When American families plan their summer escapes this August – from tranquil beaches to panoramic parks and vibrant cities – enjoying delicious ice cream is an undisputed highlight.
Research by Spanish lessons provider Preply compares ice cream pricing in 250 parlors across beloved U.S. vacation cities. Using the average prices compiled, they ranked the most affordable scoops. They also identified favorite ice cream flavors by location using local surveys and National Ice Cream Association data.
The tour of frozen delights begins with the Buckeye flavor in Sandusky, Ohio, a delight available for merely $3.50 per scoop. On the other end of the spectrum, a Mint Chip scoop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, claims the title for the most premium-priced ice cream at $5.35.
Value-conscious travelers in the Midwestern heartland will enjoy flavors like Cookie Dough in Des Moines, Iowa, and Chokecherry in Fargo, North Dakota, averaging under $4.00 per scoop.
Heading south, ice cream enthusiasts can anticipate slightly higher prices. A scoop of Rum Raisin costs $4.10 in Orlando, Florida. Mountain vacationers can enjoy Cookies and Cream for $4.30 a scoop away from the coast in Denver, Colorado.
Whether your summer journey includes sampling a Rocky Road in Sedona, Arizona, or savoring Green Tea ice cream in Anchorage, Alaska, remember that budgeting for these sweet adventures is as critical as planning your trip’s logistics.
Methodology
Preply selected popular vacation cities across the U.S. for this study and researched prices at five ice cream parlors in each city, totaling 250 establishments. Data was gathered from their websites and Google Maps reviews from the past year. Average prices for each city were calculated and used for the ranking. Favorite ice cream flavors were sourced from local newspapers such as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and the National Ice Cream Association.
Top 5 Most Expensive Vacation Destinations for Ice Cream:
- Philadelphia, PA – $5.35 per scoop, $42.80 for four people (2 scoops each), Favorite Flavor: Mint Chip
- New York City, NY – $5.00 per scoop, $40.00 for four people. Favorite Flavor: Strawberry
- Portland, OR – $4.85 per scoop, $38.80 for four people, Favorite Flavor: Marionberry
- Santa Fe, NM – $4.80 per scoop, $38.40 for four people, Favorite Flavor: Chocolate Chocolate Chip
- Seattle, WA – $4.80 per scoop, $38.40 for four people, Favorite Flavor: Coffee
Top 5 Most Affordable Vacation Destinations for Ice Cream:
- Sandusky, OH – $3.50 per scoop, $28.00 for four people (2 scoops each), Favorite Flavor: Buckeye
- Harpers Ferry, WV – $3.70 per scoop, $29.60 for four people, Favorite Flavor: Black Walnut
- Des Moines, IA – $3.70 per scoop, $29.60 for four people, Favorite Flavor: Cookie Dough
- Rapid City, SD – $3.80 per scoop, $30.40 for four people, Favorite Flavor: Vanilla
- Biloxi, MS – $3.80 per scoop, $30.40 for four people, Favorite Flavor: Vanilla
Fun Ice Cream Lingo by Region:
- Northeast: “Frappe” (milkshake with ice cream)
- Midwest: “Buckeye” (peanut butter and chocolate), “Concrete” (thick milkshake)
- South: “Snowball” (shaved ice with syrup and ice cream), “Frozen Custard” (rich, creamy ice cream)
- West Coast: “Mud Pie” (layered dessert with ice cream), “Fro-Yo” (frozen yogurt)
- Pacific Northwest: “Marionberry” (local berry flavor), “Scooper” (person serving ice cream)
- Mountain States: “Huckleberry” (regional berry), “Bear Paw” (ice cream treat with chocolate, caramel, and nuts)
About Preply
Preply is an online language learning marketplace that connects over 32,000 tutors teaching 50 languages to hundreds of thousands of learners in 180 countries worldwide. Founded by a Ukrainian team in 2012, the company has grown to include members from 30 countries across Europe, the US, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Learn more about Preply here.
