Arizona heat has a way of turning a quick errand into a full-blown hunt for something cold, and grocery store tubs just do not cut it every time. This list rounds up seven ice cream shops across the state, from Phoenix and Tempe to Tucson, Lake Havasu City, and Sedona, that make their ice cream in-house in small batches instead of trucking it in from a factory.
Some lean into nostalgia with retro candy and toys, others build scoops right in front of you, and a few specialize in lactose-free, vegan, or dairy-free options so more people can join the cone crowd. Save this one for your next hot afternoon, road trip, or late-night sweet tooth, because each stop brings its own reason to pull over.
1. Churn, Phoenix, AZ
Few ice cream shops double as a candy store, a coffee bar, and a toy aisle, but Churn manages all three in one small space on North Central Avenue. The shop leans hard into an 80s and 90s theme, with old-school candy and fanciful gifts lining the shelves.
The real star is the slow-churned ice cream made in-house. The milk and cookies flavor is the one people keep coming back for, and the rich, creamy texture is a big reason fans make the trip from well outside central Phoenix…