What Does It Mean When You Hear an Ice Cream Truck at Night?

Download Article

Cultural anthropology expert & content creator Internet Anthropology dives into the TikTok urban legend

Co-authored by Brittney Crabb and Dev Murphy, MA

Last Updated: October 28, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Conspiracy Theory Explained
|
• Is it true?
|
• Why are ice cream trucks out at night?
|
• Final Thoughts
|
• Warnings

|Show more |Show less

There have been a lot of articles, TikTok videos, and posts in small-town community Facebook groups lately about ice cream trucks operating after dark—and the dangers they might pose. But is there truth to the stories? Is this just the urban legend of the moment, or are there really ice cream trucks driving around late at night, selling drugs or—even scarier—waiting to abduct unsuspecting children? We'll dive into the phenomenon in this article, with insights from cultural anthropology expert and content creator Internet Anthropology, so keep reading for the scoop. 🍦

What is the “ice cream truck at night” conspiracy?

According to cultural anthropology expert and content creator Internet Anthropology, there are conspiracy videos going around on TikTok about how seeing ice cream trucks at night is eerie and doesn’t make sense. Some say the ice cream truck drivers are abducting children, which is likely a fabrication or exaggeration.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

What is the conspiracy theory about ice cream trucks at night?

Download Article

1. 
   Ice cream trucks are reportedly driving around after dark in some communities. People have taken to social media—especially TikTok and community Facebook and Reddit pages—to voice their concerns about ice cream trucks driving around town late at night, or just to share spooky stories about late-night ice cream trucks…which may or may not be true. Some people have linked their concerns to cases of missing children in the area (especially in Virginia), theorizing that the mysterious nocturnal ice cream trucks could be involved in abductions.

   • This TikTok video by user @haleyybaylee depicts footage (which may or may not be AI; it's getting hard to tell these days) of an ice cream truck driving around a deserted Virginia city street after 1 a.m.
   • Youtuber Danny Reyes posted a video commentary about ice cream trucks driving around in Virginia after dark, speculating, "I don't know what [the ice cream truck driver's] intentions are, but I know it's not to sell ice cream." (Though, in fact, he doesn't know this.)
   • Some social media users seem to be delighting in the creepy mystery like they would in any other urban legend. But for other users, ice cream trucks at night represent a serious concern. As stories of nefarious ice cream trucks have spread, parents and children alike may become understandably alarmed—even if the stories aren't true.
   • Internet Anthropology says that people are likely reacting to the “dissonance between a childhood symbol of the ice cream truck and the general vibe of nighttime, [and how these two things] don't quite fit.” Because it seems weird, people are more likely to believe something nefarious is afoot.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Internet Anthropology is a social media account that discusses pop culture phenomena and social media trends through the lens of anthropological theory. The expert behind Internet Anthropology is Carrera Kurnik.
Advertisement

Section 2 of 4:

Is there any truth to the theories?

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Kids are probably not being abducted by ice cream trucks at night. These stories have likely been heavily exaggerated and spread for entertainment purposes. As a general rule, it's a good idea not to let small children out alone after dark, and they certainly shouldn't be approaching strange vehicles—ice cream trucks or otherwise. But the idea that ice cream truck drivers are abducting children after dark is almost certainly exaggerated.

   • Stories about ice cream trucks kidnapping kids at night have especially spread in places like Northern Virginia, where, it's been rumored, a high number of kids have recently been reported missing. (Check out this Reddit post on the subject for more info on the rumors' spread.)
   • However, the Virginia state police have addressed the viral social media posts and articles about missing Virginia children, claiming the situation is not as extreme as it's been made out to be.
   • Internet Anthropology believes these videos are successful because they leave you with more questions than answers, often prompting people to do their own research and discuss the phenomenon as a community.
   • According to Internet Anthropology, “The mechanisms of TikTok really favor conspiracy style videos. So just to ask the question of ‘what's going on here?’ generally does very well with the algorithm. And I think that's why these videos might be popping off.”
   • Internet Anthropology also notes that people seem to treat these things almost like a game. For example, they may find out that there was a missing kid in the specific suburban area where a video was taken, and then try to connect the two things.
   • This all being said, if you see or hear an ice cream truck out after midnight, it's probably safest to stay indoors.
   EXPERT TIP

   

   Israel Vieira Pereira, PhD

   PhD Student in Text & Discourse, Unisul University

   Israel Vieira is a Discourse Analyst and a PhD Candidate in Text and Discourse at Unisul's Language Sciences Program, where he studies the effects and characteristics of hoaxes, fake news and conspiracy theories.

   

   Israel Vieira Pereira, PhD
   PhD Student in Text & Discourse, Unisul University

   Never share information if you're not 100% sure if it is true or false. Fake news sites grow based on speculation and controversy.
2. 
   2
   Rumors about ice cream trucks selling drugs at night could be true. We don't know for sure if every rumor about ice cream trucks selling drugs is accurate, but we do know this has happened before, so it's not out of the realm of possibility.

   • For example, in 2011, a New York man was arrested for selling prescription drugs out of his ice cream truck.
   • And in 2018, another ice cream truck driver was arrested in California for selling meth and marijuana out of his truck.
Advertisement

Section 3 of 4:

Why might ice cream trucks drive around at night?

Download Article

1. 
   1
   They may just be trying to sell ice cream. For some ice cream truck drivers, operating at night makes financial sense: people could be feeling snacky after dinner, and if it's a nice summer night, a walk after dark with a cone of mint chocolate chip might just be a perfect way to spend the last hours of the day. If an ice cream truck driver believes they can make a few bucks by staying open later, they might do so.

   • Additionally, some trucks drive around as late as 8 or 9 p.m., which might seem late, but in the summertime, it's often still light out.
2. 
   2
   Some social media users claim trucks are selling illegal substances. We can't say for sure what every single ice cream truck in the nation is selling, but some social media users (like TikToker @itsnickholiday in this video) claim the trucks that drive around after midnight in their towns could be offering marijuana or other illicit substances for sale under the guise of an innocent ice cream truck. We're not saying you should be wary of every ice cream truck that drives around, but it doesn't hurt to be cautious, especially after dark.
3. 
   3
   Other users are concerned the trucks are linked to child abductions. Rumors of missing children in Virginia have spread over social media lately, despite there being no authoritative evidence that there are more abductions than usual, and nothing official to link abductions to ice cream truck drivers. It never hurts to be cautious when interacting with strangers at night, but nocturnal ice cream men are probably not a serious threat to most children.

   • The sad reality is, the vast majority of kids are abducted by people they know.
Advertisement

Section 4 of 4:

Final Thoughts

Download Article

1. Ice cream trucks at night are probably not a threat, but be cautious. Generally speaking, children probably shouldn't be out after dark without an adult, and they shouldn't be approaching strange vehicles at night—including ice cream trucks. This doesn't automatically mean every ice cream truck operating at night is up to no good, but why take the chance? There are plenty of ice cream trucks in operation during the day for you to patronize.

   • If you've personally seen or heard an ice cream truck at night, you may have a reason to be cautious, but if you've only heard rumors or seen TikTok videos about the issue, it's probably not a legitimate concern in your area.
   • The likelihood is that stories about ice cream trucks driving around at night have been exaggerated. Remember, studies have proven that the vast majority of the time, strangers are not trying to abduct people, and anxiety about "stranger danger" keeps all of us suspicious of one another, rather than open to connection and community.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

• Whether or not the ice cream truck at night theory is an urban legend or a legitimate concern, it's safest to be on your guard when you're out after dark, and to avoid approaching the vehicle of anyone you don't know, whether it's an ice cream truck or any other car. If you're a young child, avoid going out after dark without a trusted adult.
  Thanks

  Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Advertisement