Best Things to Do in Hershey, PA With Kids
Hershey's best family days are Hersheypark itself (coasters plus a genuinely good waterpark section), Hershey's Chocolate World (the free factory-style ride, though most of what makes it a full visit costs extra), ZooAmerica (a compact North American wildlife zoo included with some park tickets), Hershey Gardens, and The Hershey Story Museum for the history and a hands-on chocolate-making class. This is a two-to-three day theme-park town, not a week-long destination.
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1Area photo: Hmich176 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Hersheypark
The main event, and it earns the trip on its own. Several of the coasters (Skyrush, Lightning Racer, and the classic Comet among them) are legitimately well-regarded on the East Coast circuit, and The Boardwalk waterpark section is included in general admission rather than a separate paid add-on, which is unusual and genuinely saves money compared to parks that charge for water attractions separately.
Watch out: Peak summer weekends get crowded and hot — a park app or the physical map for ride wait times is worth checking constantly. The waterpark section requires packing swimsuits and towels for a day you might not have planned as a 'water day,' so bring them regardless.
2Area photo: Hmich176 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Hershey's Chocolate World
The free automated ride through a simulated chocolate factory is a fun, quick way to kick off a Hershey visit and ends with a free chocolate sample for everyone in the car — genuinely worth doing even on a tight budget. If you want more, the paid extras (a 4D show, a create-your-own-candy-bar station, and a trolley tour of the town) add real time and cost on top.
Watch out: Be honest with kids in advance that the base experience is free and short — the gift shop at the exit is enormous and clearly designed to convert that goodwill into spending, so set expectations before you get there. The paid add-ons add up fast if you say yes to all of them; pick one or two rather than the full slate.
3Area photo: Hmich176 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)ZooAmerica
A compact, well-kept zoo focused on North American wildlife — black bears, bobcats, bison, bald eagles, and more — that's included with certain Hersheypark ticket types and reachable by a walking path from inside the park. It's a good pace-changer between coaster laps, giving younger kids or anyone needing a break from rides a lower-key hour.
Watch out: Not worth a separate full-price standalone visit if you're not also doing Hersheypark that day — check your specific ticket type, since not all Hersheypark admission tiers include ZooAmerica access. It's small enough that most families finish in under two hours.
4Area photo: Hmich176 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)Hershey Gardens
A genuine botanical garden a short drive from the theme park, with rose gardens, a children's garden with interactive play elements, and a seasonal butterfly house add-on. It's the right pick for a lower-energy half-day, especially useful if the family needs a break from theme-park crowds and noise midway through the trip.
Watch out: The butterfly house is seasonal (typically spring through fall) — check current hours before counting on it. Not much shade in parts of the garden, so plan around the hottest part of a summer afternoon.
5Area photo: Hmich176 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)The Hershey Story Museum
The real history behind Milton Hershey and the company town he built, told through interactive exhibits rather than a dry corporate museum. The hands-on chocolate-tasting or candy-making class (booked separately, extra cost) is more substantive and memorable than Chocolate World's ride and is worth the upgrade for kids old enough to follow a guided activity.
Watch out: Less engaging for kids under 6 who don't yet have the attention span for exhibit-style museum content — Chocolate World or Hersheypark itself is a better fit for that age group. Book the hands-on class in advance; slots fill, especially on weekends.
Frequently asked
Is Hershey's Chocolate World really free?
The core factory-tour ride and the sample at the end are free, yes. Nearly everything else — the 4D show, the create-your-own-candy-bar experience, and the trolley tour — is a separate paid add-on, and the exit funnels through a large gift shop designed to capture spending after the free ride.
Do we need more than one day for Hersheypark?
One full day covers the park well for most families, especially since the waterpark section is included rather than requiring a separate day. Add a second day if you want a slower pace with young kids or want to fully split coaster time from waterpark time without rushing.
Is ZooAmerica worth visiting on its own?
Not really as a standalone trip — it's small and best treated as a bonus stop if you're already at Hersheypark that day and your ticket includes access. If ZooAmerica alone is the goal, a general city zoo elsewhere would likely offer more for the admission price.
How should we budget activities for a 3-day Hershey trip?
Plan $700–$1,000 for a family of 4 covering one Hersheypark day, Chocolate World with a couple of paid add-ons, and either Hershey Gardens or The Hershey Story Museum. That's a realistic full itinerary for the town without needing a third full-park day.
Same destination, where to stay
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