Carman’s Ice Cream

Great homemade ice cream! The best around that I’ve had! They still have full ½ gallon containers unlike some other companies.

What a great little spot that truly lives up to the description «old fashioned.»
We were in the area today to ride the historic steam train in New Freedom, PA with our 3 year old twin boys and then were looking for an ice cream shop to hit afterwards. This place was a great find.
The shop is very small and the ice cream isn’t scooped up for you but comes in cups, pints and other sizes that are prepackaged. We didn’t mind because the experience was very cool, the people were super friendly, and the ice cream was delicious.
The woman who served us said this business has been around since the 1950’s and had been in the family for three generations. It’s a great throwback to what it must’ve been like to go for nice cream back in the 50’s and 60’s before Cold Stone, BR, etc started to dominate.
We would definitely stop here again.

The last time I remember a little cup of ice cream that I had to peel back and eat with a little wooden spoon, I think I was 5 years old. Oh how it brought me back to my childhood. This was my first visit to Carmans, and although I’d never been there I would certainly go back. The ice cream had a very creamy texture and was absolutely delicious. The price was not so bad either. I would guess the cups were about 8oz. and 1.25 a cup. Not bad. All in all, nice little hole in the wall. Check it out!

Local favorite. I taste the love and the olde thyme influence. Sweet and sandy. Still get a stubby woody spoon to eat with right away. Orange-​pineapple is my favorite.

carman’s ice cream is a york county gem and has been a personal and family favorite forever. i stick with the basics — chocolate and vanilla, but they have many more types. as another review said, their ice cream is on the icy side — and it feels a little sandy in your mouth but that’s part of the appeal for me! it is not sickening sweet like many of the commercial brands. it’s easy to miss the street that you turn onto for the shop so keep an eye out.

Carmen’s ice cream has always been a household favorite. It is one of those things you just have to have after being away from home, too. The ice cream is more ‘icy’ and not as creamy, which I really enjoy. It is the closest to home made ice cream that I’ve had. The vanilla is by far the best flavor there.
Carmen’s is also right down the road from Brown’s Market, which is another one of my favorite places.

Over 15 fresh and very creamy flavors obviously made locally. Not an ice cream parlor as much as a backdoor at the dairy that sells the goodies. Outside bench seating. A good place to stop with kids. The proprietor is extraordinarily friendly.