There’s an old-school ice cream shop in the Maryland countryside where the cones are stacked sky-high, the flavor list feels endless, and summer nights still bring crowds of families lining up for a scoop.
People have been making the drive here for generations, and once you taste the homemade ice cream, it’s easy to understand why.
This place isn’t about trendy desserts or over-the-top gimmicks.
It’s about generous servings, classic flavors, and the kind of small-town charm that instantly takes you back to childhood summers.
If you’re ready to discover the oldest ice cream shop in Maryland and find out why people keep coming back year after year, keep reading.
Where Is It?
Simmons Homemade Ice Cream Store is located at 2841 Snydersburg Road in Hampstead, a small town in northern Carroll County, Maryland.
You’ll find it about 45 minutes from Baltimore, around 1 hour and 30 minutes from Washington, D.C., and roughly 45 minutes south of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
The shop sits in a quiet rural stretch of Maryland surrounded by farms and rolling countryside, making the drive there feel like part of the fun.
About
Simmons Homemade Ice Cream Store is the kind of place that makes you slow down the second you pull into the parking lot.
This longtime Hampstead favorite is best known for its homemade ice cream flavors, old-school charm, and generous portions that customers rave about.
You’re not walking into a trendy dessert shop with fancy neon signs and tiny scoops here.
This place keeps things classic, simple, and all about the ice cream.
The menu features homemade flavors ranging from traditional favorites like chocolate and vanilla to seasonal fruit flavors like peach, strawberry, cherry, and raspberry.
Their ice cream is a huge draw, especially during hot Maryland summers when the line stretches into the parking lot.
One thing people immediately notice is the serving size.
Even a small cone feels enormous.
If you order a large, get ready for a mountain of ice cream stacked high above the cone.
The atmosphere feels wonderfully old-fashioned in the best way possible.
You’ll usually see families sitting outside, kids covered in melting ice cream, and regulars chatting while waiting in line.
On warm evenings, the place becomes a full-on community gathering spot.
The selection rotates with fresh fruit flavors, so you may find seasonal options alongside the shop’s always-available classics.
You can expect crowds on weekends and summer afternoons, especially in the late hours before closing when locals stop by for a treat.
The line usually moves pretty quickly though, and most people agree the wait is worth it once you’re holding a towering cone dripping down the sides.
Beyond the ice cream itself, part of the fun is the setting.
The surrounding countryside gives the whole experience a relaxed small-town Maryland feel that’s getting harder to find these days.
It’s the kind of place where generations of families return year after year for the exact same order.
History
Simmons Homemade Ice Cream Store has been serving ice cream in Carroll County for generations, earning a reputation as Maryland’s oldest continuously operating ice cream shop.
The business first opened in 1923 and quickly became a favorite roadside stop for locals, travelers, and families looking for a cold treat after a summer drive through the countryside.
Over the decades, the shop stayed true to its small-town roots while building a loyal following that stretches far beyond Hampstead.
Many customers who visited as kids now bring their own children and grandchildren for the exact same experience.
Even as newer dessert chains popped up across Maryland, Simmons kept its old-school approach front and center.
Know Before You Go
Simmons Homemade Ice Cream Store is open year-round, with hours that vary by season.
They’re always closed on Fridays though.
Bring cash, as the shop operates on a cash-only basis.
There’s a small amount of indoor seating with a few chairs and a bench, plus a small seating area right outside the entrance.
Parking is limited to street parking, which can get tight at times.
There are several fun stops nearby if you want to turn your ice cream run into a full day trip through northern Maryland.
Prettyboy Reservoir is about 20 minutes away and offers hiking, fishing, kayaking, and scenic water views across more than 7,300 acres.
Hashawha Environmental Center and Bear Branch Nature Center in nearby Westminster have walking trails and nature exhibits.
If you enjoy small-town shopping and local restaurants, downtown Westminster is roughly 10 minutes away and packed with locally owned cafes, boutiques, bakeries, and historic buildings.
During fall, the surrounding Carroll County countryside becomes especially popular for pumpkin patches, farm markets, and scenic drives through changing leaves.
Patience helps, and most people agree the oversized scoops are worth the wait once you finally reach the counter.
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