Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania is home to more than 70 attractions and 15 roller coasters — the largest coaster collection on the East Coast — and it is the only major theme park in the world that uses candy-branded height categories to sort its entire ride lineup. Instead of a single generic sign at each queue, the park assigns every guest to one of six Hershey’s candy tiers at the entrance, and that tier follows them all day.
Knowing your family’s candy tier before you arrive transforms trip planning: you’ll know exactly which coasters are accessible, which rides require a supervising companion, what happens once a rider outgrows the kiddie zone, and how many attractions your youngest riders can enjoy without hitting a wall. This guide covers every tier from Miniatures through Jolly Rancher in both inches and centimeters, lists the rides unlocked at each level, explains the supervising-companion rule in plain terms, and gives practical advice for families spanning multiple tiers. Always confirm individual requirements at the official Hersheypark height category page before you visit, as ride lineups change seasonally.
Quick Answer: Hersheypark Height Categories and Minimums
Hersheypark uses six candy-branded tiers to determine ride access: Hershey’s Miniatures (under 36 in / 91 cm), Hershey’s Kisses (36–42 in / 91–107 cm), Reese’s (42–48 in / 107–122 cm), Hershey’s Chocolate (48–54 in / 122–137 cm), Twizzlers (54–60 in / 137–152 cm), and Jolly Rancher (60 in and up / 152 cm+). The lowest posted ride minimum in the park is 36 in (91 cm), and guests measuring 54 in (137 cm) or taller can ride every major thrill coaster, including Candymonium, Fahrenheit, Great Bear, Skyrush, and Storm Runner.
All 6 Hersheypark Candy Height Categories Explained
Hersheypark is the only amusement park in the world to brand its height tiers after Hershey’s candy. Life-size candy-character statues at each park entrance mark every threshold so families can confirm their tier before approaching a single queue. Guest services can measure and note your category on your admission wristband, cutting down on repeated re-measuring throughout the day.
Hershey’s Miniatures — under 36 in (91 cm): Hersheypark’s youngest guests face no posted minimum and can access roughly two dozen kiddie and family attractions, including the Carrousel, Convoy, Dry Gulch Railroad, Ferris Wheel, Kissing Tower, Minty Bees, Monorail, Scrambler, Starship America, Tiny Tracks, Traffic Jam, and Tilt-A-Whirl. Several of these rides carry a maximum height cap too, so taller siblings or parents may be turned away even though a younger child can ride.
Hershey’s Kisses — 36–42 in (91–107 cm): The 36-inch mark is the candy minimum — the first point at which Hersheypark enforces a measurable height cutoff. Reaching it adds rides like Coal Cracker, Cocoa Cruiser, Frog Hopper, Frontier Flyers, Reese’s Cupfusion, Skyview, Sweet Swing, Swing Thing, and Trailblazer. Cocoa Cruiser and Trailblazer are the two coasters available at this level, both with gentle drops and no inversions — excellent first coasters. Some rides in this tier still require a supervising companion (see below).
Reese’s — 42–48 in (107–122 cm): The 42-inch threshold is a major milestone, opening access to the park’s first looping coaster. Newly unlocked rides include Breakers Edge Water Coaster, the Coastline Plunge water slides (Hydro, Pipeline, Riptide, and Surge lines), Comet, Fender Bender, The Howler, Laff Trakk, Mix’d Flavored By Jolly Rancher, Music Express, Pirate, sooperdooperLooper, Tidal Force, and Whitecap Racer. sooperdooperLooper — a classic single-loop steel coaster — is among the most popular milestones at this tier, though riders under 48 in still need a supervising companion on it and on the water rides.
Hershey’s Chocolate — 48–54 in (122–137 cm): At 48 inches, guests gain access to some of the park’s most-loved wooden and steel coasters and a triple drop tower, with no supervising-companion requirement remaining on most rides. Newly available attractions include The Claw, Coastline Plunge Vortex and Whirlwind, Hershey Triple Tower, Jolly Rancher Remix, Lightning Racer, Wave Swinger, Wild Mouse, and Wildcat’s Revenge. Wildcat’s Revenge — a steel-tracked reimagining of the classic Wildcat wooden coaster — is a standout addition at this level.
Twizzlers — 54–60 in (137–152 cm): The 54-inch mark unlocks Hersheypark’s five signature hypercoasters and launch coasters: Candymonium (210-foot hypercoaster), Fahrenheit (a beyond-vertical first drop with six inversions), Great Bear (inverted steel coaster), Skyrush (wing coaster with a steep first drop), and Storm Runner (hydraulic launch coaster with multiple inversions). Guests in this tier can access essentially every must-do ride and coaster in the park.
Jolly Rancher — 60 in and up (152 cm+): The top tier shares all the same major coasters as Twizzlers, with no minimum-height restrictions remaining anywhere in the park. However, guests 60 inches and taller are too tall for most kiddie rides, which carry maximum height caps — so taller guests unlock everything in the thrill lineup but trade away the junior zone.
Hersheypark Height Chart in Inches and Centimeters
Hersheypark posts requirements in inches at the park, but international visitors and parents tracking growth often want the metric equivalent. Here is the full tier breakdown converted (1 in = 2.54 cm): Miniatures is under 36 in (91 cm); Kisses is 36–42 in (91–107 cm); Reese’s is 42–48 in (107–122 cm); Chocolate is 48–54 in (122–137 cm); Twizzlers is 54–60 in (137–152 cm); and Jolly Rancher is 60 in and up (152 cm and up). Because thresholds round to the nearest whole centimeter, a child measuring 106 cm at home should still get measured at the park’s official height stations, since shoes, posture, and measurement method can shift a borderline reading by a centimeter or two.
Coaster-specific cm minimums worth memorizing: Cocoa Cruiser and Trailblazer require 91 cm; Comet and sooperdooperLooper require 107 cm; Lightning Racer, Wild Mouse, and Wildcat’s Revenge require 122 cm; and Candymonium, Fahrenheit, Great Bear, Skyrush, and Storm Runner all require 137 cm.
Supervising Companion Rule: When a Rider Needs an Adult
Meeting a ride’s height minimum doesn’t always mean a young rider can go through the line alone. Hersheypark requires a Supervising Companion — an accompanying rider who meets the attraction’s own requirements and can help with loading, unloading, and maintaining postural control — on certain rides for guests who fall in the Miniatures or Kisses tier, and on select Reese’s-tier rides for anyone under 48 in (122 cm). The rule is posted at the ride entrance and enforced by ride operators, so plan on one adult or teen rider staying paired with a younger child until they clear the relevant threshold.
Water attractions carry an extra layer: guests under 48 in (122 cm) must wear a life jacket and be accompanied by a Supervising Companion who is able to swim. This applies across the Boardwalk water rides, including Breakers Edge Water Coaster, Tidal Force, and the Coastline Plunge slides. Once a rider reaches 48 in and clears the Chocolate tier, the companion requirement drops away on most attractions, though a handful of rides still specify it — always check the posted sign, since requirements can vary by individual ride even within the same tier.
Weight Limits and Other Ride Restrictions
Height is the primary gate at Hersheypark, but it isn’t the only one. The park notes that guests approaching 300 pounds or taller than 6 feet may have difficulty fitting the restraint systems on a subset of rides, particularly ones with fixed lap bars or shoulder harnesses rather than adjustable belts. Individual weight limits vary by ride and are posted at the queue entrance rather than published as one park-wide number, so guests near that range should read the sign before waiting in a long line. A handful of rides also carry maximum height limits (commonly 48–54 in), which is why some kiddie attractions become off-limits to taller siblings and adults even though there’s no minimum to worry about.
For guests with mobility, sensory, or other access needs, Hersheypark also publishes a separate accessibility guide covering transfer requirements and boarding assistance — worth reviewing alongside the height chart if anyone in your group needs it.
Tips for Families Spanning Multiple Height Tiers
Most Hersheypark visits involve at least two tiers in the same group — a common situation is one child who just cleared 42 in traveling with a toddler still under 36 in and a parent well above 60 in. Start the day at guest services or an official height station near the entrance so every rider’s tier is confirmed before you commit to a ride plan; wristband notation saves repeated re-measuring at each queue. Cluster your morning around rides in the lowest tier present in your group, since Miniatures- and Kisses-tier attractions cluster near Pioneer Frontier, Founder’s Way, and Comet Hollow, minimizing walking with a stroller in tow.
For split groups, Hersheypark’s ride entrances typically offer a switch-off or single-rider option so one adult can ride a taller-tier coaster while the other waits with a younger child, then trade without re-queuing — ask a ride operator about the process at each attraction since it isn’t standardized park-wide. Building the day around your shortest rider’s tier first, then layering in solo thrill-coaster runs for taller members during that child’s nap or meal window, tends to keep everyone happy without long waits split across two lines.
Hersheypark height requirements FAQs
What is the shortest height allowed to ride anything at Hersheypark?
There is no posted minimum for Miniatures-tier attractions like the Carrousel, Ferris Wheel, or Kissing Tower, so infants and toddlers of any height can ride those. The first true height cutoff in the park is 36 in (91 cm), required for Cocoa Cruiser, Trailblazer, and other Kisses-tier rides.
How tall do you have to be to ride Candymonium, Fahrenheit, Great Bear, Skyrush, or Storm Runner?
All five of Hersheypark’s signature hypercoasters and launch coasters require 54 in (137 cm), placing them in the Twizzlers tier. No supervising companion is required at this height on any of the five.
Does Hersheypark measure height at the entrance or at each ride?
Both. Guest services and official height stations near the park entrance can measure and note your candy tier for the day, but individual ride operators also post and enforce their own height requirement at the queue, so borderline riders should expect to be checked again at taller-tier attractions.
What does ‘supervising companion required’ mean at Hersheypark?
It means a rider who is tall enough for the ride but still in the Miniatures, Kisses, or lower Reese’s tier must be accompanied by another rider — usually an older child, teen, or adult — who meets that ride’s own requirements and can assist with loading, unloading, and staying steady during the ride. It’s most common on Coal Cracker, sooperdooperLooper for riders under 48 in, and all Boardwalk water rides for riders under 48 in.
Are there weight limits at Hersheypark in addition to height requirements?
Yes. Hersheypark notes that guests approaching roughly 300 pounds or taller than 6 feet may have trouble on certain rides with fixed restraint systems. Exact limits vary by attraction and are posted at each queue rather than published as a single park-wide figure.
Can a 42-inch child ride sooperdooperLooper alone?
A rider between 42 and 48 in meets the height minimum but still needs a Supervising Companion on sooperdooperLooper, since the companion requirement doesn’t drop away until a guest reaches 48 in (122 cm), the start of the Hershey’s Chocolate tier.
Where can I find the official, up-to-date Hersheypark height chart?
Ride lineups and requirements can change seasonally, so confirm current details on Hersheypark’s official height category page or in the Hersheypark app before you visit.
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