Maryland’s Nice Cream Trail Has a Sweet Surprise at the End

Published June 30, 2026 by Elena Waldman.

Marylanders, ready to turn your summer into something seriously sweet? Take on the Maryland Nice Cream Trail and you could win big: a PETA “I Scream Truck” vegan ice cream party for you and up to 50 friends. Kicking off just ahead of National Ice Cream Month in July, the trail spotlights ten shops across the Free State serving delicious, animal-friendly scoops. It’s a statewide adventure built for flavor-seekers who want their summer indulgence to be kind to animals, the planet, and themselves.

The cherry on top? The first Marylander to complete the tour wins the grand prize—so get scooping!

Maryland’s Nice Cream Trail: Where to Get Your Scoop On

Below is your full list of participating shops—each one offering vegan options worth the detour. Every stop is a chance to support local businesses, enjoy compassionate treats, and score a vegan ice cream bash!

Coffee Talk Café (Towson)

22 W. Pennsylvania Ave. #101, Towson, MD 21204

This cozy, community‑driven café’s dairy‑free lineup has featured silky Vanilla and tropical Mango Sorbet that tastes like a vacation in a cup. Keep an eye out for their seasonal vegan flavors, too!

La Gelatteria (Kensington)

10414 Detrick Ave., Ste. 500, Kensington, MD 20895

La Gelatteria serves up vegan artisanal gelato that’s pure joy in a cup—including Salted Caramel, Dark Chocolate, and Toasted Coconut, plus bright, refreshing picks like Lemon, Mango, Strawberry Lavender, and Cranberry Orange Sorbet.

Mimi’s Handmade Ice Cream (Rockville)

12274 Rockville Pike, Ste. E, Rockville, MD 20852

This local favorite regularly offers vegan flavors like Chocolate, Coffee Oreo, Salted Caramel, Cinnamon, and Ube, as well as Italian Lemon Ice, Mango, Lychee, and Raspberry sorbets.

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Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream & Treats (Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Rockville)

5241 River Rd., Bethesda, MD 20816
10219 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814
8551 Connecticut Ave., Ste. B202, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
14929 Shady Grove Rd., Ste. I, Rockville, MD

Their rotating vegan flavors are always fresh and creative. The Green Apple Sorbet tastes like a crisp orchard breeze, the Rainbow Sorbet is pure sunshine in a scoop, the Strawberry Solstice Sorbet bursts with midsummer sweetness, the All-American Sorbet is a patriotic blend of lemon, blueberry, and cherry, and the Cherry Hibiscus swirls floral tart notes with a sweet cherry finish. For something creamier, the Chocolate Without the Cow offers rich, silky indulgence.

Moo Moo Cows (Baltimore)

926 Light St., Ste. 1, Baltimore, MD 21230

Moo Moo Cows keeps vegan ice cream exciting with a rotating dairy‑free flavor every week, making each visit a little adventure. And for a classic, refreshing treat, Dole Whip is a must—light, bright, and perfect for summer.

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Pitango Gelato (Baltimore)

802 S. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231

Pitango Gelato is the perfect place to enjoy a cold treat while wandering the cobblestone streets and waterfront views of historic Fells Point. Their vegan menu rotates often (refer to their website for current flavors), but past standouts include Mojito Sorbet bursting with mint and lime, Blood Orange Sorbet with a bold citrus punch, Hibiscus Blossom for a bright twist, Strawberry Rhubarb Sorbet that tastes like summer, and the ultra‑rich Vidama Noir Dark Chocolate Sorbet.

The Charmery (Baltimore, Columbia)

801 W. 36th St., Baltimore, MD 21211
6807 York Rd., Baltimore, MD 21212
1700 W. 41st St., #400, Baltimore, MD 21211
6000 Merriweather Dr., Ste. B185, Columbia, MD 21044

The Charmery makes it easy to take vegan goodness home with dairy‑free pints ready to grab from their freezers. Their Coconut Chocolate Swirl is a creamy, tropical‑meets‑decadent favorite, while the Passion Fruit Sorbet brings a bright, tangy burst of flavor. With multiple Maryland locations, it’s a reliable spot on the trail for a guaranteed vegan win.

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North Market Pop Shop (Frederick)

241 N. Market St., Frederick, MD 21701

North Market Pop Shop brings retro soda‑fountain charm to the Nice Cream Trail—and their vegan menu is a full‑on nostalgia trip. They serve up oat‑milk‑based vegan scoops in Strawberry, Cookies N Cream, Peanut Butter Oreo, and Mint Chip flavors. Every scoop flavor can also be whipped into a vegan milkshake, so you lick—or sip—your treat of choice.

To top it all off—literally—they offer vegan add‑ons like mini marshmallows, coconut whipped cream, waffle cone pieces, rainbow sprinkles, bac’n bits, cherries, chopped peanuts, Old Bay seasoning, chocolate syrup, chocolate chips, Oreo crumbles, peanut butter sauce, and strawberry sauce. It’s a plant-based paradise with old-school flair.

(Extra bonus: If you need something heartier to balance out all the sweets, North Market also serves veggie dogs with all the fixings!)

Swirls of Frederick (Frederick)

1305 W. 7th St., Ste. #10, Frederick, MD 21702

Swirls of Frederick’s delicious vegan ice cream typically come in three core flavors—vanilla, toasted coconut, and strawberry—and they can turn any of them into a full vegan sundae loaded with compassionate toppings. They also stock a variety of additional vegan pint flavors, along with refreshing açaí and blue majic bowls.

The Crazy Mason (Ellicott City)

8225 Main St., Ellicott City, MD 21043

The Crazy Mason is the over‑the‑top dessert stop of the Nice Cream Trail—where vegan treats get the full, show‑stopping Crazy Mason treatment. All summer long, vegans can get a scoop of cookies n’ cream, vanilla, and açaí berry, and topit off with strawberries, bananas, and vegan cookie dough balls. You can also enjoy their vegan flavors in shakes, cups, or their signature “bombs.”

Why Scope Out Vegan Scoops?

The real question is: why not? Every vegan scoop helps spare mother cows, who, like all mothers, want to nurture and protect their precious babies. Choosing vegan cones also supports gentle hens, who teach calls to their chicks before they hatch. And keeping your toppings vegan means kindness all the way down: Many traditional sprinkles and glossy coatings use shellac taken from crushed-up insects. With vegan scoops, cones, and toppings, your treat stays sweet without leaving anyone out.

Vegan foods are a win for your health, our fellow animals, and the planet. And with Maryland’s Nice Cream Trail offering so many creative options, choosing compassion has never tasted better.

How to Win PETA’s Ice Cream Party

Open to Maryland residents who are 18 or older.
To enter, email photos of your receipts from each of the 10 Nice Cream Trail locations along with a brief summary (at least 50 words) detailing what you liked about each vegan ice cream.
Photos must be taken after June 22 and sent to [email protected].
By entering, you confirm you’ve read and agree to PETA’s contest terms and conditions and privacy policy.
Entries must be received by 12 noon ET on August 18.
The first eligible entrant to submit photos and a brief summary from all 10 stops wins the prize.
PETA and the winner will schedule a date and mutually agreed-upon Maryland location for PETA’s vegan ice cream truck to visit.
The truck will serve one single‑serve vegan ice cream to the winner and up to 50 guests.
If the chosen location isn’t feasible due to safety, access, permitting, or similar concerns, PETA may select a reasonable alternate location.
The contest ends when PETA receives the winning entry or at 12 noon ET on August 18, whichever comes first.
The winner must respond to PETA’s communication(s) within five days or the prize may be forfeited and awarded to another entrant.
The winner will be contacted by email and announced on the contest page.
AI‑generated images will disqualify an entrant.
The prize is non‑transferable, with no substitutions or cash alternatives.
Void where prohibited by law.