Unearth The Voyage
Nebraska summers don’t mess around. Once the heat rolls in, the whole state seems to agree on one thing: it’s ice cream time. Whether you’re cruising through Omaha’s historic neighborhoods, making a pit stop in a small-town square, or winding through the open plains on a cross-state road trip, the right scoop can turn an ordinary drive into something worth talking about for years. Nebraska has a surprisingly rich ice cream culture, with shops that go far beyond the standard chocolate and vanilla lineup.
Some have been perfecting their craft since the 1940s. Others are reinventing the dessert entirely with rolled ice cream, Victorian parlors, and farm-fresh ingredients. A few have even caught the attention of national television and celebrity visitors. This list covers 12 shops spread across the state, each with its own personality, menu, and reason to stop.
Pack a cooler, plan your route, and get ready to eat your way across Nebraska one unforgettable scoop at a time.
1. Coneflower Creamery, Omaha
Yelp named Coneflower Creamery the number one ice cream shop in all of America in 2023, and one visit makes it easy to understand why. Co-owned by Brian Langbehn and Chef Katie Arant, this Omaha creamery opened in 2016 in the Blackstone District and has since expanded to a second location in Millwork Commons.
Everything here is made in-house, from the waffle cones to the sauces and toppings, using locally sourced ingredients. The menu changes with the seasons, resulting in flavors like Sour Cream Pear Pie, Basil White Chocolate, and a CrackerJack creation with buttered popcorn ice cream and caramel sriracha sauce.
Staple options like Vanilla Bean, Dark Chocolate, and Salted Caramel keep things approachable for those who prefer the classics. The interior features exposed brick, custom artwork, and cast iron cafe tables. Long lines are common, but regulars consider them part of the Coneflower experience.
2. Ivanna Cone, Lincoln
Few ice cream shops in Nebraska carry the kind of loyal following that Ivanna Cone has built over more than two decades. Founded in 1997 and planted firmly in Lincoln’s Historic Haymarket district at 7th and P Streets, this family-owned shop has become a genuine local institution.
The menu rotates constantly, with daily flavor updates shared on social media to keep regulars guessing. Past creations have included honey cornbread, malted miso, cinnamon roll latte, lemon custard, and a fizzy sherbet cone that regular customers still talk about. Classic flavors like cinnamon, chocolate, and vanilla are always available for those who prefer the familiar.
Homemade waffle cones are a consistent crowd favorite, and the staff actively encourages customers to try samples before committing. The interior includes seasonal decorations and a small children’s play area. Despite the artisan quality, prices stay reasonable, which is part of why this Haymarket gem keeps drawing lines year after year.
3. Ted & Wally’s Ultra-Premium Ice Cream, Omaha
Ted and Wally’s has been doing things the hard way since 1984, and that’s exactly the point. Using century-old antique White Mountain freezers packed with rock, salt, and ice, this Omaha shop produces ultra-premium ice cream with a 20% butterfat content that puts most competitors to shame.
Over its history, the creamery has developed nearly 3,000 unique flavors, rotating new options daily. That list includes Saffron with Roasted White Chocolate, jalapeño cream cheese with Oreos, apple cider sorbet, and caramel pecan pie. Vegan and keto options made from a pure coconut milk base are also available every day.
The shop collaborates with more than 40 local producers and artisans to source ingredients, keeping quality high and the community connection strong. Two Omaha locations, one in the Old Market and one in the Benson District, both occupy repurposed former gas stations. Notable visitors have included Warren Buffett and Bill Murray, which tells you something about the reputation this place has earned.
4. Dairy Chef, Elkhorn
Since 1969, Dairy Chef in Elkhorn has been the kind of place that marks the start of summer for an entire community. Originally opened as Dairy Sweet, part of a Midwest chain, the Ozmun family has run the operation for over seven years, refining a menu that blends old-school soft-serve tradition with some genuinely creative additions.
The signature Storm, a personalized blended ice cream treat, is the star of the show. Popular versions include the BFF with chocolate shell and salted caramel, and the Make-Up Storm loaded with Oreos, brownies, and fudge. The tower cones, standing approximately eight inches tall, are a must-order for first-time visitors.
Homemade cookie sandwiches baked in-house stay soft even when frozen and come in over 32 flavor combinations. Dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free soft-serve options rotate weekly. The walk-up window, expanded patio, and community events like outdoor movie nights at Flix at the Chef make this spot far more than just an ice cream stand.
5. Graley’s Creamery & Confections, Papillion
Bryon and Joanna Compton named their creamery after their children, Greg and Haley, and that personal touch carries through everything Graley’s does. The shop occupies a historically significant building in downtown Papillion that once housed the HA Sander General Store, complete with original wide wooden plank floors that have been there for well over a century.
The Victorian-themed interior sets Graley’s apart visually, but the ice cream is what keeps people coming back. With a butterfat content approaching 20% and a rotating selection of 24 flavors drawn from a roster of over 100 creations, the menu stays exciting. Standouts include Ooey Gooey Butter Cake, WaffleCorn, Honeycomb with real honeycomb candy chunks, and Lavender Honey.
Everything is made from scratch in-house, including candies, toppings, soups, and pies, using only all-natural ingredients and real cane sugar. Ice cream flights with eight mini scoops let indecisive visitors sample broadly. Graley’s also partners with local schools for history tours, making it one of the few creameries in Nebraska that doubles as an educational stop.
6. Zesto, Lincoln
The seasonal reopening of Zesto at 1100 South Street in Lincoln is practically a civic event. Locals treat it as the official announcement that summer has arrived, and the lines that form on opening day suggest the whole city agrees.
The Zesto concept dates back to 1945, when L.A.M. Phelan invented the Zest-O-Mat soft-serve machine. The first Nebraska location opened in Norfolk in 1950, and Lincoln followed shortly after. The South Street location recently celebrated 75 years of continuous operation, a milestone that very few ice cream shops anywhere can claim.
Classic vanilla soft-serve built the reputation, but the menu has grown considerably. Chocolate soft-serve arrived in the 1980s, and the Vortex blended treat became a fan favorite shortly after. Chili dogs, popcorn, burgers, and a Philly Cheesesteak round out a surprisingly full menu. A second Lincoln location on Pine Lake Road stays open year-round for those who refuse to wait for warm weather to get their fix.
7. eCreamery, Omaha
Not many ice cream shops can say they’ve hosted both Warren Buffett and Paul McCartney, but eCreamery in Omaha’s Dundee neighborhood has that distinction. The shop gained national attention after appearing on Shark Tank, and even though the owners left without a deal, the exposure sent sales soaring and confirmed their status as true ice cream innovators.
The parlor keeps 16 rotating daily flavors of specialty ice cream, gelato, and dairy-free sorbet on hand. Fan favorites include Butter Brickle, Sea Salt Caramel Brownie, and Avocado gelato, which has developed a devoted local following. Seasonal creations tied to events like the College World Series keep the menu fresh and community-connected.
One of the shop’s most popular features is the ability to create personalized pints with custom flavor names, available for nationwide shipping. For the seriously ambitious, the 12-scoop supreme sundae challenge offers a spot on the wall of fame to anyone who finishes within 20 minutes. That wall of fame sits right next to a display of the shop’s many media accolades.
8. UNL Dairy Store, Lincoln
There are not many places in the country where you can eat ice cream invented by college students as part of their coursework, but the UNL Dairy Store in Lincoln is exactly that. Operating since 1917, when it went by the name Varsity Dairy and offered all-you-can-drink milk for a nickel, this East Campus shop has been feeding Nebraskans for over a century.
Today the store functions as both a public ice cream parlor and a working educational facility for UNL food science students, who develop new flavors, conduct research, and manage production. Over 100 flavors rotate through the menu, with signature options like Scarlet and Cream and Bavarian Mint appearing regularly alongside new seasonal creations.
Beyond ice cream, the store sells handmade cheeses, meats from the animal science department, honey from the entomology department, charcuterie boxes, and fine coffee drinks. Public tours of the production facility are available and include tastings. Take-home pints and branded merchandise make this one of the most distinctive souvenir stops on any Nebraska road trip.
9. Mixins Rolled Ice Cream, Omaha
Rolled ice cream is part dessert, part live performance, and Mixins in downtown Omaha has mastered both aspects since opening in 2018. Every order is made from scratch on a cold plate right in front of the customer, which means the experience starts well before the first bite.
The menu leans into creative naming conventions. The Cookie Monster features a blue vanilla base with chocolate chip cookies, Oreo pieces, and Pocky sticks. The S’mores version combines vanilla with Hershey’s and graham cracker mix-ins topped with roasted marshmallow. Monkey Business pairs vanilla with banana, Nutella, and graham cracker for something that feels more like a dessert adventure than a simple order.
A swing inside the shop has become a popular photo spot, and the staff often personalize orders by writing names in drizzle. The downtown location draws a steady crowd of regulars and curious first-timers alike. For anyone who has never seen rolled ice cream made live, Mixins is the right place to start that education.
10. The Chocolate Season, Lincoln
The Chocolate Season in Lincoln operates by a simple rule: no artificial ingredients, ever. Since 2007, this woman-owned, family-run shop has been handcrafting chocolates and confections in small batches using Valrhona French Chocolate, a gourmet product trusted by professional pastry chefs around the world.
Ice cream plays a supporting but memorable role here. Waffle Weekends are a local institution, featuring creations like the Strawberry Nutella Waffle topped with macerated strawberries and vanilla ice cream, or a coffee ice cream version with caramelized cornflakes. These aren’t afterthoughts; they are carefully constructed desserts that happen to include a scoop.
The full espresso bar uses locally roasted beans and house-made syrups, with seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice and cookie butter rotating throughout the year. A transparent kitchen lets customers watch chocolates being crafted from start to finish. Amenities include soft seating, free internet, a kids corner with books and crayons, and a drive-thru window. The Food Network and Goldman-Sachs have both recognized the shop for its quality and business model.
11. Rello’s Creamery, Omaha
Mall ice cream shops don’t always get the credit they deserve, but Rello’s Creamery inside Omaha’s Oakview Mall has built a loyal customer base by doing one thing exceptionally well: making everything in-house. The difference between mass-produced ice cream and something crafted on site is noticeable from the first scoop.
Customers consistently highlight the coconut, chocolate, and bubblegum flavors as standouts, though the rotating selection keeps regulars checking back for new additions. Fresh waffle cones made on the premises add a level of quality that elevates even a simple single-scoop order into something worth planning around.
The owners are frequently praised for their approachable, friendly demeanor, and the shop maintains a reputation for fair pricing that makes it accessible for families and students alike. Rello’s also serves nachos, which is an unusual but apparently popular addition to the menu. Supporting a locally owned business inside a major retail mall feels like a small act of community loyalty, and the ice cream makes that choice an easy one.
12. Double Dips Ice Creamery, North Platte
North Platte doesn’t always show up on ice cream road trip lists, but Double Dips Ice Creamery in the city’s historic Canteen District makes a compelling case for adding it to the route. Owner Lorie Bergman has built a shop that connects directly to the local history and character of one of Nebraska’s most interesting small cities.
The menu features over 24 hand-dipped flavors served in elegant glass dishes or homemade waffle cones and bowls made fresh daily. Specialty sundaes named after local landmarks are a genuine highlight. The Bailey Yard sundae references the town’s famous railroad, while the Buffalo Bill sundae layers peanut butter fudge ice cream with homemade peanut butter fudge sauce and pecans.
The Joe Town sundae pays tribute to the owner’s hometown of St. Joseph, Missouri, featuring homemade melted cherry mash candy over vanilla ice cream. Glazed donut ice cream sandwiches, homemade fudge, cookies, and white chocolate blondies round out a menu that goes well beyond the standard scoop shop. Plans for ice cream pies and online ordering are already in development.
