Driving between Hersheypark and Dorney Park is about 71 miles and usually takes 1 hour 20–40 minutes.
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The practical answer for Hersheypark to Dorney Park is simple: drive if you can. The parks sit about 71 road miles apart, with Hersheypark at 100 W. Hersheypark Dr. in Hershey and Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom at 4000 Dorney Park Rd. in Allentown, so a car turns the transfer into a same-day hop instead of a half-day bus puzzle.
Public transit can work, but it is not a clean park-to-park line. Most no-car routes push you through Harrisburg first, then Allentown, then a final local ride to Dorney Park. For families, tight ride schedules, or a two-park weekend, the car wins on time, control, and stress.
Hersheypark And Dorney Park Route Choices
The route between the two Pennsylvania parks has one clear winner: a car is the fastest and most flexible option. A bus can save the driver from handling traffic, but the transfers erase most of the savings unless you are traveling solo and have a loose schedule.
If you want to compare bus, transfer, and door-to-door options before deciding, start with the route search here:
Plan the move as a transfer between two separate destination areas, not as a short shuttle ride. Hershey and Allentown are in different parts of Pennsylvania, and traffic around Harrisburg, Reading, and the Lehigh Valley can change the day more than the map distance suggests.
Driving Is The Cleanest Option
Driving from Hersheypark to Dorney Park usually takes about 1 hour 20 minutes in light traffic and closer to 1 hour 40 minutes with slower highway stretches. Add time for leaving the Hersheypark parking area, restroom stops, fuel, and the final approach into Allentown.
The most likely driving pattern uses a mix of central Pennsylvania highways, with navigation apps often favoring faster limited-access roads. Some routes use the Pennsylvania Turnpike, while slower local-road options can avoid tolls at the cost of extra time.
- Best for families: drive, because you control snacks, rest stops, stroller space, and arrival time.
- Best for a same-day transfer: leave Hershey before the afternoon highway build-up if you want an evening in Allentown.
- Best for lower stress: stay near Dorney Park the night before your Dorney day instead of driving early from Hershey.
How Far Apart Are The Two Parks?
Hersheypark and Dorney Park are close enough for a same-day drive, but far enough that the transfer eats a real block of the day. Treat the ride as a 90-minute planning item, not a quick hop between neighboring attractions.
The table below compares the realistic ways to make the trip, with costs kept as ranges because fuel, tolls, bus fares, and rideshare pricing change by date and demand.
| Travel Mode | Typical Time | Rough Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Own car, faster highway route | About 1 hr 20 min–1 hr 40 min | Fuel plus any PA Turnpike toll |
| Own car, toll-light route | About 1 hr 45 min–2 hr 15 min | Fuel only, with more local-road time |
| Rental car for one day | Same driving time, plus pickup and return | Rental rate, fuel, parking, possible tolls |
| Bus via Harrisburg and Allentown | About 3 hr–4 hr or more | Often about $20–$35 plus local rides |
| Rideshare door to door | About 1 hr 20 min–1 hr 45 min | Variable and often high for 70-plus miles |
| Private transfer | About 1 hr 20 min–1 hr 45 min | Highest cost, simplest logistics |
| Overnight in Allentown | Same drive, split across two days | Hotel cost, less morning fatigue |
What To Know About Tolls And Traffic
PA Turnpike tolls depend on your entry point, exit point, vehicle class, and payment method. Before choosing the faster highway route, check the PA Turnpike toll calculator so you can compare E-ZPass and Toll By Plate costs for the exact interchanges your navigation app selects.
Traffic is usually the bigger variable than distance. Hersheypark exit traffic can slow the first few miles after a busy summer day, and the Allentown side can back up near shopping, event, and commuter corridors.
Practical timing: if you are switching hotels, pack the car before entering Hersheypark and leave the park before closing crowds if you want an easier arrival near Dorney Park.
The Bus Works, But It Is Awkward
The bus option works best for solo travelers who do not mind transfers and can build the day around the schedule. The usual pattern is Hershey area to Harrisburg, an intercity bus toward Allentown, then a local bus or rideshare for the last few miles to Dorney Park.
Greyhound and FlixBus serve the Harrisburg-to-Allentown corridor, but the park-to-station pieces are the weak spots. Hersheypark is not directly beside Harrisburg Transportation Center, and Dorney Park is not the same thing as downtown Allentown.
Use the bus only if the schedule lines up cleanly. A missed connection can turn a reasonable transfer into a long wait, especially in the evening after park hours.
Can You Do Both Parks In One Day?
Doing both parks in one day is possible, but it is rarely the best use of your tickets. Hersheypark is large enough for a full day, and Dorney Park has both thrill rides and Wildwater Kingdom on operating days, so splitting them into two park days gives better value.
A same-day two-park attempt only makes sense if you have season passes, a specific coaster goal, or a short list of rides at each park. For most travelers, the better plan is Hersheypark on day one, drive to Allentown that night, then start Dorney Park fresh the next morning.
- Morning: finish Hershey-area plans or check out of your hotel.
- Afternoon: drive toward Allentown before the heaviest evening traffic.
- Night: stay near Dorney Park so the next morning starts close to the gates.
Where Should You Sleep After Dorney Park?
Allentown is the easiest overnight base after Dorney Park because the park sits on the city’s west side near major roads and shopping areas. Staying nearby cuts the morning drive, which matters if you want rope-drop rides or a full water park day.
For a simple two-park weekend, compare hotels near Dorney Park and the west Allentown corridor rather than staying in downtown Allentown by default. A map view helps because two hotels with similar names can sit on very different sides of the city.
Use the map below to compare Allentown stays near the park and nearby highways:
When A Rental Car Makes Sense
A rental car makes sense if you flew into Pennsylvania, stayed car-free in Hershey, then need one clean transfer to the Lehigh Valley. The rental can also help if you are adding Knoebels, Dutch Wonderland, Philadelphia, or the Pocono Mountains to the same trip.
Check the return location carefully before paying. A one-way rental from the Hershey or Harrisburg area to Allentown can cost more than a same-location return, and some agencies have shorter weekend hours.
If the rental car is the piece that makes the two-park plan work, compare pickup points before locking in the hotel:
Pick The Right Plan For Your Trip
For speed, drive from Hersheypark to the Allentown area and sleep near Dorney Park if you are visiting both parks on separate days. For budget, price the bus only if you are solo and your schedule has room for transfers.
- Fastest: own car or rental car, about 1 hour 20–40 minutes in normal conditions.
- Cheapest for a group: own car, because one fuel-and-toll cost covers everyone.
- Cheapest for one traveler: bus may win if the fare is low and transfers line up.
- Easiest with kids: drive, then stay near Dorney Park the night before your Dorney day.
- Least hassle without a car: private transfer or rideshare, but price it before counting on it.
The smartest two-park plan is not to rush both parks into one long day. Use the drive as the bridge between two separate park days, and the whole trip feels less like a race across Pennsylvania.
References & Sources
- PA Turnpike Commission.“Toll Calculator.”Supports the advice to calculate current Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls by route, vehicle class, and payment method.