If you grew up in the Southeast, you’ve probably had Mayfield milk or ice cream. You may have even wondered about the famous yellow jug. I know I always did.
If you’re looking for an easy family day trip, add Mayfield Dairy Farm in Athens, Tennessee to your list.
The tour gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how Mayfield milk and ice cream are made. It’s interesting enough to keep both kids and adults entertained.
It was educational without feeling like school. Throughout the tour, they ask fun trivia questions, and some of the answers will make your eyes pop. Trust me...the numbers they throw out are unbelievable.
One of my favorite parts was learning how Mayfield works with local dairy farmers to bring the milk we see in stores to our tables. I was excited to learn that one of those farms is Sweetwater Valley Farm. We’ve toured the farm before, so it was fun seeing how everything comes full circle—from the cows at Sweetwater Valley Farm to the milk and ice cream made at Mayfield. It really makes you appreciate everything that happens before it reaches the grocery store.
Sadly—but understandably—Mayfield doesn’t allow photos inside the production facility. So if you want to see what I’m talking about, you’ll have to take the short drive and experience it for yourself. Watching everything work together like a well-oiled machine was pretty impressive.
Don’t Skip the Ice Cream
Let’s be honest...everyone is waiting for the ice cream.
At the end of the tour, you’ll get to enjoy a scoop of Mayfield ice cream, and it was the perfect way to end our visit. With so many flavors to choose from, deciding which one to get might be the hardest part of the day.
Tips Before You Go
- Check the tour schedule before you leave. - Mayfield Tour Times
- Arrive a few minutes early.
- Bring your camera for family photos. As I mentioned, you can not take photos on the tour, but they have a few photo ops around the building.
Is it worth visiting?
Absolutely.
Mayfield Dairy Farm is one of those simple outings that lets your family spend time together without a lot of planning. It’s affordable, interesting, and, of course, ends with ice cream.
If you grew up in the Southeast, you’ll also enjoy seeing the vintage Mayfield packaging. From old milk cartons and juice containers to classic ice cream containers, it brings back a lot of memories. And maybe even some old stories.
It’s a simple outing, but sometimes those are the ones everyone remembers the most. Good company, a little learning, and ice cream at the end? That’s a pretty great day if you ask me.
Insider Tip: Before you leave, stop by the gift shop. They sell the giant tubs of Mayfield ice cream—the same ones you see in ice cream shops—for around $30. Our tour guide said each tub holds about 50 servings, so it’s a fun option if you’re feeding a crowd...or just really love ice cream!
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