My family was given complimentary stay at The Hershey Lodge through the Hershey Sweet Insiders 2025

There are a lot of places you can go for a quick holiday getaway, but year after year, we keep choosing Hershey Lodge. It’s become one of our favorite family traditions, and by the end of the year the kids start asking, “When are we going back to the Lodge?”

Here’s exactly why this staycation works so well for us and how we stretch a simple one night stay into two full days of fun.

1. A One Night Stay Feels Like a Two Day Vacation

One of the biggest secrets about Hershey Lodge is how much time you actually get to enjoy the resort. 

Early check-in perks

Even if your room isn’t ready, you can check in early and head straight to Hershey’s Water Works (the indoor water park). The kids love the slides, the Reese’s Water Walk, and the basketball at the pool. Honestly, this gives us almost a full extra day of fun before we even step inside the room.

Staying after check-out

Check-out doesn’t mean your stay is over. You can continue using the water park, restaurants, and the entire hotel for the rest of the day.

So even though we only book one night, we usually arrive early on the day of check in and leave later on the day of check out giving us basically almost two full days!

We usually start at the water park, then check in the room, go to dinner and enjoy cozy lobby time.

The next day we enjoy breakfast in one of their restaurants, another round of water play, then lunch at the cabana and sometimes head out to explore Hershey attractions.

It’s the best value, especially during the holidays.

2. A Closer Look at Hershey’s Water Works

If there’s one place my kids could spend hours, it’s the indoor water park. And honestly, same here!

It’s warm, bright, and full of things for every age group, which makes it the perfect family activity, especially on cold days.

Fun for All Ages

One thing I love most is how every age has something to do.

They have a splash zone perfect for smaller kids. A big pool with basketball hoops, smaller pool for little ones and the famous Twizzlers Twists water slides which is one of my boys favorites. Also can’t forget the Reese’s Water Walk! It’s a family favorite every single year.

Even if you’re juggling multiple ages, everything is in one space, which makes it easy to keep an eye on everyone.

Comfortable for Parents Too

Unlike some water parks where parents are stuck on cold chairs, Water Works is warm, lively, and super comfortable. The adults can sit poolside, grab a snack from Cocoa Cabana, or join in on the fun without freezing.

The Indoor Hot Tub = Mom Heaven

Let me tell you, the hot tub is a mom’s dream during a winter staycation. At least is mine!

It feels like stepping into a warm, peaceful escape after a long day, while the kids are still splashing and playing nearby. I always sneak in a few minutes of “me time” here throughout our stay!

Hours of Play Without Ever Leaving the Lodge

The best part? The kids never get bored. Between the slides, the pool, the basketball hoops, and the play areas, you easily get many hours of fun without ever leaving the building.

This is one of the biggest reasons our quick stay never feels rushed because the water park alone fills so much of our stay and the boys could spend all day there.

3. The Holiday Atmosphere Is Pure Magic

The moment you walk in, the Lodge is warm, festive, and cozy.

The sweetest welcome is the free chocolate bars for the entire family. And then you can also meet and greet with Hershey characters which is always a cute memory!

There’s the beautiful fireplace, twinkling lights, chocolate touches everywhere, and families all together enjoying the season. It truly feels like stepping into a holiday postcard.

We always take photos by the big Christmas tree in the lobby, it’s become one of our traditions.

And if you stay during the weekend (Friday- Saturday), they have a schedule of fun, holiday themed activities for the whole family happening all day. This year we checked in on a Sunday but last year we were there on Saturday and had so much fun enjoying activities like family bingo, arts and crafts and kids check in.

4. Everything Is Easy With Kids

This is a huge reason we come back every year.

Indoor water park = hours of entertainment (no driving!)

The kids burn energy, we relax, we don’t need to carry anything because they have food available and warm towels for everyone and everything is just steps away from the room.

Kid-friendly dining

We usually eat at The Bears’ Den, which is fun, casual, and perfect for families. They have yummy burgers too!

Cocoa Cabana (inside the water park) is also a lifesaver for quick snacks between swimming.

Cozy and family friendly rooms

Another reason we love Hershey Lodge is the cozy, family-friendly rooms. They’re clean, warm, and feel like a true winter retreat after a long day at the water park or exploring Hershey. There are chocolate-themed touches everywhere which is always a hit with the kids, and the beds are super comfortable. I also love how spacious the rooms are, with plenty of room to spread out, get organized, and just relax together.

Warm + safe + stress-free

As a mom, it’s one of those places where you can actually relax. Everything is walkable and super family-focused.

5. There’s Plenty to Do Beyond the Lodge

When we’re in the mood to leave the hotel (and sometimes we aren’t!) Hershey has so many holiday attractions:

Christmas Candylane at Hersheypark

Rides, characters, lights, and treats, this one is always a favorite. We live near by and have season passes so we usually don’t go to the park when we are staycationing at the Lodge. But it’s a perfect way to start the holiday season with your family!

Hershey Sweet Lights

A magical drive-through light experience. We love ending our night here with the kids in PJs and popcorn in hand.

Because we live close, we usually do the sweet lights the night before checking in the Hershey Lodge. It’s the perfect start to our little holiday staycation. But I would totally recommend doing it the night after checking out. It’s very close to the Lodge and it’s a beautiful family experience.

Free museum + gardens tickets

One of the most underrated perks of staying at Hershey Lodge!

Your reservation includes free admission to The Hershey Story Museum and Hershey Gardens, including the Butterfly Atrium.

Tickets expire one week after checking in, so we love doing these activities during the week on our spare time. But it’s also a great opportunity to visit on check-out day after the water park.

6. A Tradition That Feels Like Home

Every year, this staycation gives us a chance to slow down and spend real time together before the holiday rush. The kids remember it, we remember it, and it sets the tone for the entire holiday season.

It’s close to home, stress-free, cozy, and packed with fun and that’s why we keep coming back.