Hershey, Pennsylvania, is a town literally built on chocolate. Founded by confectionery magnate Milton S. Hershey in the early 1900s, this central Pennsylvania community still smells faintly of cocoa on warm days and lines its main avenue with Hershey's Kisses-shaped street lamps. Beyond the chocolate, you'll find a full-scale amusement park with over a dozen roller coasters, a thriving craft beer scene anchored by Tröegs Independent Brewing, championship hockey, and easy day trips to Gettysburg's Civil War battlefields and Lancaster's Amish country. It's a family destination with genuine character, one where the history of a single company shaped an entire town's identity.
Your best window for visiting Hershey falls in two stretches: late April through mid-June, and mid-August through mid-October. The late spring window catches Hersheypark's seasonal opening and the Art on Chocolate festival in May, with comfortable temperatures and smaller crowds than the summer peak. The late summer and early fall window delivers Hersheypark in full swing, the annual ChoctoberFest celebration downtown, and the legendary AACA Fall Meet antique car show, all against a backdrop of autumn foliage in the surrounding Pennsylvania countryside. If you want the lowest prices and thinnest crowds, aim for late April or September, when accommodation deals are easier to find and the park is less packed. Avoid mid-July if you're heat-sensitive, as that stretch brings the most intense warmth of the year.
Spring in Hershey, PA, US
Hershey starts to wake up in March as the snow melts off the rolling hills of Dauphin County, but the real action begins in April when Hersheypark opens for spring weekends. The park runs on a limited schedule through late May before shifting to daily operations, so you'll enjoy shorter lines and a more relaxed pace. Hershey Gardens is particularly rewarding in spring, with tulips and flowering trees in bloom and the indoor Butterfly Atrium open year-round. Down on Chocolate Avenue, the annual Art on Chocolate festival typically fills the downtown area each May with more than a hundred artists, live music, and food vendors, giving you a taste of the community beyond the theme park.
Mornings can still bite in early spring, with lows around 43.6°F (6.4°C), so pack a jacket for early outings or trail walks along the Jonathan Eshenour Memorial Trail, a 13.5-mile path that winds through the surrounding countryside. By afternoon, highs climb to 64°F (17.8°C), comfortable enough for a full day exploring outdoor attractions. Showers pop up infrequently, typically two to four days per month, so you likely won't lose a full day to rain. As spring deepens into May and June, daylight stretches past 8pm, giving you long evenings to explore Tröegs Brewing's tasting room or catch a show at Hershey Theatre. Tourism picks up through the season, but crowds remain well below summer levels, and accommodation prices tend to be lower.
Summer in Hershey, PA, US
Summer is when Hershey runs at full throttle. Hersheypark operates daily with all 70-plus rides in action, including the full roster of roller coasters and The Boardwalk water park, where a lazy river, water coaster, and racing slides provide relief from the heat. The outdoor concert venue at Hersheypark Stadium hosts major touring acts throughout the season, and ZooAmerica's 200-plus animals are active and visible in the warm weather. Hershey's Chocolate World stays open with extended hours, and you can fill an afternoon making your own candy bar, riding the free chocolate tour, or sampling their signature shakes.
Highs average 84.2°F (29°C) with lows settling to 65.9°F (18.8°C), warm enough to make the water park a daily essential. Mid-July brings the peak heat of the year, with highs pushing to 87.4°F (30.8°C) and overnight lows around 68.4°F (20.2°C). Humidity sits in the mid-50s to low 60s, noticeable but not oppressive. Afternoon thunderstorms roll through roughly three to four days per month, usually clearing quickly, so keep a poncho in your bag rather than surrendering the day. Long summer evenings, with the sun not setting until after 8pm, give you ample time to ride coasters into the golden hour.
This is Hershey's busiest season, with August drawing the highest visitor volume of the year. Accommodation prices run higher than usual, and popular rides will have longer waits, especially on weekends. Book lodging well in advance if you're visiting between late June and mid-August. For a slightly less hectic experience, the first two weeks of June or the last two weeks of August offer the same attractions with marginally thinner crowds. Bring sunscreen, a refillable water bottle, and shoes that can handle both coaster queues and water park walkways.
Fall in Hershey, PA, US
Fall brings a different energy to Hershey. The surrounding Pennsylvania countryside turns gold and crimson, and the pace shifts as families with school-age kids thin out on weekdays. Hersheypark runs its Halloween-themed event, with lights-out coasters after dark and seasonal decorations throughout the park, making it a draw for thrill seekers who want a spookier twist. Downtown, the annual ChoctoberFest typically takes over Chocolate Town Square in mid-October with local bands, craft beers, chocolate tastings, and food from area restaurants. The AACA Fall Meet, running since 1955, also arrives in the fall as one of the largest antique car shows and flea markets in the country, a must for car enthusiasts visiting the area.
Temperatures are comfortable for full days outdoors, with highs averaging 65.3°F (18.5°C) and lows around 48.3°F (9.1°C). September still carries some summer warmth, while November feels distinctly autumnal. Precipitation shows up somewhat regularly, one to four days per month, but October is one of the drier stretches. Pack layers: a flannel and a light jacket will carry you through most days. Hershey Bears hockey season kicks off in October at the Giant Center, giving you an indoor entertainment option for cool evenings. The team has won more league championships than any other AHL franchise, and the arena atmosphere on game nights is electric.
Visitor volume remains high through October, making it the second-busiest period after summer, with accommodation prices running slightly above average. Hersheypark Christmas Candylane typically opens on select dates in mid-November, overlapping with the tail end of fall. If you visit later in the season, the shorter daylight hours, with sunset arriving before 5pm by November, may affect how much outdoor sightseeing you can fit into a day.
Winter in Hershey, PA, US
Winter in Hershey centers on the holiday season. Hersheypark Christmas Candylane, a tradition running for more than 40 years, transforms the park into a festive spectacle with five million twinkling lights, select roller coasters running in the cold, visits with Santa and all nine of his live reindeer, and seasonal treats like a hot chocolate bar. The separately ticketed Hershey Sweet Lights attraction lets you drive through two miles of illuminated displays from the comfort of your car. Hershey's Chocolate World runs holiday programming through the season, including character meet-and-greets and seasonal menus. Outside the holiday window, the Hershey Bears keep the Giant Center lively with AHL hockey through April, and Hershey Theatre hosts touring Broadway shows and concerts throughout the winter months.
Expect genuinely cold conditions, with highs averaging 39.6°F (4.2°C) and lows dropping to 25.7°F (-3.5°C). February is the snowiest month, and accumulations can be significant, so check road conditions if you're driving in. Precipitation falls semi-regularly, one to four days per month, and December is one of the wettest months of the year. Daylight is limited, with barely over nine hours of light in December and January, so plan your outdoor activities for midday. Dress warmly if you're riding coasters at Christmas Candylane, as temperatures can make open-air rides brisk.
This is the slowest tourism season, and you'll find the thinnest crowds of the year in January and February after the holiday events wrap up. Indoor attractions like the AACA Museum, The Hershey Story Museum, and the Chocolate Spa at The Hotel Hershey are ideal cold-weather diversions. The spa's cocoa massage and chocolate fondue wrap feel especially fitting in a town built on the stuff.
At a Glance
Monthly weather, visitor crowds, air quality, holidays, and daylight hours to help you plan your trip.
Travel Tips & Safety for Hershey, PA, US
Hershey sits in south-central Pennsylvania, roughly two hours from Philadelphia and three hours from New York City or Washington, D.C. Most visitors arrive by car via Interstate 81 or the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and driving gives you the flexibility to explore nearby Gettysburg, Lancaster Amish country, and the state capital in Harrisburg, all within an hour. Harrisburg International Airport is the closest commercial airport, about 15 minutes away. Tipping norms follow standard U.S. conventions: 18 to 20 percent at restaurants and a few dollars per night for housekeeping.
Hershey is a very safe destination. The main practical concern is sun exposure and hydration during summer theme park days, so carry water and apply sunscreen regularly. Winter visitors should prepare for icy roads and sidewalks, particularly after snowfall in January and February.