With summer coming to an end, now is your last chance to grab some ice cream on a warm summer night! Here is a list of 7 of the best ice cream shops in Rockford, IL, many of which are our personal favorites!
Three of these shops are local to Rockford, and the other four are the staples, in case you’re loyal to the Queen. From the classics to the more creative, each of these ice cream shops brings you their unique creation so you won’t get bored. Get your spoons ready, ladies and gentlemen, because summer isn’t over yet, and there’s still plenty of time to enjoy this delicious treat!
Benny’s Dariette
1402 Montague St, Rockford, IL 61102
The quick-service snack shop at Montague Street and Central Avenue has a long history in Rockford. Originally, Benny’s father opened it under the name of Joe’s Dariette and served pizza. Then, Benny bought it in 2013 and renamed it Benny’s Dariette.
If you are looking for delicious ice cream near you in Rockford IL, Benny’s Dariette has a special soft-serve lemon ice cream that goes especially well with a number of granita flavors, which regulars rave about. We recommend the lemon ice cream for the mix and “twinkles” on top, which are sprinkles and crushed cookie crumbles. However, there are 15 granita flavors to choose from in total, so get your creativity going!
Sweets N’ Eats
7096 Walton St, Rockford, IL 61108
Opened in 2020, Sweets N’ Eats is a new business in Rockford, IL that offers a wide array of ice cream treats, traditional Mexican desserts, food, and candies. Their menu includes tacos, tortas, nachos, elotes, paletas, but most importantly, more than 30 different ice cream flavors.
They serve ice cream from regional favorite, Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company, out of Madison, Wisconsin. It also serves cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory. The shop’s menu also features aqua fresca, Dorilocos, funnel cakes, and churros.
Dari Fair (Open Summers Only)
2813 Kilburn Ave, Rockford, IL 61101
Dari Fair is an old-fashioned walk-up ice cream shop in Rockford, IL with soft treats, cones, sundaes, floats, and sandwiches. They are only open during the summer months, so if you haven’t dipped your spoon in their ice cream, now is your last chance!
Cold Stone Creamery
653 S Perryville Rd, Rockford, IL 61108
Now, this wouldn’t be a round of our favorite ice cream shops if it didn’t include some of the staples!
For more than 30 years they’ve served up the finest, freshest ice cream, cakes, smoothies, and shakes using only the highest quality ingredients. And, of course, their signature process of preparing your custom ice cream creation on a frozen granite stone. With over 20 kinds of ice creams, signature creations, and pre-packed cartons, you’ll be more than satisfied with your choice.
Baskin-Robbins
4180 Newburg Rd, Rockford, IL 61108
Over 70 years ago, Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins had the crazy idea of offering 31 flavors of ice cream when everyone else was still selling vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. Burt and Irv were absolutely nuts about ice cream (Irv even had a swimming pool shaped like an ice cream cone). Their passion was contagious, and the 1400+ flavors offered at their ice cream shops have made the world a more flavorful place since they opened for business in 1945.
Dairy Queen Grill & Chill
1601 E Riverside Blvd, Rockford, IL 61114
Soft-serve ice cream & signature shakes top the menu at this classic fast-food chain and ice cream shop near you in Rockford, IL. With plenty of flavors and blizzard combinations to choose from, you’ll surely satisfy your sweet tooth. I recommend getting one of the blizzards (my favorite is the Butterfinger), it’s the perfect mix of soft serve and your favorite sugary sweet.
Culver’s
236 N Phelps Ave, Rockford, IL 61108
I know that a lot of people go to Culver to get their burgers, but have you ever tried their ice cream?
In 1984, Craig and Lea Culver, along with Craig’s parents George and Ruth, opened the very first Culver’s in the family’s beloved hometown of Sauk City, Wisconsin, and began serving ButterBurgers® and Frozen Custard. Culver’s presents 13 “classic” flavors in either a waffle cone, cake cone, or, a dish. Plus, if you’re looking to spice up your ice cream game, they have 38 specialties.
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