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Major city · United States

HersheyHershey, Pennsylvania

Stay 1–2 nights: one full day for Hersheypark, half a day for Chocolate World and The Hershey Story. Skip the car only if you stay on a resort shuttle.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Hershey is a company village in Derry Township, about 10 miles east of Harrisburg, built around the chocolate factory Milton S. Hershey founded. Almost everything a visitor wants sits within a 3 km strip along Chocolate Avenue and Park Boulevard: the theme park, the free Chocolate World tour, a museum, gardens, a zoo and an arena. It is a 1–2 night stop inside a longer Harrisburg-area or Pennsylvania trip, not a destination on its own.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (heat and queues), late Dec–Feb (park closed or limited)
Airports
MDT · PHL
Nights
1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Hershey911 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Hershey, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, main courseAdd 18–22% tip and sales tax.$20–40
  • BeerDraught beer at a brewery or bar$7–10
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
  • Budget bedHersheypark Camping Resort (cabin or RV site), a night, per roomUS$60
  • Mid-range bedBudget chain room (Hummelstown or PA-743), a night, per roomUS$140
  • High-end bedBudget chain room (Hummelstown or PA-743), a night, per roomUS$220

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$110 · Mid US$190 · High US$330

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

HersheyparkHershey's Chocolate WorldThe Hershey Story museumHershey Gardens and ZooAmericaHershey Bears ice hockey at Giant Center
Airports
MDT Harrisburg International Airport (In Middletown, about 15 min by car from Hershey; Hershey resort guests can arrange a paid pickup.) · PHL Philadelphia International Airport (About 2 h by car; Amtrak from Philadelphia to Harrisburg, then 15 min by car.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    3°C (37°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    5°C (41°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    11°C (52°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    18°C (64°F)

  5. May

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    28°C (82°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    29°C (84°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    12°C (54°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid*

    6°C (43°F)

Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (30°C (86°F)), coolest Jan (−6°C (21°F) low), wettest May (12 rain days), driest Feb (9). Averages, not a forecast.

* only part of the month (early, mid or late).

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Hershey: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

3°C (37°F)

−6°C (21°F)

10 rd

Feb

5°C (41°F)

−5°C (23°F)

9 rd

Mar

11°C (52°F)

0°C (32°F)

10 rd

Apr

18°C (64°F)

5°C (41°F)

11 rd

May

23°C (73°F)

11°C (52°F)

12 rd

Jun

28°C (82°F)

16°C (61°F)

11 rd

Jul

30°C (86°F)

18°C (64°F)

11 rd

Aug

29°C (84°F)

17°C (63°F)

10 rd

Sep

25°C (77°F)

13°C (55°F)

9 rd

Oct

18°C (64°F)

7°C (45°F)

9 rd

Nov

12°C (54°F)

2°C (36°F)

10 rd

Dec

6°C (43°F)

−3°C (27°F)

10 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is the practical default: sights are spread over about 3 km and buses are thin. Many hotels run shuttles to Hersheypark and Chocolate World — confirm times before booking. Taxis and rideshare work but supply thins after the park closes. From Harrisburg take US-322 east; from I-81 use exit 77 and PA-39 south.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Harrisburg

go

Door to door: About 25–35 min

US-322 west by car, or a hotel shuttle/taxi

State Capitol, riverfront and the Amtrak station for onward trains.

Hummelstown

go

Door to door: About 15 min

PA-39 or Chocolate Avenue by car

Small historic main street; pairs with a cheap hotel night.

Mechanicsburg

caution

Door to door: About 40 min

I-81 south by car

Mostly a shopping and dining stop; no reason to go without a car.

Carlisle

caution

Door to door: About 50 min

I-81 south by car

Historic downtown and car shows; half a day at most.

Lancaster and Amish country

go

Door to door: 1.25–1.75 h

PA-283 east by car, or train via Harrisburg

Full day; markets and farmland, best with your own car.

Gettysburg

overnight

Door to door: About 1.5 h

US-15 south by car

Battlefield needs a full day; sleep one night rather than rush back.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Chocolate Avenue strip (in-town)

Walkable to Chocolate World, The Hershey Story and the outlets; 10–20 min walk to the park entrance.

Hershey resort hotels (Hotel Hershey, Hershey Lodge)

On-site pools, spa and shuttle service; highest rates and the easiest car-free stay.

Hummelstown and PA-743 corridor

Chain hotels 5–10 min by car; cheaper in summer and near the outlets and campground.

Harrisburg

Cheaper beds and Amtrak, 15–20 min by car each way; only worth it if you have a car.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$90–140 excl. bed
Mid
$150–240 excl. bed
High
$260+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range suite near Chocolate World1 × 2 nights × US$230US$460
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$190US$760
Hersheypark one-day ticket2 × US$70 · check — price moves by dateUS$140
Hersheypark parking, one day1 × US$25 · checkUS$25
ZooAmerica or Hershey Gardens entry2 × US$16 · checkUS$32
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$145
Trip total≈ US$398 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,592

2026 estimate in US dollars, before Pennsylvania sales tax; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Diner or food-court meal$12–20
Sit-down dinner, main courseAdd 18–22% tip and sales tax.$20–40
Draught beer at a brewery or bar$7–10
Rideshare, Hershey to Harrisburgcheck — supply thins late$25–45
Hershey's Chocolate World tourExtra attractions inside are ticketed.Free
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Hershey is a low-crime resort village; the real risks are summer heat in park queues, traffic on PA-39 and PA-743 after closing, and unlit stretches if you walk back to a hotel at night.
  • Hersheypark opening days change by season and it closes for part of winter: check the official calendar before booking.
  • Hersheypark parking is paid and lots fill on summer weekends: arrive before opening.
  • Summer heat and humidity plus long outdoor queues: water and shade breaks matter.
  • Prices are quoted before Pennsylvania sales tax; restaurant bills expect 18–22% tip.
  • Hershey is an unincorporated village inside Derry Township — some addresses read Hummelstown or Hershey.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

HersheyHershey, Pennsylvania

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No embassies in Hershey; national embassies are in Washington, DC, with consulates in Philadelphia and New York.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • MDT airport → Hershey, taxi or rideshare: about $35–55, about 15 min (check)
  • Hersheypark parking, one day: about $25 (check)
  • Amtrak Philadelphia → Harrisburg: about $30–50, about 1 h 45 min (check)

Say or show

  • Where is the park entrance? — Where is the park entrance?
  • One adult ticket, please — One adult ticket, please
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is there a shuttle to my hotel? — Is there a shuttle to my hotel?
  • How much is parking? — How much is parking?
  • Where is the nearest pharmacy? — Where is the nearest pharmacy?

US emergency number is 911 everywhere; 18–22% tipping is expected at sit-down restaurants.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Hershey. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and queues), late Dec–Feb (park closed or limited) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for MDT: last shuttle and taxi options, rideshare fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Chocolate World and Park Blvd, The Hershey Story and Chocolate Ave, Hershey Gardens and ZooAmerica, Giant Center and the outlets.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Hersheypark calendar, Chocolate World hours, The Hershey Story, Hershey Gardens, ZooAmerica) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Summer-weekend and park-closure fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources