Motion sickness at Hersheypark: what's rough and how to cope

Photo: Hmich176, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized and converted.

Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States · Hershey Entertainment & Resorts · ~3M visitors (2024, industry estimate)

Yes, on the coaster side. Hersheypark is coaster-dense: Skyrush pours on airtime with winged outer seats that float free of the track line, Fahrenheit drops at 97 degrees, Storm Runner launches to 116 km/h before inverting, and Wildcat's Revenge flips you on the first drop of a wooden-steel hybrid. The saving grace is the geography. The park is walkable, and next door sits Hershey's Chocolate World, a free indoor tour with zero motion, which is the best recovery room any thrill park has accidentally built. Motion sickness at Hersheypark is force-driven, not screen-driven, so it is predictable: you know which rides will push you. Pace the big four, use the Kissing Tower and the Dry Gulch Railroad for calm stretches, and the day stays comfortable.

The rides most likely to set you off

• Skyrush: airtime-heavy hyper coaster with winged outer seats.

• Storm Runner: 0-116 km/h launch into inversions.

• Fahrenheit: 97-degree beyond-vertical drop.

• Wildcat's Revenge: hybrid coaster with an inverting first drop element.

Skyrush is the roughest seat in the park, especially the winged outer seats, where relentless airtime lifts you against the restraint with nothing beneath your feet.

Where to reset between rides

When your stomach needs a break, head for Kissing Tower, Dry Gulch Railroad or Hershey's Chocolate World tour (adjacent, free). Slow visuals, a fixed horizon and a seat that is not spinning give your inner ear time to settle before the next big ride.

Feeling queasy at Hersheypark right now?

Stop the nausea

Open Dizzout, plug in any headphones, tap play. Drug-free sound therapy, and most people feel better in about 90 seconds. No pills, no drowsiness, no waiting for a tablet to kick in.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

On a computer? Dizzout installs on your phone — scan the code, or open dizzout.com/get on your phone and it'll take you straight to the right store.

Your survival plan for Hersheypark

1. 1

   Ride Skyrush first and pick an inner seat if you are unsure; the winged outer seats double the floating sensation.

2. 2

   Leave at least an hour between Storm Runner and Fahrenheit; a launch into inversions followed by a 97 degree drop is the local queasiness recipe.

3. 3

   Walk to Hershey's Chocolate World when your stomach turns; the free indoor tour next door is a true zero-motion reset.

4. 4

   Ride the Kissing Tower mid-afternoon; it is a slow observation ride that lets your inner ear settle while you sit still.

5. 5

   Take the Dry Gulch Railroad when the group needs a seated break without leaving the park.

6. 6

   Save chocolate-heavy snacks for after your last big coaster, not before.

7. 7

   Keep headphones in your bag and start Dizzout's sound therapy at the first wave of nausea; most people feel better in about 90 seconds.

Going with kids

The adjacent Chocolate World tour is the classic reset stop for queasy family members.

Common questions