Things to Do in Hershey, PA: Hersheypark & Chocolate World

Estimated reading time: 13 minutes

Last updated: 10 July 2026

What Should You Not Miss in Hershey, PA?

The attractions you should not miss in Hershey are Hersheypark, the headline draw with 70+ rides, 15 roller coasters, and a waterpark, plus the free Hershey’s Chocolate World and its Chocolate Tour ride. Round out a trip with Hershey Gardens, ZooAmerica, and The Hershey Story museum, or a concert at Hersheypark Stadium. This “Sweetest Place on Earth” draws over 3.5 million visitors a year.

Want to see Hershey’s chocolate-themed attractions in action? Watch our complete Hershey travel guide in 4K.

Hersheypark draws crowds from across the East Coast. Over 3 million people visit this amusement park each year, according to Pennsylvania tourism data. The park sprawls across 121 acres with 76 rides. That’s the hook.

Hershey, PA sits in central Pennsylvania’s Derry Township, about 95 miles west of Philadelphia and 105 miles north of Baltimore. You can reach it in under two hours from either city. The town offers two distinct experiences: the amusement park side and the chocolate heritage side. Most visitors come for the rides. Some stay for the factory tours and the weirdly complete history of American candy manufacturing.

Hershey’s Chocolate World is free to enter. The park runs year-round events, with summer concerts and Christmas Candylane. The town has 14,000 permanent residents but feels built for tourists. Every street smells faintly of cocoa during production runs at the factory.

Top Attractions in Hershey

Hersheypark operates 15 roller coasters and over 70 rides across 121 acres, with single-day tickets starting at $79.95 and season passes offering unlimited visits plus free parking.

Hersheypark is Pennsylvania’s largest amusement park. Fifteen roller coasters. That’s more than most people ride in a lifetime. The park sprawls across 121 acres with over 70 rides total, according to the official Hersheypark website. Skyrush drops you 200 feet at 75 miles per hour. Your stomach stays at the top. Candymonium is the tallest coaster, 210 feet, and the longest at 4,636 feet. Families stick to the Comet, a wooden classic from 1946.

The water park section opens Memorial Day weekend. Tidal Force soaks everyone within 20 feet of the splashdown zone. Bring a change of clothes or accept your fate.

Hersheypark Tickets and Passes start at $79.95 for a single day. Season passes run $149 during early-bird sales. That includes free parking, worth $30 per visit, and access to all seasonal events. The park operates from April through December, per Hersheypark’s official schedule. Do the math. Three visits and the pass pays for itself.

Hershey’s Chocolate World sits next door. Free admission. The Hershey’s Chocolate World Tour is a slow-moving dark ride that shows how chocolate bars get made, from cacao bean to wrapper. Takes 10 minutes. You get a free sample at the end. The Create Your Own Candy Bar experience costs $29.95. You pick the chocolate type, add mix-ins like pretzels or toffee, design custom wrapper text. Takes 30 minutes start to finish. They mail the finished bar to your house two weeks later.

The GIANT Center hosts concerts and sporting events year-round. The GIANT Center Events & Hershey Bears Schedule lists everything from country acts to NHL-affiliated hockey. The Hershey Bears are the oldest continuously operating minor league hockey team in North America. Tickets start at $22. Games sell out fast during playoff runs.

Tanger Outlets Hershey has 60 stores. Nike, Coach, Levi’s. Standard outlet mall brands. Prices run 25–50% below retail. It’s directly across from Hersheypark if you need a shopping break between coaster sessions.

Seasonal events pack the calendar. Hersheypark Christmas Candylane runs November through December with 5 million lights and indoor coasters. Summer concerts happen Friday nights in July, free with park admission. Spring and fall bring smaller crowds. Plan accordingly.

ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park connects to Hersheypark through a walking bridge. Admission is included with your park ticket. Two hundred animals across 11 acres. Bison, elk, river otters. It’s a 45-minute walk-through if you read all the signs.

Hershey Gardens covers 23 acres with themed gardens and a butterfly house. The Hershey Story Museum downtown tells Milton Hershey’s biography through exhibits on chocolate production and company history. Both charge separate admission, $34 for the gardens and $16.50 for the museum.

Where to Eat in Hershey

The Hershey Pantry, open since 1984, serves Pennsylvania Dutch comfort food and all-day breakfast, while Hotel Hershey’s Circular Dining Room offers fine dining with chocolate-inspired desserts.

The Hershey Pantry dominates the local dining scene. This family-run spot has served Pennsylvania Dutch staples since 1984. Expect chicken pot pie, meatloaf, and scratch-made biscuits. Breakfast runs all day, scrapple, sticky buns, and omelets the size of dinner plates. Lines form on weekends. Check the The Hershey Pantry official website and menu for current hours.

Hotel Hershey’s Circular Dining Room sits at the opposite end of the spectrum. White tablecloths. Seasonal menus. Chocolate appears in unexpected places, cocoa-rubbed steaks, dark chocolate mole, truffle-laced desserts. Reservations required. The Hotel Hershey dining reservations page books up weeks ahead during peak season.

Hershey Lodge offers mid-range options. The Bears’ Den serves burgers and wings. Forebay Restaurant does steaks and seafood without the formal atmosphere.

Inside Hersheypark, expect theme park food. Burgers, pizza, chicken tenders. Hershey chocolate shows up in milkshakes and funnel cake toppings. Chocolate World’s food court runs similar options with slightly lower prices.

Harrisburg sits 15 minutes east. The state capital adds Lebanese bakeries, Vietnamese pho, and craft breweries to your options. Worth the drive if you need a break from chocolate overload.

Where to Stay in Hershey

Hershey Lodge offers family-friendly rooms starting at $189 per night with Hersheypark ticket packages, while the historic Hotel Hershey provides luxury accommodations from $329 with spa and fine dining.

The Hotel Hershey sits on a hilltop overlooking the town. Milton Hershey built it in 1933 during the Great Depression. The Mediterranean-style building has 276 rooms. You get access to a full-service spa, an indoor pool, and two restaurants. Rooms start at $329 per night according to official Hershey Entertainment & Resorts booking rates. The property feels formal. Not the best choice if you have young kids who want to run around.

Hershey Lodge works better for families. It’s closer to the park entrance. The property has 665 rooms and costs less. Hershey Lodge packages bundle park tickets with your room, you’ll pay around $189 per night for this combo deal. The lodge has multiple pools, a game room, and casual dining. Kids can walk to Hersheypark in under 10 minutes.

Budget chains cluster along Route 743 and Chocolate Avenue. Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Days Inn all charge $120–160 per night during peak summer season. You’re a five-minute drive from the park gates.

Cabin rentals through Airbnb run $140–200 per night. Most sit 15–20 minutes outside town in wooded areas. Good if you want a kitchen and more space.

When Hershey sells out, look at Harrisburg hotels 15 miles east. You’ll find cheaper rates and more availability.

Getting to and Around Hershey

Hershey is located 15 minutes east of Harrisburg via Route 322, with Harrisburg International Airport 12 miles away and Philadelphia 90 miles southeast via I-76 and Route 322.

Hershey sits in central Pennsylvania, 15 minutes from Harrisburg. Most visitors drive. From Philadelphia, take I-76 west to Route 322 east, about two hours total. New York City runs three and a half hours via I-78 west and I-81 south. Baltimore and DC clock in around two hours up I-83 north.

Fly into Harrisburg International Airport official website (MDT), 15 minutes from downtown Hershey. Rental cars wait at the terminal. No Uber from the airport costs more than $25.

You need a car here. Hersheypark, the Chocolate World, and the outlet mall spread across several miles. Most hotels offer free parking. Hersheypark charges $30 per day for parking during peak season. Check Visit Hershey & Harrisburg directions and transportation page for current shuttle options between hotels and the park.

Hershey weather swings hard. Summers hit 85°F with humidity. Winters drop to 25°F with occasional snow. Spring and fall offer the best conditions, 60s to 70s, lower crowds, cheaper rooms.

Hershey Travel Budget

A family of four should budget $400-600 per day in Hershey including Hersheypark tickets ($80 per person), mid-range hotel ($200), and meals ($100-150), with season passes at $149 offering better value for repeat visits.

Hershey sits in the middle tier for U.S. theme park destinations. Not as brutal as Orlando. Not as cheap as a state fair. Hersheypark tickets run $80-85 per person for a single day according to the official Hersheypark ticket pricing and discounts page. That’s $320 for a family of four before you eat a single funnel cake. Buy online two weeks ahead and you’ll shave $10-15 per ticket. Season passes cost $149 per person, break-even at two visits.

Hershey hotel rates swing hard by season. Budget chains along Route 422 charge $120-150 in October. Peak summer weekends? Same room hits $250. Mid-range properties near the park (Hampton, Courtyard) run $180-280. The Hotel Hershey starts at $400 and climbs to $700 during holidays. Stay in Harrisburg, 15 minutes west, and cut lodging costs by 30%.

Meals inside the park cost $15-20 per person. Three sit-down dinners at Chocolate Avenue restaurants will run $40-60 per adult entrée. Pack granola bars and refillable water bottles. The Chocolate World tour is free. So is walking Chocolate Avenue and gawking at streetlights shaped like Kisses. Off-peak visits (September, early May) drop hotel rates and ticket prices by 20-25%.

Day Trips from Hershey

Hershey’s central Pennsylvania location provides easy access to Harrisburg (15 minutes), Lancaster County’s Amish country (45 minutes), Gettysburg battlefield (35 miles), and Philadelphia (90 miles).

Harrisburg sits 15 minutes west. The state capitol building offers free tours of its ornate dome and murals. Walk the Susquehanna River waterfront. The State Museum of Pennsylvania charges $10 admission and covers natural history through modern industry. Check the Visit Harrisburg official tourism website for current museum hours.

Lancaster County spreads across farmland 45 minutes east. Amish buggies share roads with cars. The Central Market in downtown Lancaster opens Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings, vendors sell fresh pretzels, shoofly pie, and handmade quilts. Book a farm tour through the Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau for Lancaster County. You’ll see working farms and buy produce direct from Amish families. Skip the tourist trap restaurants. Eat at Bird-in-Hand Bakery instead.

Gettysburg lies 35 miles southwest. The National Military Park preserves the Civil War’s bloodiest battle site. More than 1 million people visit annually, according to National Park Service data. Start at the Museum and Visitor Center, the film and Cyclorama painting cost $15 combined. Drive the 24-mile auto tour route yourself or hire a licensed battlefield guide for $75. The Gettysburg National Military Park official visitor information page lists current tour schedules. Downtown Gettysburg has 19th-century buildings and ghost tour operators on every corner.

York sits 30 minutes south. The Harley-Davidson factory offers tours Monday through Friday for $20. Colonial-era buildings line the downtown square. The Agricultural and Industrial Museum costs $8 and displays old farming equipment.

Reading draws outlet shoppers 1 hour east. VF Outlet Village and The Outlets at Reading have 100+ stores. Drive up to the Pagoda overlook for city views. Free parking at the base.

Bethlehem requires 1.5 hours northeast. The SteelStacks arts campus converted old blast furnaces into concert venues and museums. The Moravian settlement dates to 1741. Christmas markets run November through December.

Jim Thorpe sits 1.5 hours northeast in the mountains. Victorian mansions line steep hillsides. Rent bikes to ride the Lehigh Gorge Trail. White-water rafting companies operate May through September.

Pocono Mountains spread 2 hours northeast. Ski resorts operate December through March. Summer brings hiking trails and lake swimming.

Philadelphia makes a full-day trip 90 miles east. See the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and Reading Terminal Market. The drive takes 1.5 hours without traffic.

Pittsburgh sits 3.5 hours west. Plan an overnight trip to see the Andy Warhol Museum and ride the Duquesne Incline.

Practical Tips for Visiting Hershey

Hershey experiences hot, humid summers averaging 85°F in July and cold winters with average January temperatures of 30°F, making May-June and September-October ideal for comfortable park visits with smaller crowds.

Summer hits hard. July and August push 90°F with thick humidity. Check the National Weather Service forecast before you pack. Winter drops to 20–40°F. Snow shuts down some outdoor rides.

May through September works best for Hersheypark. December pulls crowds for Christmas Candylane. Spring and fall deliver mild weather and shorter lines.

Pack comfortable walking shoes. You’ll log miles. Sunscreen is mandatory, shade is scarce in the park. Bring layers for air-conditioned buildings. A rain jacket saves the day when afternoon storms roll through.

Weekdays beat weekends. Avoid July and August entirely if you hate crowds. Arrive at park opening, 9 AM most days, to hit major coasters first. Book hotels two months out for summer visits. Buy tickets online to skip the gate.

Download the Hersheypark Mobile App. It tracks wait times and lets you order food ahead. Your phone becomes your survival tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hershey, PA known for?

Hershey is known as “The Sweetest Place on Earth,” the home of The Hershey Company and Milton Hershey’s planned chocolate town. Its big draws are Hersheypark, the free Hershey’s Chocolate World, Hershey Gardens, ZooAmerica, and The Hershey Story museum, plus chocolate-themed streets like Chocolate Avenue.

Is the Hershey’s Chocolate Tour free?

Yes. Admission to Hershey’s Chocolate World and its Great American Chocolate Tour ride are free year-round and need no ticket. The original factory is not open to the public; other Chocolate World experiences (Create Your Own Candy Bar, the Trolley, the 4D show) are paid add-ons.

What is free to do in Hershey, PA?

The best free things are Hershey’s Chocolate World and its Chocolate Tour ride, strolling Chocolate Avenue with its Hershey’s Kiss streetlights, and the grounds around Hersheypark and The Hershey Story. Most marquee attractions — Hersheypark, the Gardens, and ZooAmerica — charge admission.

How many days do you need in Hershey?

One to two days suits most visitors. A single day covers Hersheypark plus Chocolate World; a second day lets you add Hershey Gardens, ZooAmerica, The Hershey Story, and downtown. Families with younger kids or season passes often stay longer for the resort and waterpark.

Is Hershey, PA worth visiting?

Yes, especially for families and chocolate fans. Hersheypark is one of the Northeast’s top amusement parks, Chocolate World is free and fun, and the gardens, zoo, and museum round out an easy weekend. It is a 15-minute drive from Harrisburg and about 1.5 hours from Philadelphia and Baltimore.