8 Ice Cream Trucks in North Carolina That’ll Make You Feel Like a Kid Again
Remember the magical sound of the ice cream truck jingle that made you dash outside with a handful of quarters? That childhood joy isn’t gone – it’s alive and well across North Carolina! From classic soft-serve cones to artisanal flavors with local ingredients, these mobile ice cream vendors are bringing sweet nostalgia to neighborhoods and events statewide.
1. Sticks & Cones
Founded by two former teachers who wanted to bring joy to their community, Sticks & Cones now appears at corporate events, weddings, and neighborhood gatherings. Their most requested item? The birthday cake bar dipped in white chocolate and rolled in rainbow sprinkles.
2. The Daily Scoop on Main
What started as a brick-and-mortar shop now brings its famous homemade ice cream to streets across the Triangle. T
Owner Maria Sanchez crafts small-batch flavors using dairy from local farms. Her signature Carolina Honey Lavender has developed a cult following. The truck’s schedule is announced weekly on social media, causing neighborhood excitement comparable to Christmas morning when it’s headed your way.
3. Two Roosters Ice Cream Truck
A renovated 1965 Airstream trailer gleams in the sun as customers line up for Two Roosters’ innovative flavors. Owner Jared Plummer experiments with unexpected ingredients – think blackberry-basil sorbet or coffee infused with local brew.
The truck maintains a rotating menu featuring collaborations with area businesses. Their ‘Raleigh Proud’ series has included flavors like Cheerwine Bourbon Fudge and Videri Chocolate Chunk. Finding the truck becomes part of the adventure – followers track its whereabouts through an app showing real-time locations.
4. King of Pops
Rainbow umbrellas mark the spot where King of Pops carts serve up gourmet popsicles that have redefined frozen treats in Charlotte. Though not technically a truck, these mobile carts deserve mention for their cult-like following and nostalgic appeal.
Brothers Steven and Nick Carse create pops using seasonal fruits from North Carolina farms. Flavors change with what’s fresh – strawberry lemonade in spring, peach basil in summer. The Chocolate Sea Salt pop remains their bestseller year-round, with its perfect balance of sweet and salty making it impossible to eat just one.
5. Alsies Ice Cream Trucks
The familiar melody of ‘The Entertainer’ announces Alsies’ arrival, a family-owned fleet operating in Chapel Hill since 1982. These classic white trucks with cartoon ice cream characters painted on the sides transport adults straight back to their childhood.
Owner Al Henderson named the business after his daughter Alsie and still drives one of the trucks himself at 72 years old. The menu features nostalgic favorites like Bomb Pops, Choco Tacos, and those ice cream sandwiches with the paper wrapper you peel back. Nothing fancy – just pure, uncomplicated childhood bliss on wheels.
6. Sprinkle Joy
Sprinkle Joy specializes in over-the-top soft serve creations that are as photogenic as they are delicious.
Former pastry chef Amelia Wright creates towering swirls of soft serve dipped in chocolate shells and adorned with everything from cotton candy clouds to edible gold stars. Her ‘Unicorn Dream’ cone comes wrapped in a rainbow swirl of cotton candy. The truck appears at festivals, corporate events, and can be booked for private parties where it inevitably becomes the main attraction.
7. Doo Wop Desserts Truck
Beach towns along the coast come alive when the 1950s-themed Doo Wop Desserts Truck rolls through.
Owners Jeff and Linda Parker dress the part in poodle skirts and rolled jeans. Their signature ‘Rockin’ Root Beer Float’ comes in an actual glass mug (return it for a dollar back). The truck makes regular stops at Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach during summer months, where beachgoers form lines stretching down the boardwalk for their famous dipped cones.
8. Maple View Mobile Ice Cream
Farm-fresh doesn’t begin to describe Maple View’s ice cream. This mobile extension of the beloved Maple View Farm serves ice cream made from cows you can actually see grazing in the fields at their Hillsborough location.
The truck, painted to look like a Holstein cow, brings their famous butter pecan and black cherry flavors to farmers markets and festivals. All ingredients come from within 50 miles of the farm. The rich, creamy texture comes from a higher butterfat content than commercial brands, creating an unforgettable taste that explains why the truck often sells out before scheduled end times.
