Mainepedia
Food & Drink Guide

Best Ice Cream in Maine

From Mount Desert Island's famous scoops to hidden gems across Maine, Maine takes ice cream seriously. Your guide to the finest frozen treats.

Maine and ice cream share a special relationship. Maine’s dairy farms provide exceptional cream. The short, intense summers create urgent demand. And the long tradition of roadside stands and village scoop shops has produced destinations where ice cream is made with craft and care. From Bar Harbor’s famous Mount Desert Island Ice Cream to Portland’s creative newcomers, Maine offers ice cream worth traveling for.

The Icons

Mount Desert Island Ice Cream (Bar Harbor & Portland)

The most famous ice cream in Maine, MDI Ice Cream has earned national recognition for inventive flavors made in small batches. The Bar Harbor original draws lines; the Portland locations offer the same quality without the Acadia crowds.

What sets them apart:

  • Creative flavors (salted caramel, brown butter, wild blueberry)
  • Quality ingredients (local dairy, real vanilla beans)
  • Texture that earns the “best in America” claims
  • Multiple locations for convenience

Must-try: Wild Maine Blueberry (the essential Maine flavor) or Brown Butter (rich and complex).

Locations: Bar Harbor (original), Portland (two locations).

Gifford’s Ice Cream (Multiple Locations)

Maine’s homegrown ice cream company, Gifford’s has been making premium ice cream since 1983. The stands scattered across Maine offer consistent quality in a classic roadside format.

What sets them apart:

  • Maine-made (Skowhegan headquarters)
  • Consistently excellent quality
  • Classic stand experience
  • Local institution status

Must-try: Campfire S’mores or Deer Tracks.

Locations: Stands throughout Maine; ice cream sold in grocery stores statewide.

Shain’s of Maine (Multiple Locations)

Another Maine-based producer, Shain’s operates scoop shops from Sanford to Bar Harbor. The focus is on traditional flavors done exceptionally well.

What sets them apart:

  • Premium ingredients
  • Classic approach
  • Multiple convenient locations
  • Maine ownership

Locations: Sanford, Old Orchard Beach, Kennebunk, Wells, and more.

Portland Area

Gorgeous Gelato (Portland)

Italian gelato made fresh daily on the Old Port waterfront. Lower fat than ice cream but intensely flavored. The sorbets are exceptional.

What sets them apart:

  • Authentic gelato technique
  • Waterfront location
  • Daily fresh production
  • Sorbets for dairy-free options

Must-try: Stracciatella or any seasonal fruit sorbetto.

Rococo Ice Cream (Portland)

Small-batch artisanal ice cream with inventive flavors. Located in the West End, Rococo brings a craft approach to traditional ice cream making.

What sets them apart:

  • Small batches, high quality
  • Creative seasonal flavors
  • West End neighborhood feel
  • Craft approach

The Ice Cream Dugout (Windham)

A beloved local stand with generous portions and classic flavors. The experience is pure summer: picnic tables, soft serve swirls, and families lined up on warm evenings.

What sets them apart:

  • Classic stand experience
  • Generous portions
  • Soft serve and hard ice cream
  • Community institution

Coastal Classics

Red’s Dairy Freeze (South Portland)

A retro soft-serve stand that’s been serving South Portland since 1952. The menu covers everything from dip cones to sundaes to the local favorite: the Red’s Special.

What sets them apart:

  • Authentic 1950s character
  • Soft serve expertise
  • Historic presence
  • Local loyalty

Dorman’s Dairy Dream (Thomaston)

Route 1 roadside stand with ice cream made on-site. The flavors rotate with the seasons. The experience is pure Maine summer.

What sets them apart:

  • Made on premises
  • Rotating seasonal flavors
  • Classic roadside stand
  • Midcoast location

Round Top Ice Cream (Damariscotta)

Operating since 1924, Round Top is one of Maine’s oldest ice cream stands. The location on Route 1 in Damariscotta makes it a natural stop on coastal travels.

What sets them apart:

  • Century of history
  • Classic flavors
  • Route 1 convenience
  • Tradition

Morton’s Moo (Ellsworth)

The go-to stop on the way to or from Acadia. Large portions, good flavors, and a location that catches everyone passing through.

What sets them apart:

  • Acadia gateway location
  • Generous portions
  • Solid quality
  • Easy access

Mountain and Inland

Tubby’s Ice Cream (Wayne)

A destination ice cream stand in the lakes region, Tubby’s draws crowds from across central Maine. The setting—fields and farms—enhances the experience.

What sets them apart:

  • Rural destination
  • Homemade quality
  • Classic Maine setting
  • Worth the drive

The Ice Cream Barn (Kingfield)

Near Sugarloaf, this seasonal stand offers ice cream made from local dairy. Post-hike or après-ski, the creemees hit the spot.

What sets them apart:

  • Mountain location
  • Local dairy
  • Seasonal operation
  • Sugarloaf proximity

Maine Flavors

The best ice cream shops in Maine showcase local ingredients:

Wild Maine Blueberry: The essential Maine flavor—not artificial blue, but the deep purple of real wild berries.

Maple Walnut: Maine maple syrup gives this classic extra depth.

Blueberry Crumble: Blueberries with graham cracker or pie crust pieces.

Whoopie Pie: Maine’s unofficial state dessert, translated to ice cream.

Lobster: Yes, lobster ice cream exists. Adventurous eaters can find it at select locations.

Coffee: Maine’s coffee-loving population demands quality coffee ice cream.

Soft Serve vs. Hard Ice Cream

Maine has strong traditions in both:

Soft Serve (Creemee):

  • Lower butterfat, lighter texture
  • Served at classic stands
  • Dip cones a specialty
  • Pure summer nostalgia

Hard Ice Cream:

  • Higher butterfat, denser texture
  • Scooped into cones or cups
  • More complex flavors possible
  • Premium experience

The Best: Don’t choose—enjoy both in their proper contexts.

Ice Cream Stand Culture

The Experience

Maine ice cream stands are social institutions. Families gather on warm evenings. Teenagers cruise the parking lots. The menu board lists dozens of flavors. The line moves slowly, and nobody minds.

Etiquette

  • Lines are part of it: Wait your turn; rushing is frowned upon
  • Know your order: Have it ready when you reach the window
  • Cash helps: Many stands prefer it
  • Clean up: Dispose of napkins and cups properly

When to Go

  • Early evening: Peak time, peak crowds, peak atmosphere
  • Afternoon: Shorter lines, hotter temperatures
  • Rainy days: Ice cream stands thin out—your opportunity

Planning Your Ice Cream Route

Portland Day

Start at MDI Ice Cream (morning, yes—no judgment). Gorgeous Gelato for afternoon waterfront. Rococo for an evening stroll.

Midcoast Route

Round Top in Damariscotta, then continue to Dorman’s in Thomaston. Stop at Morton’s Moo if continuing to Acadia.

Downeast Journey

Morton’s Moo in Ellsworth, then MDI Ice Cream in Bar Harbor. Repeat as necessary throughout your Acadia visit.

The Perfect Scoop

You stand at the window as the teenager behind the counter works the scoop. The cone comes back heavy, two generous rounds of wild blueberry ice cream, purple and authentic. You take the first lick before stepping away from the window.

This is Maine summer distilled—cold cream, local flavor, warm evening, nowhere else to be. The ice cream is excellent. The moment is better.

Maine’s ice cream tradition runs deep—from century-old stands to innovative newcomers, from classic flavors to creative experiments. The quality is consistently high, the portions generous, and the experience quintessentially summer. Find a stand, order a cone, and take your time. The ice cream is worth it. The moment more so.