Few things harken us back to childhood in quite the same way as a sweet and cold snow cone in North Carolina – especially in the height of summer. And while fun road trips can be experienced all over the Tar Heel State, there’s one that’s sure to take you back in time: a drive over to Hills of Snow, a giant snow cone stand in Smithfield.

Since 1984, Hills of Snow in Smithfield has been the delight of locals and visitors alike.

Facebook/Hills of Snow The very first location was just an ordinary box building, but it was soon replaced by the giant cup we know and remember being here for decades and decades.

As many already know, it’s actually not entirely accurate to call the treats served here “snow cones.”

Facebook/Hills of Snow They’ve never been served in paper cones that come to a point at the bottom like traditional snow cones.

Oh no: the SnowBalls served at Hills of Snow need something much more substantial than a paper cone that tapers into a cylinder at the bottom.

Google/Anne Garner And they’re not made of bumpy or crunchy shaved ice, either. But if you’ve been here, you already know there’s a secret to these summer treats others simply cannot duplicate.

It’s just part of the reason people are willing to drive from all over North Carolina (and from beyond her borders) to get a Snowball from Hills.

Facebook/Hills of Snow Aside from the nostalgia, they’re just downright delicious!

Not only delicious, but also versatile!

Facebook/Hills of Snow They come in 10 different sizes from a small cup for the youngest set of hands in the family to an enormous cup for those of us whose eyes are always bigger than our stomach.

And you can choose from 101 flavors that are available every day of the season. (Hills of Snow is only open in the warm months.)

Facebook/Hills of Snow Beyond the normal 101 flavors, holidays like St. Patricks Day, the 4th of July, and more bring special flavors and specials we don’t normally see at Hills of Snow, like this Pumpkin Pie flavored Snowball (pictured).

As if the delicious Snowballs, alone, aren’t enough of a summer treat, Hills also has soft serve ice cream.

Facebook/Hills of Snow And there’s a dessert on the menu for everyone in the family - even the pup.

Step up your quest for a snow cone in North Carolina this summer with a Snowball from Hills of Snow in Smithfield. You can check ’em out on Google for hours of operation or visit their Facebook page (linked in the previous sentence here) to learn more.

Facebook/Hills of Snow

The very first location was just an ordinary box building, but it was soon replaced by the giant cup we know and remember being here for decades and decades.

They’ve never been served in paper cones that come to a point at the bottom like traditional snow cones.

Google/Anne Garner

And they’re not made of bumpy or crunchy shaved ice, either. But if you’ve been here, you already know there’s a secret to these summer treats others simply cannot duplicate.

Aside from the nostalgia, they’re just downright delicious!

They come in 10 different sizes from a small cup for the youngest set of hands in the family to an enormous cup for those of us whose eyes are always bigger than our stomach.

Beyond the normal 101 flavors, holidays like St. Patricks Day, the 4th of July, and more bring special flavors and specials we don’t normally see at Hills of Snow, like this Pumpkin Pie flavored Snowball (pictured).

And there’s a dessert on the menu for everyone in the family - even the pup.

Add even more fun to your agenda on your day trip over to Smithfield for a Snowball by adding a stop at Brightleaf Flea Market!

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Address: Hills of Snow, 110 S Brightleaf Blvd, Smithfield, NC 27577, USA