Hebron Dari-Bar is one of two favorites for ice cream in Hebron. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

Looking for great ice cream from family-owned businesses and don’t know where to start? Try this “ice cream trail” in central and east-central Ohio.

Start in Bexley with Johnson’s Real Ice Cream. Established in 1950 at 2728 E. Main St., Bexley, Johnson’s Real Ice Cream has been making ice cream with quality ingredients, the finest flavorings and family recipes. The store is now in its fourth generation of family ownership and operation. They have other locations in Canal Winchester, Dublin, New Albany and Pickerington.

From Johnson’s, head east on US 40 (or I-70) about 28 miles to Hebron, where you’ll find two great places for ice cream, Clay’s Café and Hebron Dari-Bar.

Clay’s Cafe, 808 W. Main St., started out as Cummins Ice Cream in 1934. In 1979, the Clay family took over the business and today, the second generation of the family runs this popular eatery. In addition to ice cream, they offer pizza, stromboli, subs, sandwiches, burgers and more.

You’ll see lines of people waiting patiently at the corner of Main and High streets in Hebron, and no wonder. Since 1966, Hebron Dari Bar, 103 W. Main St., has been drawing crowds with soft serve ice cream, sundaes, slushies, shakes and other frozen treats, plus lots to choose from the grill and fryer.

From Hebron, turn north on SR 79 into the Buckeye Lake region. Follow 79 through the village of Buckeye Lake west to Millersport Road NE; in Millersport turn left on Canal Drive, and Weldon’s Ice Cream Factory will be about a half-mile down the street on the right.

Weldon’s Ice Cream Factory has been a tradition in Millersport since 1930. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

Weldon’s Ice Cream Factory, 2887 Canal Drive, Millersport, has been a tradition at Buckeye Lake since 1930. Weldon’s is housed in a combination ice cream shop and factory next to the lake. Generations of lake-goers have enjoyed a scoop or two on Weldon’s relaxing front porch.

To continue your ice cream tour from Weldon’s, you can head either west, north or east.

Schaffner’s Drive In in Baltimore is a busy place with both drive-thru and eat-in service. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

Head west – Schaffner’s Drive In, Baltimore. Head west on SR 204 from Millersport, then south on SR 158 into the town of Baltimore. Turn right at Market Street and stop at Schaffner’s just a few blocks away on the left.

Established in 1959, Schaffner’s Drive In, 601 W. Market St., serves soft-serve ice cream, shakes, frozen treats and huge menu of sandwiches, chicken, seafood, burgers, paninis, sides and salads. The building was recently expanded to allow more indoor seating.

Ye Olde Mill is the home of Velvet Ice Cream in Utica. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

Head north – Velvet Ice Cream, Utica. Retrace your route on SR 79 through Buckeye Lake, then take I-70 east to SR 37, take this north to SR 16 (freeway) at Granville. Take SR 16 into Newark, exit onto SR 13 north, take SR 13 to Velvet Ice Cream, about 14 miles north of Newark.

Velvet Ice Cream, formed in 1914, features a fantastic rebuilt 1817 grist mill with a working waterwheel as its company headquarters, ice cream shop, gift shop, candy shop and museum. Special events include seasonal weekend entertainment activities and the Utica Ice Cream Festival held here each May. Picnicking, playground, fishing and more on the grounds, located at 11324 Mt. Vernon Road (SR 13), Utica.

Head east – Tom’s Ice Cream Bowl, Zanesville. From SR 79 and I-70, take I-70 about 25 miles east to Zanesville, exit at the State Street exit. Turn left on Jackson Street, left on State Street, cross over I-70, then turn right on McIntire Avenue. Take McIntire about a half-mile to Tom’s Ice Cream Bowl on the right.

Tom’s Ice Cream Bowl is known for their huge servings of homemade ice cream. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

Tom’s Ice Cream Bowl, 532 McIntire Ave., looks much the same as it did in 1950, when Jack Hemmer Ice Cream was located there. Over the years, some things have not changed — Tom’s still serves heaping helpings of delicious homemade ice cream. They serve sundaes, splits, malts, as well as chocolates and freshly roasted nuts. Tom’s also offers a full service breakfast, lunch and dinner menu; indoor and outdoor seating.

Looking for more ideas for ice cream? View the Drive-Ins and Ice Cream Shops video and go to Ice Cream Shops and Stands in Dusty Tires for a list of more than 80 ice cream shops across Ohio.

Ken Drenten is creator and editor of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

Share Dusty Tires with a friend; your likes and comments are appreciated. Be sure to check out the Dusty Tires YouTube channel. And subscribe to Dusty Tires and receive a weekly email with the latest blog article. It’s free!

All rights reserved, Dusty Tires (dusty-tires.com), 2026.