Hersheypark Nominated in Multiple 2025 National Travel and Theme Park Awards

Hersheypark Nominated in Multiple 2025 National Travel and Theme Park Awards

USA TODAY 10Best Reader's Choice Voting Open Daily Through April 21

Hersheyparkamusement parkin Hershey, Pa., has been nominated for six theme park categories in the USA TODAY 10Best Reader's Choice Awards 2025. This is a record number of nominations for the largest amusement park in Pennsylvania.

• Best Theme Park
• Best Theme Park Hotel with The Hotel Hershey
• Best Theme Park Restaurant with The Chocolatier Restaurant, Bar + Patio
• Best Roller Coaster with Wildcat's Revenge
• Best Water Coaster with Breaker's Edge Water Coaster
• Best Wave Pool with The Shore

Now, it's up to our loyal fans to help us win! You can vote once daily for each category until the polls close on Monday, April 21, at noon ET. The winners will be announced on Wednesday, April 30. Learn more and vote for us below!

Best Theme Park

USA TODAY10Best asked a panel of amusement park and family travel experts to nominate their 20 favorite theme parks out of more than 400 amusement parks and attractions on the continent - and Hersheypark made the list.

Centrally located within driving distance of five of the largest metropolitan areas in the Northeast, Hersheypark will kick off its 119th operating yearon April 5 for seven Spring Weekendsthrough May 18. Summer runs from mid-May through September with daily operations from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

The amusement park of every chocolate lover's dreams features 121 acres with more than 70 rides, The Boardwalk At Hersheypark water park (open from Memorial Day through Labor Day) and an 11-acre North American Wildlife Park- all accessible via a single admission. Thrill seekers can enjoy 15 coasters, which is the most in the Northeast, and the all-new Twizzlers Twisted GravityScreamin' Swing debuting this summer. This continues a decade of significant growth with six new major coasters, a water park and the $150 million Hershey's Chocolatetownregion.

Best Theme Park Hotel

The Hotel Hershey is a sweet spot for visitors to lay their heads when in town to check out Hersheypark. A member of Historic Hotels of America, the AAA Four-Diamond Hotel is a one-of-a-kind destination with a rich history. Situated high atop the town of Hershey, the resort is known for its refined elegance, signature service and abundant amenities.

Guests can take advantage of recreation on property, including 5.5 miles of hiking trails, daily fitness classes, an indoor pool complex, an arcade, an 18-hole putting course, disc golf, and an outdoor sports complex featuring basketball, volleyball, tennis, pickleball, spikeball, bocce ball, cornhole and soccer. On spring weekends, The Hotel Hershey also offers family-friendly activities ranging from s'mores roasts and chocolate bingo to Hershey Character appearances, glow putting, scavenger hunts and more. Check out The Hotel Hershey Spring Guide 2025to learn more.

Marking its first spring season, The Villas at The Hotel Hershey offer guests an elevated luxury accommodation experience with 48 reimagined rooms, refreshed furnishings and unmatched amenities. Amenities include access to an all-new exclusive Concierge Lounge, daily Hersheypark tickets and a One-Day Fast Track per person.

Best Theme Park Restaurant

Here's the sweet secret about The Chocolatier: the full-service restaurant, bar and patiocelebrates the life and legacy of Milton S. Hershey by continuing to bring people together for happiness, fun, and, of course, chocolate.

Inside, an open kitchen serves up classic family fare with a fun spin and hints of chocolate for lunch and dinner. Bartenders craft cocktails behind a Carrousel-themed bar, but the ride doesn't end there! The space features past and present pieces from the Hersheypark ride collection, including Comet car and Tilt-A-Whirl booths. Plus, a second-story outdoor patio and bar provide one-of-a-kind views of Hersheypark.

The Chocolatier is open year-round and does not require an admission ticket to Hersheypark to dine. Reservationsare strongly encouraged.

Best Roller Coaster

Wildcat is back and seeking vengeance. As the first hybrid manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) in Pennsylvania, Wildcat's Revenge combines the best of wood and steel by adding a new steel track with unique elements to the wooden framework for a one-of-a-kind thrilling ride experience found only at Hersheypark.

The 2-minute and 36-second experience begins as riders of Hershey's height category (48-54") and above climb a 140-foot hill on one of three custom trains, plunge into an 82-degree drop and hit a maximum speed of 62 miles per hour along 3,510 feet of red track on a black steel and wood structure. The pursuit continues as riders stalk their prey through four inversions, including the World's Largest Underflip, which begins with an upward climb, followed by a counterclockwise 270° roll and a dive down towards the side.

Wildcat's Revenge received the Amusement Today Golden Ticket Award for Best New Roller Coaster of 2023. The 15th coaster at Hersheypark was also named one of the top new attractions of 2023by USA TODAY 10Best.

Best Water Coaster

In 2018, Hersheypark combined everything guests love about water attractions with a coaster experience to bring Breakers EdgeWater Coaster inside The Boardwalk At Hersheyparkwater park.

Breakers Edge is a fast-paced, hydromagnetic water coaster that launches four-person rafts through a series of exhilarating drops, high-speed tunnels and uphill climbs. Riders of Reese's height category (42-48") and above experience airtime, g-force curves, tunnels, saucers and lots of splashes.

Best Wave Pool

The Shore at The Boardwalk At Hersheypark is the place to be on a hot summer day! The relaxing, 378,000-gallon wave pool gradually deepens from 0 to 6 feet.

Plan a Visit to Hersheypark

Guests can save more than 45 percent on 1-Day Any Day Tickets to Hersheypark when purchased online by March 31, 2025, with the current Best Price Of The Year offer. Tickets purchased during the sale are valid on any 2025 public operating day, including spring weekends, through Jan. 4, 2026. If you consider visiting Hersheypark twice in 2025, a 2-day ticket is the best value. Plus, it does not need to be used on consecutive days so that you can visit once during spring and again at any other point throughout the operating year.

But those craving endless fun in 2025 should buy a Season Pass, which pays for itself in less than three visits!

Visitors looking to extend their stay in The Sweetest Place On Earth can book a sweet spring getaway at The Official Resorts of Hersheypark: The Hotel Hershey luxury accommodation, Hershey Lodge resort and Hersheypark Camping Resort campground. Popular packages available on select dates starting April 4 include the Hersheypark 1-Night Package and 2-Day Stay and Play Package, with the Best Price Of Summer available through March 31.