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Amusement Park · Hershey, PA
Hersheypark is the headliner attraction in Hershey, PA — a large, ticketed amusement park with more than 70 rides and attractions, about a dozen-plus roller coasters, and The Boardwalk water park bundled into summer admission. For a lot of the out-of-town families whose cars we see in the shop, it's the whole reason they drove to central Pennsylvania, and it's an easy 20-25 minutes from us in Grantville.
Our take Make Hersheypark a plan-ahead day, not a maybe — check the season and hours first, then slot Chocolate World and a meal around it. If you've driven in from out of state and the car acts up in that big lot, we're 20-25 minutes away in Grantville.
Hersheypark has been operating since 1906, and it has grown into the kind of place you can spend a full day in and still not ride everything. The layout is split into themed areas — Hershey's Chocolatetown near the front gate, plus regions like Pioneer Frontier, Midway America, and The Hollow spread across the property — so there's a natural rhythm to working your way through. Thrill-seekers come for the coasters (Candymonium, Skyrush, and Great Bear are the big names), but there are also more than 20 kiddie rides, a chunk of gentler family attractions, and ZooAmerica, an adjacent North American wildlife park that's included with admission. In summer, The Boardwalk water park is part of your ticket too, which is a big reason a Hersheypark day can stretch from open to close.
What we tell visitors is that this is a real plan-ahead destination, not a spur-of-the-moment stop. The park runs on a seasonal calendar: spring weekends, daily summer operation, the Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights events in fall, and Christmas Candylane with its light displays in winter. Hours, which rides are running, and whether the water park is open all depend on the date, so checking their site before you commit a day to it saves a lot of disappointment. Summer weekends and holidays draw the biggest crowds; if you have flexibility, a weekday or a shoulder-season visit usually means shorter lines.
For us, the appeal is how cleanly it anchors a trip. You're a few minutes from Hershey's Chocolate World, the Hershey hotels, and a stack of restaurants, so a Hersheypark day doesn't have to be the only thing on the itinerary. And because so many people roll in from hours away, it's also the kind of long-drive, hot-parking-lot day that's hard on a vehicle — which is exactly when a stuck family appreciates having a shop nearby that knows the area.
General admission covers the rides, attractions, ZooAmerica, and — in summer — The Boardwalk water park. One- and two-day options are typical. Confirm current pricing on the official site.
Check tickets & hours →If you're local or visiting more than once, season passes and multi-visit summer cards can change the math. Availability and perks vary by year — verify on their site.
An on-site water park included with summer admission, featuring slides, a water coaster, and a large water-play structure. Open seasonally, roughly Memorial Day through Labor Day.
The calendar runs through Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights in fall and Christmas Candylane with light displays in winter. Operating dates and which rides run vary by event — check before planning a date around one.
Hours and operating dates change by season and event, and not every ride runs every day. Always confirm the current calendar and hours on the official Hersheypark site before you go.
Hersheypark is in Hershey, PA. The map shows both pins — Hersheypark and our shop in Grantville — so you can see exactly where it sits relative to us.
Summer weekends and holidays are the busiest, so if your schedule allows, aim for a weekday during the daily summer season or a spring/fall weekend. Arriving close to opening also helps — you get on the popular coasters before the lines build, and you can use the midday lull for lunch or the water park. Always confirm the exact operating hours for your date on their site first, because they shift by season.
The Boardwalk water park is included with regular Hersheypark admission during the summer season (generally Memorial Day through Labor Day) — it's not a separate gate. Outside that window it's typically closed, so if a water-park day is the goal, double-check the dates and bring swimwear and a towel. Confirm current details on the park's site before you go.
Hersheypark has large paid parking lots on-site, and a tram or walkway gets you from the lot to the entrance. We'd budget extra time on busy summer mornings — the lots fill and the walk from the far rows is real, especially with little kids and gear. Note where you parked, and check the park's site for current parking rates and any preferred-parking options before you arrive.
There's plenty for younger kids — more than 20 kiddie rides and attractions, gentler family rides, and ZooAmerica (the wildlife park next door) is included with admission. Families with a mix of ages tend to do well here because the thrill-seekers and the little ones can both find a full day. Strollers are a smart call for the long walks between areas.
It pairs naturally with the rest of Hershey. Chocolate World sits right nearby for a free factory-style ride and treats, the Hershey hotels and restaurants are minutes away, and you're a short drive from Hershey Gardens and the museum. Most people make the park the centerpiece of a day or two and slot the smaller attractions around it.
If you're building a Hershey day around the park, a few spots pair naturally with it — and one is for the visitors whose road trip hits a snag.
Right next door — a free factory-style ride and treats, easy to combine with a park day.
The wildlife park adjacent to Hersheypark, included with admission.
If a long drive or a hot parking lot leaves you stranded, here's how we can help out-of-town visitors.
Verified via: Hersheypark — official site · Hersheypark — Hours & plan your visit · Visit Hershey & Harrisburg — Hersheypark · Wikipedia — Hersheypark
Hersheypark is an independent local attraction we're featuring in our guide — we're not affiliated. Details are from the place and public sources and were accurate at the time of writing; please confirm current hours before visiting.