Best Ice Cream at the Jersey Shore
From Kohr's legendary frozen custard to Springer's homemade scoops. The complete guide to satisfying your sweet tooth at the shore.
Find by Type
Frozen Custard
Dense, creamy, made with egg yolks. The classic shore treat.
Where: Kohr Bros., boardwalks
Premium Scooped
High-quality hard ice cream. Wide variety of flavors.
Where: Springer's, Hoffman's
Soft Serve
Light, whipped, classic summer treat.
Where: Most boardwalk stands
Italian Ice
Water-based, dairy-free, intensely flavored.
Where: Strollo's, boardwalk stands
Gelato
Italian-style, dense, less fat but bold flavors.
Where: Cape May, specialty shops
Classic Dipped Cones
Soft serve dipped in chocolate shell that hardens.
Where: Kohr's, most boardwalk spots
Featured Ice Cream Spots
Kohr Bros. Frozen Custard
Multiple Locations
The iconic frozen custard brand that's been a Jersey Shore tradition for over a century. Made with egg yolks for that distinctively rich, creamy texture. Find locations at most major boardwalks including Ocean City, Wildwood, and Seaside Heights.
- ✓Serving since 1919
- ✓Signature orange-vanilla swirl
- ✓Found at most major boardwalks
Best For
Tip: Get the orange-vanilla swirl in a waffle cone. Lines move fast, so don't hesitate.
Springer's Homemade Ice Cream
Stone Harbor
A Seven Mile Island institution and arguably the best ice cream shop at the Jersey Shore. Every flavor is made fresh on-site using family recipes. Portions are famously generous.
- ✓Family-owned since 1952
- ✓Made fresh on-site daily
- ✓Generous portions
- ✓40+ rotating flavors
Best For
Tip: Arrive before 7pm on weekends to avoid 30+ minute waits. Worth the drive from anywhere.
Hoffman's Ice Cream
Point Pleasant Beach
The iconic Point Pleasant ice cream destination with over 80 flavors made fresh on the premises. Known for creative flavors and portions that are almost too big to finish.
- ✓Over 80 flavors
- ✓Made fresh on premises
- ✓Famous massive portions
- ✓Dairy-free options available
Best For
Tip: A small is plenty for most people. Try the Shore Berry or ask for a sample flight.
All Ice Cream Spots
Brown's Restaurant
Ocean City🫧 Classic Dipped Cones
Classic diner with amazing ice cream. Great sundaes.
Must try: Hot Fudge Sundae
Skipper Dipper
Sea Isle City🍡 Soft Serve
Local favorite with creative flavors and toppings.
Must try: Twist Cone with Sprinkles
The Original Fudge Kitchen
Cape May🍨 Premium Scooped
Victorian fudge shop with excellent ice cream.
Must try: Fudge Swirl
Sundae Best
Avalon🍨 Premium Scooped
Seven Mile Island favorite. Creative sundaes.
Must try: Kitchen Sink Sundae
Kohr's The Original
Seaside Heights🍦 Frozen Custard
Boardwalk classic. Quick service, great taste.
Must try: Vanilla Dipped Cone
Strollo's Italian Ice
Multiple Locations🍧 Italian Ice
Authentic Italian ice. Perfect for hot days.
Must try: Lemon or Cherry
Fralinger's
Atlantic City🫧 Classic Dipped Cones
Famous for taffy but ice cream is excellent too.
Must try: Salt Water Taffy Ice Cream
Nagle's
Ocean Grove🫧 Classic Dipped Cones
Victorian-era charm. Cash only. Great banana splits.
Must try: Banana Split
Day's Ice Cream
Ocean Grove🍨 Premium Scooped
Since 1879. Oldest ice cream shop at the shore.
Must try: Homemade flavors
Ice Cream by Region
Northern Shore
Sandy Hook to Belmar
- • Day's (Ocean Grove)
- • Nagle's (Ocean Grove)
- • Local soft serve
Ocean Grove has historic shops. Less boardwalk options.
Central Shore
Point Pleasant to LBI
- • Hoffman's (Point Pleasant)
- • Kohr's (Seaside)
- • Local stands
Hoffman's is a destination. Seaside has boardwalk custard.
Atlantic City Area
Brigantine to Margate
- • Fralinger's (AC)
- • Local gelaterias
- • Casino restaurants
Boardwalk has classic options. Try salt water taffy ice cream.
Cape May Region
Ocean City to Cape May
- • Springer's (Stone Harbor)
- • Brown's (Ocean City)
- • Kohr's (Wildwood)
Best variety. Springer's worth the drive from anywhere.
Ice Cream Tips
Try Orange-Vanilla Swirl
Kohr's signature flavor. If you only get one thing, get this.
Visit Springer's
Worth a special trip to Stone Harbor. Get there early on weekends.
Skip Peak Hours
Lines at popular spots can be 20+ minutes. Try late afternoon.
Get a Cup on Hot Days
Cones melt fast in shore heat. Cups are safer for walking.
Ask for Samples
Scooped ice cream shops usually offer taste samples.
Check Cash Policy
Some historic shops are still cash-only.
The Legend of Kohr Bros.
Kohr Bros. has been serving frozen custard at the Jersey Shore since 1919, making it one of America's oldest continuously operating frozen dessert companies. The secret is the egg yolk-enriched recipe that creates that distinctive creamy texture. The orange-vanilla swirl became the signature flavor when it was discovered that the two colors looked appealing together. Today, Kohr's locations can be found at boardwalks from Ocean City to Seaside Heights.
Boardwalk GuideFrequently Asked Questions
What is Kohr's frozen custard?
Kohr Bros. frozen custard is an iconic Jersey Shore treat since 1919. It's denser and creamier than regular soft serve, made with egg yolks. Orange and vanilla swirl is the signature flavor. Find them at most major boardwalks including Ocean City, Wildwood, and Seaside.
Where can I find the best ice cream at the Jersey Shore?
Top spots include Kohr Bros. (multiple boardwalks), Springer's (Stone Harbor), Hoffman's (Point Pleasant), The Original Fudge Kitchen (Cape May), and local favorites like Brown's in Ocean City and Skipper Dipper in Sea Isle City.
What is the difference between soft serve, frozen custard, and gelato?
Soft serve is light and airy, served at low temp. Frozen custard (like Kohr's) contains egg yolks making it denser and creamier. Gelato is Italian-style with less fat but more intense flavor. The shore has all three styles.
Are there dairy-free options at Jersey Shore ice cream shops?
Many shops now offer dairy-free and vegan options. Hoffman's has dairy-free flavors. Most boardwalk spots have Italian ice (water-based, no dairy). Specialty shops like Kohr's offer sorbet options.