Hershey is a company town that grew into a family resort, and it still wears the costume: the streetlights on Chocolate Avenue are shaped like Hershey’s Kisses, the street signs point to Cocoa Avenue, and the town’s biggest employer built the theme park, the gardens, the grand hotel and the museum. A Hershey PA vacation usually starts with Hersheypark and its coasters, but the smartest trips add a morning of chocolate, a garden walk and a night in a resort that gets you into the park early. This guide covers all of it, with 2026 prices, what’s closed and when to go.
Quick answer: Give Hersheypark one full day, or two with thrill-seeking teens, and use your park ticket to see ZooAmerica next door. Spend a second morning at Hershey’s Chocolate World (the tour ride is free), The Hershey Story and Hershey Gardens. Stay at a Hershey resort for extra park hours and a free shuttle, or in a chain hotel nearby to save money. This fall, Hersheypark Halloween runs weekends through November 1, and Christmas Candylane opens November 13; Hershey Sweet Lights is not running in 2026.
Last updated September 27, 2026. Hours, prices and events were checked on September 24, 2026 against Hersheypark, Hershey’s Chocolate World and each attraction’s website.
- Parking isn’t included: Hersheypark parking costs $25 per car per day online, plus taxes and fees, as of September 2026.
- ZooAmerica is included in every Hersheypark ticket when you enter from inside the park.
- This fall: Hersheypark Halloween, including the Dark Nights haunted houses, runs weekends through November 1, 2026 and is included in every ticket.
- This winter: Christmas Candylane opens select dates from November 13, 2026 through January 3, 2027. Hershey Sweet Lights, the drive-through light show, will not return in 2026.
- Closed rides: Tidal Force closed permanently in September 2026, and the sooperdooperLooper is closed until summer 2027.
On this page: At a glance | History | Things to do | Hersheypark tips | With kids | By season | Rainy days | Where to stay | Where to eat | Cost | Itinerary | Getting there | Side trips | What’s changed | FAQ
Hershey PA Vacation at a Glance
Almost everything in Hershey sits within a few minutes’ drive of Hersheypark, along Hersheypark Drive and Chocolate Avenue. These are the main stops, with hours as of September 2026.
| Attraction | Cost | Hours | Time needed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hersheypark | Paid; parking $25 a car | Weekends in fall; daily in summer | 1 to 2 days | Families, thrill-seekers |
| ZooAmerica | Included from inside the park | Varies with the park | 1 hour | Families |
| Hershey’s Chocolate World | Free entry and tour ride; extras paid | Daily | 1 to 2 hours | Everyone |
| The Hershey Story | Paid | Daily, 9am to 5pm | 2 hours | History and chocolate fans |
| Hershey Gardens | Paid | Daily, 9am to 5pm | 1.5 hours | Couples, families |
| AACA Museum | $18 adults | Daily, 9am to 5pm | 2 hours | Car fans |
| Hershey Theatre and Giant Center | Tickets per show | Event nights | An evening | Couples, sports fans |
How Hershey Became the Sweetest Place on Earth
Knowing the backstory makes a Hershey visit richer, because almost everything you’ll see was part of one man’s plan. Milton Hershey was born in 1857 on a farm in Derry Township, a few miles from today’s town. After candy businesses in Philadelphia and New York failed, he made his fortune with the Lancaster Caramel Company, sold it in 1900 for $1 million, and bet everything on milk chocolate.
He built his factory in the farm fields here in the early 1900s and, around it, a town for the people who worked in it: houses, schools, a trolley line, a zoo and, in 1907, the park that became Hersheypark. In 1909 he and his wife, Catherine, founded a school for orphaned boys, now the Milton Hershey School, and the couple, who had no children, later left their fortune to it. The school’s trust still controls the chocolate company, which is why Hershey never became just another factory town.
During the Great Depression, Hershey kept his workers busy with a building campaign that gave the town The Hotel Hershey, the Hershey Theatre and the Community Building, all opened in the 1930s and all still in use. Real factory tours drew so many visitors that the company replaced them in 1973 with the ride at Hershey’s Chocolate World. Walk down Chocolate Avenue with that history in mind, and the Kiss-shaped streetlights make a lot more sense.
The Best Things to Do on a Hershey PA Vacation
Milton Hershey built his chocolate factory here in the early 1900s, then a town for his workers, a park for their families and a school for orphans. The town is still shaped by that plan, so the sights come in a neat cluster.
1. Hersheypark
Paid; spring to early January; Hersheypark Drive. The park opened in 1907 as a picnic ground for factory workers and is now the state’s biggest coaster park, with Candymonium, Skyrush, Storm Runner, Fahrenheit and the hybrid Wildcat’s Revenge among the headliners, plus plenty of family rides. The entrance area, Chocolatetown, opened in 2020 with Candymonium and sets the candy-land tone the moment you walk in. The park lists Twizzlers Twisted Gravity, a 137-foot swing, as its newest ride. Two changes matter this year: Tidal Force closed for good after September 7, 2026, and the sooperdooperLooper is closed for a new station until its 50th season in summer 2027.
Plan it: 100 W. Hersheypark Drive. Buy dated tickets online; parking costs $25 per car per day plus fees, as of September 2026. Allow a full day, two for coaster fans. Best for: families, thrill-seekers.
2. ZooAmerica
Included with Hersheypark from inside the park; year-round. A compact zoo of North American animals, from roadrunners and alligators to bears and wolves, set along wooded paths next to the park. It’s a quiet hour away from the coaster lines, and every Hersheypark ticket covers it if you walk in from the park side. To visit before the park opens, you need a separate ZooAmerica ticket.
Plan it: Enter from inside Hersheypark. Allow an hour. Best for: families, animal lovers.
3. The Boardwalk at Hersheypark
Included with Hersheypark; summer only. The park’s water park area, with slides, a wave pool and splash zones themed on the Jersey Shore boardwalks. It opens in the hot months only, so on a summer day plan a midday soak between coasters and pack swimsuits.
Plan it: Inside Hersheypark; check the park calendar for its season. Allow 2 to 3 hours. Best for: families.
4. Hershey’s Chocolate World
Free entry and free tour ride; year-round; next to Hersheypark. The Hershey’s Chocolate Tour is a free, simulated factory ride that ends with a sample; it replaced the real factory tours in 1973, and the working plants aren’t open to the public. The building also holds a huge candy store, billed as the biggest Hershey’s store anywhere, and a food court. It’s the best free hour in town and the natural rainy-day plan.
Plan it: 101 Chocolate World Way. Weekday mornings are calmest. Allow 1 to 2 hours. Best for: everyone.
5. Create Your Own Candy Bar and the paid Chocolate World experiences
Paid; year-round; Hershey’s Chocolate World. Everything beyond the free ride costs extra: you can design and wrap your own candy bar on a mini production line, join the Great Candy Expedition or explore HERSHEY’S Unwrapped. Decide in advance which one your group actually wants, because the add-ons add up quickly.
Plan it: The Fall Bonus Bundle combines all three with free parking for visits from September 28 to November 1, 2026, from $51.45. Book timed experiences ahead on weekends. Allow 1 to 2 hours. Best for: families, chocolate lovers.
6. The Hershey Story
Paid; year-round; Chocolate Avenue. The town’s museum tells how Milton Hershey failed twice in candy, struck it rich with caramels, then built a chocolate company, a model town and a school for orphans that still owns much of the business. Its Chocolate Lab runs hands-on classes where you make your own chocolate treats, and they’re the best-value activity in town for older kids.
Plan it: 63 W. Chocolate Avenue. Open daily, 9am to 5pm, as of September 2026. Book Chocolate Lab classes ahead. Allow 2 hours. Best for: history lovers, families with kids over 6.
7. Hershey Gardens
Paid; spring to fall, butterfly atrium year-round; above the town. Milton Hershey’s rose garden grew into a botanical garden with about 3,000 roses, themed gardens, a children’s garden and an indoor Butterfly Atrium where hundreds of tropical butterflies fly free. Roses peak in June, the fall color comes in October, and the atrium is warm on any gray day.
Plan it: 170 Hotel Road, beside The Hotel Hershey. Open daily, 9am to 5pm, as of September 2026. Allow 1.5 hours. Best for: couples, families.
8. Chocolate Avenue and the Kiss streetlights
Free; year-round; downtown Hershey. Walk the few blocks of Chocolate Avenue past the Kiss-shaped streetlights, the old brick factory buildings and the Hershey Theatre. The company moved production out of the old downtown factory in 2012, so the famous cocoa smell is fainter than it once was, but the streetscape is pure company-town Americana.
Plan it: Park near The Hershey Story and walk. Allow 30 minutes. Best for: photographers, first-timers.
9. AACA Museum
Paid; year-round; Museum Drive. The Antique Automobile Club of America’s museum fills three floors with cars from the earliest horseless carriages to muscle cars, set in recreated street scenes, plus buses and motorcycles. Car lovers can lose an afternoon here, and it’s a strong rainy-day option.
Plan it: 161 Museum Drive. Open daily, 9am to 5pm; adults $18, seniors $15, children 4 to 12 $10, as of September 2026. Allow 2 hours. Best for: car fans, families.
10. Hershey Theatre
Tickets per show; year-round; Chocolate Avenue. A 1933 theater with a lobby of marble and mosaics, built as part of Milton Hershey’s town and still hosting touring Broadway shows, concerts and classic films. Even without a show, the building is worth a look from the street.
Plan it: 15 E. Caracas Avenue. Check the season schedule. Allow an evening. Best for: couples, theater fans.
11. A Hershey Bears game at Giant Center
Paid; October to April; next to Hersheypark. The Hershey Bears, one of the oldest and most successful teams in the American Hockey League, play at Giant Center, and a game is a loud, cheap night out with a real local following.
Plan it: Giant Center, beside Hersheypark. Allow 3 hours. Best for: sports fans, families.
12. A concert at Hersheypark Stadium or Giant Center
Paid; mainly summer for the stadium; year-round for the arena. Big touring acts play the outdoor stadium in summer and the arena year-round, which can make a Hershey trip double as a concert weekend. Hotel rates rise on big show nights, so check the calendar before you book.
Plan it: Both venues sit next to Hersheypark. Best for: music fans.
13. The Spa at The Hotel Hershey
Paid; year-round; The Hotel Hershey. The grand 1933 hotel on the hill is famous for its chocolate-themed spa treatments, and even if you don’t book one, the hotel’s terraces and formal gardens are a lovely place for a drink with a view over the town.
Plan it: Book treatments well ahead, especially for weekends. Allow 2 to 3 hours. Best for: couples.
14. Tröegs Independent Brewing
Paid; year-round; Hersheypark Drive. One of Pennsylvania’s best-known craft breweries moved to Hershey in 2011, and its tasting room and kitchen make the easy grown-up stop after a park day.
Plan it: A short drive from Hersheypark. Check hours on its website. Allow 1 to 2 hours. Best for: adults, couples.
15. Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights
Included in park admission; weekends through November 1, 2026. In fall, the park adds the Treatville trick-or-treat trail and seasonal shows, and after 6pm Dark Nights opens five haunted houses and five scare zones, including the new Reese’s Depot of Doom, all included in every ticket. In the last hour, some coasters run with the lights out: Candymonium, Comet, Lightning Racer and Wildcat’s Revenge.
Plan it: Coasters close at 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 9pm on Sundays. Haunted houses aren’t for small children. Allow a full afternoon and evening. Best for: teens, adults.
16. Hersheypark Christmas Candylane
Paid; select dates from November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027. The park reopens for the holidays with select family rides, the TREEville trail, an all-new Fire & Ice Experience, the Twinkling Thru Time show and Santa with all nine of his reindeer. A breakfast with Santa at The Chocolatier runs on select dates from November 27 to December 24.
Plan it: Check the Candylane calendar for open dates and dress for the cold. Allow an evening. Best for: families.
Hersheypark Tips for 2026
Hersheypark rewards a plan. These are the basics that save the most time and money; the park’s own site has the detailed ride list and current hours.
How much time do you need?
One full day covers the headline coasters and a few family rides if you arrive at opening. Coaster fans who want everything, plus the Boardwalk in summer and ZooAmerica, should plan two days or stay at a resort that adds extra park hours. Families with small children can do the kids’ areas and a zoo walk in a long day.
Tickets and parking
Tickets are dated and priced by demand, so buy online as early as you can and avoid Saturdays in July if your dates are flexible. Parking is not included: it costs $25 per car per day online, plus taxes and fees, and season pass holders at the top tiers park free. The four Official Resorts of Hersheypark include extra park hours and a free front-gate shuttle, which can be worth more than the room-rate difference on a two-day visit.
The big coasters
Candymonium is the tallest and fastest, Skyrush the most intense, Storm Runner launches you up a tower in seconds, and Fahrenheit’s drop is steeper than vertical. Wildcat’s Revenge, a hybrid wood-and-steel coaster, opened in 2023, and the 1946 Comet is the gentle classic. Ride the tallest ones first thing, when lines are shortest.
| Coaster | Type | Opened | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candymonium | Steel hyper coaster | 2020 | High |
| Skyrush | Winged steel coaster, seats hang off the track | 2012 | Very high |
| Wildcat’s Revenge | Hybrid wood and steel | 2023 | High |
| Storm Runner | Hydraulic launch | 2004 | High |
| Fahrenheit | Vertical lift, beyond-vertical drop | 2008 | High |
| Great Bear | Inverted steel, feet dangling | 1998 | High |
| Lightning Racer | Twin racing wooden tracks | 2000 | Moderate |
| Comet | Classic wooden | 1946 | Moderate |
| Laff Trakk | Indoor spinning coaster | 2015 | Family |
| Trailblazer | Mine train | 1974 | Family |
| sooperdooperLooper | Looping steel | 1977 | Closed until summer 2027 |
That’s not the full roster, which includes kiddie coasters and a few others; the park’s ride pages list every one with its height rule. A good order for a first visit is the big three (Candymonium, Skyrush and Wildcat’s Revenge) at opening, the launch and inverted rides mid-morning, and the wooden classics in the evening, when they run faster and the lines drop.
What’s closed this year
Tidal Force, the park’s big splash-boat ride since 1994, closed permanently after September 7, 2026. The sooperdooperLooper, the park’s first looping coaster, closed after Labor Day for a new station and returns in summer 2027 for its 50th anniversary. Check the park’s ride status page on the morning of your visit for other short closures.
Height and little kids
Hersheypark sorts rides by candy-themed height categories, and children are measured at the park. Check the current height list before you go, so a 44-inch rider isn’t promised a ride they can’t take, and plan your day around the family areas and the carousel.
Rain, heat and crowds
Summer afternoons bring heat and storms, when coasters close for lightning. Make Hershey’s Chocolate World, The Hershey Story or the AACA Museum your rain plan. The quietest days are weekdays in early June and late August; the busiest are summer Saturdays and the Candylane weekends in December.
Hershey With Kids, by Age
Hershey works for every age, but not every attraction works for every child. This is how to match the day to the kids you’re traveling with.
Under 5: start with the free Chocolate Tour ride at Hershey’s Chocolate World, which is gentle, short and ends with candy. At Hersheypark, stick to the kids’ areas, the carousel and the family rides, and walk through ZooAmerica for the animals. Hershey Gardens’ Butterfly Atrium is a calm, warm break. Leave the fall evenings to older kids: Dark Nights’ haunted houses aren’t for toddlers.
Ages 6 to 10: this is Hershey’s sweet spot. Family coasters such as Trailblazer and the indoor Laff Trakk are the right step up, a Chocolate Lab class at The Hershey Story or Create Your Own Candy Bar at Chocolate World gives them something to take home, and in the fall, the Treatville trick-or-treat trail turns a park day into Halloween.
Teens: point them at the big coasters at opening, then let them ride again after dark in fall, when some coasters run with the lights out and Dark Nights opens its haunted houses. A Hershey Bears hockey game is a cheap, loud night out in winter.
With grandparents: Hershey Gardens, The Hershey Story and the AACA Museum are all indoors or level and easy to pace, and the Hotel Hershey’s terraces make a relaxed stop for a drink. A show at the Hershey Theatre rounds out a multigenerational trip.
Hershey by Season
Spring: Hersheypark opens on spring weekends before its daily summer season, and Hershey Gardens’ tulips bloom in April. Crowds are light, but many water rides stay closed until it warms up.
Summer: Everything is open, including the Boardwalk water park, and the park stays open late on many nights. It’s the most crowded and expensive season, so book resorts months ahead.
Fall: Hersheypark Halloween runs weekends through November 1, 2026, with trick-or-treating for kids and Dark Nights for teens and adults, all included in the ticket. The gardens’ fall color peaks in October.
Winter: Christmas Candylane lights up the park on select dates from November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027. Hershey Sweet Lights, the drive-through light show that ran for 20 seasons, will not return in 2026, according to Hersheypark, which is putting its effort into Candylane.
| When | What’s on | Where |
|---|---|---|
| April to May | Hersheypark’s spring weekends; tulips at the gardens | Hersheypark, Hershey Gardens |
| June | Roses peak; the park goes daily | Hershey Gardens, Hersheypark |
| Summer | The Boardwalk water park, late park hours, stadium concerts | Hersheypark, Hersheypark Stadium |
| Weekends through November 1, 2026 | Hersheypark Halloween, Treatville and Dark Nights | Hersheypark |
| September 28 to November 1, 2026 | Chocolate World’s Fall Bonus Bundle | Hershey’s Chocolate World |
| October | Fall color; last Renaissance Faire weekend (October 24 and 25) | Hershey Gardens; Mount Hope, Manheim |
| October to April | Hershey Bears hockey | Giant Center |
| November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027 | Christmas Candylane on select dates | Hersheypark |
| November 27 to December 24, 2026 | Breakfast with Santa on select dates | The Chocolatier, Hersheypark |
What to Do in Hershey When It Rains
Summer storms and gray winter days are part of any Hershey trip, and the town has more indoor options than most resort areas. Hersheypark’s coasters close for lightning, so keep this list handy.
- Hershey’s Chocolate World: the free tour ride, the candy store and the paid experiences are all indoors, and it’s right beside the park.
- The Hershey Story: the museum and a Chocolate Lab class fill two dry hours.
- AACA Museum: three floors of cars and buses, open daily.
- Hershey Gardens’ Butterfly Atrium: warm, bright and open year-round, even when the outdoor gardens are soggy.
- Laff Trakk: Hersheypark’s indoor spinning coaster is the park’s best bet on a drizzly day.
- Indian Echo Caverns: a guided walk underground in Hummelstown, a few minutes west, where the weather doesn’t matter.
- A show or a game: a matinee at the Hershey Theatre or a Bears game at Giant Center.
Where to Stay in Hershey
Where you stay decides how early you get into the park and how much you drive. There are three main choices.
The Official Resorts of Hersheypark. The four resorts include The Hotel Hershey, the grand 1933 hotel on the hill with its spa and gardens, and Hershey Lodge, the big family resort with Hershey-themed rooms and pools, plus a campground. Their packages add extra hours in the park and a free shuttle to the front gate, and they’re the easiest choice for families. They’re also the most expensive, especially on summer weekends and during Candylane.
Chain hotels near the park. Several mid-range chains sit a few minutes from Hersheypark along the main roads into town. You’ll drive and pay for parking each day, but the savings can cover a lot of chocolate.
Harrisburg and the countryside. Harrisburg, 20 minutes west, has more hotels and lower prices, and inns and bed-and-breakfasts in the Lancaster County direction suit couples. Prices everywhere climb on summer Saturdays, big concert nights and Candylane weekends.
| Option | Best for | Perks | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Hotel Hershey | Couples, special occasions | Spa, gardens next door, official-resort park perks | The highest rates in town |
| Hershey Lodge | Families | Pools, themed rooms, official-resort park perks | Busy with conventions and school groups |
| Hersheypark Camping Resort | RVers and budget families | Official-resort perks at a lower price | Summer weekends book up early |
| Chain hotels nearby | Budget-minded families | Lower rates, often breakfast | You drive and pay to park each day |
| Harrisburg | Longer trips with side trips | More choice and lower prices | A 20-minute drive each way |
Where to Eat in Hershey
Hershey’s dining splits into three groups. The resorts have the town’s most polished restaurants, with dinner reservations needed on weekends and during Candylane. Inside Hersheypark, The Chocolatier and the park’s food stands feed the crowds, and Chocolate World has a big food court and dessert counters. For a local night out, Tröegs pairs its beer with a real kitchen, and a handful of restaurants line Chocolate Avenue downtown.
A few habits make eating here easier. Eat an early lunch in the park, before noon, when the lines are shorter, and save the big dinner for after the park closes. On summer Saturdays and Candylane weekends, book dinner tables when you book your room, because every sit-down restaurant in town fills. And don’t leave without a chocolate dessert: the resort restaurants and Chocolate World both lean hard into the town’s theme, and that’s the point of coming.
How Much Does a Hershey PA Vacation Cost?
Hershey isn’t cheap in peak season, but the fixed costs are predictable, and several of the best things in town cost nothing. These are the numbers as of September 24, 2026.
| Item | Cost | How to save |
|---|---|---|
| Hersheypark tickets | Priced by date | Buy online as early as you can; the park runs early-season sales on dated tickets. |
| Hersheypark parking | $25 per car per day online, plus fees | Resort guests can take the free front-gate shuttle; top-tier season passes include parking. |
| ZooAmerica | Included from inside the park | Enter from the park side instead of buying a separate zoo ticket. |
| Hershey’s Chocolate World | Tour ride free; extras paid; fall bundle from $51.45 | Pick one or two extras rather than all of them. |
| AACA Museum | $18 adults, $15 seniors, $10 ages 4 to 12 | Save it for a rainy day when you’d be indoors anyway. |
| The Hershey Story and Hershey Gardens | Paid; check current prices | Do both on the same day; they’re a few minutes apart. |
| Lodging | Resorts highest, chains mid-range, Harrisburg lowest | Travel midweek or in spring and early fall. |
The cheapest wins in town are the free Chocolate Tour ride, a walk along Chocolate Avenue under the Kiss streetlights, and ZooAmerica on your park ticket. Hersheypark’s ticket pages also mention extra hours the night before your visit with some tickets, so read the terms when you buy; an evening of short lines before your full day is one of the best deals in the park.
A Two-Day Hershey Itinerary
Day 1, Hersheypark: arrive before opening, ride the big coasters first, and break at midday for ZooAmerica or, in summer, the Boardwalk. Eat in the park, then return to the coasters in the evening, when lines shorten. In fall, stay after 6pm for Dark Nights and the lights-out coaster rides.
Day 2, the chocolate town: start at Hershey’s Chocolate World for the free tour ride and your own candy bar, then drive to The Hershey Story for the museum and a Chocolate Lab class. After lunch, walk Chocolate Avenue and spend the afternoon at Hershey Gardens and its butterfly atrium. End with dinner at Tröegs or a show at the Hershey Theatre.
With a third day, add a side trip: Lancaster County’s farm country is about 40 minutes east, Gettysburg is about an hour southwest, and Harrisburg’s State Capitol is 20 minutes away.
With only one day, spend it at Hersheypark, and start with an hour at Hershey’s Chocolate World when it opens, since the free tour ride sits right beside the park entrance. On a fall weekend, stay into the evening for the lights-out coaster rides.
For a couples’ weekend, skip the park altogether: book The Hotel Hershey and its spa, walk Hershey Gardens in the morning, take a Chocolate Lab class at The Hershey Story, and finish with dinner at the hotel or a flight at Tröegs. A Hershey Theatre show makes it a proper night out.
Getting to Hershey
| From | Drive | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg | 20 minutes | Amtrak’s Keystone Service and the Pennsylvanian stop at Harrisburg station. |
| Baltimore | 1.5 hours | North on I-83, then east. |
| Philadelphia | 1 hour 45 minutes | West on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which is cashless (E-ZPass or a Toll By Plate bill). |
| Washington, D.C. | 2 hours 15 minutes | Allow more on summer Fridays. |
| New York City | 2 hours 45 minutes | A free-flow estimate; weekend traffic often adds an hour. |
| Pittsburgh | 3.5 hours | East on the Turnpike. |
Getting around Hershey
Hersheypark, ZooAmerica, Hershey’s Chocolate World and Giant Center sit side by side along Hersheypark Drive, and you can walk between the park and Chocolate World. The Hershey Story, the Hershey Theatre and the Kiss streetlights are a few minutes’ drive away on Chocolate Avenue, and Hershey Gardens is up the hill beside The Hotel Hershey. Each attraction has its own parking, so plan to move the car between the park side and the downtown side, or use the resort shuttles if you’re staying at an official resort.
You’ll want a car in Hershey itself, since the attractions are spread along a few miles of road and there’s no practical transit between them. Drive times are free-flow estimates; add time on summer weekends.
Side Trips from Hershey
Hershey tops most lists of things to do in Pennsylvania with kids, and it sits within an hour of three other great regions. Indian Echo Caverns in Hummelstown, a few minutes west, runs guided cave walks that stay cool all summer. Harrisburg’s State Capitol and riverfront are 20 minutes away and anchor the list of things to do in central PA. Lancaster County, 40 minutes east, has the steam trains and markets that fill most lists of things to do in Lancaster PA, and the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire at Mount Hope in Manheim runs weekends through October 25, 2026. Gettysburg is about an hour southwest. And if Hersheypark leaves your family wanting more coasters, Knoebels, Kennywood and Dorney Park round out the best amusement parks in Pennsylvania.
What’s Changed, and What to Skip
- Hershey Sweet Lights: not returning in 2026, after 20 seasons, according to Hersheypark. Plan a Christmas Candylane evening instead.
- Tidal Force: closed permanently after September 7, 2026.
- sooperdooperLooper: closed after Labor Day 2026 for a new station; back in summer 2027 for its 50th anniversary.
- Dark Nights: now in its fifth year and included in every Hersheypark Halloween ticket, with no separate haunt ticket to buy.
Skip expecting a real factory tour. Hershey’s working plants aren’t open to visitors; the Chocolate World ride is a simulation, and it’s still fun. Skip July Saturdays if your dates are flexible. Skip paying for extras you won’t use: choose one or two paid Chocolate World experiences rather than all of them. And skip the drive between attractions at peak times if you’re staying at a resort; use the shuttle to the park.
Hershey PA Vacation FAQ
How many days do you need in Hershey, PA?
Two days is right for most families: one full day at Hersheypark and ZooAmerica, and one for Hershey’s Chocolate World, The Hershey Story and Hershey Gardens. Coaster fans or families visiting in summer, when the Boardwalk water park is open, may want a second park day.
Is Hershey’s Chocolate World free?
Yes. Entry to Hershey’s Chocolate World and the Hershey’s Chocolate Tour ride are free year-round, and the ride ends with a sample. The other experiences, such as Create Your Own Candy Bar, cost extra, and a fall bundle of three of them runs from $51.45 for visits through November 1, 2026.
Is ZooAmerica included with Hersheypark tickets?
Yes, when you enter ZooAmerica from inside Hersheypark, according to the park. If you want to see the zoo before the park opens, or without a park ticket, you need a separate ZooAmerica ticket from its own admissions building.
How much is parking at Hersheypark?
General parking costs $25 per car per day when bought online, plus taxes and fees, as of September 2026. It isn’t included with standard tickets, though top-tier season pass holders park free. Resort guests can use the free front-gate shuttle instead.
Is Hershey Sweet Lights open in 2026?
No. Hersheypark says Hershey Sweet Lights, the drive-through holiday light show, will not return in 2026 after 20 seasons. The park’s holiday event, Hersheypark Christmas Candylane, runs on select dates from November 13, 2026 to January 3, 2027.
Is Hersheypark open in the fall?
Yes, on weekends through November 1, 2026, for Hersheypark Halloween, which includes trick-or-treating, most coasters and the Dark Nights haunted houses in every ticket. After a short break, the park reopens for Christmas Candylane on November 13.
Can you tour the Hershey chocolate factory?
No. Hershey ended real factory tours in 1973 and replaced them with the free Chocolate Tour ride at Hershey’s Chocolate World, a simulated factory trip that ends with a sample. The company’s working plants are not open to the public.
What is there to do in Hershey besides Hersheypark?
Hershey’s Chocolate World, The Hershey Story and its Chocolate Lab, Hershey Gardens’ butterfly atrium, the AACA Museum, a Hershey Bears hockey game, a show at the Hershey Theatre and a beer at Tröegs. Indian Echo Caverns, Harrisburg and Lancaster County are all within 40 minutes.
Sources and How We Checked
We checked the hours, prices and events on this page on September 24, 2026 against the official sources below and compiled the guide from them rather than from first-hand visits. Drive times are free-flow estimates from OpenStreetMap data using the Valhalla routing engine, rounded to the nearest 15 minutes.
- Hersheypark: Hersheypark Halloween
- Hersheypark: Christmas Candylane
- Hersheypark: parking
- Hershey’s Chocolate World
- Hershey Gardens
- The Hershey Story
- AACA Museum: plan your visit
We also used Hersheypark’s ticket and what’s-included pages and ABC27 reporting on the Tidal Force closure.
Pennsylvania Tourism Guide is an independent publication. We are not affiliated with Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, The Hershey Company, Hersheypark or any business named here, and no one paid to be included.
Photo Credits
- Candymonium at Hersheypark: photo by Epicgenius, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Roadrunner at ZooAmerica: photo by Paulo Ordoveza from Washington, DC, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
- Inside Hershey's Chocolate World: photo by Toohool, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- The Hershey Story, Chocolate Avenue: photo by The Hershey Story, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Hershey Gardens in autumn: photo by Eric Savage, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
- Hershey Theatre building: photo by Ulaireminya, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Candymonium over Chocolatetown, Hersheypark: photo by Epicgenius, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Hershey Lodge: photo by Ruhrfisch, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)