Ben and Jerry's Factory

Ben and Jerry's grew up alongside a particular idea: that a business could chase both flavor and conscience. The company became known for sourcing, for causes printed on its pints, and for a playful streak that named flavors after musicians and jokes. That mix of dessert and activism is woven through the tour and the signage.

The founders sold the company to the multinational Unilever in 2000, with an unusual arrangement meant to protect its social mission and independent board. The brand's activist voice, and the occasional public friction that comes with it, has continued to make news well beyond the ice cream aisle.

Up the grassy hill behind the factory sits the Flavor Graveyard, a real little cemetery of granite-look headstones marking flavors that did not survive. Each grave carries the flavor's name, the years it was sold, and a short comic epitaph mourning its passing.

It is equal parts marketing and genuine folk humor, and it has become the most beloved part of a visit. Fans lobby to bring certain dear-departed flavors back to life, and a few have actually risen from the dead over the years.

The guided tour begins with a short film on the company's origins, moves to a mezzanine overlooking the production floor where pints are filled and packed, and ends in the FlavoRoom with a taste of whatever is being made that day. It is family-friendly and quick, well suited to travelers passing between the highway and Stowe.

Because the line runs on a manufacturing schedule, weekdays give the best odds of seeing ice cream actually in production. On a weekend you will still get the film, the view, and the sample, just fewer moving pints.

Summer is peak season, when the parking lot fills and the scoop line runs long, and foliage season in early October is nearly as busy given the factory's spot on the road to Stowe.

Winter quiets things down and pairs naturally with a ski trip up the valley. The factory runs year-round, so a cone in the snow is very much on the table.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Ben and Jerry's Factory, in Waterbury, Vermont, is the home of the world-famous ice cream brand, one of the most popular attractions in the state, offering fun factory tours and plenty of ice cream. Founded in Vermont, Ben and Jerry's is beloved for its playful flavors and its commitment to social causes, and the factory welcomes visitors for guided tours that show how the ice cream is made, share the company's quirky history and values, and, of course, offer tastings of the delicious ice cream. The grounds also feature a whimsical Flavor Graveyard honoring discontinued flavors. A sweet and fun Vermont icon, it delights visitors of all ages. With its factory tour and ice cream, the Ben and Jerry's Factory offers a delightful destination in Vermont.

You can take a guided factory tour to see how the famous ice cream is made, learn the quirky history and social mission of Ben and Jerry's, enjoy an ice cream tasting, visit the whimsical Flavor Graveyard honoring discontinued flavors, and browse the shop and grounds. The factory tour, the ice cream tasting, the fun company story, and the Flavor Graveyard are the draws, making it a sweet and entertaining stop for families and ice cream lovers. Sampling the ice cream is a highlight. With its factory tour and ice cream, the Ben and Jerry's Factory offers a rewarding experience in Vermont.

The factory tours are popular and run on a schedule, so checking current tour times and any ticket details before you go is wise, and tours can sell out or have wait times in the busy season. Note that ice cream production may not run every day, so what you see on the tour can vary, though the tour and tasting are offered regardless. It is busiest in summer and during fall foliage season. Planning around the tour schedule ensures a sweet and smooth visit to the Ben and Jerry's Factory in Waterbury, Vermont.

The Ben and Jerry's Factory is enjoyable year-round, with the warm months and fall foliage season the busiest and most popular, when combining it with the Stowe and Waterbury area's outdoor attractions is ideal, while quieter times off-season may mean shorter waits for tours. Because tours run on a schedule, checking current times before you go is wise. For pleasant weather to explore the area too aim for the warm months, or visit off-season for shorter waits, at the Ben and Jerry's Factory in Vermont.

The Ben and Jerry's Factory is in Waterbury, Vermont, within reach of Stowe with the Trapp Family Lodge, Mount Mansfield, Smugglers Notch, and the Stowe Recreation Path, the Waterbury Reservoir at Little River State Park, and the Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks near Montpelier. That makes the Ben and Jerry's Factory a delightful stop to combine with the Stowe attractions and the other sights of the Waterbury area on a visit to Vermont.