Calling all chocoholics and theme park lovers! Located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the home of Hershey’s Chocolate, is where you can find family-friendly adventure waiting for you at Hersheypark. Whether you’re a seasoned thrill-seeker or a first-timer planning your sweetest getaway yet, this is your guide to conquering the sweetest place on earth, Hersheypark.
If you’re in the beginning stages of planning your next theme park vacation and need additional help or are looking for discounted theme park tickets, check out our trusted travel partner The Park Prodigy!
Hersheypark: Our Guide to the Largest Theme Park in PA
Calling all chocoholics and theme park lovers! Hersheypark is home to whimsical family fun with the overarching theme of chocolate! Whether you’re a seasoned thrill-seeker or a first-timer planning your sweetest getaway yet, this is your guide to conquering the sweetest place on earth, Hersheypark.
I am a frequent visitor of Hersheypark and love sharing my travels on The Krystal Palace, where I’ve done pretty much all there is to do there! Especially visiting during Halloween, which is an incredible time to visit if you like Hershey sweets.
Planning Your Trip to Hersheypark
The first part of planning your trip to any park is deciding when to visit. Hersheypark is a seasonal family-friendly destination. The ideal season depends on your priorities. During the summer months (June-August), brace yourself for peak crowds and scorching temperatures. A benefit to visiting in the summer is that Hersheypark is open daily beginning on May 23, 2024. Summer is also perfect for enjoying the water features like The Boardwalk at Hersheypark which opens on May 25, 2024. The Boardwalk is the water park located inside the park that is included in every ticket!
Spring (April-May) and fall (September-December) offer milder temperatures with potentially shorter wait times, making them ideal for exploring the park at a leisurely pace. Halloween fans will enjoy Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights (September-October), while the holiday season transforms the park into a winter wonderland with festive lights and holiday treats during Hersheypark Christmas Candylane (November-December).
Where to Stay?
Hersheypark has two on-site hotels that offer a variety of benefits. Below is a brief overview of the two Hershey hotels.
Hershey Lodge:
- Pricing: Generally considered more affordable than The Hotel Hershey. Rates can vary depending on season, room type, and package deals. King bed-room options range from $199-$500 per night in the summer months.
- Highlighted Benefits:
- Family-friendly atmosphere with themed rooms and activities.
- Indoor water park (Hershey’s Water Works) included with stay.
- Multiple on-site restaurants with casual dining options.
- Free shuttle service to Hersheypark.
Hotel Hershey:
- Pricing: Generally more expensive than Hershey Lodge. Offers a luxurious experience. King bed-room options range from $299-$699 per night in the summer months.
- Highlighted Benefits:
- Upscale accommodations and amenities.
- Multiple fine-dining restaurants with a focus on gourmet cuisine.
- Spa on-site offering a variety of treatments.
- Free shuttle service to Hersheypark.
- Indoor/outdoor pool complexes
Hersheypark Camping Resort
Hersheypark Camping Resort offers a unique blend of outdoor fun and proximity to the park’s chocolatey thrills. This is a year-round camping facility for RVs, tents, and 50 cabins.
- Pricing: Generally the most affordable option for staying near Hersheypark. Offers various campsites and cabin rentals to suit different budgets.
- Benefits:
- New tiny homes available
- Variety of campsites, including full hook-up RV sites, tent sites, and deluxe cabins with amenities.
- Partial sites with electric, water and cable TV
- Swimming pools, playgrounds, and on-site laundry facilities.
- Free Wi-Fi access.
- Convenient shuttle service to Hersheypark.
A huge benefit of staying at one of the 3 Hershey resorts is that you will receive extra evening and morning hours to enjoy Hersheypark! There are also a ton of off-site hotel options in the surrounding Hershey, PA area. The closer you are to Hersheypark, the more expensive the hotel will be.
Related post: Complete Guide to Hersheypark Halloween
Hersheypark Must-Dos
Hersheypark sits on 121 acres and is jam-packed with thrills, great food, and memories that will last a lifetime. Your park ticket not only grants access to Hersheypark but also to The Boardwalk (water park) and ZooAmerica, an 11-acre walk-through zoo.
Rides & Attractions
Hersheypark is known for its stellar coaster lineup of 15 thrilling coasters in the park! From the legendary wooden coaster Comet to the gravity-defying Skyrush, there’s a coaster to conquer for every daring rider. The newest and most exciting has to be Wildcat’s Revenge. A classic attraction that was re-tracked by Rocky Mountain Construction and is now a high speed thrilling ride you won’t want to miss.
Aside from the thrills of coasters, Hersheypark offers plenty of family-friendly attractions, 55 attractions to be exact! From the soothing ride of the Hershey Monorail to Reeces CupFusion, a fun interactive gaming ride, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Roller Coasters
- Candymonium: A hypercoaster with high speeds and big drops.
- Comet: A classic wooden coaster with dips and turns.
- Fahrenheit: A steep drop coaster with inversions.
- Great Bear: An inverted coaster with loops and corkscrews.
- Jolly Rancher Remix: A boomerang coaster with a flavor twist.
- Laff Trakk: An indoor spinning coaster with funhouse elements.
- Lightning Racer: A dueling wooden coaster with racing tracks.
- Skyrush: An intense coaster with airtime hills.
- SooperDooperLooper: A classic looping coaster.
- Storm Runner: A hydraulic launch coaster with twists and inversions.
- Trailblazer: A family-friendly mine train coaster.
- Wildcat’s Revenge: A hybrid coaster with wooden and steel elements.
- Wild Mouse: A compact coaster with sharp turns and drops.
Thrill Rides
- Claw: A pendulum ride that swings and spins.
- Fender Bender: Classic bumper cars.
- Frontier Flyers: Rotating flying scooters.
- Hershey Triple Tower: Three drop towers of different heights.
- Kissing Tower: An observation tower with scenic views.
- Reese’s Cupfusion: An interactive dark ride shooting game.
- Starship America: A spinning spaceship ride.
- Tidal Force: A shoot-the-chute water ride with a big splash.
- The Howler: A spinning and tilting ride.
- The Mix’d Flavored by Jolly Rancher: A spinning thrill ride.
Water Rides
- Bayside Pier: A kiddie pool area.
- Coal Cracker: A classic log flume ride.
- East Coast Waterworks: A multi-level water play structure.
- Intercoastal Waterway: A lazy river attraction.
- Shoreline Sprayground: A splash area for kids.
- Splashdown: A water slide with a big splash.
- The Boardwalk at Hersheypark: A water park with various slides and attractions.
Family Rides
- Classic Cars: Driveable vintage cars on a track.
- Convoy: A truck ride for children.
- Dizzy Drums: Spinning drum ride.
- Helicopters: Helicopter-themed ride for kids.
- Mini Pirate: A small pirate ship ride.
- Mini Scrambler: A smaller version of the Scrambler ride.
- Red Baron: Airplane-themed ride for children.
- Starship America: Spinning spaceship ride.
- Tea Cups: Classic spinning tea cup ride.
- Tiny Tracks: Miniature train ride for kids.
Kiddie Rides
- Bizzy Bees: Bee-themed spinning ride for kids.
- Dizzy Drums: Small spinning drum ride.
- Mini Himalaya: Small Himalaya ride for kids.
- Mini Pirate: Small pirate ship ride.
- Mini Scrambler: Small version of the Scrambler ride.
- Red Baron: Airplane-themed ride for young children.
- Space Age: Spinning ride with space theme.
- Sweet Swing: Swing ride for kids.
- Traffic Jam: Car-themed ride for kids.
- Tiny Tracks: Miniature train ride for young children.
Other Attractions
- Monorail: A scenic monorail ride around the park.
- Skyview: A gondola ride with aerial views.
- Sunoco Speedway: Go-kart racing track.
- Train (Dry Gulch Railroad): A classic train ride around a themed area.
Related post: Complete Guide to the Enchanted Forest Park in Salem Oregon
The Boardwalk
If you are visiting between Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, bring your bathing suit as you can stop at The Boardwalk! Catch thrills on water slides, pull up a lounge chair, or relax in the lazy river. The Boardwalk is home to the World’s Longest Mat Racing Slides on Whitecap Racer. There are 16 attractions to enjoy at this water park.
There are 10 food and beverage locations in The Boardwalk like Rita’s and Nathan’s Hot Dogs. You can make a day out of it or bring a change of clothes to enjoy the rest of Hersheypark after you soak up the sun at The Boardwalk!
ZooAmerica
Another perk of purchasing a Hersheypark ticket is that admission to ZooAmerica is included! This unique zoo transports you across North American habitats, bringing you face-to-face with grizzly bears, playful sea otters, and majestic bald eagles. The Zoo is dedicated to protecting, promoting, and encouraging the conservation of wildlife, natural resources, and habitats.
During this most recent review cycle by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) Accreditation Commission, ZooAmerica was one of the 22 accredited zoos and aquariums. Fewer than 10% of all zoos and aquariums in the world meet the standards to earn this prestigious designation. We think it’s awesome to have this Zoo experience included in your Hersheypark ticket. It adds to the idea that there really is something for everyone at this park.
Related post: Lunar New Year Disneyland Complete Guide
Food & Drinks at Hersheypark
Trust us, if you’re visiting Hersheypark, you are going to be craving chocolate at some point throughout the day. Hersheypark has a lot of food options for everyone to enjoy. Listed below are some of our favorites.
- Berks (hot dogs)
- Chik-Fil-A
- Chickie’s & Pete’s (cheesesteaks, crab fries)
- East Coast Mini Donuts
- Oola Bowls (smoothie and acai bowls)
- Pretzel House
The Chocolatier is a full-service restaurant located at the entrance of Hersheypark. You don’t need a park ticket to dine here. I highly recommend grabbing a reservation here for your day in the park. It is a nice sit-down break plus it has delicious food and drinks.
Ready to Go on a Magical Theme Park Journey?
We hope this guide sprinkles a little magic on your plans for HersheyPark. Our insights come straight from the heart of the parks, where the magic happens every day. We’re thrilled to share our firsthand experiences and tips to help you create unforgettable moments!
Why Choose Theme Park Today?
We’re a community of genuine theme park enthusiasts who live and breathe this magical world. Our mission is to bring you authentic, firsthand experiences that you can trust. We’re here to make the magic of theme parks accessible and enjoyable for everyone, wherever you may be.
🎟️ Ticket to Adventure
Looking for the best ticket deals? Our trusted friends at The Park Prodigy offer fantastic options that can make your visit both more affordable and magical.