The best ice cream in Johnston: the summer soft-serve shoppe, and the metro scoops worth the trip.

Johnston's ice cream scene is small but it has a genuine classic: Van Dee's, an old-fashioned soft-serve shoppe on Merle Hay Road that only opens for the summer. Here's the in-town spot, what it's known for, and where to drive for hard-pack scoops the rest of the year.

Where can I get ice cream in Johnston?

The go-to ice cream spot in Johnston is Van Dee's Ice Cream Shoppe on Merle Hay Road, an old-fashioned soft-serve shoppe that's a summer institution for local families.

• Van Dee's Ice Cream Shoppe (5915 Merle Hay Rd). A classic walk-up soft-serve shoppe with cones, cups, malts, shakes, sundaes, and its well-known "big chipper" ice cream sandwich. There's a short lunch menu of burgers and hot dogs too, and a shaded gazebo to sit under. Two things to know before you go: it's cash only, and it's seasonal, generally running from around Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Van Dee's is the one dedicated, sit-and-enjoy ice cream shop in Johnston, and locals treat it as a summer ritual. Because it's seasonal and cash only, it's worth a quick check on hours (and a stop at the ATM) before you head over.

Where can I get ice cream near Johnston?

Johnston sits right on the edge of Des Moines and Urbandale, so the metro's ice cream shops are only a few minutes away, mostly south and east down Merle Hay Road:

• Snookies Malt Shop (Beaverdale). A beloved walk-up soft-serve stand in the Des Moines neighborhood of Beaverdale, with a neon sign and long summer lines. A quick drive from Johnston and worth it.
• Beyond that, the Des Moines and Urbandale area has several scoop shops making small-batch and hard-pack ice cream, so if you want more than soft serve, or a cone in the winter, that's where to point the car.

For more sweet-tooth and outing ideas, see things to do in Johnston and things to do with kids.

Make an evening of it

Ice cream pairs naturally with a summer night out. Grab a soft serve at Van Dee's after a walk at a park, after a lap at Terra Park, or following dinner from our best restaurants list. In summer it also lands nicely before or after a free concert at The Yard in Johnston Town Center.

Johnston ice cream FAQ

Where can I get ice cream in Johnston, Iowa?

The go-to ice cream spot in Johnston is Van Dee's Ice Cream Shoppe at 5915 Merle Hay Road, an old-fashioned soft-serve shoppe with cones, malts, shakes, sundaes and a shaded gazebo out front. It is a seasonal, summer-only stop and is cash only. For hard-pack scoops and a wider selection, the bigger metro ice cream shops are a short drive away.

Is Van Dee's Ice Cream Shoppe open year-round?

No. Van Dee's is a seasonal shop that generally runs from around Memorial Day to Labor Day, so it is a summer treat rather than a year-round one. Van Dee's is also cash only, so bring bills. Hours shift with the season, so check before you head over.

Does Johnston have a lot of ice cream shops?

Not really. Johnston's dedicated ice cream scene is small: Van Dee's soft-serve shoppe on Merle Hay Road is the main in-town spot, and it is seasonal. A rolled-ice-cream shop that used to operate in Johnston Town Center has since closed. For more variety, most locals drive a few minutes into the wider Des Moines metro.

Where can I get ice cream near Johnston?

Plenty of metro ice cream shops are a short drive from Johnston, mostly south and east down Merle Hay Road and into Des Moines and Urbandale. Beaverdale's Snookies Malt Shop is a well-known walk-up soft-serve stand, and the Des Moines area has several scoop shops making small-batch and hard-pack ice cream.

What is Van Dee's known for?

Van Dee's is a classic soft-serve shoppe known for cones, malts, shakes, sundaes and its "big chipper" ice cream sandwich, plus a nostalgic look and a shaded gazebo. It is a seasonal, cash-only spot on Merle Hay Road in Johnston, and it serves a short lunch menu of burgers and hot dogs alongside the ice cream.