I’m honestly shocked more people aren’t talking about this: Hersheypark isn’t just a theme park — it’s an entire vacation destination.
I recently visited for the first time and stayed on property for two and a half days. And the truth is, I easily could have stayed four or five. There’s so much to do beyond the rides that it feels more like a full resort experience than a typical park visit.
The Park Itself Is Already Incredible
Let’s start with the park.
Hersheypark has 15 roller coasters, which is already enough to make coaster enthusiasts excited. But the rides are only part of the experience.
Your park ticket also includes access to:
- The Boardwalk water park
- ZooAmerica
Both are included with admission, which adds a lot of value to a visit.
Between the rides, the water park, and the zoo, it’s easy to spend an entire day — or several — inside the park alone.
Hershey’s Chocolate World Is Free to Visit
Right next door to the park is Hershey's Chocolate World, and here’s something many people don’t realize:
It’s completely free to enter — and free to park.
Inside, there’s a charming dark ride called the Chocolate Tour where you learn how chocolate is made. And yes, you get chocolate at the end.
Chocolate World also has additional attractions you can purchase tickets for, including:
- The Great Candy Expedition
- Create Your Own Candy Bar
- Shopping and themed food experiences
It’s an easy place to spend a few hours.
The Hershey Story Museum and Gardens
Beyond the park itself, the town of Hershey has some really interesting attractions.
I loved visiting The Hershey Story Museum, which dives into the history of Milton Hershey and how the chocolate empire — and the town — were built.
There’s also Hershey Gardens, a beautiful 23-acre botanical garden that includes a butterfly atrium.
Even better: if you stay at one of the Hershey resorts, admission to both the museum and gardens is included.
Staying at a Hershey Resort
One thing that really surprised me was the variety of places you can stay.
Options include:
- Campground accommodations
- Hershey Lodge, a mid-range resort with an indoor water park
- The Hotel Hershey, a historic five-star resort
- Luxury villas at Hotel Hershey for families
All of the resorts include transportation to the park, which makes getting around really convenient.
There’s Even More to Do
On top of all of that, the destination also offers:
- Golf
Spas
Shopping
Dining
Outlet malls
Honestly, I had no idea Hershey offered this much before my visit.
Watch the Reel
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7zOru9JF0F/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Final Thoughts
Before visiting, I thought of Hersheypark as just a theme park.
Now I see it as something much bigger — a full vacation destination with rides, history, chocolate, gardens, and resorts all in one place.
And if you’re planning a visit, let me know what questions you have, because I’m excited to dive deeper into everything Hershey has to offer.