Inside: Our experience at Hershey Gardens and some tips for your visit.
This summer we were able to visit Hershey Gardens near Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Our stay at the Hershey Lodge and our stay included complimentary tickets to the Hershey Gardens and The Hershey Story Museum. So we planned a day to visit both places on our trip to Hershey.
What are the Hershey Gardens?
The Hershey Gardens opened in 1937 when Milton Hershey wanted to create a nice garden of roses.
That small “garden of roses” blossomed into what is now a 23 acre garden with theme gardens, an interactive children’s garden and a butterfly atrium .
Located on the hill across from Hersheypark the gardens have a beautiful view of Hershey and Hersheypark you can enjoy as you walk to the entrance of the conservatory.
10 Things to Know Before Going to Hershey Gardens
We enjoyed our day spent in the Hershey Gardens and I hope these tips help you plan your trip to the gardens.
How long does it take to go through the Hershey Gardens
I would plan on spending about 2 hours at the Hershey Gardens. You could spend more time there but I would say 2 to 3 hours would be plenty of time for most people.
We spent about 2 hours at the gardens with our 4 kids and really enjoyed it. We didn’t stop and view ALL the plants we simply stopped in areas that interested us.
If you have a full day (and don’t bring the kids) the Hershey gardens are a great place to sit and enjoy nature with plenty of places to sit. By myself I would love to bring a book and spend hours reading the beautiful space.
Is parking free at Hershey Gardens
Yes, there is free parking at Hershey Gardens. The view of Hersheypark from the parking lot is really fun to see.
Are the Hershey Gardens open year round
Yes, Hershey Gardens is open daily, year ’round, including Saturdays and Sundays.
Garden hours vary by season and some outdoor closures my happen due to weather. Be sure to check the Hershey Gardens official website for up to date hours and closures before visiting.
Start with the Butterfly Atrium
The Butterfly Atrium is located inside the Conservatory. Where tours start and you can purchase tickets.
We started our time at the Hershey Gardens in the Butterfly Atrium and then made our way out to the gardens. This allowed us to leave from the gardens instead of going back into the Conservatory.
The Butterfly atrium is a good size and is one of only 25 indoor, tropical butterfly atriums in the United States.
We loved watching the butterflies and seeing the tropical plants especially the Cocoa tree. The guide inside the atrium shared a lot of interesting information and was ready to answer any questions we had.
Strollers aren’t allowed in the atrium, but you can take them into the garden.
Enjoy the Children’s Garden
The Children’s Garden area was one of our favorite things about the gardens, it’s a must if you’re visiting with kids.
My kids loved the interactive areas and had fun playing and exploring.
The kiss shaped misters were one of the kids favorite things about the children’s garden. The misters greet you with a fine spray of water perfect for hot summer days.
The path leads through 20 themed gardens perfect for hands on discovery and fun.
In the children’s garden area don’t miss the musical activities, human sundial and the cow.
Don’t Miss the Roses
In 1937 the garden began with the roses before expanding to all the other themed gardens so it’s a must.
The roses are hard to miss since you the Rose garden is right outside the conservatory.
Don’t forget to go walk among the roses and try to pick a favorite. (It’s really hard to choose!)
We loved walking through all the roses and seeing all the different colors and types of roses.
There are an assortment of 3,000 roses you can enjoy in the Rose Garden.
Explore the Other Themed Gardens
The Rose Garden and Children’s Garden were two of our favorites when we visited but the other themed gardens are also fun to explore.
Themed Gardens at Hershey include:
- Seasonal Display Garden (Spring = Tulips, Summer = Colorful annuals and Fall = Chrysanthemums.)
- M.S. Hershey Tribute Garden
- Perennial Garden
- Herb Garden
- Native Plant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Ornamental Grasses
- Japanese Garden
- The Bill Bowman Garden
- The Children’s Garden (shared about above)
- Oak Grove
- Arboretum
If You Bring a Stroller Use the Map
With young kids you may want to bring a stroller with you as you explore the gardens. It’s a great place for a stroller nap.
If you bring a stroller be sure to follow the wheelchair path on the map. This way you won’t run into really steep paths or stairs.
Also be sure to note that strollers are not allowed in the butterfly atrium.
No Outside Food or Drink
No outside food or drink is allowed in the gardens. There are picnic tables near the entrance if you want to enjoy a snack or picnic meal before or after your time in the beautiful gardens.
Save Money on Tickets
Tickets to the Gardens are kind of expensive but luckily there are some ways to save.
Stay at One of the Official Resorts Of Hersheypark
If you are staying at a Hotel Hershey or the Hershey Lodge you get free tickets to the Hershey Gardens with your stay.
Preferred pricing on Hershey Gardens tickets is available for Hersheypark camping resort guests.
Get a Combo Pass
If you are planning to visit the Gardens as well as the Hershey Story museum getting combo tickets will save you money.
Annual Pass
If you plan on visiting the gardens often an annual pass may save you money for multiple visits.
More Things to Do In Hershey PA
I hope you enjoy your time visiting the Hershey Park Gardens, if you’re looking for more things to do in Hershey, PA don’t miss these posts.
10 Things to Know Before Going to Hersheypark
Hershey Lodge Review – Not Sponsored
Tips for Visiting Hershey Chocolate World
5 Reasons to Visit The Hershey Story Museum