Hersheypark Height Requirements: Every Ride Listed
Hersheypark organizes height requirements into six candy-themed tiers, starting at under 36 inches for the Hershey's Miniatures category and topping out at 60 inches and up for Jolly Rancher, which unlocks every ride. The key thresholds are 42 inches for entry-level coasters like Comet, 48 inches for Wildcat's Revenge, and 54 inches for top rides like Candymonium and Skyrush.
How Hersheypark Handles Height Requirements
Hersheypark does something most parks don't: instead of posting a different number on every single ride sign, they assign each guest to one of six candy-brand height categories. When you arrive, guests are measured and given a wristband color that corresponds to their tier. Every ride displays which tiers can board. It simplifies the experience, but you still need to know the actual inch thresholds going in.
The park has 70-plus attractions including 15 coasters, among the most in the Northeast. With that many rides, understanding the categories ahead of time is the difference between a smooth day and constant disappointment.
The Six Height Categories
| Category | Height Range | What It Unlocks |
|---|---|---|
| Hershey's Miniatures | Under 36" | 28 kiddie and family attractions |
| Hershey's Kisses | 36" to 42" | 41 rides total, including 2 coasters |
| Reese's | 42" to 48" | 56 attractions, entry-level coasters |
| Hershey's Chocolate | 48" to 54" | Mid-tier coasters and thrill rides |
| Twizzlers | 54" to 60" | Almost everything in the park |
| Jolly Rancher | 60" and up | Every single ride |
Roller Coasters by Minimum Height
42" (Reese's minimum) - Star-Spangled Laff Trakk, 42" with supervising adult or 48" solo; indoor spinning glow coaster, the park's highest-demand ride, plan to ride first or last of the day - Cocoa Cruiser, gentle steel coaster, perfect first coaster for kids - Comet, classic wooden coaster celebrating 80 years in 2026, good family ride
48" (Hershey's Chocolate minimum) - sooperdooperLooper, Pennsylvania's first looping coaster, surprisingly smooth - Wildcat's Revenge, hybrid steel-on-wood, legitimately one of the best coasters in the park - Lightning Racer, racing wooden coaster, consistently short lines - Great Bear, inverted coaster hanging beneath the track - Twizzlers Twisted Gravity (2025), world's tallest Screamin' Swing, 137 feet, 68 mph, shares a name with the category above but its minimum is 48", not 54"
54" (Twizzlers minimum) - Candymonium, tallest, fastest, longest coaster in the park (210 feet, 76 mph) - Skyrush, wing coaster with intense airtime, 200 feet - Fahrenheit, 97-degree beyond-vertical drop - Storm Runner, hydraulic-launched coaster, 0-72 mph in 2 seconds
60" (Jolly Rancher minimum) - Hershey Triple Tower, three drop tower experiences at various heights (some Twizzlers-accessible)
Water Rides by Height
- Tidal Force (water flume): 46", closing permanently September 7, 2026
- Coal Cracker (log flume): 42"
- Boardwalk water slides: vary, most 48"+ for major slides
- Lazy river and wave pool: no height requirement
No Height Requirement Rides (Anyone Can Ride)
- The Carrousel (historic, all 66 original horses)
- Kissing Tower (observation tower)
- Trailblazer (mild family coaster with minimum age, not height)
- Most dark rides and shows
- ZooAmerica (included with admission)
- Founder's Way classic car ride
Kiddie Swap (Hersheypark's Version)
If one parent wants to ride and the other needs to stay with a child who doesn't meet the height requirement, use the Kiddie Swap program. One adult rides while the other waits with the child. When the first adult exits, the second adult boards without waiting in line again. Ask at the ride entrance, team members handle it routinely.
Practical Tips
- Measure at home first. Shoes add about half an inch but not enough to rescue a borderline measurement. Don't let your kid wear thick-soled shoes expecting to squeak past, operators are trained to catch it.
- The wristband is color-coded. Once you're measured at the gate, keep it on all day. You won't need to be re-measured at each ride.
- 48" is the real inflection point. Kids clearing 48 inches jump from 56 accessible attractions to including the park's best mid-tier coasters like Wildcat's Revenge and Lightning Racer.
- 54" unlocks the headliners. Candymonium, Skyrush, Fahrenheit, and Storm Runner are all at this threshold. Families traveling with a 53.5" kid will feel that gap significantly.
- Casts are not permitted on Candymonium, Skyrush, sooperdooperLooper, Hershey Triple Tower, Wildcat's Revenge, and Twizzlers Twisted Gravity. Plan around this if anyone in your group is in a cast.
For the best ride order once you know who can ride what, see the best rides guide.
Related Guides
- Best Rides at Hersheypark: Ranked by Wait Time Data
- Family Guide to Hersheypark: Best Rides for Kids and Parents
- Skip the Line at Hersheypark: Fast Track & Free Tricks
- Optimal Route at Hersheypark: A Data-Driven Touring Plan
Rides by Height Requirement
| Height | Rides |
|---|---|
| Any height | Lazy river and wave pool: no height requirement |
| 42" | Coal Cracker, StarSpangled Laff Trakk |
| 46" | Tidal Force |
| 48" | Boardwalk water slides: vary, most, Twizzlers Twisted Gravity , world's tallest Screamin' Swing, 1 |
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