Your Guide to Ice Cream at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport

If you’re craving ice cream at Atlanta Airport (ATL)—whether you have a tight layover or you work at the airport and want a sweet break—there are several spots where you can grab a cone, cup, or shake without leaving the terminal.

This guide focuses on Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and walks you through where to find ice cream or ice-cream-style treats in each concourse, plus tips for navigating lines, hours, and kid-friendly options.

Key Things to Know About Ice Cream at Atlanta Airport

Hartsfield-Jackson basics:

• Airport code: ATL
• Address: 6000 N Terminal Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30320
• Terminals: Domestic Terminal (North & South) and International Terminal (Concourse F)
• Concourses: T, A, B, C, D, E, F (connected by Plane Train and walkable corridors)

Ice cream options at ATL usually fall into three types:

• Dedicated ice cream or frozen yogurt counters
• Fast-food chains that offer soft-serve or shakes
• Coffee/bakery spots with ice cream-style drinks, affogatos, or milkshakes

Because specific brands and locations can change over time, it helps to think in terms of where and what type of treat you want rather than one exact shop.

Quick-Glance: Where to Look for Ice Cream at ATL

Here’s a simple overview you can screenshot for your trip:

Exact tenants come and go, but this pattern stays fairly consistent.

Domestic Terminal: Ice Cream Before You Go Through Security

If you’re meeting someone, dropping off family, or don’t want to go through security early, you may still find frozen treats in the main terminal.

Look near:

• Food courts and central seating areas in both North and South Domestic Terminals
• Larger fast-food counters that often serve cones or shakes as part of their dessert menu

This can be handy if:

• You’re a local Atlantan picking up visitors and want to treat kids while you wait
• You’re arriving at ATL and prefer to grab something sweet before leaving for downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead

Tip: ❄ If you’re headed straight to MARTA from the Domestic Terminal, consider grabbing something in the terminal food court before you ride down to the station, since the platform level doesn’t have many dessert options.

Ice Cream & Frozen Treats by Concourse

Concourse T: Fast and Simple Soft-Serve

Concourse T is closest to the Domestic Terminal and is often where travelers with short flights or quick connections land.

What to look for:

• Fast-food counters that may offer:
  • Soft-serve cones
  • Sundaes with chocolate or caramel
  • Milkshakes

Best for:

• Short layovers where you need to stay close to security
• Travelers who want something familiar and quick

Concourse A & B: Coffee, Shakes, and Frozen Drinks

Concourse A and Concourse B are some of ATL’s busiest areas and typically offer a wider range of options, including:

• Coffee chains – often have:
  • Frappuccino-style blended drinks
  • Frozen mochas and sweet cream-based beverages
• Bakeries or dessert counters – can carry:
  • Ice cream sandwiches
  • Ice cream–style desserts or frozen yogurt cups
• Fast-casual and fast-food spots – often:
  • Milkshakes in classic flavors (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry)
  • Soft-serve desserts

These concourses are ideal if:

• You’re traveling with kids and need an easy treat
• You’re on a business trip and just want a quick reward between flights
• You’re connecting between major hubs and have 20–45 minutes to spare

Tip: ⏱ During peak times, lines for popular chains can get long. If one spot is backed up, walk a few gates down—there’s often a similar option with a shorter line.

Concourse C & D: Sit-Down Desserts and Treats with Meals

If your timing allows a sit-down meal, Concourse C and Concourse D typically offer:

• Casual full-service restaurants with dessert menus that may include:
  • Ice cream sundaes
  • Brownie or cookie skillets topped with ice cream
  • Milkshakes or adult milkshakes (for 21+ travelers)
• Bars and grills where dessert can double as your sweet treat and final course

These concourses can work well if:

• You have a longer layover (an hour or more)
• You’d rather sit and recharge than wander the terminal
• You’re traveling as a group and want one place where everyone can find something

Tip: 🧊 If you order a dessert with ice cream and you’re boarding soon, let your server know your boarding time so the kitchen can pace your meal and dessert accordingly.

Concourse E & F: International Vibes and Upscale Desserts

For international travelers or anyone departing from the international side:

• Concourse E and Concourse F (the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal) often feature:
  • More full-service restaurants
  • Cafes and bars with ice-cream-based desserts or gelato-style options
  • Frozen cocktails for adults (21+) that have an ice-cream or sorbet feel

Typical options you may find:

• Classic scoops paired with cakes or pies
• Affogatos (espresso poured over ice cream) in coffee-forward spots
• Fancy desserts plated with ice cream, sorbet, or frozen custard

These are excellent if:

• You’re starting or ending an international trip through Atlanta
• You have time to spare and prefer a more relaxed atmosphere
• You want something a bit more indulgent or “restaurant-style” than a basic cone

Tips for Finding Ice Cream Quickly at ATL

Even if you don’t know the exact shop names, these strategies help you track down ice cream or similar treats efficiently:

1. Use Airport Directories and Overhead Signs

• Digital boards and overhead signs list “Food & Beverage” with arrows toward food courts.
• Once in a food court area, look for:
  • Ice cream logos or cone icons
  • Dessert cases with freezers or soft-serve machines

2. Think in Terms of “Ice Cream Adjacent”

If a pure ice cream counter isn’t close, go for:

• Milkshakes at burger spots
• Frozen or blended drinks at coffee shops
• Soft-serve or sundaes at recognizable fast-food brands

This is often the fastest way to satisfy a craving when you’re rushing between gates.

3. Watch Your Time and Distance

Hartsfield-Jackson is large, and the Plane Train is your best friend if:

• You’re in Concourse T and your sweet spot is in Concourse B or C
• You’re traveling from Domestic to International areas

Rule of thumb:

• Keep at least 20–30 minutes buffer before boarding if you’re hopping to another concourse for ice cream.
• Add extra time during peak travel hours (early morning, late afternoon, and evening bank of flights).

Atlanta Locals vs. Visitors: How Your Strategy Might Differ

If You Live in Atlanta

• You may know you can get better, more specialized ice cream in-town (for example, in neighborhoods like Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward, or Decatur), so airport ice cream is usually:
  • A treat for kids before a long flight
  • A quick fix after a stressful travel day
• If you’re picking up family, you can either:
  • Grab something small pre-security and then head to a favorite Atlanta ice cream shop afterward, or
  • Wait until you’re back in the city to go to your preferred local spot

If You’re Visiting Atlanta

• If ATL is your first stop and you have a connection-free arrival:
  • You might skip airport ice cream and wait until you reach the city, where options are broader.
• If ATL is a connection, and you won’t have time to explore Atlanta:
  • The airport becomes your only chance for a little Southern-style indulgence, so seeking out a sundae or milkshake between flights can be worth the effort.

Kid-Friendly Ice Cream Tips at Atlanta Airport

Traveling with kids through ATL? A well-timed ice cream stop can make security lines and delays a bit easier.

• Aim for mid-journey treats:
  Give kids ice cream after you’ve cleared security and found your gate, but before boarding time gets close.
• Watch for sugar + timing:
  For evening flights, consider smaller sizes or sharing one dessert to avoid major sugar rushes right before trying to sleep on the plane.
• Use it as a motivator:
  Many parents use a promise like, “Once we get through security and find our gate, we’ll get ice cream,” to keep things moving.

Practical Notes: Hours, Prices, and Payment

• Hours:
  Many food outlets at ATL open early to match flight schedules, but some dessert-focused counters may open later or close earlier. Morning travelers might find fewer ice cream-specific options and more coffee-based frozen drinks.

• Prices:
  Airport food generally costs more than city prices. Expect to pay a markup compared to what you’d pay at an ice cream shop in neighborhoods like Midtown or East Atlanta.

• Payment:
  Most vendors accept:

  • Major credit and debit cards
  • Contactless payment (phone or watch) at many registers
  • Cash at some—but not all—locations

If you’re traveling internationally and just arriving into Atlanta, using a card is usually the easiest route until you sort out local currency needs.

When to Skip Airport Ice Cream and Wait for the City

It may be smarter to wait until you’re outside the airport if:

• You’re very tight on time or your flight is already boarding
• You’re heading straight into Atlanta neighborhoods known for excellent ice cream, where you’ll have more flavors and local brands to choose from
• You prefer a quieter, less hectic environment to sit and enjoy your dessert

For many Atlanta visitors, grabbing ice cream once you reach your hotel area (Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, or nearby neighborhoods) offers more variety and a less rushed experience.

If your goal is simply to enjoy some Atlanta Airport ice cream during your time at Hartsfield-Jackson, focus on the food courts and major concourses, look for fast-food or coffee chains with frozen options, and plan a small time buffer so you can savor your treat without stressing about your gate.