Dear neighbors,

Summer is here, and if you've been driving around Prince William County with the windows down and a craving you can't shake — we see you. Whether it's a soft serve cone after a long day, frozen custard on a Friday night with the kids, or a slow Sunday afternoon walk along the Occoquan waterfront with a cup of homemade fudge, this county has more sweet spots than most people realize.

Around here, one of the great local debates is Frostie Moose or Campbells Frozen Custard. Soft serve loyalists will tell you Frostie Moose, no question. Frozen custard devotees will look at you like you've lost your mind if you pick anything else over Campbells. Honestly? What’s your favorite?

We put together this guide, so you always know where to go — after dinner, after a sports game, after a long week, or just because it's hot and you deserve it. Bookmark it, share it with a neighbor, and if we missed your favorite spot, hit reply and tell us. (And yes, there is a Museum of Ice Cream in Boston — but we think we've got them beat.)

Here's to a sweet summer. 🍦 Photo: Brendan Church-Unsplash

🍦  WOODBRIDGE

 1   Frostie Moose Ice Cream — Woodbridge

📍 12581 Milstead Way, Woodbridge, VA 22192 | (703) 680-7777

Hours: Mon–Fri 3:00pm–9:00pm · Sat–Sun 12:00pm–9:00pm · Seasonal opens March, closes November ⚑

One of the county's most-loved local soft serve spots. Outdoor seating, pup cups, creative sundaes, and seasonal flavors — a natural stop for families and summer evenings near Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center. The kind of place where you can bring the dog, let the kids run a little, and stay longer than you planned.

Best for: families & kids · outdoor seating · sports team outings · summer evenings

 2   Campbells Frozen Custard — Woodbridge   ⭐ 4.4 (336+ reviews)

📍 4125 Merchant Plaza, Woodbridge | Open year-round | (703) 497-4000

Sunday-Thursday 12:00-9:00pm Friday and Saturday 2:00-9:00

One of the only year-round dessert spots in the county — and one of the best. Frozen custard is denser and creamier than soft serve (egg yolks — it's a whole thing), and Campbells does it right. Rotating monthly flavors, the iconic Campbellccino (espresso blended with frozen custard), custom pies, cookie sandwiches, and a green space out front for the kids. Board games inside make it feel more like a neighborhood hangout than a dessert shop.

What locals say:

"WONDERFUL staff and AWESOME ice cream! Always happy, cheerful people greeting you."  — Google

"I order here very frequently and every time the portions are great. They understand how to layer your toppings so it's not all on one side. Absolutely love this place."  — Uber Eats

Must-try: strawberry shortcake sundae · Campbellccino · banana split · cookie sandwich

🍨  MANASSAS

 3   Nathan's Dairy Bar — Manassas   ⭐ 4.8 (1,700+ reviews)

📍 8948 Mathis Ave, Manassas, VA 20110 | (703) 335-9051

Hours: Mon Closed · Tue–Thu & Sun 11:00am–9:00pm · Fri–Sat 11:00am–10:00pm · Seasonal opens March, closes first Saturday of December

Founded in 2001 by Manassas local David Hutton, who named the shop after his son Nathan — and over two decades later, it's a genuine county institution. Nathans was recently named one of Yelp's Top 100 Ice Cream Shops in the country. Not bad for a small family-run stop off Prince William Street.

Soft serve, hard scoop, shaved ice, and flavors that rotate regularly. The line wraps around the building on summer evenings — it moves fast, and it's worth every minute.

What locals say:

"Been going here since I was a kid — still the best service and ice cream around."  — Nextdoor, Manassas

"This is a local favorite that is always packed. Worth the wait — if the lines are long, they bring out samples while you wait."  — TripAdvisor

"This isn't a big corporation — it's just us, doing our best to serve our community with something sweet."  — Nathan's team

Best for: Old Town evening strolls · summer nostalgia · date nights · dog-friendly outings

 4   Swirlie's Soft Serve — Manassas   ⭐ 4.6 (864 reviews)

📍 9901 Pennsylvania Ave, Manassas, VA 20110

Hours: Open 7 days · check Facebook for current seasonal hours

Fruity Pebbles soft serve. That's really all we need to say. Swirlie's also does gelato, shaved ice, and sundaes piled high with toppings at prices that won't make you wince. Large outdoor picnic area with oldies music — the kind of place you remember from childhood summers. Two county locations:

What locals say:

"Swirlies has such a neat variety of options. I really enjoyed their cereal flavored ice cream mixes, which I have not seen anywhere else besides an overpriced spot in DC. A really good bang for your buck."  — Yelp

"They definitely do not skimp on toppings here. Super-fast, polite service."  — Google

Best for: families with young kids · summer afternoons · sports teams · nostalgia seekers

 5   Bruster's Real Ice Cream — Manassas

📍 8329 Sudley Rd, Manassas, VA 20109 | (571) 379-4302

Hours: Mon–Thu & Sun 12:00pm–9:00pm · Fri–Sat 12:00pm–10:00pm

Fresh-made waffle cones, an extensive hard scoop flavor selection, and a big sundae menu. A suburban summer staple that locals return to year after year — a few regulars still rank Bruster's in their summer rotation alongside Nathan's and Swirlie's, and it earns its place there.

Best for: hard scoop lovers · families · classic suburban summer vibe · big group sundae orders

🍪  HAYMARKET

 6   Cookies & Cream — Historic Haymarket

📍 14650 Washington St, Haymarket, VA 20169 | (773) 636-1782

Summer Hours: Mon Closed · Tue–Thu 11:00am –8:00pm · Fri–Sun 11:00pm–9:00pm ⚑

A charming Haymarket parlor known for homemade cookie ice cream sandwiches and Gifford's ice cream flavors. Walkable from Historic Haymarket, with a pastel storefront and desserts made for photos. The kind of small-town spot that makes you want to linger.

Best for: date nights · food photography · walkable small-town outing · coffee + ice cream pairing

 7   Swirlie's Soft Serve — Haymarket   ⭐ 4.4 (212 reviews)

📍 15401 Kapp Valley Way, Haymarket | Open daily, noon–9pm

For neighbors out west, this is your spot. Same great Swirlie's concept — soft serve, shakes, shaved ice — in a clean, family-friendly setup. Ask anyone in the county where to take the kids on a summer evening and Swirlie's will come up. It's become that kind of place — a reliable, beloved, genuinely fun stop that has two locations across Prince William County,

"Prices are very reasonable and the ice cream is extremely high quality. It is a great local ice cream spot and I highly recommend it."  — Google

Best for: Haymarket & Gainesville families · summer afternoons · roadside treat

🚗  DUMFRIES

 8   Jimmy T's Soft Serve — Dumfries

📍 17986 Main St, Dumfries, VA 22026 | (703) 634-2564

Hours: Open 7 days, noon–9:00pm · Seasonal ⚑

A classic roadside soft serve stand that locals return to every summer. No frills, no fuss — just good ice cream at a community spot with a loyal following that's been coming back year after year.

Best for: quick summer treat · community feel · Dumfries locals

☕ OCCOQUAN — COFFEE & SWEETS

Historic Occoquan is the county's best walkable coffee-and-sweets destination. Park once, walk the waterfront, and hit several stops in one afternoon.

 9   Mill Street Sweets — Occoquan

📍 305 Mill St, Suite A2, Occoquan, VA 22125 | (703) 760-3105

A family-owned ice cream and candy shop in the heart of Historic Occoquan, open since 2022. Blue Bell ice cream, root beer floats and malts, flavored popcorn, novelty sodas, salty water taffy, and a Jelly Belly wall that kids absolutely love. Generous portions and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

What locals say:

"The BEST ice cream that I've ever had, and I'm old! So many great looking sweets and treats — who can't pick just one."  — Google

"Always delicious! They also have unusual candy and soda that would make good gag/theme gifts."  — Google

Best for: families & kids · Historic Occoquan stroll · novelty gifts & candy · summer afternoons

 10   Riverside Coffee Shop — Occoquan

📍 201 Union St, Occoquan, VA 22125 | (703) 494-4005

Hours: Tue–Fri 11:30am–6pm · Sat 11am–9:30pm · Sun noon–8pm · Closed Monday

Coffee, tea, ice cream, frozen yogurt, homemade fudge, and baklava right on the Occoquan waterfront. The kind of small place that brings childhood memories rushing back the moment you walk in. A lovely spot to settle in after walking the Historic District.

What locals say:

"When I walked in, my childhood memories seemed to rush back into my head."  — Yelp

"The coffee is delicious & you have to try the baklava!"  — Yelp

Best for: date afternoons · post-walk treats · coffee & dessert in one stop · riverside atmosphere

🗺️️ THE OCCOQUAN AFTERNOON ROUTE

Park once and walk everything. Start at Mom's Apple Pie Bakery for coffee and a legendary slice of pie. Walk to Mill Street Sweets for an ice cream cone or novelty soda. Continue to Riverside Coffee Shop for homemade fudge or baklava with a view of the river.