The Best Ice Cream spots around Lake Tahoe

The Best Ice Cream in Lake Tahoe

Summer in Tahoe comes with a short list of non-negotiables: a beach day, a hike, and at least one very good scoop of ice cream. We've done the research (repeatedly, and without regret). Here are the spots worth tracking down.

Aloha Ice Cream and Dessert Spa — South Lake Tahoe, CA

Locally owned and operated, Aloha sits perfectly along the bike path between Timber Cove Marina and Lakeside Commons, which means it's basically mandatory after a lakeside ride. They do it all: scoops, sundaes, ice cream cakes, and fresh waffle cones. Vegan options too, for the dairy-averse in your group. One heads up: cash is the only currency accepted, so visit the ATM (Bank of America shares a parking lot with Aloha Ice Cream) before you roll up.

Castle Rock Creamery — Stateline, NV

This one is the hidden gem locals love. Castle Rock Creamery is a small-batch artisanal ice creamery tucked into the Kingsbury Center right at the bottom of the grade on 290 Kingsbury Grade Road in Stateline. They always have the classics alongside some really fun, creative flavors. Don't skip Hank the Tank Tracks, their riff on Moose Tracks named after Tahoe's most notorious 500-pound black bear burglar. Hours are limited, so check their Instagram @castlerockcreamery before you go.

Camp Richardson's Ice Cream Parlor — South Lake Tahoe, CA

The Ice Cream Parlor at Camp Richardson is part of a broader experience, one that starts with adventure and ends with a cone. Located near the marina and bike trails, it draws beachgoers, families, and day-trippers. The portions are no joke, and lines can get long in summer, but that's part of the ritual. Grab a double scoop, find a picnic table in the pines, and call it a perfect afternoon. The ice cream is so good, even the locals with four legs are breaking in for it. Last summer, a bear got into the parlor and went straight for the strawberry. 

The Snack Shack at Round Hill Pines, NV 

Hear us out on this one. Round Hill Pines is already one of the best beach spots on the South Shore, a gated half-mile stretch of sand with views of Mt. Tallac and Emerald Bay. And tucked into their snack shack is vanilla and pineapple soft serve that hits completely different when you're barefoot in the sand after a swim. It's not a destination ice cream spot. It's better than that. It's the right ice cream in the right place at the right time. Open Memorial Day through mid-October.

Art of Gelato — South Lake Tahoe

Tucked into the Shops at Heavenly Village, Art of Gelato brings European technique to Tahoe terrain. With flavors like pistachio, stracciatella, and seasonal fruit blends, the small-batch gelato is made using traditional Italian methods and premium ingredients. If you want something that feels a little more elevated after a nice dinner, this is your spot.

Susie Scoops — Incline Village, NV (

Worth making the drive for, especially if you're already doing a loop around the lake. All ice creams are locally made in Nevada by the Hoch Family, who craft premium ice creams, sherbets, and sorbets using only the finest ingredients mixed with fresh, locally produced dairy. The banana split is iconic, and Susie Scoops is often voted best ice cream shop in North Lake Tahoe!

Bonus: A Tahoe Original Worth Knowing: Tahoe Pops

Not technically ice cream, but worth knowing about. South Lake Tahoe residents Adrienne Bush and Thomas Daly built Tahoe Pops out of a genuine popsicle obsession, and it shows. They source the highest quality farm-fresh ingredients and blend them with crisp mountain water to create craft popsicles that actually taste like the fruit they're made from. Flavors like strawberry lemonade, watermelon mojito, Thai iced tea, and Java Chip are the kinds of things you eat once and think about for the rest of the trip. Find them at local farmers' markets all summer, or grab a box at grocery stores around town. A genuine Tahoe original!