Penn State Berkey Creamery

While visiting Penn State, we were told that stopping at the Penn State Berkey Creamery was an absolute must—and it definitely lived up to the recommendation. The ice cream was fantastic: rich, creamy, and packed with flavor. You can tell right away why it has such a strong reputation among students, alumni, and visitors. 🍦 One thing that caught us off guard is that they don’t really offer multiple portion sizes—it’s essentially one generous serving size for everyone. While that might surprise some people, the quality of the ice cream makes it easy to overlook. The variety of flavors was excellent, and everything was well organized and easy to access even with the steady flow of visitors. If you’re visiting Penn State, this is definitely a stop worth making. Great ice cream, great flavors, and a fun part of the campus experience. 👍

I recently visited Berkey Creamery during my niece’s graduation weekend at Penn State, and it was just as amazing as I remembered. This was my third time stopping by, and it never disappoints. I had the peach flavor, and it was absolutely delicious—creamy, fresh, and full of flavor. Other members of our group tried different flavors and loved theirs as well. The atmosphere has that fun, cool college-town vibe, and it’s always buzzing with energy. If you’re ever near the Penn State campus and in the mood for some seriously good ice cream, Berkey Creamery is a must-visit spot.

Ice cream as good or better than you can get anywhere! I went Happy Happy Joy Joy (which is basically an Almond Joy bar ice cream) and it was by far the best I've ever had. It's what one imagines whenever ordering "Almond Joy" flavor, but I'm generally disappointed at the weak coconut flavor etc. This is the real thing, SO good.

An institute. Renowned for the Agriculture School's proud 100+++ year ice cream making and education history. Highly recommend doing one of the frozen dessert short courses of you have the time and means. The ice cream itself is very good of course, flavour and texture caters well to the US palate. Very large serves, only one flavour allowed in a cup/cone but you can try before you buy. Happy happy joy joy, death by chocolate are my solid favourites. Fresh dipped is always best, but you can also order the tubs to be delivered to you.

Everyone says that this place is THE place to go at Penn state and they were right. The ice cream is amazing. If you’re ever in Penn state, definitely give this a try. Ice cream is relatively cheap too

Delicious ice cream that is worth the usually long line! Although a tad pricey, they give you a very generous amount. The ice cream is not too melty, which I appreciate! Their flavors are always delicious; I enjoyed the Happy Happy Joy Joy flavor last time. I also love their death by chocolate, arboretum breeze, and peanut butter twist. I highly recommend stopping!

They make the best icecream on the planet. Flavors for everyone's desire. They also make cheese,dips and a assortment of yummy food. You cannot go wrong it's worth stopping by because they have dry ice to keep everything frozen for your trip home.

Smooth & Delicious! Second time here and just as good as the 1st time! Even when the line is long, this team of workers were pumping it out and we got in and out in no time! Surprisingly, they all looked very happy to be working with ice cream...i know I'd be! A+ all around!!!

Oh my! This place is legit. I had heard that Penn State is proud of its ice cream, and with some justification! I got the death by chocolate on our visit to the Uni, and it was decadent! Rich, dense, creamy - I make chocolate ice cream myself, and their version is special (the chocolate mix ins add to the experience). $6 per ice cream (one size, bowl or cone, enormous portion), you pay at first counter, order at second counter, and pick up at third. After I consumed my first ice cream, I was faced with the prospect of having to drive 2 hours again to have it. So I went back to the store and got a second death by chocolate ice cream, and felt very happy... Look, I'm not proud of it. I don't usually overeat. But I didn't want to be consumed with regrets over not having it again. And I felt very satisfied on my drive back... They do have plenty of seating, indoors and outdoors. For those traveling from afar, they sell packaged ice cream (way cheaper prices than ordering online) and thermal bags.

Mid. It's over hyped, parking is a joke, and the options are limited. Pricing is high too. I always tell people to try cause If you don't you'll always wonder. But no one is making this stop on the regular unless your a college kid walking there with dads money. Anytime Penn state has something going on the line will be crazy long.

Finally got to get some ice cream at the famous Berkey Creamery! I had been wanting to come here for years! They had about 12 flavors or so. $6.00 a cup/cone, just one size...and that size, is HUGE! They hook it up here! We went with Peachy Paterno, Alumni Swirl, and something else....it was like a Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl....I forgot the name of it. Anyways.......all 3 flavors were EXCELLENT! Rich, creamy, so flavorful. Loved all 3 flavors but I think Peachy Paterno was my favorite. I also picked up some bagged coffee, and 2 things of Stickies (these things are like crack...so good!). Parking is right behind the creamery and it was only a couple of bucks. Definitely recommend coming here if you are near the campus. It was some GREAT ice cream! Service was incredibly friendly, too!

I was in the area, so I decided to visit the creamery again! The first time I went during the summer, I tried the Peachy Paterno, which I loved a lot! They used real peach chunks! This time around, I was able to visit the gallery next door which displays some of the history of the creamery. I found that the Black Raspberry Frozen Yogurt and Chocolate Milk had won awards so I decided to try them. The chocolate milk was great and creamy! While the black raspberry frozen yogurt was great, I like the peachy paterno flavor more and would recommend that over the black raspberry frozen yogurt. The service was great and even though there was a huge line before the cash register, I was helped within 5 minutes. They also give you sooo many scoops -- probably at least 4-5 scoops in my ice cream cone!

Stopped by the Penn State Creamery while visiting campus, and it did not disappoint. I got two scoops--cookies and cream, and strawberry--in a cup. I only managed to snap a photo of the cookies and cream because I devoured the strawberry scoop almost instantly... it was that good. Super fruity, refreshing, and honestly the perfect treat for a 90-degree summer day. The cookies and cream was classic--rich, creamy, and loaded with cookie chunks. But that strawberry? That was the winner for me. It tasted like real fruit, not artificial at all, and hit the spot in the heat. Always a must-stop when I'm on campus. Pro tip: be ready for a bit of a line, but it moves quick and is absolutely worth the wait.

They are like the Chick-fil-A of ice cream joints. There was a long line but it moves so fast and efficiently. They have a line dedicated for those just coming in to buy pre-packaged items and a separate line for ice cream. They have a great selection of ice cream to get in cones or cups to enjoy in the moment. I was disappointed they weren't scooping Alumni Swirl but I was able to get a cone of Death by Chocolate and a little baby Alumni Swirl in the pre-packaged section. Lots of seating outside and limited seating inside. It was a nice crisp spring day so we sat outside and had no problem finding seating. You can also purchase ice cream and take it home on dry ice!

Never heard of a school bragging about their creamery until my fiancé (a very proud alum). Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, reasonable prices, & plenty of options! Absolutely loved the cookies & cream on a cone. Very light and creamy, almost like a custard with plenty of cookie bits. Plus, I was kind of surprised by the size! I'm looking forward to coming back for games & trying new flavors!

We made a point to stop here on a cross country try road trip because my hubby remembered how tasty and creamy the ice cream is here- and he was right! Maybe the best I've tasted in a while. Nice selection of products for the Penn State students and priced fairly, as well. We sat outside, but inside is pretty basic campus cafeteria feeling. The service was fine- they could smile more, but I'm from the south

Half ice cream shop half experience, the cult-like following had a line wrapped around the corner for a majority of the day (during graduation weekend) but we went back close to close and got our servings. They had nut free stations which was perfect for my twist. I know I'll be back and tempted to buy some to go and maybe some gear

It's a rainy and cold day, but the Creamery is hopping. The indoor tables are full and many people are outside at those tables. Although the line is long, it moves quickly. The people working here are friendly and helpful. The ice cream is fantastic! It's creamy and delicious and reasonably priced. The parking is tough. There's a parking garage around the corner but we didn't want to pay for parking. There's a lot nearby so we tried that and got a warning on our windshield not to park there again.

I know, I know, why not 5 stars? I mean, this is your Alma Matar, so why only 4 stars? Well, it's really good ice cream but certainly not the best. But it is the best on campus! The creamery has changed over the years and now they have the version (ice cream shop) we all wait in line for today. If it's a football weekend, prepare for a super long line and wait times. It's a very nice and modern facility with restrooms and tables and chairs inside and out. I always get mint chocolate chip but I would also recommend a shake or any flavor of ice cream. Always yummy!

The Creamery at Penn State is on another level -- hands down the best ice cream you'll ever find! I'm lactose intolerant and haven't had ice cream in over 20 years, but I couldn't resist taking a single teaspoon taste... and WHOA. The flavor, the creaminess, the pure quality -- absolutely unforgettable. My family enjoyed full scoops (and trust me, they made sure to describe every bite in detail), and their smiles said it all. Whether you're a die-hard ice cream lover or just curious, this is a stop you simply cannot miss when visiting campus.

Life changing ice cream! I was told to visit the creamery when I came to Penn State. I've sampled other universities' ice cream and can honestly say this is the best. My only sadness is that the flavor I like the most seems to be seasonal in nature and unavailable most visits. This is definitely a place to visit when on campus!

Stopped here on the way home from a recent trip. Had the monkey business flavored ice cream. Was excellent, and even tho there was a long line, service was super quick. Big thumbs up.

Looking for amazing ice cream then this is the place to go. As someone who loves ice cream, you may see me here at least four times a month. I cannot say enough positive things about the creamery! I'm glad for the indoor and outdoor seating. It's the best place to come with family or friends. Quick order at the counter and get your scoops at the following windows. If you're traveling through Penn State the Creamery is the place to go to.

We made a stop here for dessert while visiting Penn State for a campus visit. It has a fun college vibe and the ice cream was wonderful! I ordered a cup of the blueberry and chocolate chip ice cream. Yum! It had a light taste but was super creamy. My husband got the Death by Chocolate in a cone. He said it was excellent. If you go, be sure to save room for your ice cream as they are huge servings!

+ Food. I've been to schools who brag about their ice cream before. One was in a university town with more ice cream parlors (8-10) than bars (2), so ice cream was taken very seriously. The Berkey Creamery beats them (Sorry creamery on 9th!). Do yourself a favor and get a very large heaping scoop of one flavor of $7 ice cream that is a completely irresponsible amount to eat alone. I won't judge you if you finish it by yourself self. + Ambiance. The creamery is an institution, who am I to judge the basic inside with a bunch of square tables and linoleum floors? I eat outside when I can on the beautiful university grounds and take in the sights and sounds of being a student. The long lines reaching around the block during football games, graduations, and alumni events attest to the way this is a staple of Penn State. + Service. Usually friendly and super quick.

Not much to say that hasn't been said, but the creamery is a must visit in state college. It's run like a tight ship, down to selling freezer packs and dry ice for your trip home. Make sure you visit a few times to try out seasonal flavors as well!

DELICIOUS. You must go, great staff and the best ice cream around! Such a cute place inside too :) I'll definitely be back!

This place is amazing! This was my first time going to the creamery. The flavors of ice cream are amazing! And they give you massive scoops, which is well worth your money. My all time favorite is death by chocolate. It definitely pairs well with berries (especially strawberries). The service is amazing and all the cream is local. They have ice cream that is locally made and even a variety of cream cheese. There is tons of seating outside and a few places to sit inside. The place is huge. I definitely will be coming back here.

I've had my fair share of ice cream and this is excellent ice cream. The hype (and plethora of five star reviews) is well deserved. Our friend took us here while showing us a bit around campus. We all went with cups that were filled above the brim by fast and friendly staff--definitely generous portions for $6/each. I got the Lion S'mores, which is vanilla (with blue coloring... yay school spirit!), graham crackers, chocolate chips, and a marshmallow cream. Aside from being very tasty flavor-wise, also a perfectly creamy, almost on the custardy side, texture. Would definitely pop in for another round the next time we're visiting the area.

Good ice cream. I only wish there were smaller size options. I'm excited to try the cheese and salami. Coffee was also good with multiple flavors available.

Amazing ice cream! Not sure if you can do better than PSU ice cream. If you're on campus, the Creamery is a must-visit! They also sell pretty good coffee and Ye Old College Sticky Buns!

Not much review, is the ice cream good? For sure, if you are in Happy Valley it is worth a stop price is reasonable, out door and indoor seating options but definitely more outdoor seating than indoor.

When you visit a particular area, you always gotta try the thing that place is known for. For New York City, it's thin crust pizza. For Queens, it's authentic ethnic food. For Penn State, you gotta try ice cream at the creamery in terms of food. It's definitely a step above the many artisanal ice cream places in NYC like Van Leuwen and definitely better than the chains like Ben and Jerry. How could it not be? There are cows literally a few miles away. In my recent visit I got scoop of a some kind of variation of chocolate ice cream. It was pretty fresh and tasty and was perfect for a hot summer day. The space itself does slightly feel touristy with all the random gift shop type items that they have. But the service was fairly quick even on a hot summer day. Had I lived closer I probably would have gotten a gallon or two of ice cream to go.

Ice cream cone was amazing; better than I remember it from my days there as a student.

Best ice cream on the planet. Always a stop when we are on campus for an event . Do not worry about lines they move fast

I quickly stopped in here to grab some goodies on my way home from Penn State. They have a ton of ice cream flavors and other dairy items like cheese, milk,, etc. the store is clean and easy to navigate. They also sell cooler bags and dry ice so that your ice cream won't melt on the drive home. The ice cream was so good! I'll definitely stop here again the next time I'm in town!

This is a must-stop when in the area - the creamery goes right back to the roots of the agricultural college...and you can taste it. There are a (rotating) variety of selections of ice cream to choose from - nowadays showing on a screen - all tasty. Stopped in 3 times in 3 days while hanging out nearby - ordered the same flavor - peanut butter - some of the best I've had. Service can be a bit slow at times as there is often a huge line (I was actually there between semesters & it was still packed) - it is worth the wait. They were doing a great job with sanitization with 'moist towelettes®' on each table - which also came in handy if you couldn't keep up with the melting ice cream ;) Place comes off as clean & bright - there are also cold prepackaged wraps/sandwiches for sale & other snack items available. No parking in the immediate area, but there is a parking garage right around the corner - oh ..also a decent amount of outside seating. Definitely worth seeking out!

Huge death by chocolate ice cream cone !! Incredible chocolate cacophony! Very rich and decadent. Def a must stop at State College!

Always bring home ice cream for home. Creamy delicious! My favorite is the coconut chip. The best! We are!

This spot came highly recommended. I thought how good could a college campus ice cream joint be. Well it's Penn State, and it was very good. Driving in there are plump, happy looking cows in pastures, so it makes sense. Found parking in the east garage directly behind the creamery. It's only $.25 per quarter hour up to an hour. There was plenty of parking on the higher floors during lunchtime so don't fight for metered street parking, and make sure not park in the other student or faculty garages. Walk around to the right once you come out of the garage elevators. You'll see picnic tables & umbrellas on a big patio. If the weather is nice, it's more scenic than inside the cafe. Right now the fall leaves are changing from green to red and yellow. When you've found the food science classroom entrance, you have found the spot. It's well lit and loaded with Blue and white Penn State pride. I asked if I could sample one, and she said I could table as many as I liked. I wasn't greedy. I only tried four. A chocolate base, a coffee, a white chocolate raspberry, and something with monkey In the name. All of them were exceptionally good. No frostbite. Obviously very fresh and creamy. This place knows how to churn! I chose the raspberry and was not disappointed. I asked for a cone turned over in a cup to avoid spillage. They give you a mega serving almost 3 normal scoops in one. She said of course. We call that "friendly" style. And here I thought I was the only one who requested ice cream that way. I sat outside as classes changed. Enjoyed watching all the kids and professors eating sandwiches and drinking coffee. Pretended like I was back in college. I finished half my ice cream and packed up to go. Made it to the garage at 30 minutes on the dot. My parking ticket was $.50. Ice cream was six dollars. Where can you get a huge scoop of fresh ice cream in a cone, in a cup, plus parking on a beautiful campus during fall for $6.50. College State, PA. I had planned on coming back every couple of days to get my fill of flavors, but the ice cream is too rich. No need to go for a second round of the freshman 15. But I will be back at least one more time while I'm here. The campus is gorgeous!

Firstly, as an alumni I felt possessed to get The Alumni Swirl. Fast service, as always. Easy to find seating. Always a fun visit between trips across states to stop in.

I was gifted 6 pints of ice cream by a local for my birthday and boy did that make my day. I'm a bit of an ice cream snob and usually don't like many of the over-the-top creations you find from manufacturers that try too hard. The Penn State flavors are all solid -- some of them very food -- but they also have more sugar that I prefer (and more than they likely need). Alumni swirl is one of the most popular flavors. Mocha chips and blueberry swirl in vanilla ice cream. It was ok but I could take it or leave it. Death by chocolate is the one to get if you're a chocoholic. Chocolate ice cream, flakes, fudge pieces, and swirl. Happy happy joy joy was my favorite. Roasted almonds and chocolate chips in coconut ice cream. I ate this much too quickly. Only because I wanted more. Money business is peanut butter and chocolate chips in banana ice cream. This is the one I wanted to love but it didn't quite work. Needed more peanut butter and was much too sweet. You can ship me this ice cream any time you like but I'm not flying to PA to buy it.

PSU creamery is a one of a kind experience. It's been making ice cream since 1865 and is part of the Penn State Food Science program. It's the oldest Univeristy led ice creamery in the USA. Half of their milk comes from cows raised on University grounds. I had a field trip here in Kindergarten and I turned down a job to work the counter in College (such a huge regret). They also offer an ice cream short course that has taught Ben & Jerry's, Hagen-Daas, and Baskin Robins (to name drop a few). They opened a larger location about 15 years ago but I truly miss the little shop from the 90's. They serve more than just ice cream and it was a favorite quick food stop for me in school. Now about the ice cream. It's made with over 14% butter milk fat and PSU has made over 100 different flavors (availability of flavors vary). Servings are huge and cost around $5/ea. Samples are allowed but there's no mixing of flavors. My favorites are peachey paterno, death by chocolate and strawberry. If you want to get quarts to go they offer dry ice packaging and coolers. This is a must stop for any Penn Stater or touring family.

If you like ice cream you must stop here! They are not light on scooping up a cone, there maybe 8 scoops on a single cone. Many amazing flavors to choose from...But, don't you dare try and mix flavors. That's a NO NO. Students that run the place are unbelievable, service is spot on! Enjoy.... WE ARE...

Excellent ice cream, when in State college make the stop! We got butter pecan, coffee, and chocolate.

Ice creams really good, be aware if you get a cone they stack it super high so Youll have to eat it quick before it melts. Service was fine and the place was in a campus building. Overall pretty good.

Always a winner. There's a reason they have a line even on freezing game days. We went the day before game day this time, which really helped with the line. They also have a separate (much shorter) line for prepackaged items & sell the grilled stickies you can no longer get from the diner that closed. Can't recommend the creamery enough. We go at least once per trip to Penn State.

Best ice cream ever! I had the peanut butter swirl and it was creamy and delicious as always! If you are in University Park, the Creamery is a must, for sure! Other goodies are also sold there like the sticky buns from the Old College Diner! Check them out!

Popular spot for ice cream on campus, and it's open to the public. You can browse the market too with tubs of ice cream (and they'll even prepare it to-go with dry ice!), chocolate milk, cheese, grab & go food and more.

I haven't been to the creamery since it moved into the former Lot 80 (aka the frozen tundra). But I was here for the weekend and the campus was dead so I figured it probably wouldn't be crowded. Well I was just wrong about that. Even when the campus is dead there is a line out the door apparently. The line moved somewhat faster than expected. I ordered Crazy Charlie Sundae Swirl. The boyfriend ordered Raspberry Parfait. Both in cone format. The cones were huge and delicious. We sat outside on the benches and enjoyed our ice cream very much.

The large amount of flavor choices is amazeballs. My wife went with mint chocolate chip, she said best she's ever had..my daughter had the monkey business and she loved it. I had the chocolate marshmallow and it was pheromonal! We also order online and had some delivered to the house. The Service was impeccable..Thank You.

This place is amazing and is a must stop if you're in State College and like ice cream. You can tell the ice cream is fresh and some of the flavors are very creative. They also have a large selection of other to-go products. Awesome creamery!

Yes, what more could you ask for than a specialty creamery downstairs from your food science training course? The creamery has rotating flavors, and on my visit, there were about 12 that week. Only one size is available, and that's a huge for $4.49! I enjoyed the alumni swirl, which is vanilla with blueberry swirl and mocha chips. So good that I had to pay another visit the next day to try another flavor, butter pecan that time! Delicious, fatty ice cream goodness. I left with my belly full and heart happy! You pay at the register first, then make your way down the line to tell another staffer what flavor you want, so it is a bit inefficient in that it's like you're having to order twice. Masks are required inside, and you'll be provided one if you don't have one on hand. Tons of quarts, half gallons, etc of ice cream available to choose from, alongside refrigerated snacks like string cheese and snack plates and select Penn State apparel.

I went to the Creamery on a game day and will speak from that experience. The line was noticeable but only about 20 minutes long as they kept it moving quickly. I would recommend doing a little research on the flavors beforehand in the event that you are in a long line as once inside things go quickly. I opted for the Grilled Stickies as it was a flavor I had not seen any other places. It tasted like a giant cinnamon bun in a cone. The ice cream definitely had a fresher taste than I'm used to from other ice cream experiences. Would highly recommend for any ice cream lover or person walking the hilly campus on a warm day.

Came her right after the Penn state football game. The line was leaking outside. By the time we got on the line the line had made it down the block. One of the ladies came out and made us move the line so we weren't making a fire safety hazard. This sucked because like 6 people skipped my group on the line. She also said they weren't doing milkshakes, but I think this was solely because with a massive line like that, it would be such a hassle to clean after each customer and the line would barely move. I was ok with that because I wanted a cone. 2 lines inside, one for people buying prepackaged items and one for people ordering fresh ice cream scoops. So many ice cream flavors. They have definitely expanded in the 20 years since I was a student. Can't wait for our next trip to Happy Valley

Solid ice cream, what can I say. On par with store brands like Ben and Jerry's. But less interesting flavors and more the basics. They also sell mean sausages. Selling dry ice to keep things cold on the way home is a nice touch, too.

Most, if not all, of the folks who heard we were passing through State College said you must stop at the creamery! But we also heard the line is usually long... so we decided to be strategic and showed up for ice cream for dessert after brunch! There was no line at 10 am on a weekday with no large events taking place. The flavor menu of the day had a nice variety of options on it, and the staff was friendly. The shop also offers snacks and food, plus Penn State gear. There are seating areas both inside and a nice patio with multiple umbrella tables on the patio. We got a bowl of chocolate ice cream, which, as we were told, was a generously sized portion that was easy to share, and enjoyed sitting out on the patio. Parking was easy at the nearby East Parking Deck as their website recommends. We enjoyed the ice cream and our visit!