Carl's Frozen Custard

Drive from Springfield Va down here to try out some ice cream places and found Carl’s. Very nice mom and pops with the vintage building. Their custard is chef’s kiss. Melts in your mouth like butter.

Carl’s Frozen Custard in Fredericksburg got creative when butter pecan was unavailable and offered me a honey walnut vanilla instead—and wow, it was delicious! Creamy, smooth, and perfectly balanced with sweet honey and crunchy walnuts, it was a surprisingly delightful twist. The staff was thoughtful and accommodating, turning a letdown into a flavorful win. Highly recommend trying it if you’re ever in the mood for something classic with a creative kick! Follow me @thefoodpreacher on all social media platforms.

Coming from the high school sock-hop, me and my gal... well, that's the vibe it will give ya, something out of the 50'. Also, like the 50s, not cards, cash only, tax is already included in the price. We have heard the rave about Carl's, so we wanted to try. The strawberry was amazing, and even the cone was great. Staff was super friendly and dressed in what you would picture a diner employee would look like, little paper hat and all. Great place to grab a cone!

Carl’s has a line that stretches like it’s handing out free gold bars, so naturally you expect something transcendent. What you get is… frozen custard. Decent. Cold. Sweet. Nothing life-altering. I had the vanilla. It was fine. Smooth, sure. Tastes like vanilla. If you handed this to someone who just woke up from a 20-year coma, they’d say “yeah, this checks out.” The nostalgia factor is clearly doing a lot of heavy lifting here. The vintage sign, the throwback uniforms, the whole Americana thing — it’s charming. But if you took away the retro vibe and the hype, this would be a place where you’d stop, eat, and never really think about again. To be clear: it’s not bad. It’s just not “wait-in-line-for-40-minutes-on-a-Tuesday” good. Worth trying once. Mostly to confirm that your expectations were too high.

We went there a while ago, about two years ago but I thought I’d share. Carl’s offers a delicious custard. Very creamy and sweet. My son did not like his milkshake but me and my daughter loved our ice-cream. I am lactose intolerant, but the custard was definitely worth it. I think you can tell though by the look on her face! Would definitely recommend. They are cash only though!

So this gem has been here a long time! The ice cream is old fashioned and simple. It is also very good! This is a great little after dinner place with a lot of history! If you get the opportunity you should go! And eat it very slow and enjoy the history! This is the last one of these places around! Enjoy!

The best ice cream ever. Been coming to this place since 1993, after left Fredericksburg when I come to visit I have to stop by and get my dose.

Don't have to much about Carl's but I'd your in Fredericksburg you HAVE to go. If you don't then shame on you. It's a staple of the community. Remember to take cash and enjoy.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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

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...

Honestly, we don't get the hype. There are far better locally owned over cream shops. Our go to is Tilly's now. Tilly's is sweet and flavorful. If I want something subtle and not going to break the sugar bank, we hit Abner's. Jimmy T's is also delicious. This is a bucket list place. That's about it.

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...

This has been a family favorite for more than 30 years! It's cash only and well worth the trip to Fredericksburg!

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.

Love this place and frozen custard . My favorite Cherry Float w/frozen custard added.

I love Carl's Ice Cream. The people are amazing and the ice cream is simply to die for. I definitely would recommend

Good ice cream and nice employees. Collective group rating: 5 stars. Would come again.

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!

Carl's is a super cute vintage spot to visit. The "ice cream" (really frozen custard) is tasty, and the staff are always friendly. I've been going to Carl's basically my whole life, and I've always loved it. My most recent trip has reinforced that, and I will definitely return next time I'm in Fredericksburg, and it's open!

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!

I feel like it's overhyped. It tasted off? Stale somehow? Very convenient to have it opened so later but they only take cash. The lines are always long but the service is quick and friendly.

Perfect treat for a hot day or cold day or any day in between! Cone, cup or shake!! Adorable historical building and the staff is super friendly

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.

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!

This place is one of the best throw backs!! The neon sign is perfect and a great backdrop for a quick picture! Cash only which makes it even more nostalgic for me. Ice cream is yummy and the staff is great! If you pass by this place put it in reverse, you'll thank me!

Good frozen custard, but prices are way too high! Only takes cash. Even with prices going up I can buy a half gallon of Ice cream at the grocery store for less than a large cone at Carls.

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.

Old school ice cream shop. Fantastic soft-serve. Bring cash because that's all they take.

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.

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!

If you want an overpriced kiddie cup sized "custard" (melted 'sundae') that consists of a 1/2 scoop of said 'custard' with a bit of topping, and NO whipped cream or cheery on top, or an itsy-bitsy Dixie cup of half-melted shake- then this place is for you! Otherwise save your cash and donate it elsewhere.

This custard/ice cream what ever you want to call it is DELICIOUS. Its old fashioned, It's cash only and only has few selections of amazing custard. 100% recommend coming out and getting some.

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.

Wow, we visit Carl's every time we come to Fredericksburg from Chicago. Never had such a disappointing treat until today. $3.75 gets you two to four bites (maybe) of frozen custard and a half empty cup! Such a disappointment! Not worth the cost even for the nostalgia and tradition.

This place is a sweet little spot. Their custard and shakes are delicious and to make things even better despite being so small they are incredibly quick to make your order. They are cash only though so make sure you grab some dollars before you go. After getting your order you can hang out in front on one of their benches or chill at your car your choice; but on a nice day it's pretty dope to sit on the bench there, people watch, and enjoy your delicious ice cream!

You just gotta go... chocolate vanilla or strawberry! Plus seasonal flavors, there's always people waiting for this one of a kind old school treat! Go now. (Oh but they are cash only)

We've been going to Carl's for sixteen years. I'm not sure what's going on. The prices have gone crazy and the ice cream quality has gone south. They need to adjust some things.

Strawberry cone, always great, staple of Fredericksburg, just make sure you bring cash as it's a cash only business. Which is ridiculous for 2022 but hey they make enough to pay their employees $15+ an hour.

FINALLY, I was able to come to the best ice cream place in the area (so I am told). First off very old fashion. CASH ONLY. They wear the cute little ice cream man hats etc. Very quick and nice service. Only have flavors of Strawberry, Chocolate, and Vanilla. Numerous shakes, malts, cones, and cups. Multiple toppings available. I went with a mix of a small cone with strawberry and vanilla. It was amazeballs. Very creamy and flavorful. 10/10 would go again.

Why not go all the way with this landmark ice-cream joint in Fredericksburg. Everything was so delicious, the operation is clean and staff friendly. It's just a short drive off I95 to visit Carl's which is one of the oldest ice-cream places still in existence in Virginia. Parking is by street and when busy you may have to park a few blocks as I did. The lines are no joke and can be long. The good news is they move fast! Carl's is a walk-up operation only that has served customers since 1947. That's the way it's always been and they are in their original building. Two windows serve customers and there is plenty of staff that has your cold desert out quickly. It is a cash only business and signs are posted. So what's the secret of Carl's and the reason they have so many loyal fans. Two things to know is the yummy concoctions are all made fresh in-house. Second is that it's NOT ice-cream at all. It's custard which is egg based. Custard has more flavor and is more rich. My order was a chocolate malt. My wife a strawberry sundae. The young lady was efficient at handling change and friendly when asked a few questions about the menu that is displayed. It would be easy to get impatient with a long line, but that did not occur. We both loved our treats and will return when traveling through the area again. 4.5, rounding up. Is Carl's all hype? Nope, try for yourself.

I don't understand the hype, and am so glad I came at the right time, when the infamous line had calmed. I'll admit, my experience may be based on being used to the amazing ice cream options we have in RVA and wanting to try this well known establishment while in the area. I hadn't checked Yelp before visiting, so failed to know they were cash only. Thankfully, this person who never carries cash had enough (+change) to piece together and pay. Given that it appears to be touristy/hyped/well-known, I honestly would have been upset if I waited in line, discovered that and then couldn't get anything lol. So, my advice would be to have signage alongside the sidewalk line or something. The ice cream, custard or whatever were calling it was good, just not anything special. I had the chocolate + vanilla. It was soft like soft serve kinda. Again, it was good and I ate it all. I just don't feel I'd go out of my way or wait in the long line to experience it. If you're visiting maybe from a place/town that doesn't have amazing treats, it may be a highlight for you and that's cool. Still try it for the experience in that case.

A popular, ice cream soft serve walk up window shop that is beloved by tourists and locals alike. It's been around a long time and has a regular clientele that swears by their soft serve cones! There's some outdoor seating and it's a small place so it can get crowded. Let me just say, being a cone head, I love soft serve ice cream! I've been here several times. Personally, I think it's just ok. Instead of a twist cone, swirling with chocolate and vanilla - they called it a mixed cone and put the vanilla on the bottom and the chocolate on top. A bit unusual. I've pictured my sad, little cone, all lopsided and droopy. It would be nice to train the youngsters serving the cones to take their time and dispense a nicer looking treat. The flavors were ok, I've had better. The serving sizes are small for the price. I know this is place has lots of fans, but for me it just fell flat.

This is the most natural frozen custard I have tasted. Its worth the drive. We eat some take some.

Not worth the time or money. Only reason I've kept going is for nostalgia, but there is nothing except the building and the sign that remind me of my childhood spot

Carl's is a fredericksburg staple. Is it the best ice cream you'll ever have? No. Because it's not ice cream, it's frozen custard. I honestly can't remember what the difference is, but it is delightful. It's one of the only places you can get soft serve! So if that's your frozen dessert fancy, this is the place for you! But only if you dont' mind waiting in line for thirty minutes or more. That along with them only taking cash, are my two gripes! I go there way less than I would like to, because I never have cash on me. I don't want to touch it, it's so dirty! I eff so hard with the Maple topping and the pineapple topping, though. For a place with very little variety, the fact that they have pineapple, really speaks to my heart. In the late summer evenings it's nice to take a long walk downtown and get a little sundae, or cone. If the sun is down and it;s not too humid, the wait in line isn't terrible. During daylight when it;s over 90 degrees, though? That's a hard no for me! Also, in the rain? Not going. But if you haven't been, you definitely want to try it!

The custard is okay, not great but the experience left me feeling cheated. I ordered a cup and it was less than half filled. My wife order a sundae and they gave her a shake. They took back the shake and the girl had an attitude and we got a sundae. Sundae had twice as much custard than I had the cups were supposed to be the same size. Won't be going there again when there is better service and custard in downtown Fredericksburg.

I've been going to Carl's custard for 20+ years, and I have never been more disappointed. Without exaggeration I think it is the smallest portion of a small ice cream I have ever had to include a kiddie cup. I bought a small cup and a small cone, and when I saw the size of the cup and the size of the cone, I said, why did she get more than I. The gentleman behind the counter said they are exactly the same, I measured them. The measurement must have been 2 tablespoons for $3.75 ridiculous. You might as well go go to McDonald's. Upon looking at my review, I think it really bothered me. The most was that the man behind the counter wasn't a kid, and he was very smug. Really just a jerk. Didn't say all the prices went up. I'm really sorry nothing it's not worth it 375 I don't care how good it's been for the past 25 years.

good soft serve. long lines. it is the local MUST in the summer, but I never found it exceptional.

Really good ice cream. This place gets unreasonably busy. The ice cream is pretty good. The cones are a bit small, but tasty. Typically there is a good bit of line, but it moves quick. It's an outside joint. You can sit outside...

There is always a line at Carl's regardless of when you drive by. We decided to make the trip and circle the block for parking. This is an ice cream stand with no inside seating. There were a lot of families enjoying their ice cream cones, sundaes and milk shakes before the heat melted them. Even though there was a line, it moved pretty quickly. My soft serve cone was good! I really like that they stay open late. It makes it so easy to stop by to have a delicious treat when you are craving something special after dinner.

We stopped here on a whim two days before they shut down for the season (closing on 11/24). This is a pretty basic small town custard shop. Cones, cups, shakes and malts are about the only things on the menu. I saw only a couple of flavors: strawberry, chocolate and vanilla. I personally loved the simplicity of the menu and appreciate when a place perfects something.... and perfection is what they have obtained. We stopped in on a Saturday afternoon around 4:30 and ordered two small malts. Unfortunately this shop is cash only and there isn't an ATM on site so grab cash ahead of time. Our total was less than $8 and the order was ready within minutes. I have to say the serving was pretty small. More child size to be honest. Luckily we were going to dinner so it wasn't a big deal. The malts were super good and we were glad we stopped by unexpectedly. I highly recommend stopping if they are open.