Old Town Ice Cream Walk: 5 Shops in 5 Blocks

Old Town Fort Collins has something most neighborhoods would kill for: five ice cream shops within walking distance of each other. You can park once and hit every one on foot in an afternoon. Here's the route, the strategy, and what to get at each stop.

The Route

Start at Walrus on Mountain Avenue and work south along College Avenue. Total walking distance: about half a mile. Total time with stops: 90 minutes to 2 hours depending on lines and how much you linger.

Stop 1: Walrus Ice Cream

125 W Mountain Ave — The starting point. Fort Collins' oldest ice cream shop (since 1987) and the northern anchor of the walk.

What to get: Whatever's been on the menu longest. The classics are classics for a reason. Ask the staff what's most popular today — they'll steer you right.

Time needed: 10-15 minutes. Lines can be long on summer weekends but move fast.

Stop 2: Josh & John's Ice Cream

140 S College Ave — Walk south on College about three blocks. Josh & John's is the premium craft option on this route.

What to get: Their richest, most indulgent flavor. This is where you want the full craft experience — the local dairy base is noticeably better than the chains. If they have a salted caramel or brown butter variant, go for it.

Time needed: 10-15 minutes. The loyalty app is worth downloading if you plan to return.

Stop 3: Kilwins

114 S College Ave — Just down the block from Josh & John's. Skip the ice cream here.

What to get: Fudge. A small slab of whatever they just pulled off the marble slab. Watch them make it through the window first. If caramel apples are in season, grab one for later.

Time needed: 10 minutes. Faster if you know what you want from the case.

Stop 4: Ben & Jerry's

1 Old Town Square — Walk into the square. Ben & Jerry's is right there.

What to get: Something you can't get from the grocery store. Ask about the shop-exclusive flavors. Or skip this stop entirely if you're running low on stomach space — the next stop is better.

Time needed: 5-10 minutes. Lines are rarely long here.

Stop 5: Old Town Churn

120 W Laurel St — The grand finale. Walk to The Exchange on Laurel Street. The 26-foot wooden churn is visible from a block away.

What to get: Their most creative current flavor — something you'd never see at a traditional shop. This is where Little Man's Denver R&D shines. Sit in the plaza, enjoy the atmosphere. If there's live music, you've timed it perfectly.

Time needed: 15-20 minutes. The plaza is worth lingering in.

Strategy Tips

Pace yourself. Five shops is a lot of ice cream. Get a kid's size or single small scoop at each stop. Sharing with a partner helps.

Timing matters. Weekday afternoons (2-4 PM) have the shortest lines. Summer Saturday evenings are the longest waits but the best atmosphere.

Parking. Park near Mountain Avenue (meters or the parking garage) and walk south. You'll end at The Exchange, which is an easy walk back to your car.

Budget. A single small scoop at each stop runs roughly $5-7 per stop, so $25-35 for the full walk. Worth it once.

Skip one if needed. If five stops is too many, drop Ben & Jerry's (grocery store ice cream) or Kilwins (better for fudge). The essential three are Walrus, Josh & John's, and Old Town Churn.

The Bigger Picture

This walk covers 5 of Fort Collins' 9 ice cream shops. The other 4 — Glacier, Heaven Creamery, Dairy Queen, and Gelato & aMore — are on South College or West Mulberry and require a car. For the full 9-shop experience, check out our Ice Cream Trail.

But if you only have an afternoon and want to experience the best of Fort Collins ice cream on foot, this Old Town walk is the move.