Before You Leave Home
Buy tickets online. Gate pricing runs $10-$20 per person higher than online prices. There is no legitimate reason to buy at the gate. Check Hersheypark.com and look for date-specific pricing — off-peak days have lower ticket prices built in.
Download the app. The Hersheypark app has live wait times, a park map, mobile food ordering at select locations, and your digital ticket. Install it before you arrive and have it ready.
Know your heights. Measure your kids at home and look up which of Hersheypark's six height categories they fall into. The tiers are Miniatures (under 36"), Kisses (36-42"), Reese's (42-48"), Hershey's Chocolate (48-54"), Twizzlers (54-60"), and Jolly Rancher (60"+). Knowing this before you arrive prevents surprises at ride entrances.
Pack sunscreen, a refillable water bottle, and comfortable walking shoes. The park has real elevation changes — you're walking hills all day. There is limited natural shade. Water refill stations are available throughout the park.
Getting There and Parking
Hersheypark sits in Hershey, Pennsylvania, about two hours from Philadelphia and 3.5 hours from New York City. Take US-422 East to Hersheypark Drive. Follow the signs toward the Hersheypark toll booths — stay right when you enter the Hersheypark Entertainment Complex.
Parking costs $25 per day, purchased online. The lot is cashless — have a card ready. Prefer cash? Buy your parking pass online before you arrive. Preferred parking upgrades are available if you want a closer spot.
Arrival tip: Pull in at least 30 minutes before the posted park opening time. Security screening and the walk to the gate take time, and early arrivers get the head start that matters most on busy days.
At the Gates
Guests are measured for height wristbands at the main entrance. This is where you get your color-coded wristband that determines which rides you can board all day. Keep the wristband on — you won't be re-measured throughout the park.
Access the park through Hershey's Chocolatetown, the main entrance area with the fountain, character meets, and several of the highest-demand food and retail spots.
Lockers
Lockers are inside the main entrance in Hershey's Chocolatetown and at The Boardwalk water park. Large lockers cost $25, regular lockers cost $18. The park is fully cashless — credit or debit only. Many thrill rides require loose items to be stored, so a locker pays for itself quickly on a day with multiple coaster rides.
The Best Ride Order for First-Timers
The crowd funnel starts at the front and moves backward. Use this in reverse:
1. Enter at open and go immediately to Wildcat's Revenge in the back of the park — 10-15 minute wait vs. 45+ minutes by 10 a.m.
2. Hit Lightning Racer next — it's steps away and runs parallel to Wildcat's Revenge
3. sooperdooperLooper and Great Bear while crowds are still filling in at the front
4. Candymonium and Skyrush around midday — accept the wait or use Fast Track (see the skip-the-line guide)
5. Water park in the early afternoon heat
6. Storm Runner and Fahrenheit in the late afternoon when some guests start leaving
7. Comet and ZooAmerica near closing — peaceful and essentially walk-on
Sweet Start: The Early Entry Perk
Guests staying at official Hershey resort properties (Hershey Lodge, Hotel Hershey, Hersheypark Camping Resort) get Sweet Start — one hour of park access before general admission opens. Full Size, King Size, and Giant Size Season Pass holders also get this benefit. If you're visiting once and want to maximize rides, a one-night resort stay more than pays for itself in riding efficiency.
During Sweet Start, Candymonium and the Hollow area rides are typically among the first to open.
Common First-Timer Mistakes
- Riding Candymonium first. It's at the front of the park and it's the biggest. By the time you finish Candymonium you've lost 90 minutes to a single ride. Hit the back of the park first.
- Eating at noon. Peak lunch hits hard 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eat before 11 or after 1:30.
- Underestimating the terrain. This park has elevation changes. Stroller families need to plan routes accordingly — some paths have significant grades.
- Skipping ZooAmerica. It's included. 200 animals, great for a midday break when coaster lines peak.
- Not checking the app. Wait times fluctuate 20-30 minutes within a single hour. The app tells you when to move.
What Surprised Most Visitors
The park is bigger than it looks from the entrance. The Boardwalk water park is a complete separate experience — you can spend a full half-day just there. And the coaster collection is legitimately world-class: Candymonium, Skyrush, and Storm Runner would be headliners at any park in the country.