head to the Outer Banks for your summer vacation, make sure you pop in one of these cool ice cream joints.

Now, get ready to get hungry. 

The Spot
805 S. Croatan Highway
MP 11
Nags Head, NC 27959
(252) 715-4033  •  thespotobx.com
The Spot located on the Outer Banks, NC is the 1st Acai and Yogurt Bowl Restaurant. Featuring Acai Bowls, Yogurt Bowls, Smoothies, Ice Cream and much more!

What to order: All the flavors are delicious…but personally, my daughter is a fan of the Superman flavor. It’s blue. Can you tell?

John’s Drive In
3716 N. Virginia Dare Trail
MP 4.5
Kitty Hawk
(252) 261-6227 •  johnsdrivein.com
Classic drive-in shack (open May-October) specializing in thick milkshakes & fried fish sandwiches.

What to order:  A chocolate peanut butter milkshake is a must-do.
Surfin’ Spoon
2408 S. Virginia Dare Trail
MP 10.5
Nags Head
(252) 441-7873 •  surfinspoon.com
Surfin’ Spoon is a radical little frozen yogurt bar established by former professional surfer, Jesse Hines. Enjoy delicious frozen yogurt, super-friendly staff, wifi and surf movies, a game room, and fun memorabilia displayed throughout the shop of local surfers and classic photos of the Outer Banks.

What to order: Flavors change daily, but some favorites include Offshore Orange Sorbet, Radical Red Velvet and Sea Salt Caramel Pretzel.

Kill Devils Frozen Custard & Beach Fries
1002 S Croatan Hwy
MP 8.5
Kill Devil Hills
(252) 449-8181 •  killdevilsfrozencustard.com
They take pride in making their custard the old-fashioned way, creating a rich flavor with a velvety smooth texture.

What to order:  Wicked Waffle – one scoop of frozen custard between two hot buttery waffles, sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Booty Treats (2 locations)
1300 S. Croatan Highway
MP 9
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
(252) 722-5250 •  bootytreats.com
2600 S. Virginia Dare Trail
MP 10.5
Nags Head, NC
(252) 715-3385 •  bootytreats.com
Booty Treats offers authentic Hawaiian Shave Ice, old-fashioned malts, milkshakes and sundaes. We also offer a variety of tasty Booty original favorites including our very own Booty Freeze- a unique blend of Mini-Melts ice cream and Hawaiian Shave Ice , a combination only found at Booty Treats!

What to order: A popular favorite includes ” The Junk In the Trunk Sundae” – sure to put some junk in anyones trunk.

Fatboyz Ice Cream & Grill
7206 S. Virginia Dare Trail
MP 16.5
Kill Devil Hills
(252) 441-6514 •  fatboyzobx.com
They take pride in making their custard the old-fashioned way, creating a rich flavor with a velvety smooth texture.
What to order: Anything — as long as it has the chocolate chip cookie dough toppings.
Scoops Ice Cream Parlor
3941 Croatan Highway
MP 13.5
Nags Head
(252) 441-4485
Take a break from climbing Jockey’s Ridge (located across the street) and head on over to Scoops Ice Cream Parlor. A combination mini-lunch counter and ice cream shop, Scoops offers 34 flavors of homemade ice cream in cones, sundaes, smoothies, shakes, malts and floats.

What to order: Orange creamsicle.

Big Buck’s Homemade Ice Cream & Espresso Bar  (3 locations)
207 Queen Elizabeth Ave.
The Waterfront Shops
Manteo
(252) 423-3118 •  bigbucksicecream.com

TimBuck II Shopping Center
Corolla
(252) 453-3188

Buccaneer’s Walk
Kitty Hawk
(252) 715-0779

Unlike the majority of the other parlors in the area, Big Buck’s strictly serves homemade products. Everything from the ice cream itself, to the cones, chocolates, and fudge is made from scratch, in-house, each and every day.

What to order: Key lime pie ice cream. Yes, they use real key limes.

The Coffeehouse on Roanoke Island
106 Sir Walter Raleigh St.
Manteo, 27954
(252) 475-1295  •  roanokeislandcoffee.com
Ice cream, milkshakes, fresh baked pastries and breads, cakes, bagels, cereals, smoothies, specialty coffees, lattes, frappes and loose teas/chai.

What to order: The Blitz.

American Pie
1600 S. Virginia Dare Trail
MP 9.5
Kill Devil Hills, 27948
(252) 441-3332  •  americanpieobx.com
The Miller’s have been making ice cream for more than 20 years. Their homemade ice cream became famous in 1988 in a restaurant named Fast Eddie’s. Voted best pizza and ice cream on the Outer Banks in 2014.

What to order: The peach ice cream has real peach chunks and tastes oh-so-good.