Planning a summer trip to Hershey Park? Whether you are a first-timer or a seasoned visitor, a few insider moves can make the difference between a good day and a great one. We have been enough times to pick up some tricks that are not always obvious from the website. Some links in this article are Amazon affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you buy through them at no extra cost to you.
1. Save big by sharing an all-day refillable cup
One of the easiest ways to save money at Hershey Park is the all-day refillable cup. For about $24, you get unlimited refills throughout the day with a maximum of one every 10 minutes. The park does offer free water refill stations, but those do not include ice, which matters a lot on a hot day.
Here is the thing: if you are a family of four buying lunch and dinner in the park, individual drink prices add up fast. We are not above sharing a cup. Let’s be honest, you are all staying in the same hotel room. If one of you is getting sick, you all are. So if sharing a refillable cup does not gross you out too much, it is a solid way to stay hydrated and keep expenses down.
Details on the cup deal are on the Hershey Park dining page.
2. Tailgate before the concert
Hershey Park is not just about rides and chocolate. It is also home to a great concert venue. One of the best parts? You can tailgate in the grassy parking field directly across from the park, which is free with your concert ticket. The lot opens at noon, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the park during the day and then wind down with some pre-show festivities.
If you are planning to spend the day before or after your concert in the park, this is a perfect way to extend the fun without spending more money inside.
3. Early access to beat the crowds
If you are staying at one of the Hershey hotels or have a season pass, you can take advantage of early park access. But even if you are not, keep reading.
The park opens an hour before the advertised 10 AM opening time for season pass holders and hotel guests. The best part? They do not check for season passes or hotel keys until you get on the rides, not at the entry gate. This means you can enter the park early and head straight to your favorite roller coaster, especially those at the back of the park, before the lines get long. If you time it right, you might even get on a ride a little before the official opening time.
4. What to pack for a perfect day
A few small items can make a hot Hershey Park day much more comfortable.
Insulated water bottle
If you are not going the all-day cup route, an insulated water bottle is a must. Unlike a regular bottle, an insulated one keeps your drinks cold for hours, which matters when you are walking around in the sun all day.
Bottles are supposed to be empty when you enter, but ours was filled to the brim with ice and no one seemed to care. We filled it with water inside the park and it stayed cold most of the day.
Cooling towels
Cooling towels are a simple way to beat the heat. They are lightweight, pack small, and provide instant relief when dampened with water. Perfect for waiting in ride lines or walking between sections of the park.
Pro tip: Put them in your cooler backpack with ice. Game changer.
Sunscreen you will actually reapply
We keep coming back to Sheer Touch sunscreen because it feels lighter than most options. At a theme park where you are sweating and reapplying throughout the day, that matters. If you have not tried it yet, it is worth picking up before your trip.
Our bottom line
Hershey Park is a great summer destination, especially if you go in with a few tricks. Share the cup, show up early, pack smart, and leave room for the unexpected. We always end up finding something new each time we go.
For another trip where heat, water, and walking all show up in the same day, our Smoky Mountains packing list has a lot of overlap with what we like to bring to Hershey in July and August.
If you have a Hershey Park tip we missed, we would love to hear it.