The Awesome Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour in Vermont
Wondering if the Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour is worth a visit to Vermont? We have got the full scoop! 😁
Located in Waterbury, Vermont, the Ben & Jerry’s Factory is only a 20-minute drive northwest of the state capital of Montpelier.
And since Hubby has a definite weakness for ice cream, we definitely planned to stop here on our road trip through Vermont.
Ben & Jerry’s was a blast! We loved every moment of our visit from the tour to the tasting, and especially the Flavour Graveyard!
Want to hear more about our adventure? Let’s dive right in!
The Ben & Jerry’s Factory is a very family-friendly attraction, with lots to keep the kiddos occupied.
Aside from the actual factory tour, there is a gift shop full of awesome items, the Scoop Shop where you can grab some ice cream, the Flavor Graveyard (more on this later), a picnic area, and a playground.
The Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour
Tickets are required for admission inside the public portion of Ben and Jerry’s for the Factory Experience.
Tickets for the Factory Experience can be purchased up to two weeks in advance online.
If available, you can also purchase walk-in tickets onsite at the Ticket Sales and Gift Kiosk.
Just a heads up, due to the popularity of the tours, very few day-of and walk-in tickets will be available.
Your best bet is to purchase your tickets ahead online to avoid disappointment.
On the plus side, the Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour tickets are an absolute steal at $6 for adults and $1 for kids under 12 years of age.
As a result, the tickets sell out fast during peak times.
The tours run all day, 362 days a year, so it really isn’t too difficult to score a set for your family.
Worst case scenario, you indulge in some ice cream while waiting for the next available tour!
The 30-minute guided tour takes you through the history of the company, as well as the ice cream-making process.
If you are lucky enough to be there on an ice cream production day, you can actually watch the machines hard at work making the delicious treat!
All in all, the Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour was very well done.
The information was presented in a fun and entertaining way, which meant not a single complaint from the kids.
And with the tour ending in the Flavoroom with samples of ice cream for everyone, there were only happy smiles all around!
Other Things to Do at Ben & Jerry’s Factory
After your factory tour is over, there are still some fun and tasty things to do at the Ben & Jerry’s Factory!
1. Have Trouble Choosing a Flavour at The Scoop Shop
After being teased with a sample during your tour, we can almost guarantee that you will be craving ice cream!
Head to the Scoop Shop where you can find several exclusive flavours, that are just loaded with chunks and swirls.
Hubby and the kids had plenty of flavour options to choose from, so their decision wasn’t easy!
I have a dairy sensitivity, so my options are always much more limited.
But I was pleasantly surprised to find several dairy-free flavours available, that didn’t include raspberry sorbet! Ha!
Anyone who is vegan or dairy-free knows that the only flavour EVER available at most ice cream shops is the dreaded raspberry sorbet!
Once you have the ice cream flavours chosen, you then have to decide whether you want it served up in a dipped waffle cone, swirled into a milkshake, made into a sundae, or have it served up in a classic cup.
Decisions, decisions!
I chose Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough on a waffle cone, and was it ever delicious!!
I was a new convert to Ben & Jerry’s from that pint… err.. point on!
2. Pay Your Respect at The Flavor Graveyard
With our ice cream cravings taken care of… at least for the immediate future… we headed outside to visit the Flavor Graveyard.
This colourful and playful “cemetery” is where Ben and Jerry’s flavours end up after they are discontinued.
Did you know that every year, Ben & Jerry’s eliminates eight to twelve flavours from their lineup?
This is because Ben & Jerry’s is constantly experimenting with new (and sometimes odd) ice cream flavours.
Consequently, those with the lowest sales are discontinued, with a few notable ones ending up in the graveyard.
Each “Dearly De-pinted” flavour has a headstone with a quirky description of its demise.
They are hilarious! What a fun idea!
With names like “Bovinity Divinity” and “Turtle Soup”, it’s hard not to spend time reading each headstone!
The kids had fun running from headstone to headstone, trying to pick out their favourite sayings!
Considering most flavours were discontinued before they were born, they could only imagine what the ice cream actually tasted like! Ha!
3. Climb the Stairway to Heaven
The day we visited the Ben & Jerry’s Factory, the weather wasn’t great for outdoor exploration.
However, had it been nice out, we would have spent much more time wandering the grounds.
Kids can enjoy the “Stairway to Heaven,” which leads to a playground as well as a “Cow-Viewing Area.”
The Ben & Jerry’s Factory is definitely family-friendly both inside and out!
We noticed quite a few Adirondack chairs and picnic tables scattered around the grounds.
Those would be the perfect spots to enjoy a picnic on a beautiful day, as well as a cone or two!
4. Grab Some Ice Cream or Trinklets to Go at the Gift Shop
Of course, we couldn’t leave the Ben & Jerry’s Factory without visiting the gift shop!
Aside from being able to purchase ice cream by the pint, there was a huge selection of ice cream-themed merchandise.
We spent quite a bit of time trying to decide whether we wanted shirts, magnets, pint locks, or bags of Cookie Dough Chunks! It was all part of the fun!
Where to Stay Near the Ben & Jerry’s Factory
While Waterbury is not a very big town, there are still some great places to stay near the Ben & Jerry’s Factory:
Fairfield by Marriott Waterbury Stowe
- Conveniently located in Waterbury, just a few minutes from the factory.
- Offers comfortable rooms, free Wi-Fi, a complimentary breakfast, a fitness center, and an indoor pool.
Green Mountain Inn
- Located in Stowe, just a short drive from the factory.
- Known for its charming New England style, comfortable rooms, and excellent amenities including an outdoor heated pool and fitness center.
Best Western Plus Waterbury-Stowe
- Located in Waterbury, very close to the factory.
- Offers modern rooms, an indoor pool, a hot tub, and a complimentary breakfast.
How to Get to the Ben & Jerry’s Factory
With an easy drive and plenty of free parking available on your arrival, you should have no trouble starting your adventure off right.
By Car
- From Burlington, VT: Take I-89 South towards Montpelier. Take Exit 10 for VT-100 South towards Waterbury. Follow VT-100 South and then turn left onto US-2 East. The factory will be on the left at 1281 Waterbury-Stowe Road.
- From Montpelier, VT: Take I-89 North towards Burlington. Take Exit 10 for VT-100 South towards Waterbury. Follow VT-100 South and turn left onto US-2 East. The factory will be on the left.
- From Boston, MA: Take I-93 North to I-89 North towards Vermont. Follow I-89 North and take Exit 10 for VT-100 South towards Waterbury. Follow VT-100 South and turn left onto US-2 East. The factory will be on the left.
By Public Transportation
- There are no direct public transportation options from major cities, but you can take a bus to Waterbury and then a taxi to the factory.
By Plane
- The closest major airport is Burlington International Airport (BTV). From there, you can rent a car and follow the directions from Burlington.
Ben and Jerry’s Factory Tour FAQs
Yes. Today, Ben and Jerry’s headquarters are in South Burlington, Vermont. But their factory is still in Waterbury, Vermont.
Creemee! Found on menus and at ice cream stands, a Creemee is what soft-serve ice cream is referred to in Vermont.
Yes! Ben and Jerry’s takes great measures to be socially and environmentally responsible when sourcing ingredients. In fact, in 2005 Ben and Jerry’s was the first ice cream maker in the world to use Fairtrade Certified ingredients.
The first flavour ever created by Ben and Jerry was Vanilla!
Cherry Garcia. Cherry Garcia has been a fan-favourite since 1987 when it was first introduced. With cherry-flavoured ice cream, bits of real cherries, and chocolate flakes, this flavour can usually be found in the top three bestsellers for Ben and Jerry’s.
Mocha Walnut. Introduced in 1981, Mocha Walnut was Ben’s all-time favourite flavour. unfortunately, it also turned out to be the ice cream company’s all-time worst-selling ice cream.
While you think that Vermont would be the obvious answer considering the popularity of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, the answer is California! In fact, the average American consumes 20 pounds of ice cream per year!
Final Thoughts on the Awesome Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour in Vermont
We spent about 3 hours at the Ben & Jerry’s Factory, which could have been stretched out longer had the weather cooperated. It was definitely a fun and worthwhile stop to make.
In fact, my kids still mention the experience whenever we pick up a pint of Ben & Jerry’s from the store… which is definitely more often since visiting the factory!
What’s your favourite flavour of Ben and Jerry’s??
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