Where to Find the Best Ice Cream in Colorado Springs
Who has the best ice cream? That depends on your palate, but why not try them all — repeatedly — to find your favorite? These are our picks for the best ice cream in Colorado Springs.
Josh & John’s
Josh & John’s is a local legend. Founded by two Colorado College graduates in 1986, this is the home of locally sourced ingredients and rich, handcrafted creations. With flavors like Purple Mountain Majesty and Colorado Cookies and Cream, this is elevated ice cream. Locations downtown, on the Westside (Mountain Shadows) and up north (Flying Horse) make Josh & John’s easily accessible. Good thing, since this is the stuff that will make you forget about Ben and what’s his name.
Find It:
Downtown, 329 N. Tejon St.
Mountain Shadows, 6896 Centennial Blvd.
Flying Horse, 2710 North Gate Blvd.
Plus Fort Collins if you’re farther up the Front Range.
The Drive-In Tasty Freeze
The slogan is right on target. The Drive-In Tasty Freeze is a “sweet Old North End tradition.” This is a classic, throwback soft serve ice cream joint where you can get an old-school banana split, a hand-dipped cone with a wide variety of sprinkles or a thick malted milkshake.
The Tasty Freeze has been here since the 1950s, but new ownership in the last several years has refreshed and revitalized it into a thriving, neighborhood hot spot. Shaded decks are strung with festive lights along the Shooks Run Trail, and many locals from Patty Jewett, the Old North End and beyond arrive by bike or on foot. Watch the schedule for regular live music and car shows.
Find It: 2309 N. Weber St.
Caffeinated Cow
You can have your ice cream, and you can have your coffee. But why keep them separate? The Caffeinated Cow brings both together — literally if you want. The veteran- and Black-owned business has become a community hub at the border of Ivywild and Cheyenne Canon. Owner Jake Norment makes the cozy shop personal and welcoming, and you’ll find a coffee shop menu of breakfast sandwiches and pastries. Our recommendation is to maximize the experience and add that scoop of ice cream to your latte!
Find It: 1791 S. 8th St.
i-Cool Thai Ice Cream
If you haven’t had Thai rolled cream yet, go try it. Now. Our pick is i-Cool at Academy and Woodmen. The experience of this frozen global phenomenon is watching liquid cream and your chosen flavors turn into ice cream before your eyes as an ice cream alchemist chops and churns the mixture on a refrigerated steel plate. The result is divine, and the option of traditional Thai toppings gives it a tasty cultural twist.
Find It: 6820 N. Academy Blvd.
icoolthaiicecream.business.site
Colorado City Creamery
The Creamery is a must-visit on the Westside. Nestled in the middle of Old Colorado City, this is a shady spot to grab a treat and take a break, or enjoy as you window shop the boutiques of Colorado Avenue. The old-fashioned ice cream parlor has been making and serving its own delicious flavors, such as Pikes Peak Trail, for more than 40 years.
Find It: 2602 Colorado Ave.
Frozen Gold
Think of Frozen Gold as the new-school hipster on this list. While the soft-serve style may sound traditional, the flavors and toppings are as funky and decadent as you can get: Trix cereal, Kool-Aid Candied Popcorn, toasted marshmallow fluff, a cotton candy skirt. These and more blend into combos you’d expect to see a unicorn eating. Add the chic neon vibe and uber hotspot location among its New South End sister spots Denver Biscuit Co., Atomic Cowboy and Fat Sully’s, and Frozen Gold brings a new cool to the Springs ice cream scene.
Find It: 80 E. Moreno Ave.
Rizuto’s Ice Cream & Sweet Shop
When you’re craving creamy frozen goodness on the east-side, you’ve got to head to the Rizz. This family-owned shop between Powers and Austin Bluffs Parkway boasts more than 40,000 combinations of ice cream and sweet treats, thanks to a vast selection of toppings. Owner Chip Rizuto makes his own Italian gelato. Soft serve ice cream is created with local Sinton Dairy mix, and hard pack ice cream options come from Blue Bell and locally made Anne and Manns. Don’t be surprised if there’s a line out the door.
Find It: 4785 Barnes Rd.
https://www.rizutosicecream.com
BJ’s Velvet Freez
BJ’s is another classic, soft-serve ice cream shop that has become a Colorado Springs institution. Founded in 1954 during the drive-in era, BJ’s has been serving shakes, malts, floats, sundaes, hand-dipped cones and more since before the inauguration of Elvis as the king of rock ’n’ roll. With new parking and traffic flow, it’s as easy as ever to get your frozen treats at this popular hot spot. Look for the big cone on top at Union and Palmer Park.
Find It: 1511 N. Union Blvd.
Got another favorite ice cream shop we missed? Tell us about it.
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