Best Places to Stay in Hershey PA (2026)

Hershey Lodge and The Hotel Hershey are both operated by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts and sit adjacent to each other on the Hershey campus. The Lodge is the family-first property: larger (over 700 rooms), with an indoor waterpark (Hersheypark Happy), Cocoa Cabana bunk-bed suites, and pricing that runs $100–$200/night less. The Hotel Hershey is the 1933 historic grand hotel: architecturally distinctive Mediterranean design, a full-service chocolate-themed spa, formal gardens, a circular dining room from the original build, and a quieter atmosphere. Both get early Hersheypark entry and shuttle service. The decision: families with kids 4–14 who want maximum kid amenities and value should pick the Lodge. Families doing a special occasion trip, couples traveling with older kids, or anyone who wants the spa should pick The Hotel Hershey.

The on-site Hershey benefit that matters most: early park entry (1 hour before general public opens). Hersheypark has no skip-the-line equivalent — wait times for top coasters (Fahrenheit, Skyrush, Candymonium) hit 60–90 minutes during peak July and August. That early-entry hour, when queues run 5–20 minutes, can mean the difference between riding your top 3 coasters before lunch vs. spending the whole morning in lines. Lodge, Hotel Hershey, and Camping Resort guests all get this benefit. Off-site hotels in Hershey (Days Inn, Hampton Inn, etc.) save $50–$150/night but lose early entry. For a 2–3 day park trip, the early entry value usually justifies the on-site premium.

Yes. Hersheypark Happy is the indoor waterpark connected to Hershey Lodge, open year-round. It includes multiple waterslides, an indoor wave pool, an indoor lazy river (Up Tempo Rapids), and Quarter Note Cove — a dedicated children's splash structure for younger kids. The outdoor pools and waterslides are seasonal (May–September). The Lodge also provides access to Reese's Waterpark, Hersheypark's outdoor water park section, which is included with standard Hersheypark tickets. Important: Hersheypark Happy indoor waterpark access is included with a Lodge stay — you don't pay separately for it the way some water park hotels charge.

Two park days is the standard minimum for a full Hersheypark trip. Day 1: arrive, check in, use the afternoon for Hersheypark with early-entry benefit if staying on-site. Day 2: full park day including Reese's Waterpark (seasonal). Day 3 option: ZooAmerica (11-acre North American wildlife zoo, included with park tickets, worth 2–3 hours), Hershey's Chocolate World (free chocolate-making tour, 45 minutes), or a half-day at Hersheypark for repeat rides. For families with kids under 8, 2 days is often enough since toddlers hit a wall earlier and many major coasters have 48-inch height minimums. For families with thrill-ride kids 10+, 3 days covers everything including re-rides on favorites.

Hersheypark Camping Resort is the official Hershey Entertainment campground, 2 miles from Hersheypark. It has RV sites with full hookups (electric, water, sewer), tent sites with electric, standard cabins (shared bath facility), and deluxe cabins with private bathrooms and A/C. All registered campers get the same early Hersheypark entry benefit and shuttle service as the hotel guests — this is the unique value proposition. At $55–$220/night vs $199–$650/night for the hotels, the savings over a 3-night trip are $300–$1,200 depending on accommodation type. Best for: RV families, families comfortable with cabin-style lodging, and budget-conscious families who want on-site Hershey benefits. Not for: families who need hotel service, spa access, or daily housekeeping.