April 9, 2025

Get the Scoop: North Shore's Best Ice Cream Spots

Looking for a sweet treat to top off your perfect beach day or outdoor adventure on the North Shore of Massachusetts? Whether you're lounging by the coast or exploring charming small towns, we’ve rounded up the best ice cream shops near Briar Barn Inn that offer everything from house-made classics to dozens of soft-serve flavors. Save this list if you’re planning things to do north of Boston as the weather warms up! 

Ice cream stand at dusk with customers and nearby picnic tables.

White Farms Homemade Ice Cream – Ipswich, MA

Just a short walk (or drive) from Briar Barn Inn, White Farms is known for their homemade flavors of hard ice cream, soft serve, frappes, and frozen yogurt. They also offer a mini-golf course and ice cream cakes to-go. 

Address: 326 High St, Ipswich, MA

 

Ice cream shop with sign and garden in sunny setting.

DownRiver Ice Cream – Essex, MA

Fresh, hand-crafted, and locally sourced ingredients with 40+ flavors and marsh views. Voted best ice cream on the north shore.

Address: 241 John Wise Ave, Essex, MA

 

Ice cream sandwich with sprinkles between two cookies, held in front of a creamery sign.

Harbor Creamery – Newburyport, MA

Located in the heart of Newburyport’s downtown, Harbor Creamery offers small batch, homemade hard ice cream, dairy-free options, and made-to-order cookie ice cream sandwiches!

Address: 39 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA

 

Triple scoop of pink ice cream with chocolate chunks, shop in background.

Hodgie's Too Ice Cream – Newburyport, MA & Salisbury, MA

Hodgie's Too is a small, family-owned, seasonal ice cream stand featuring homemade ice creams, which are made daily on the premises.

Address: 251 Low St, Newburyport, MA |  136 Rabbit Rd, Salisbury MA

 

Retro diner with colorful signage, flags on the roof, and flower baskets.

Long Beach Dairy Maid – Gloucester, MA

If you're looking for variety, this is your spot! Around the corner from Good Harbor Beach, Long Beach Dairy Maid offers a selection of 75 hard ice creams and 28 flavors of gourmet soft serve. Enjoy additional treats like sherbets, sorbets, slush, frappes, flurries, smoothies, and sundaes.

Address: 147 Thatcher Rd, Gloucester, MA

 

Foggy harbor scene with a small, welcoming ice cream shop.

The Ice Cream Store – Rockport, MA

This iconic ice cream shop is nestled amongst the downtown stores of Bearskin Neck with harbor views. Offering hard ice cream, frozen yogurt, Hawaiian ice, sundaes, floats, and more!

Address: 14 Bearskin Neck, Rockport, MA

 

Small ice cream shop with yellow siding, awning, flag, and parked red car.

 Captain Dusty’s Ice Cream – Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA

Homemade hard ice cream, soft serve, sundaes, and frappes.

Address: 60 Beach St, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA

 

Small roadside diner with red cars parked, surrounded by trees.

Hodgie’s Ice Cream – Amesbury, MA

The original Hodgie’s offers homemade ice cream and soft serve, plus grilled menu items if you're looking for someting savory.

Address: 71 Haverhill Rd, Amesbury, MA

 

Red tractor next to an ice cream stand sign under a clear blue sky.

Richardson’s Farm – Middleton, MA

Old-fashioned working dairy farm offering multiple flavors of homemade ice cream, a mini golf course, batting cages, and farm animals. 

Address: 156 South Main St, Middleton, MA

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