If you’re chasing the best old-school soft serve in Montgomery County, Jimmie Cone in Damascus, MD is the one I keep coming back to. This is a seasonal stand has been scooping creamy soft serve since 1962, and it’s about as budget-friendly and nostalgic as ice cream gets. There’s a second location in Mt. Airy too, so wherever you are in the area, you’re not far from a twist cone. Fair warning, Nomsters, the lines get long on a warm night, but they move fast and it’s SO worth it.
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What Jimmie Cone Is Known For
Jimmie Cone’s a classic Maryland soft serve stand, the kind of roadside spot where you walk up to the window, order, and enjoy your cone at a picnic table out front. It’s been a Damascus institution since 1962, and it opened its 64th season in March 2026, so this place has been part of the community for over six decades. The soft serve’s the star here, and according to local press it’s made with roughly 10 percent butterfat, about double what you’d get from typical fast-food soft serve, which is a big part of why it tastes so much richer.
If you love an old-school soft serve window, this is basically the Montgomery County cousin to my beloved Ann’s Dari Creme down in Glen Burnie. Same roadside charm, same creamy-cone-at-a-picnic-table energy, just a different corner of Maryland.
What Should You Order at Jimmie Cone?
The move at Jimmie Cone’s the soft serve, and you’ve got vanilla, chocolate, and the vanilla-chocolate twist available every single day. If you want the full experience, get it dipped, that chocolate shell’s a classic for a reason. They also rotate weekly flavors like strawberry, black raspberry, and orange (each available twisted with vanilla too), so there’s always something new if you’re a regular. You can peek at their full menu before you go.
Beyond cones, the menu runs deep: sundaes, milkshakes, flurries, floats, snowballs, and water ice. There’s frozen yogurt and always-non-dairy water ice on the menu too, so the whole group’s covered even if someone’s skipping dairy. If frozen custard’s more your speed, that’s a totally different texture (like the glossy scoops at Meadows Frozen Custard in Columbia), but for classic soft serve, Jimmie Cone nails it. One heads up: portions run big, so if you’re not starving, a small’ll do you just fine.
Is Jimmie Cone Open Year-Round?
No, Jimmie Cone’s seasonal: it opens each year around mid-March and closes in late October. So this is very much a spring-through-fall treat, and once the weather turns, you’ll be counting down to opening day (which locals genuinely look forward to). They lean into the calendar too, adding seasonal flavors like pumpkin soft serve once fall rolls around.
The Vibe at Jimmie Cone
Part of the charm here’s that Jimmie Cone hasn’t changed much, and honestly that’s the whole point. You order at the window, grab a picnic table, and watch a steady stream of families, Little League teams, and couples do the exact same thing. The Mt. Airy location even hosts a Cruise Night on the first and third Saturdays of the month, so you can check out classic hot rods while you eat. It’s wholesome, it’s nostalgic, and it’s the kind of summer-evening ritual that sticks with you.
Good to Know
- Seasonal spot: open roughly mid-March through late October.
- Two locations: Damascus (the original) and Mt. Airy (opened 1997).
- The Damascus lot fills up on busy nights, so you may need to circle or use a nearby lot.
- Portions are generous, so consider sizing down.
- Walk-up only, no reservations, and the lines move quickly.
Jimmie Cone’s been doing one thing really well for over 60 years, and there’s a reason it’s still packed all summer. It’s affordable, it’s nostalgic, and that soft serve holds up against the buzzier new spots. Whether you’re a Damascus local or making the drive, it’s a perfect summer pick. Have you guys been to Jimmie Cone yet? Let me know your go-to order in the comments, Nomsters.
Visit Jimmie Cone
Damascus: 📍 26420 Ridge Road, Damascus, MD 20872, (301) 253-2003
Hours: Sun 1-10:30PM, Mon-Sat 11AM-10:30PM
Mt. Airy: 📍 1312 S Main Street, Mt. Airy, MD, (301) 829-6047
Hours: Sun 1-10PM, Mon-Sat 11AM-10PM
Website: jimmiecone.com (it’s seasonal, so check their Facebook page for current weekly flavors)