Favorite Family Rides at Hersheypark

We were provided with complimentary tickets to Hersheypark in exchange for my review. No other compensation is given. The opinions and experiences (and fun!) in my posts are 100% mine. You can read my full disclosure policy here.

Summer is here and one of the first things on my family’s list for FUN after school got out was a day at Hersheypark! We spent the day there a couple of weeks ago and we had SO much fun. Seriously, the best family day we’ve had in a long time. There are a lot of rides that are family-friendly that all 4 of us, myself and my husband plus our two kids, could go on together.

While I was there I made a mental list of some tips to share for a great day in the park. Now I’ve written them up and have them here for you. If you’ve been to the park and have a great tip for us, please leave a comment for everyone to see. Hope some of these help you make the most of your day at Hersheypark!

1. Get the Hersheypark App

The Hersheypark Mobile app is free for iPhone and Android and is so helpful when you’re in the park. Not only is it useful as a map, but you can sort rides by height requirements, find places to eat, the closest bathrooms, wait times, and so much more. We used it all day when we were in the park.

2. Pick out your must-dos

Take some time before you get to the park to check out the park map and choose the things you absolutely don’t want to miss. The day can go fast when you’re having so much fun! You don’t want to have it end without you hitting your favorite rides! TIP: Laff Trakk is a must-do for anyone able to ride! We LOVE this coaster!

3. Have a plan

Decide what time you want to get there (early is best!) and what you’re doing first. If possible, I’d suggest going on a weekday versus a weekend to avoid the larger crowds. We decided to hit the dry rides first and do the water park later in the day. I think that worked out great. The water park crowd had thinned out by the time we jumped in! Just decide before you go what your plan is so everyone in your group is on the same page.

4. Wear comfy shoes

Hersheypark is pretty big, and with the purchase of your ticket you also have access to ZooAmerica so you can cover a lot of ground in one day. Make sure you and your kids are all wearing comfy shoes so you can keep playing and having fun!

5. Bring a backpack

We wore our regular clothes into the park and packed our bathing suits in a backpack. Do you need towels? Eh, maybe if you’re planning to spend the entire day in the park but we didn’t bring any and we were fine. I’d tuck a plastic bag in your backpack to throw wet bathing suits in when you’re done with them. Bring sunblock and maybe a pair of flip flops if you’d like something on your feet in the Boardwalk area.

There are lockers available for one flat fee for the entire day starting at $15 if you’d rather not carry around a bag all day. Most rides have a bag storage area when you board so you don’t have to take your things on the rides with you.

6. View the park from above

Make a point to hop on the Skyview and/or the Monorail to get an aerial view of the park. This helped us find a few rides we really wanted to get on! They’re also a good way to take a little break from walking around the park. Sometimes the kids (and adults!) need a breather. My kids loved seeing ZooAmerica from above on the Monorail! The Kissing Tower is another one that gives you a good look down at the attractions.

7. Do the Zoo

Speaking of ZooAmerica… Make sure you take some time to check it out! My family loves this zoo. It’s just the right size for little kids and there are a couple of great indoor exhibits (include the one with this gator!) that are air conditioned. So if you need a break from rides and heat, this is the place to go. You can cross the bridge and walk right over into ZooAmerica. Admission is included with your Hersheypark tickets! Just grab a hand stamp on your way so you can come back into the park when you’re done. This was a perfect little break for my kids in the afternoon.

8. Get a souvenir cup

This saved us so much money! It was really hot the day we went to Hersheypark so we drank a LOT of pink lemonade! If you buy a souvenir cup, you can refill it for only $.99 ($1.05 with tax). Well worth it for us. Plus then you get to leave with a cool new cup! (Remember to bring it back next time and carry on with the $.99 refills!)

9. Enjoy the food

There is SO MUCH to eat at Hersheypark. And I mean really good food! We had the best meal for dinner at Moe’s Southwest Grill. We’re still talking about it! If someone in your group has food allergies, Hersheypark has you covered there with their brand-new-for-2015 The Outpost eatery. And of course you need to get something chocolate. They have a S’mores Cart that I highly recommend. And these Makin’ Whoopie pies near the park entrance are not to be missed!

10. Splash around

Be sure to carve out some time for the water park. We were so caught up having fun on the rides that we really cut short our time at the Boardwalk and we had SO much fun together while we were there. I wish we would have jumped in earlier in the day. The water park closes at 8pm, so plan accordingly.

We enjoyed the Intercoastal Waterway and The Shore until they kicked us out! Fortunately when you get out of the water, you can go back to the rides. (The ferris wheel is a good one to end the night with!)

Those are our tips for a great day at Hersheypark. I hope they help you plan a fun-filled day with your family! And really that’s our favorite thing: the park is so family-friendly, tons of rides all four of us could get on and enjoy together, great food, lots of shady places to sit down and take a break, and the bonus 3-parks-in-1 deal is awesome. We enjoyed them all!

Want to know our favorite family rides? Here are some we suggest checking out! All 4 of us got on each one of these and had a blast!