Trip ideas while visiting Hershey in Pennsylvania
Hersheypark opened in 1906 as a simple picnic and leisure ground for employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company, making it one of the oldest operating amusement parks in the United States. Milton S. Hershey envisioned a place where workers and their families could enjoy recreation, and over the decades the grounds evolved from modest pavilions and a carousel into a full-scale theme park spanning 121 acres. The park remained free to the public until 1971, when a one-way gate system began charging admission to help fund the expansion that would eventually transform it into the major regional destination it is today.
Today Hersheypark operates more than 70 rides and attractions across several themed areas, with a lineup that consistently draws thrill seekers and families from across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. The park is known for its collection of steel and wooden roller coasters, many of which have earned national recognition for their speed, height, and inventive layouts. In addition to the dry rides, the Boardwalk at Hersheypark water park covers over 10 acres with slides, wave pools, and interactive water play structures that are included with park admission and open during the summer season.
Among the standout coasters is Candymonium, a Bolliger and Mabillard hypercoaster that debuted in 2020 as the park’s tallest, fastest, and longest ride. Its 210-foot lift hill delivers a dramatic drop into a series of sweeping turns and airtime hills designed to feel like floating through Hershey’s chocolate-inspired landscape. Skyrush, opened in 2012, offers an entirely different experience with its winged seating configuration that leaves riders suspended over the edge of the track, producing an intense, floorless sensation on every hill and banked curve. Other notable coasters include Storm Runner, a hydraulic-launch coaster that rockets from zero to 72 miles per hour in two seconds before climbing a 150-foot top hat, and Fahrenheit, which sends trains through a 97-degree beyond-vertical drop.
Family attractions form a large part of the park’s identity beyond the high-intensity thrills. Kissing Tower remains one of the park’s most recognizable landmarks, a 330-foot observation ride topped with a giant Hershey’s Kiss that offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The Hershey Triple Tower gives younger visitors a chance to experience drop rides at three different heights tailored to their comfort level. ZooAmerica, a North American wildlife park with 11 acres of naturalistic habitats, is connected to the park via a bridge and features animals including black bears, river otters, elk, mountain lions, and bald eagles in settings that represent each species’ native ecosystem.
The Boardwalk water park, added as a major expansion, includes The Shore wave pool capable of generating surf-like conditions, a lazy river called the Intercoastal Waterway, and towering water slides such as Coastline Plunge and Breakers Edge, a water coaster that uses magnetic propulsion to send riders uphill through splash-filled tunnels. Private cabanas are available for rent and provide shaded seating with dedicated food and drink service for families looking to make the water park experience more comfortable.
Seasonal events extend the park’s calendar well beyond the summer months. Hersheypark in the Dark, held during weekends in October, features costumed characters, trick-or-treat trails, and select rides operating in nighttime conditions with fog and colored lighting effects. From mid-November through early January, Christmas Candylane transforms sections of the park with millions of twinkling lights, themed holiday shows, visits with Santa Claus, and a curated selection of rides that remain open for winter operation. The park also hosts a New Year’s Eve celebration with a midnight countdown and fireworks display synchronized to music.
Dining inside Hersheypark has evolved significantly from its early days of simple snack stands. Full-service options include The Chocolatier, a restaurant and bar located just outside the main gate that serves creative dishes incorporating chocolate and cocoa in both savory and sweet preparations, with overhead coaster track from Candymonium passing directly past the dining room windows. Inside the park, themed food courts and walk-up kiosks serve everything from smoked brisket and hand-breaded chicken tenders to the park’s signature King Size milkshakes topped with full-size candy bars and slices of cake. The park’s famous Hershey’s Character appearances give guests the chance to meet life-sized versions of candy mascots throughout the day.
Accessibility is a priority across the park, with a Ride Accessibility Program designed to accommodate guests with physical, cognitive, or sensory needs. The park provides detailed ride information including height requirements, restraint types, and motion intensity ratings on its Hersheypark mobile app, which also functions as a digital map and wait-time tracker. Stroller and wheelchair rentals are available near the main entrance, and multiple nursing stations and quiet rooms are located throughout the grounds for families with infants or guests who need a break from the sensory stimulation of the midway.