Located in Hershey, Pennsylvania—roughly 15 miles east of Harrisburg and 95 miles west of Philadelphia—Hersheypark sits on more than 121 acres. Originally founded in 1906 by Milton S. Hershey as a peaceful leisure park for Hershey Chocolate Company employees, the destination is wholly and privately owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company. It has evolved over nearly 120 years into the most visited theme park in Pennsylvania, drawing millions of travelers annually to its vast grounds.
Navigating the resort reveals a rich tapestry of distinct themed areas. Today, guests step into Hershey's Chocolatetown at the entrance before exploring lands like Founder's Way, Kissing Tower Hill, The Hollow, Pioneer Frontier, Midway America, and the tropical-themed Boardwalk at Hersheypark water park. Next door lies Hershey's Chocolate World, an accessible visitor center featuring themed shops, dining, and a chocolate factory tour ride where you receive a complimentary piece of chocolate.
Famous for its coaster lineup, Hersheypark features decades of coaster engineering from classic wooden tracks to cutting-edge hypercoasters. Beyond high-speed tracks, the park features 76 total rides, 12 resident entertainment shows, strolling street performers, and daily access to ZooAmerica, an 11-acre wildlife sanctuary home to over 200 North American animals. It provides an all-encompassing outing for families, thrill-seekers, and multi-day holiday travelers alike.
01 Signature rides & attractions
The park’s headline rides across its themed areas. Confirm heights and any single-rider lines on the day.
Compiled from Wikipedia · a full ride-by-ride list per themed area is on the way.
Park map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the park and its surroundings — entrances, themed areas, car parks and access roads. Zoom in for detail; the official ride-by-ride park plan is linked below.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official park maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Tickets & prices
Ticket prices for Hersheypark change by date and season, and the park sells single-day, multi-day and annual passes — buying online in advance is almost always cheaper than at the gate, and popular dates can sell out. Check the official site for live pricing before you travel.
We deliberately don’t list prices that change daily — the ticket button leads to live, up-to-date pricing.
03 Getting there & parking
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Car | Accessible via regional roads into Hershey, PA, 15 miles east of Harrisburg and 95 miles west of Philadelphia. |
Getting there & parking · Last updated: 2026-09-12 · prices may change
04 Best time to visit & opening times
| Season | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Summer Season | Summer | Full park operations featuring all rides and water attractions. |
| Spring | Spring | Seasonal events and entertainment shows. |
| Halloween | Fall | Special seasonal entertainment shows. |
| Christmas Candylane | November to January | Holiday-themed event featuring seasonal entertainment and decor. |
Opening times vary by day · Last updated: 2026-09-12 · check before you travel
05 Themed areas
Each area has its own theming — architecture, food and rides. Half the fun is simply walking through.
Good to know
- Your standard admission ticket includes entry to both ZooAmerica and The Boardwalk water park.
- Hersheypark uses a Hershey product-branded height category system to quickly check ride eligibility.
- Outside food and drink are strictly prohibited inside park grounds.
- Guests with specific dietary needs will find gluten-free options and a dedicated kosher restaurant inside.
