A hot summer’s day and a scoop of ice cream go hand in hand. An ice cream sandwich fresh from the truck, brightly colored shaved ice, a banana split, sky-high swirled soft-serve, and other nostalgic favorites bring a taste of days past and, whether five years old or fifty, give us pockets of joy amidst life’s chaos.
When you’re off enjoying the best of a summer in Franklin, Tennessee, you’ll want to bookmark these sweet local spots for ice cream and frozen treats that are worth a visit—even if your hands get a little sticky.
Sweethaven
Downtown Franklin, West Franklin
After a full day of shopping and eating in downtown Franklin, stop by locally owned Sweethaven for a swirl of something, well, sweet. This family-owned business, whose first location opened in Westhaven in 2020, serves up hand-dipped ice cream and farm-fresh frozen yogurt in homemade waffle cones with the most colorful sprinkles in all of Williamson County. They partner with other businesses to round out their sweet lineup, like ice cream sandwiches from Nightingale Ice Cream and gourmet popsicles from King Of Pops. Sweethaven also has delicious dairy-free options, like coconut milk frozen yogurt, oat milk ice cream, Italian ice, sorbet, and their can’t-miss frozen Dole Whip. Hint: You can even order a Dole Whip Float!
Tío Fun!
Downtown Franklin
You’ve never experienced shaved ice quite as joyful or colorful as the raspa at the newly opened Tío Fun! location off of Columbia Avenue. Just as the name Tío Fun! suggests (meaning “the fun uncle”), their menu is anything but dull. Cap off a meal of pochos, tacos, and fresh guac with finely shaved ice raspa, which comes in various daily flavors and can/should be topped with sweetened condensed milk. A favorite flavor combination is their luscious orange creamsicle raspa complete with a slice of lime. It’s the perfect low-key spot for a first date treat.
Andy’s Frozen Custard
Spring Hill
An evening drive around Spring Hill should—and for our family, often does—end in a trip to Andy’s Frozen Custard. This drive-up custard joint is the hot spot on summer nights, serving up thick candy-filled concretes, syrupy sundaes, loaded splits, shakes, floats, and more. You can even enjoy ice cream confections of decades past, like malts and Old-Fashioned Sodas: scoops of custard topped with flavored seltzer and syrup. As the Spring Hill Andy’s is open daily until 11:30 p.m. and Fridays/Saturdays until midnight, it’s the perfect spot to keep in mind when your late-night sweet tooth comes knocking.
Farm Fresh Vintage Finds & Creamery
Fairview
You could spend a whole afternoon browsing antiques in Fairview and, conveniently, Farm Fresh Vintage Finds & Creamery has ice cream for when you need a little energy boost. This charming shop, run by interior designer and DIY blogger Beth Tidwell, is full of local products—farmhouse decor, furniture, reclaimed pieces, even clothing—plus ice cream treats provided by nearby Sweet T’s Gelato & Cafe in White Bluff. Whether you choose a milkshake, sprinkle-topped scoop, popsicle, or ice cream sandwich, these sugary local indulgences are worth every bite. Don’t miss the photo opp in front of the store’s Fairview-themed mural!
Kilwins
Downtown Franklin
Situated smack-dab on Main Street, Kilwins is a family-friendly ice cream (and fudge) shop with a flavor for every whim. We’re not kidding—they make over 75 products by hand, including candy clusters, brittles, caramels, and more. Their original recipe ice cream comes in everything from Blueberry Waffle Cone to New Orleans Praline Pecan to Lemon Sorbetto served in dressed-up waffle cones—after all, they are known for their candy expertise. Though Kilwins is a chain, you won’t be able to tell with the Franklin sweet shop’s welcoming atmosphere and friendly demeanor. It’s the ideal spot to grab a scoop after a show at The Franklin Theatre or a ghost tour with Franklin Walking Tours; Kilwins is open daily until 10 p.m.
Whit’s Frozen Custard
Berry Farms (South Franklin)
In the charming town center of Berry Farms, you’ll find Whit’s very first Tennessee location, run by local owners Erin and Brian Welch and their three daughters. Opened in 2016, this frozen custard shop has a sweet reward for every visitor, churning vanilla and chocolate custard fresh every day to make sundaes, splits, and even custard sandwiches. Take your scoop to go in a waffle cone and roll the windows down—the drive through Tennessee farmland in South Franklin is one of the prettiest trips around Williamson County.
Beach Co. Chill
Spring Hill
It’s not really a snow cone—it’s something much better. Beach Co. Chill is a modern take on the age-old ice cream truck with its charming little trailer parked outside of Hidden Seed Plant Shop in Spring Hill. With a wide variety of shaved ice options, including sugar-free and dairy-free choices, a trip to Beach Co. Chill means that no one has to compromise on dessert. The beauty of this shaved ice really lives in the details—you can try the “stuffed” version for ice cream packed inside your shaved ice or load up on toppings like gummies, cookie crumbles, chocolate sauce, and more. You’ll want to sit and stay awhile at one of their outdoor tables; the treats are generously portioned.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream
Downtown Franklin (The Factory), Cool Springs, Brentwood
If you ask Franklin locals for their go-to ice cream spot when visitors come to town, you’ll likely hear a chorus of praise about Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream in The Factory At Franklin. Jeni’s serves up eclectic flavor combinations that somehow taste better after a day of shopping at Luna Record Shop or painting pottery at Third Coast Clay Ceramic Studio. (There’s a second Franklin location at McEwen Northside and another in Brentwood off of Franklin Road.) Jeni’s doesn’t use synthetic flavorings or dyes, either. And, one of the best parts of summer: The whimsical ice cream chain rolls out limited-edition flavors that usually result in a line outside the shop (no need to worry—it moves quickly). Grab scoops of Strawberry Buttermilk, Sparkling Cherry Pie, or best-selling Gooey Butter Cake. Dairy-free friends, don’t fret—Jeni’s has several incredible vegan flavors, like Lemon Bar and Texas Sheet Cake ice cream, to curb your sweet tooth.
Paletas Tocumbo
Southwest Franklin
Can you think of anything more refreshing than a popsicle on a hot summer’s day? Turn to Paletas Tocumbo on the southwest side of Franklin for flavorful, fruit-filled, colorful popsicles that hit the spot on any occasion. They have nearly three dozen milk- and water-based pop flavors, plus ice cream, agua fresca, iced coffee, and a long list of snacks. Their service is friendly and quick, and they don’t hesitate to provide samples if you can’t decide whether to try their Tres Leches ice cream or their Butter Pecan. Just follow the vibrantly painted, cartoon-adorned windows!
Fork Of The South Milkshake Bar
Downtown Franklin (The Factory)
If you have a hankering for an oh-so-sweet sippable treat, look no further than the back corner of your favorite local general store. Seriously! Located in Fork Of The South in The Factory At Franklin, this nostalgic milkshake bar starts every dessert off with made-from-scratch vanilla ice cream and then adds mix-ins like caramel, pecans, peaches, even lavender syrup and cinnamon roll chunks to make one-of-a-kind milkshakes far beyond your local fast food joint. Each shake is then generously topped with whipped cream and layers of toppings, depending on whether you select the Basic, Extra, or Boujie versions of these mouth-watering milkshakes. Look for the glowing pink neon sign to guide you!
You can’t really go wrong with any of these icy, refreshing treats when the sun is shining and the craving hits—nor will you regret sharing a sweet memory with the ones you love.
Now, only one question remains: Which celebrated shop will you try first?
