There aren’t that many foods that can tap into sense memory the way a good milkshake can. The cold, creamy, ice cream drink can take you straight back to your childhood in a heartbeat.
Craving a milkshake and need to know the best one in your area? Traveling to a new state and need to make a shake stop? Take a peek at this list of some of the best milkshakes in in every state and Washington, D.C..
Alabama: Big Spoon Creamery
Multiple Locations
Now in three locations, Big Spoon’s homemade ice cream, elevated sundaes, and creamy shakes have become important parts of Alabama culture. Check them out in Birmingham, Huntsville, and Homewood.
Alaska: Motley Moo Creamery
Anchorage
At Motley Moo, you’ll find classics like rocky road, specialties like vanilla and whiskey, and everything in between. Naturally, they’ll blend any of those up into a shake for you, and they’ll even throw in some malt for an extra 50 cents.
Arizona: Churn
Phoenix
Churn has plenty of flavors to choose from, including Vietnamese coffee, cookies and mint, and double chocolate (you can also add malt for an additional 50 cents). But there’s a lot more to be found in this quirky little store. Gifts, toys, and coffee are available too; just wander down one of the timeless-looking aisles.
Arkansas: The Purple Cow
Multiple Locations
Find your way to one of the five Purple Cow locations across Arkansas. It all starts with classic American divey fare, but culminates in the reason you’re here: the famous Purple Vanilla milkshake.
California: McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams
Santa Barbara
McConnell’s probably hasn’t made a bad batch of ice cream in its 70+ year-long run. Very rarely does an ice cream brand pull off classic flavors and outrageous collabs as effortlessly as McC’s. For shakes made of everything from cookies and cream to Katy Perry-inspired flavors, you’re at the right place. In my oh-so-humble opinion, there is no better ice cream anywhere.
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Colorado: Steuben’s
Denver
Steuben’s almost feels like something out of sunnier Gotham City, with retro diner vibes and a menu of old-school diner dishes. The highlight of that menu? Homemade ice cream shakes, which can easily come with alcohol if the occasion calls for it.
Connecticut: Arethusa Farm Dairy
New Haven
Arethusa is a farm, restaurant, dairy, and cafe. Since its opening, it’s spread to three locations around Connecticut, each selling shakes made from their widely-celebrated, super premium ice cream that comes in flavors like butter pecan, mint chip, and almond with toasted coconut.
Delaware: Charcoal Pit
Wilmington
Things are simple at the Charcoal Pit, where burgers and ice cream have been drawing crowds since 1956. There’s nothing better to dunk your fries in than one of the Pit’s homemade shakes, especially the ever popular shake of the month.
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District of Columbia: Ted’s Bulletin
Multiple Locations
Contemporary takes on diner classics is the philosophy at Ted’s Bulletin, which now has locations in D.C., Virginia, and Maryland. Been a long day? Boozy shakes are an option, including the Irish caramel coffee shake or the White Russian shake.
Florida: Cousteau’s Waffle and Milkshake Bar
St. Augustine
Life is about Belgian waffles and handspun shakes at Cousteau’s. You can play it safe with a simple classic, but there’s also a menu of creations to pick from, like the “Ping Island” with vanilla, peanut butter, chocolate sauce, marshmallow fluff, and graham cracker crumbs.
Georgia: Grindhouse Burgers
Atlanta
The burgers are a great start, but it’s during dessert that Grindhouse really picks up steam. Choose from flavors like vanilla, mocha, peanut butter, peach, and more, and don’t forget to ask about their shake of the month. For only a few extra bucks, they’ll crank that shake of yours full of booze. Grindhouse gets it.
Hawaii: Teddy’s Bigger Burgers
Honolulu
The aloha vibes at Teddy’s are elite, and though you could pair your burger with a typical chocolate shake, don’t forget you’re in Hawaii. Teddy’s has shakes made from haupia, too, which is a classic Polynesian coconut cake.
Idaho: Goody’s Soda Fountain
Boise
Goody’s is as old-fashioned and wholesome as it gets, and has been slinging chocolate, candy, and homemade ice cream for over 30 years. You’ve got 20+ options for shakes and malts, so mix and match to your heart’s content.
Illinois: Margie’s Candies
Chicago
Margie’s opened in 1921 and is a Chicago landmark, so you could always pop in under the guise that you’re partaking in a historical activity. It’s only a bonus that you get to leave with some of Chicago’s best ice cream blended up into a perfect beverage; don’t miss out on the fudge marshmallow shake.
Indiana: The Chocolate Moose
Bloomington
Rich, creamy milkshakes are what keep Bloomington locals coming back to the Chocolate Moose. And when Nutella is an option for mixing, you know hazelnut shakes are flying off the shelves.
Iowa: Over the Top
Pleasant Hill
This color-blasted ice cream parlor is famous for creative flavors, but none seem to be as popular as Cookie Monster, which is packed with cookie dough, chocolate chip cookies, vanilla wafers, Oreos, Fudge Stripe cookies, and M&M’s. So barely any sugar at all, really.
Kansas: Do-B’s
Emporia
Old-fashioned, thick milkshakes just taste better out of a metal tin and under the roof of a nostalgic diner. Peanut butter and banana shakes are popular in the midwest, and Do-B’s is the type of place to get one.
Kentucky: Dairy Kastle
Louisville
Dairy Kastle’s legendary soft serve is what often curls the line around the building, but if you’re not feeling like a cone, the shakes are just as prime. You’ll need a chili dog to wash it down, too.
Louisiana: Sucré
New Orleans
Sucré is one of those upscale sweet shops that sort of make you feel like you’re in a dream based on its colorful, over-the-top, luxurious decor. Luckily, if it’s too much for you, you can take one of its famous, velvety milkshakes to go.
Maine: Duckfat
Portland
Duckfat’s famous milkshake is made with crème anglaise (a thin, custard-like sauce), vanilla gelato, and Tahitian vanilla bean, so you know it’s packing an insane amount of flavor. Is it surprising that a simple vanilla shake would be so decadent here? The restaurant is named after the ingredient they fry their big, golden fries in, so no.
Maryland: The Charmery
Baltimore
With four locations around Baltimore, The Charmery is spreading cold, creamy happiness all over the place. The signature flavor? Old Bay Caramel, which is exactly what you think: Caramel ice cream with Old Bay seasoning.
Massachusetts: Lizzy’s Homemade Ice Cream
Cambridge
The scoops and shakes have been flowing at Lizzy’s for over 50 years now, which speaks volumes to its importance in Cambridge. And if going to a scoop shop is too much trouble, you can always book them to cater a sundae party. Win-win.
Michigan: Westside Diner
Flint
Westside Diner is doing the classics in Flint, like burgers and breakfast specials paired with shakes and malts galore. And at under $6, that’s an unbeatable price for a hand-dipped shake (meaning it’s been scooped by an actual person into a blender, rather than a milkshake machine) that arrives shiny and triumphant in its tin. Plus, you get that iconic red and white straw to top it all off.
Minnesota: Sebastian Joe’s
Minneapolis
With seven small-batch flavors on deck and ever-rotating special flavors, Sebastian Joe’s brings neighborhood scoop shop magic to Linden Hills and Lowry Hill in Minneapolis. Check out a shake made from the shop’s signature Pavarotti flavor: caramel, bananas, and vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips.
Mississippi: Bop’s Frozen Custard
Multiple Locations
You don’t always need to reinvent the wheel, which is why Bop’s only has two signature shakes on the menu: The Grasshopper, with Oreos and mint; and The Rachel, with peanut butter and fudge. That’s all you really need, so why play around?
Missouri: Crown Candy Kitchen
St. Louis
The legacy of Crown Candy Kitchen has graced St. Louis for over 100 years, and its ice cream is just as famous. Made from 14% butterfat and blended in an antique copper candy kettle, Crown’s old-school ice cream is a thing of precision. The shakes are made with three scoops of the good stuff, with an option to make it extra thick. It’s a necessary stop on any trip to St. Louis.
Montana: Sweet Peaks Ice Cream
Whitefish
It’s all about highlighting the bounty of ingredients that are local to the Montana mountains at Sweet Peaks Ice Cream. Though the ice cream is crafted up in Whitefish at its flagship shop, you can now find shakes in Kalispell, Missoula, and Bozeman as well.
Nebraska: Ted & Wally’s Ultra-Premium Ice Cream
Omaha
A family-owned joint since the ‘80s, Ted & Wally’s is focused on high-quality ice cream made from, as they say, hyper-local ingredients. Now partnered with over 40 producers, farmers, and chefs, the innovative shake flavors — like Baked After Dark Turtle Cinnamon Roll and Carrot Cake — haven’t ceased in 40 years.
Nevada: Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer
Las Vegas
Black Taps are popping up all over the country, and because the shakes are so insane and Instagrammable (think chocolate, peanut butter cups, pretzel rods, whipped cream, sauce drizzles, and more), it makes a lot of sense in Las Vegas. Go big, because what happens in … you get it.
New Hampshire: BRGR Bar
Portsmouth
BRGR Bar doesn’t care about rules, which is why the burger menu is all over the map. It’s also why you can get six different adult milkshakes in addition to the standard ones. Start with The Original, mixed with bourbon, New Hampshire maple syrup, and cinnamon.
New Jersey: Holsten’s Brookdale Confectionery
Bloomfield
Holsten’s opened up in the late ‘30s, and has been serving locally celebrated milkshakes made from home-spun ice cream the whole time. The joint was wildly famous in Jersey, and that’s before they shot the iconic final scene of “The Sopranos” there. Now it’s famous for two things.
New Mexico: Caliche’s Frozen Custard
Las Cruces
Most places don’t spin their frozen custard with New Mexico green chiles, but most places aren’t Caliche’s. Get the sweet and spicy Green Chile shake. It’s why you’re here.
New York: Tom’s Restaurant
Brooklyn
You recognize the outside of this place as the “Seinfeld” diner, but it’s a New York institution, and one of the best places to sit and have a classic diner milkshake, like chocolate or vanilla. This is no place to get fancy.
North Carolina: Sunni Sky’s Homemade Ice Cream
Angier
When you pull off the road to check out Sunni Sky’s, you might not be expecting a list of over 130 flavors, but that’s exactly what you’re going to get. They’ll turn anything into a milkshake, including one of the many no-sugar flavors like maple nut or coffee.
North Dakota: Kroll’s Diner
Bismarck
The ‘50s-style North Dakota haunt is consistently packed, and has been that way since 1969. People come to Kroll’s for German comfort food, but they’re not leaving before grabbing a thick, hard-scooped shake served in a tin. Oh, and it’s 2-for-1 shakes all day on Mondays.
Ohio: Mitchell’s Ice Cream
Cleveland
Mitchell’s is a true piece of Cleveland’s heart, now open in nine locations across the area. The shakes all include whipped cream and fresh chocolate shavings (score), and since it’s 2024, they can be made with almond milk if need be.
Oklahoma: Tucker’s Onion Burgers
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma-style onion burgers are among the best burger styles on the planet, and at Tucker’s, you can pair one with one of the best milkshakes for miles. Go classic with chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla, or just check out whatever seasonal flavor is up to bat.
Oregon: Mike’s Drive-In
Multiple Locations
At Mike’s Drive-In you can choose from over 30 types of milkshakes — and since this is Oregon, you know a ton of them are going to incorporate fresh berries. You can choose between an old-fashioned ice cream or soft serve shake, so pick wisely.
Pennsylvania: The Franklin Fountain
Philadelphia
Though the Franklin Fountain feels like it’s been around for 100 years, it’s actually been around for 20. Still, the ice cream is delicious and feels timeless, and you can order your shake in three levels of thickness with up to two flavors. Get excited.
Rhode Island: Newport Creamery
Multiple Locations
Everybody in Rhode Island is simply nuts about Newport Creamery, which is home to the famous “Awful Awful,” named because it’s “awful good, awful big.” It’s a shake made with what Newport Creamery calls “ice milk,” which contains less milk fat than regular ice cream. The whole state is a mystery, but if you find yourself there, check out Newport Creamery.
South Carolina: Ye Ole Fashioned Ice Cream and Sandwich Cafe
Charleston
Ye Ole Fashioned has popped up all over Charleston, and with over 40 different flavors, like Monster Cookie, Blueberry Cheesecake, and Fruity Pebbles to choose from in your shake, you’ll have no excuse not to find something to fall in love with.
South Dakota: B&G Milkyway
Multiple Locations
The charm of ice cream and burger stands like B&G Milkyway can be irresistible. Shakes come in flavors like marshmallow, banana berry, and butterscotch; if a simple shake won’t cut it, there’s plenty of mix-ins on deck to chunk it up.
Tennessee: Cruze Farm
Knoxville
Adorable, retro, and exploding in Knoxville, Cruze Farm is keeping soft serve magic alive. You can get any daily flavor in a shake, or you can keep it simple and pick from Cruze’s three signatures: cookies and cream, Nutella, and peanut butter.
Texas: Twisted Root Burger Co.
Dallas
What would Twisted Root Burger be if they didn’t adhere to the golden rule? Everything is indeed bigger in Texas, including the thick, custard-based shakes that the popular burger chain is serving.
Utah: Iceberg Drive Inn
Multiple Locations
They won’t give you a straw for your shake at Iceberg Drive Inn, but that’s probably because it’d be useless. The shakes are so thick here that you need a spoon, and a sturdy one at that. Oh, and there’s over 60 flavors to choose from. Good luck!
Vermont: Canteen Creemee Company
Waitsfield
Because Vermont is already a pristine wonderland full of magical forests and adorable creatures, it makes sense that Vermonters would refer to a soft serve cone as a “creemee.” At Canteen Creemee Company, you’re in for high-quality, small-batch creemee shakes and fried chicken. What else in this world do you need?
Virginia: Carl’s Frozen Custard
Fredericksburg
Carl’s is keeping it old-school in every sense, from the nostalgic frozen custard shakes to the the website, which looks like it may in fact be the first website ever created. Carl’s is a registered historical landmark, too — and it’s cash only, so don’t forget to hit the ATM on your way there.
Washington: Cougar Country Drive In
Pullman
It goes without saying that this place is here for Washington State students and staff (they’re the Cougars), and those people alone. It’s a surprise to nobody that classic diner shakes are a huge draw for a college crowd, but it might be a surprise to you that you can stick an entire candy bar in your shake if you want. And you should.
West Virginia: Austin’s Homemade Ice Cream
Ceredo
Austin’s has been doing its ice cream thing for over 75 years now. There are a horde of flavors to pick from, like lavender honey, chocolate brownie, and cinnamon, but maybe it’s worth finding out why locals worship the black raspberry shake as much as they do.
Wisconsin: The Chocolate Factory
Cedarburg
Sub sandwiches and ice cream might not be the first pairing you think of, but that’s what The Chocolate Factory has made its name on. The chocolate covered strawberry flavor, made with strawberry ice cream, malt powder, and chocolate sauce, is especially beloved in Cedarburg. Turns out there’s more to Wisconsin than just frozen custard.
Wyoming: Jackson Drug
Jackson
This place is straight out of the old west. Over 100 years old and housed in a historic brick building, Jackson Drug is worth a visit just to see the place. While you’re there, go ahead and grab a huckleberry shake made with local huckleberries.
