10 Tips for Hershey Park: What Families Need to Know
Planning your first trip to Hersheypark can feel a little overwhelming. Between the roller coasters, the water park, Hershey’s Chocolate World, and all of that candy to eat, there is a lot to fit into a visit. After taking our family to Hershey, Pennsylvania, I came away with plenty of tips for Hershey Park that I wish I had known before we arrived.
One of the best decisions we made was visiting Hershey’s Chocolate World the afternoon we arrived. This gave us a fun introduction to Hershey without using one of our park days, and it meant we could head straight into Hersheypark the following morning.
If you are planning a family trip, these tips for Hershey Park will help you figure out parking, when to arrive, which rides not to miss, where to eat, how to plan for the water park, and what to pack.
Visit Hershey’s Chocolate World Before Your Park Day
One of my favorite tips for Hershey Park is to give Hershey’s Chocolate World its own time rather than trying to squeeze it into an already busy park day.
We visited Chocolate World the afternoon we arrived in Hershey, and it was the perfect introduction to our trip.
Hershey’s Chocolate World is free to enter, and you do not need a Hersheypark ticket to visit. Parking is free for the first 2 hours. Even better, the Hershey’s Chocolate Tour ride is free and no reservations are needed.
Our favorite experience, however, was Create Your Own Candy Bar.
During this experience, you get to choose the ingredients for your chocolate bar and design your own wrapper while following your candy bar through the production process. It takes about 45 minutes and requires a separate paid ticket.
If your kids love seeing how things are made, this is a really fun addition to a Hershey trip.
I recommend reserving Create Your Own Candy Bar ahead of time because timed tickets can sell out.
Parking at Hersheypark
Purchase your Hersheypark parking online before your visit rather than waiting until you arrive. Not only does this save time at the entrance, but online parking is generally less expensive than purchasing it at the parking booth.
During our visit, it was $25 to park if we paid in advance or $40 at the gate.
Try to arrive early, especially if you are visiting during the summer or on a weekend. Getting there before opening gives you time to park, walk to the entrance, use the restroom, organize everyone, and be ready to start exploring when the park opens.
And take a picture of your parking location. Trust me. After walking around Hersheypark all day, every row in that parking lot is going to look exactly the same.
Check Hersheypark Hours Before Your Visit
Do not assume Hersheypark opens and closes at the same time every day. Operating hours vary depending on the season and even the day of the week.
Check the official Hersheypark calendar before your trip so you know exactly how much time you will have.
I also recommend downloading the Hersheypark app before leaving home. You can use it to check ride wait times and navigate the park, which saves a surprising amount of time.
Arrive Early and Head to Your Priority Rides
Of all my tips for Hershey Park, this is one of the most important if your kids have specific rides they really want to experience.
Decide on your family’s top few attractions before entering the park and prioritize them in the morning. Wait times for popular rides can increase quickly as the park fills up.
My kids ran straight for Candymonium when the park opened. There was a 20 minute wait when we arrived. By the time they got off the ride, it was a 90 minute wait!
Instead of trying to follow a minute-by-minute itinerary, use the Hersheypark app throughout the day. If you notice that one of your must-do rides has a short wait, take advantage of it.
Rides Not to Miss at Hersheypark
Hersheypark has a huge variety of rides, which is one reason it works so well for families with kids of different ages and comfort levels.
Thrill seekers will want to put Candymonium near the top of their list. It is the tallest, fastest, and longest coaster at Hersheypark, reaching 210 feet and speeds of up to 76 mph.
Wildcat’s Revenge is another major coaster, combining a wooden structure with a steel track and multiple inversions.
Other popular rides worth putting on your radar include Great Bear, Skyrush, Storm Runner, sooperdooperLooper, Comet, Laff Trakk, Trailblazer, Wild Mouse, and Reese’s Cupfusion.
Not everyone needs to be a roller coaster person to enjoy Hersheypark. There are plenty of classic and family-friendly attractions, including the Carrousel and Kissing Tower.
Before your trip, have everyone in the family choose two or three rides they most want to experience. That way, even if you do not get to everything, everyone gets a chance to do something they were excited about.
Don’t Forget About The Boardwalk Water Park
This is a big one.
The Boardwalk water park is located inside Hersheypark, and during its operating season, admission is included with your Hersheypark ticket.
That means you are essentially packing for an amusement park and water park on the same day. We did not do the waterpark during our visit, but I can see how appealing it would be on a hot Pennsylvania summer afternoon.
The Boardwalk has water slides, a wave pool, splash areas, and other water attractions.
If you want to experience both the rides and The Boardwalk, I recommend starting with amusement park rides in the morning and heading to the water park during the hottest part of the afternoon.
What to Pack for Hersheypark
One of the most practical tips for Hershey Park is to pack carefully. You want everything you need without carrying a giant bag around all day.
Bring sunscreen, refillable water bottles, sunglasses, hats, a portable phone charger, and comfortable walking shoes.
If you are visiting The Boardwalk, also bring swimsuits, flip-flops or water shoes, a waterproof phone pouch, and a plastic or waterproof bag for wet swimsuits.
A portable phone charger is particularly important. Between taking pictures, checking the Hersheypark app, looking at wait times, and using your phone throughout the day, your battery can disappear quickly.
Where to Eat at Hersheypark
There are plenty of places to eat throughout Hersheypark, ranging from quick amusement park food to sit-down meals.
For something quick, 1906 Grill is a convenient option for burgers, chicken fingers, fries, and other family favorites. Overlook Food Court is another good choice when everyone wants something different.
If you are spending the afternoon at The Boardwalk, there are also food stands within the water park area, so you do not necessarily need to change clothes and trek across the park just to find lunch.
For a sit-down meal, The Chocolatier Restaurant, Bar + Patio is located at the Hersheypark entrance. This is a fun option if you want to take a break from typical amusement park food and enjoy a proper meal.
My kids had so much fun eating out of a carousel at the Chocolatier.
And this is Hershey, so dessert is practically mandatory.
Take Advantage of the Hersheypark Preview Plan
This is easily one of the best tips for Hershey Park for families who are staying overnight.
Eligible Hersheypark tickets include the Preview Plan, which allows you to enter the park during the final hours of operation on the evening before your full-day visit.
Depending on your ticket and park hours, this can give you extra time inside Hersheypark without purchasing another full-day admission.
If you are spending your arrival day in Hershey, you could visit Chocolate World in the afternoon and then head into Hersheypark for Preview Plan hours that evening.
You can use that time to ride a few attractions, familiarize yourself with the park layout, and make the following morning much easier.
Should You Buy Fast Track?
Hersheypark offers Fast Track as a paid add-on that provides expedited access to participating rides.
Whether it is worth the additional cost really depends on your family.
If you only have one day and your kids are determined to ride the major roller coasters, Fast Track could help you fit considerably more into your visit. If your family is more interested in smaller rides, The Boardwalk, Chocolate World, and simply exploring the park, I would be less inclined to spend the extra money.
I would also check anticipated crowds before making the decision.
More Tips for Hershey Park With Kids
There is a Starbucks right inside the park. YAY!
Wear comfortable shoes. You will walk much farther than you think.
Measure younger children before your trip so you know which rides they will be able to experience. This can help prevent disappointment when you arrive at a ride.
Give everyone in the family a few must-do attractions rather than trying to ride everything.
Stay hydrated, especially if you are visiting during the summer.
And do not try to cram Hershey’s Chocolate World into an already packed Hersheypark day if you have another afternoon available. Visiting it when we arrived worked perfectly for our family.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Hersheypark
There is a lot more to Hershey than roller coasters, which is what makes it such a fun destination for a family getaway. We loved starting our trip at Hershey’s Chocolate World and making our own candy bars before tackling Hersheypark itself.
We stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites Near the Park, which is a great hotel near the park that is convenient without breaking the bank.
The biggest thing I learned is that a little preparation goes a long way. Hopefully, these tips for Hershey Park will help you spend less time figuring out logistics and more time enjoying the rides, water park, copious amounts of candy, and time together as a family.
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