Hersheypark was created for the employees and relatives of Milton S. Hershey's chocolate factory and opened May 30, 1906. The park added various carnival rides over the years, including the original Wild Cat in 1923 and Comet in 1946. Hersheypark welcomed more than 3.3 million visitors last year, making it the most-visited independent park in the United States. When visiting, also consider the separately-ticketed Hershey's Chocolate World indoor attraction next door.
Our recommendations below come from our ongoing survey of Theme Park Insider readers. Locations with star ratings ★ ranked especially highly among our readers. Vote here to take part in our surveys and submit your picks for top attractions.
Wildcat's Revenge★ ★
Rocky Mountain Construction rebuild of the former Wildcat wooden coaster. Height requirement: 48 inches
Skyrush★ ★
A 3,600-foot Intamin coaster with 200-foot hill and top speed of 75 mph. Height requirement: 54 inches
Storm Runner
A 2,600-foot Intamin Accelerator with a 75-mph launch into top hat with a 180-foot drop and three inversions. Height requirement: 54 inches
Fahrenheit
A 2,700-foot Intamin coaster with a vertical lift into a beyond-vertical 120-foot drop, with a top speed of 58 mph and six inversions. Height requirement: 54 inches
Lightning Racer
Great Coasters International racing wooden coasters with track lengths of 3,393 feet, 90-foot drops and top speeds of 51 mph. Height requirement: 48 inches
Great Bear
A 2,800-foot Bolliger & Mabillard inverted coaster with a 124-foot drop, top speed of 58 mph and four inversions. Height requirement: 54 inches
Comet
A 3,360-foot Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters wooden coaster with a 78-foot drop and top speed of 50 mph. Height requirement: 42 inches
Laff Trakk
A 1,400-foot Maurer Rides indoor spinning coaster with a top speed of 40 mph. Height requirement: 48 inches
sooperdooperLooper
A 2,614-foot Schwarzkopf looping coaster with one inversion. Height requirement: 42 inches
Trailblazer
A 1,600-foot Arrow Dynamic mine train with a top speed of 35 mph. Height requirement: 36 inches
Wild Mouse
A 1,213-foot Mack Rides coaster with a top speed of 28 mph. Height requirement: 42 inches
Jolly Rancher Remix (formerly Sidewinder)
A 935-foot Vekoma Boomerang with a top speed of 47 mph and three inversions. Height requirement: 48 inches
For younger visitors, Hersheypark also offers Cocoa Cruiser, a Zamperla family gravity coaster.
Other Attractions
Chocolatetown
Carrousel
Founder's Way
Monorail
Reese's Cupfusion: Interactive dark ride. Height requirement: 36 inches
You also can find various carnival rides throughout the park, as well as The Boardwalk water park inside Hersheypark. That's open during the summer vacation season.
Park Map
Hersheypark is located halfway between Interstates 76 and 81, about 15 miles east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Strategy
Hersheypark offers guests at its hotels a one-hour "Sweet Start" early park admission during the summer. Eligible hotel locations include the historic Hotel Hershey, mid-range Hershey Lodge, and Hersheypark Camping Resort. A budget Hershey Inn & Suites is coming for the 2026 season.
The longest waits here tend to be for the big indoor attractions: Reese's Cupfusion and Laff Trakk. Candymonium is located right at the park entrance and will attract many visitors in the morning. So make Wildcat's Revenge back in Midway America your first pick here, as it's the best ride in the park.
After Wildcat's Revenge, gradually make your way back to the Chocolatetown entrance, picking up the coasters along the way, starting with Laff Trakk and Lightning Racer. If you can avoid summer Saturdays, you should not encounter especially long wait times for anything here.
If you do hit Hersheypark on a busy day, however, Hersheypark offers a Fast Track line-skip pass for the following attractions: Candymonium, Carrousel, Comet, Fahrenheit, Great Bear, Hershey Triple Tower, Jolly Rancher Remix, Laff Trakk, Lightning Racer, Mix'd, Reese's Cupfusion, Skyrush, sooperdooperLooper, Storm Runner, Trailblazer, Wild Mouse and Wildcat's Revenge.
