*CELIAC / GLUTEN FREE REVIEW they have GF options and they're willing to look at all ingredients for you before ordering. For their twister options, be aware of cross-contamination, but they do have GF soft-serve and GF yogurt flavors available :) Such a classic Iowa city spot! read more

Been coming to Danes for years before moving. I understand ownership has changed since leaving but what do you possibly gain from running an AI menu? None of the images look appetizing, none of the videos look remotely similar to the actual shop. Why are the children in the video 8 years old? Do you have 8 year olds working in there? Why are they pulling icecream out of thin air??? It's insulting and hilariously worthless to take the time to make something like this. Totally ruins the hometown charm and makes it feel like a private equity slophouse. read more

Dane's Dairy - Menu with images of AI ice cream and children who don't exist - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

The cashier filled my cup half empty, 10 cents down the drain. Not happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a nostalgic place. Along with George's buffet, the Hamburg Inn and another Iowa City Staples like John's grocery... This place has been around forever. Family owned and local supported. You couldn't pass through Iowa City and find this as it's now hidden behind a Casey's, section 8 housing and a ton of industrial warehouses that possibly launder for the Mexican cartel. If you know good ice cream in Iowa City, you know. read more

Dane's Dairy - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

See all

Dane's is back open for 2025 and that means summer has officially started in Iowa! Hopefully no tornados this time around lol -- just soft serve, root beer floats, and sunshine. This place is such a local treasure. It's a cute family-run stand and they've been slowly upgrading the seating area each year which I love. Still feels nostalgic, but with a little more space to hang and enjoy. Tried the mini root beer float today and it was super solid -- definitely recommend if you want something refreshing but not too heavy. Also, as a dairy-free ally, I have to shout out their sodas and slushies -- those are the only non-dairy options but it's nice that there's something if you're tagging along with friends! Prices are super affordable, the servings are massive, and the vibe is just happy. It's the kind of place that makes you smile for no reason. Can't wait to go back all summer long. read more

See all

Frozen Blackberry Yogurt is AMAZING and I love getting pints to bring home to my mom who loves the blackberry flavor and will always accept my offer to grab her a couple pints to bring home for her or to send home with her. I also love the family involvement, a younger gentleman helped take my order at the window and did an amazing job ringing me up, and finishing and then the closing of the check and even grabbed my items and got them all packed and ready to go. read more

This is a classic Iowa City ice cream place, with all of your favorite soft serve options! We went to try out the ice cream nachos which included waffle cone chips, a sauce of your choice and an ample quantity of soft serve. One serving was a nice treat for two people! There are many flavor options to explore, and I feel like we have scratched the surface and need to come back many times to taste everything! This is casual dining, get your cone and sit at the pickup table or pick up your food at the drive-thru. There is parking lot and outdoor seating for those perfect summer days! read more

LOVE. Dane's is an IC treasure which even I (as an Iowa transplant) have realized quickly. The ice cream is great with lots of topping options (cheese cake is my personal rec but their cookie dough is also fabulous and feels much more "real" than competitors). The staff are so friendly and there are lots of picnic tables to enjoy your ice cream at. They also tend to give pup cups to dogs which is nice. read more

I love this place me and my family have gone here for years it is classic and a good business it is fast they got me a topsoil surprise in 3 minutes - shout out to quincy good chocolate...... read more

So disappointed. I've been a Dane's Dairy malt fan for decades. Our first trip this season...I ordered a large chocolate malt and a quart of ice cream. They handed me a large chocolate cone-I explained I had ordered a malt and a quart. She said "we'll make this into your malt" When the "malt" arrived the flavor was off. I couldn't taste any malt. read more

We love this place! It was our 1st trip this season tonight and it was delicious. Service was amazing! read more

See all

This place is nothing short of fantastic, with flavors that are simply to die for! Every bite is a delightful experience that keeps you coming back for more. You won't want to miss it! And it is incredibly delicious! read more

Malt was delicious, heavy malt flavor how it should be. Worker was nice and she helped us make decisions without being pushy.

This place is a a preserved historic gem. The service is fast and attentive. The price is average for ice cream. There are charming shaded areas to enjoy the treats. read more

We really enjoyed our Dane's Dairy treats. A group of us visited for the first time on a Saturday afternoon, not too long after they opened (1pm-9pm Monday-Saturday). We tried the chocolate shake, German Chocolate twister, Heath bar twister, Peanut Parfait and two cups of chocolate ice cream for the kids. I can't say that the taste was extraordinarily unique and I disliked how everyone's treats melted so fast, but we were satisfied. 4/5 because this is just a nostalgic place to support and the staff were great. A couple of young ladies were working their tails off to take care of the window and drive-thru customers. We spent $20.00 on 6 treats. I think DQ would have been much more expensive, but I really can't stay for sure. Clean, outside seating only. Fun photo opportunities for the kids with the animal statues they have around the building. Recommend because it's just one of those Iowa City favorites you have to try. read more

Dane's Dairy is a must-have in the area. And this summer it has provided my family with some much needed (socially distanced) tasty treats! 5 Things to Know: 1. Tuesdays you get $1 of any shake or malt. 2. It is not open on Sunday. 3. Dane's celebrated its 60th anniversary this year! The epitome of local. 4. Both the Willow Creek Trail and Iowa River Corridor Trail can take you to Dane's! Enjoy a family bike ride with some ice cream. 5. It is drive-thru and outside (socially distanced) seating ONLY. read more

We arrived when it was almost closing time but were greeted warmly and our orders were super delicious!! Highly recommend!!

As a Dairy Queen lover, I resisted this place for too long. But I've got to say, they do the whole soft serve ice cream thing with authenticity and charm, and you can taste the difference. Favorites include: Oreo twister Homemade ice cream sandwiches Mud pile Oh, and don't forget to help your pups cool off with a pup cone! read more

We've been hearing about "Dane's" for some time now and our first trip was for sure a memorable one. The place is located somewhat off the beaten path and housed in what looks like a large old shed - winning! The place sports a drive thru that is reminiscent of the southern chain "cookout" - again legit - as well as a walk up window from whence the soft serve also flow. It gets the five star stamp for being unique among establishments in the area, serving up some unsurpassed great ice cream that's both delicious and creative, and being a spot you'll be excited to take peeps to! The lawn ornaments that are scattered delicately upon the property include ceramic dogs and cows, which just have to make you smile. The outdoor seating includes a couple benches and a number of nice tables. However, what you're really after is that cool treat that makes you remember how great a car ride could be when you were 8. The reality is that Dane's is a step up from Dairy queen, simply based on the number of offerings they have, though I'll say DQ isn't far behind. The soft serve is excellent w/ plenty of flavors, including a flavor of the week - queue American Hi FI - and the ever delightful dipped cone! Dane's version of a Blizzard - The Twister - is also some serious deliciousness. Some of the flavors seriously approach orgasmic as your taste buds are treated to a sensation of flavors that are unsurpassed. We tried the peanut butter buster (or something like that) which included PB, oreos and I think some heroine as I was craving it for a few days afterwards. The quintessential local ice cream spot that will leave you and your friends/family/guests wondering what other sorts of treasures exist in this land of Iowa City! Only word of warning is they take cash or check - no cards and the lines can be a bit on the long side - both negatives pale in the positives of this place and overall it's a spot not to be missed! read more

Dane's Dairy - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

See all

You can't mess up ice cream. You just can't. Danes definitely does ice cream the right way. Tons of crazy combinations and a drive thru. Sit down tables and cheesy plastic animals in the grass for kids to sit on. Great waffle twist cone chocolate dipped, chocolate sprinkles, whipped cream and nuts. So delicious on a warm Summer night. read more

Dane's Dairy - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

This place is awesome!! Dane's Drive in Dairy reminds me of those ice cream trucks i used to love as a child except they're planted on ground. Their strawberry ice cream taste has so much flavor. Only been here once and already craving their strawberry soft serve. Only 1$ for the kids cone!! Plenty of parking and a lawn with benches to sit and eat your ice cream. There drive thru is very popular. read more

Dane's Dairy - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

See all

Great ice cream that is reasonably priced. Locally owned. I had a chocolate dipped cone which was tasty.

Classic soft serve ice cream. When I went in May the menu was inaccurate. Very limited selection of soft serve flavors.

Great old fashioned ice cream drive in! They also have a nice grassy area for hot summer nights. Dog friendly.... Be sure to ask for a pup cup! Nom nom! The twister is like the DQ Blizzard..m except the I've cream is good. The chocolate malt is done right... My favorite! read more

Cute little ice cream place! The prices are fair, the employees are very friendly, and the wait is never too long. There's plenty of space to sit around the store as well! read more

Every city needs an iconic soft serve ice cream spot, and Dane's fits the ticket! The building has an old-timey walk-up or drive-through window and a surprisingly large menu selection. What I'm most excited about though is the outdoor, park-esque space that lines the shop! Sure, there are some exceptionally creepy statues of farm animals, but the yard space is large and there's loads of picnic table seating. read more

See all

A local favorite, and for good reason! This tiny ice cream drive-in is tucked away and hidden right off of highway 6. It can be hard to spot from the road, so keep your eyes peeled! Dane's offers delicious soft serve ice cream and slushies with lots of flavor and treat options. It reminds me of a local, cozier, and tastier version of Dairy Queen. You can either hit the drive thru, or the walk up window to order yourself a treat. Then find a seat outside! The decorations and vibe at Dane's is charming and enjoyable! It's a great place to end a hot summer day! read more

Dane's Dairy - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

This is definitely a no-frills kind of place. The people working weren't super friendly, nobody greeted us for a few minutes, etc. but the ice cream itself was so creamy and wonderful that I was able to overlook any misgivings about their service. I got the vanilla cone, and for $2, I was pleased. My husband tried the black raspberry shake -- yum!! It was too thick to drink from a straw until it melted a bit but once that happened, I couldn't stop stealing sips! There are a few tables around the building, but because it's a drive through, our conversation was drowned out by big trucks. So consider maybe just taking your ice cream to go. read more

Cheap, creamy, fun and yummy! $7 for a cake batter cone, top soil sundae and chocolate sundae. Perfect way to end an Iowan summer day. read more

Dane's Dairy - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

See all

Well besides the fact that I have tried to come here 2 other times and they were closed for no apparent reason, when they are open they are great. The are a step up from the normal DQ. A few other options and I love their twist. Mom got chocolate in a waffle cone and I got a large twist in a cup. Don't let the size fool you, holy cow that's a lot of ice cream. We both had to stop and scoop out some because it was just too much. The stuff is great and it's cheap. I believe my Aunt and Uncle used to bring me here when I was a kid in the 80's. And they didn't live that close by. It's worth coming here even when they are closed. ;-) read more

My husband and I went here after searching for ice cream on Yelp. The Drive thru is awesome, such fun to drive up and have people hand you ice cream. What a dangerous concept this could be - drive up candy stores or how about a bakery? The grounds were also cool - lots of place to park, sit, eat your ice cream and have an experience with your fellow ice cream pals. I think the glowing reviews might be based on that because the ice cream itself, pretty much just standard fare soft serve. But being able to drive through made it taste better! read more

As a kid, summertime approached with a much-anticipated countdown to the end of the school year. However, the true start of summer began with a trip to Dane's. There's nothing like bathing in the yellow fluorescent light above the walk-up window, listening to the quiet hum of the nearby highway, and surrounded by people eagerly waiting in line for some of the best soft-serve ice cream ever created. This is an Iowa City institution and a place where you can still get your chocolate-dipped cone fix for less than $2! The menu also features varieties of shakes/malts, sundaes, and other standard ice cream fare. There are three ways to enjoy Dane's: 1) walk-up; 2) drive-up; or 3) take-home. I highly recommend the first option, but the second will do. The drive-up can get backed up pretty quickly, especially when several SUV's or minivans pull up, which isn't uncommon in this area (Dane's is a popular destination after kids' ball games). You can't see the menu until you're a couple of car lengths away from decision time and you feel isolated from the rest of the Dane-lovers. Ice cream pressure! The walk-up experience gives you a chance to chat with your friends/family and offers plenty of time to decide what to order. Plus, when the summer heat starts to melt your ice cream everywhere you can let it drip in the grass without the hassle of cleaning up. Bring your dog along and they'll be treated to a special doggy dish of ice cream! read more

So I have lived in Iowa City for nearly 4 years now and I really thought that I at least knew of all the cool places, maybe I haven't been to all of them but I at least knew they were there - places like Dane's really prove me wrong. I had no idea it existed until I was browsing yelp today and after reading the other reviews I knew I had to go tonight. Upon arriving the first thing I noticed was how many people there were. There had to be at least 30 people hanging out and 6 cars in line the whole time I was there. How did a place this popular escape my and all of my friends' ice cream radar? It seems impossible. I ordered a small strawberry soft serve cone dipped in chocolate (upon the recommendation in Bean B.'s review) and man was it delicious. I had never had strawberry soft serve and this was everything I had hoped it would be. The small was plenty to satisfy my ice cream craving though I probably could have choked down a large if I absolutely had to. Anyway, on to the important stuff: the prices were dirt cheap, the ice cream was delicious, and the service was as fast as could be expected given how many people were waiting. There is more to this place than simply good ice cream I think...you can really tell this place has been there for a long time and that the people have a lot of love for their cones and they return that love via tasty, creamy, desserts. read more

Dane's Dairy is an Iowa City staple! This ice cream shop has some great options and toppings. If you're looking for hard scoop ice cream though I'd keep on searching because Dane's specializes in soft serve. This cute little shop is has a drive through and no indoor seating so definitely a pick up location. Highly recommend their peanut butter blast twister or a classic cone. read more

Dane's is an Iowa City institution; I still remember riding bikes there to cap off a long summer day. Not much has changed; they're still selling great ice cream and still have the hometown vibe. The "Twister" (their version of the DQ Blizzard) is fantastic. We had the chocolate chip cookies dough and brownie batter Twisters and they were great! We also spent another hour playing bags in their back lawn. Even more great memories made at Dane's! read more

Typical icecream - sorta like Dairy Queen... fattens you and sweetens your insides. Flavor is hohum. Reasonable prices. Takes you back to the days of drive thru lifestyles- so if you want to show your kids what those days were like - take a spin and spend a couple bucks. read more

Love this place! Lots of soft serve flavors and sundae options. Strawberry cone is my personal favorite. Not a ton of seating or shade outside but they do have a drive through! read more

Dane's Dairy - Strawberry cone with a chocolate dip 3 - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

This was a very classic take on soft serve ice cream and it was perfect treat for the beginning of summer! Nothing too crazy as to flavors but they did not mess with any of the traditional dishes. read more

I had a big dinner a few nights ago but HAD to get Dane's now that they are finally open for the season. I shifted around and found room for the soft serve strawberry ice cream, made even better by being dipped in chocolate. I always walk up to get a cone or shake, and sometimes when I stop at the Handimart that's right in front of Dane's, I send someone back to get cones while I pump gas. read more

An Iowa City staple. I'm so in love with this drive-in ice cream place. The staff are very sweet and I go between getting butterscotch or black raspberry. There's an outdoor seating area and some kitschy lawn ornaments. Best kept secret in terms of ice cream. read more