Classic simple frozen custard. No toppings. No crazy flavors. Eat it fast before it melts! read more

Carl's Ice Cream - Classic vanilla custard - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

I grew up in Fredericksburg but moved to California years ago. It had been ten years since my last visit, and one of the greatest joys of returning was bringing my daughters to a place I loved growing up. We ordered my longtime favorite--the chocolate malt--along with a vanilla and a strawberry soft-serve in waffle cones. There is simply nothing like these cold, sweet treats on a hot summer day. After visiting and trying ice cream shops all along the East Coast during our vacation, Carl's still stands out as a true gem. The quality, tradition, and experience are every bit as special as I remembered. Thank you for continuing to create memories for generations of families. I hope my daughters will one day bring their own children here, just as I was able to bring them. Keep up the wonderful read more

Carl's Ice Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

It's iconic. That's all. I am not a fan of their menu, taste or service. Meh. Oh I have to type more read more

It's ok.... some ppl rave about it but I personally think Battlefields ice cream is better and the customer service is better at Battlefields. I just ordered 3 things of ice cream and the server literally tossed them across the counter and said nothing. Uhhh rude... I guess my order is ready ‍ read more

Carl's Ice Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

A Fredericksburg staple! Simple, classic ice cream. Tastes delicious! It was crowded but the line moved fast. I wish they had more toppings like sprinkles! read more

Carl's Ice Cream - Strawberry cone - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

Carl's Ice Cream is a great spot if you're looking for a quick and tasty treat. The ice cream was very delicious, and the service was extremely fast, even when it was busy. The only downside is that the prices are a little on the high side, but the quality and speed help make up for it. Overall, a great place to stop for ice cream, and I would definitely come back. read more

Carl's Ice Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

i have been coming here for years and it has never disappointed. very cute old school place with the three traditional flavors (plus pineapple) which are all very good. if you like strawberry ice cream i would definitely recommend trying it, their strawberry milkshakes are some of the best. service is extremely fast as well. read more

Very good custard. I had a strawberry sugar cone and my partner enjoyed his pineapple milkshake. As of June 2026 they take credit cards. The line moved quickly. Wish they had tables or chairs out front. Plenty of parking. read more

Amazing soft serve ice cream. A trip to Fredericksburg is incomplete without Carl's! I've been going for years! read more

Carl's Ice Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

Took my grandbabies here this evening for the first time. Straberry cone and Vanilla cone for them. I come for malt shakes best ones in town that I know of unless you can think of one better? Waiting HA! Speaking of waiting the wait is abysmall, line is incredibly long on a hot summer day, prepare to stand. But once we paid it was out in less than 3 minutes so ok. Grabdbajes loved their ice cream enjoy it more than the other shop downtown. They have onsite parking available but it's limited so downtown street parking for me at lease I know how to parallelogram park yes me. Best ice cream go give it a try read more

Expect long lines on summer days and evenings; it's worth the wait! I opted for the pineapple and pecan topping in a cup, added a waffle cone (crumbled it up all over the ice cream) for an extra treat. I will 100% have to go back again because DANG it was good. It's a FXBG classic that still features it's original sign. It's a must try--just be patient with the line and treat yourself! read more

Carl's Ice Cream - Outside - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

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Not as good as it was. Soupy half melted chocolate custard in small portions. It's still a very popular place in Fredericksburg. read more

SO GOOD! I always get a strawberry and chocolate cone. The service is good and the soft served is even better!

Carl's is good frozen custard! The lines are long but it is worth it. Customer Service was great as it was my first time and they made me feel like a regular. This place is a walk-up w/outdoor seating. I didn't sit outside as it was crowded the day I visited, but if I'm ever back in the 'Burg...I'll make sure to visit. read more

Exceptional ice cream experience. The reason I'm inclined to give five instead of four is the same reason I gotta give five. Lines form at this place, but it's a friendly line, a neighborly line. This is a signature ice cream restaurant in Fredericksburg, and it is not only worth the wait, but deserving of it. read more

My grandfather brought me here my entire childhood, I will never not stop here while in town. This place was built on traditional values and family. The lines are very quick no matter how busy they have been. Some things to know: -They only take cash, so if you want to stop here pull out cash before coming. -The parking lot is small but the lot next to it is available too. -This is frozen custard not ice cream. read more

Carl's Ice Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

It's good ice cream, no doubt, service is okay for a grab and go window I suppose, but it's not worth THE ENORMOUS PRICE that they charge for A TINY TINY AMOUNT! OVER $4 for a single scoop SMALL cone, so small that you could just about eat it in one bite. They could at least put some ice cream IN the cone, not just on top of the cone, that's the reason the cone is hollow! I don't know how that's sustainable, even as a stand alone small business. So, if you want to be ripped off for the tiniest amount of fairly good ice cream, okay! For about $8 you can get as good ice cream and cones from a grocery store and have a party! read more

Carls has changed tremendously but still a favorite of mine there no other place in Fredericksburg with this taste even though there are other good ones. I love the chocolate maple nut sundae. read more

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Am I getting old and cranky, or is this not quite as good as I remember? The custard is good, and it still has those old-time vibes that I found endearing on my last visit. I suppose it's worth it for that. But this time, I found some stuff to be annoyed by. For one, it's cash only. Second, the options are sadly lacking. I don't expect a lot of options in a throwback place like this, but they DON'T HAVE SPRINKLES. Is this still M'erica? I mean, what ice cream place doesn't have sprinkles? Was I imagining things? No...sadly not. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit, but if you're hear then grab a cone...san sprinkles... read more

Carl's Ice Cream - people standing in line outside - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

We stopped by Carl's when riding the trolley around town. You can tell it's a Fredericksburg stable by the long lines. But thankfully they are quick. Great little spot to grab some soft serve on a hot summers day! read more

Simple but great. I like the strawberry Sunday but I pop in a lot for just a cone. Don't worry if there is a line...they move fast. Local favorite! read more

Passing thru both times, stopped for a cone. I was thrilled to get a chocolate/strawberry combo!

Regular size Hot fudge sundae- perfect! Super creamy. Plan to wait in a line. Cold night - still busy.

Still the best place to go for soft serve ice cream. Service was great a lot of people but no line I think the people just like to sit and enjoy their treats. read more

Carl's Ice Cream is classic to the 'burg. The place that gives you childhood memories. Delicious and creamy, filled with a ton of calories! A must visit for everyone! read more

Carl's Ice Cream - Carl's Ice Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

The biggest ice cream rip-off of all time. $12 with tip and we got two baby sized cones that wouldn't be enough for two infants. Nostalgia aside, this place is trash. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME! read more

Carl's Ice Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

Carl's was built on generational traditions, I know it was in my family. Likely if you've come to Carl's it's from a shared first hand experience with loved ones. It was always a joy to come with grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends. My family won't be making anymore memories at Carl's. It's one step below a frosty. Not frozen custard. It tastes of overly sweet air injected low milk fat no egg yolk fluff. Small portions. Lacking of chocolate flavor. Vanilla and chocolate leave you with a fake chemical powdered after taste. I suppose some new generation inherited it or bought it out and feels they should extract maximum coin to fund their next trip to the Bahamas. They don't care about what they produce. It's become an Instagram fly trap with the "vintage look". Save your money and buy super premium vanilla or chocolate ice cream from Aldi. read more

Great service, delicious ice cream place in Fredericksburg. It's a simple relaxing place to visit. read more

Carl's Ice Cream - Carls ice cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

Classic, a must try in fredericksburg, va. Creamy but not too sweet. The service is exceptional and now they accept card.

Best custard I've ever had in my life. They are always super quick and they accept card now too.

Was in area looking for a good frozen custard ice cream cone and we found Carl's Ice Cream. There weren't any lines or crowds as the service was fast, their cone selection was limited and their custard ice cream was ok. We were disappointed in the taste of the custard some what bland for frozen custard ice cream. read more

Local custard place! It's very basic and somewhat expensive! No picknick tables! Just concrete blocks! Ice cream is standard fair! Very old school! Service is quick! read more

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Some of the best custard in the south! Quick service and yummy food. The site is a National Historical Site by the state of Virginia as well. There s easy parking right near the building. read more

Carl's Ice Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

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The service was okay, friendly faces and quick orders, the ambiance was subpar, now to the food, the chocolate ice cream is terrible and made me sick, definitely do not recommend. read more

Officially closed for the season! My friend and I had an adventure to Fredericksburg this past weekend and I was told to check out this spot for their soft serves and shakes. We had actually parked and put down our name for the restaurant across the street (Mason-Dixie Cafe) before we decided to have dessert before brunch. It was the last weekend that they were going to have open until closing for the cold season. I asked the cashier what his favorite was and ended up getting a mix of the strawberry and pineapple shake. It was pretty good and I enjoyed it during the cold walk that my friend and I did up and down the street. My friend was smart and got their hot fudge sundae which was the perfect portion for the dessert. I would recommend this for those who love soft serves and taking a day trip one weekend in Fredericksburg. Def try their strawberry and pineapple mix shake if you get the chance! read more

Carl's Ice Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

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Was passing through in Fredericksburg area and decided to get a sweet treat. We stopped at Carl's for ice cream and shared a chocolate hot fudge and double scoop. I wanted hot fudge on my double scoop and the gentleman did said they do not do that on a double scoop. I asked to pay a little extra for hot fudge and the attendant said no again that they 'dont do that on double scoops' . Dumb. Im the paying customer and asking to have something Im looking for, even offering to pay a little more and still turned away for a simple thing. That is not customer service. To add, they didnt have whipped cream or any toppings for the 'sundae', only hot fudge and walnuts for a syrup topping. On-top of that, its cash only. Its 2024, everything is card or tap and pay. Get with the program. WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE for a scrappy ice cream spot One reason to NOT support local... read more

Okay... first..... let's talk about frozen custard. This is not ice cream. This is not soft serve. This is not fro-yo. This is frozen custard. There is a huge difference between all these things. Frozen custard has more milk fat and egg yolk than ice cream. Frozen custard is heavier, creamier, and denser than soft serve (which has larger ice crystals in it.) And if you can't tell the difference between frozen custard and frozen yogurt, I can't help you. So, in the spirit of evaluating Carl's based on what it IS and not what it doesn't claim to be, how does it stack up as a frozen yogurt establishment? Pretty darned good. The product itself is smooth, creamy, and has a rich flavor. I have mentioned in another review that we frequently make the 80 mile round trip drive to drop in on a nearby diner followed by a must-stop at Carl's..... Carl's is a destination. Service is speedy, even with long lines. And the lines DO get long on weekend evenings. But everyone seems to be enjoying the shared anticipation of getting a taste of this decadent treat. It's hard to be a grump when you know a Carl's cone is at the other end of the line. Limited flavors, yes, like every other Custard stand I have visited. Cash only, yes, and that is a little annoying in this age. Is it the best Custard I have ever had? Not quite, I have had small batch frozen custard that I paid a lot more for, that was unbelievable. But Carl's is quite good enough for a can't-wait trip up and a happy trip back home. It's a treat that lives up to the anticipation. Worth the drive and the price. read more

Apparently, this is a local favorite...but I can not understand why. Friday night trip, after dinner in the middle of summer. Place is cute; really I love small places like this generally. CASH only. There are 3 flavors of soft serve to choose from...chocolate, vanilla or strawberry. They have sundaes, malts and shakes. I got a small vanilla in a regular cone (they also have sugar cones). My husband got a small vanilla in a cup, with hot fudge. I could immediately see the disappointment on his face, and I could see that he saw mine too. First off, there is no real taste to the vanilla. It tastes like ...well maybe just icy milk. Second, they didn't even fill my cone up. And $2.75 for this small, unflavored sorry looking ice cream...no. My husband got a small cup of of the same with a drizzle of chocolate syrup that they called a 'sundae' for $4.75. With all of the competition in Fredericksburg, they must rely heavily on their regulars. I'm just going to say this, Carl's sucks. Must just be nostalgic for some people, because honestly, we've gotten better tasting ice cream from McDonald's. That was a one and done for me. read more

Carl's Ice Cream - people standing outside of the ice cream shop - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

If you live in the Northern Virginia area you have to come to Fredericksburg and try Carl's! This place has the absolute BEST frozen custard I've ever had! It hits the spot every time and everyone is always so friendly. Make sure to bring cash with you as they don't take credit cards but it's totally worth it! read more

Carl's Ice Cream - Strawberry sundae at Carls - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

This is an old ice cream shop, and while I am a pretty new-age-y ice cream consumer, I could get something out of it. This place had a line and a gathering of people outside even on a Monday night. The line moved fast, however, given the cash transactions and the ample frozen custard extruding from machines in sight and the lack of complicated menu items. It's just a couple of flavors served a couple of ways. I went for a chocolate shake, which had a very Hershey's syrup kind of flavor to it, but was quite smooth and satisfying on a hot day. The most intrigue lay in the sundaes. While they don't have exotic Asian fruits or vegan cashew cream, they do produce a quintessential summer experiences. read more

Carl's Ice Cream - Chocolate shake - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia