Budget Attractions in Hershey & Harrisburg 

Budget Friendly Family

City Island Water Golf

Under $10 per player

Opening in April, play a friendly round of mini golf at one of the region’s most beautiful courses. Located on City Island, Water Golf has challenging holes, beautiful landscaping, and panoramic vistas of the Susquehanna River and Harrisburg. Pro Tip: Have another golfer take a family photo of you on the large walking bridge with the river in the background.

Adventure Sports in Hershey 

Individual attractions under $10 each

At Adventure Sports in Hershey, you have your choice of fun activities including go-karts, bumper boats, outdoor laser tag, mini-golf, batting cages, a driving range, and an arcade. If you want to spend a little more per person, there’s also an Escape Room. There’s so much to do, you might find yourself picking more than one attraction to enjoy! Adventure Sports has free parking and no admission fee – you pay what you play!

Harrisburg Senators Baseball

Taking your family out to the ball game in Harrisburg’s unique City Island stadium, home to Harrisburg Senators baseball, will cost you peanuts compared to a major league ball game! Always an affordable night out, you may get to see some future MLB players as they’re just starting out!

Education, Arts, & Culture

Immersion Cinema at Whitaker Center 

Under $10 per ticket (+Regular Admission)

Even nature’s smallest creatures appear larger than life on Central Pennsylvania’s largest digital screen at the Cinema at Whitaker Center for Science & the Arts. Enjoy a 3D documentary on a 38-foot-high, 70-foot-wide screen with an immersive 20,000-watt surround sound system.

Susquehanna Art Museum 

Under $10 per ticket, Children under 12 are FREE

The Susquehanna Art Museum is Harrisburg’s only dedicated art museum, showing the works of local, national, and international artists who express their creativity in a variety of styles and themes. Since they don’t have a permanent collection, their artwork on display is always changing, offering fresh pieces to admire each time you visit.

Explore-On-Your-Own Museums

Pennsylvania State Police Museum 

Under $10 per ticket for entry

The collection at the Pennsylvania State Police Museum includes uniforms, motorcycles, cruisers, and archival documents and photos that tell the story of one of the oldest police organizations of its kind in the country. For $10 per ticket (must be booked in advance), you can take a guided tour with a retired trooper. Pro Tip: Don't forget to check out the vintage police cruisers parked outside. Plus, there's a beautiful panoramic view of the countryside from the parking lot.

Hershey-Derry Historical Society & Museum 

Under $5 per person

What was the Hershey area like before Milton Hershey arrived? At the Hershey-Derry Historical Society & Museum, discover some fascinating facts about the region including its renowned brownstone quarry, the history of the Hershey Bears® AHL hockey team, and other famous residents including Major Dick Winters, a decorated U.S. Army veteran who commanded the men of Easy Company, dramatized for the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. 

Historical Tours

John Harris Simon Cameron Mansion 

Under $10 per ticket, FREE parking available behind the Mansion

John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion is a riverfront residence-turned-museum that housed two prominent Pennsylvanians. Today, you can take a guided tour back in time to learn about Harrisburg’s namesake, John Harris, Jr., and Simon Cameron, Abraham Lincoln’s Secretary of War and later, the U.S. Ambassador to Russia. Throughout the mansion, you’ll find original décor, fixtures, and furnishings from the time period. Pro Tip: Make sure you check out the mirrors in the front parlor. Simon Cameron lowered the floor three feet into the basement to squeeze them in!

Fort Hunter Mansion & Park 

Under $10 per ticket, FREE self-guided walking tour of the Park

Open for tours May-December, Fort Hunter Mansion holds an abundance of Harrisburg history, from the antique furniture in the parlor and vintage clothing in the closets to the architecture itself. This multi-purpose plot of land was once a war fort, a frontier village and a dairy farm, and there’s much to explore on a guided tour. Additionally, you can take a free on-your-own walking tour of the 40-acre Fort Hunter property or relax and enjoy the ample green space, picnic tables and playgrounds, and panoramic Susquehanna River views.

Free Things To Do

If you’re really budget-savvy, you’ll like this list of completely free things to do in the Hershey Harrisburg Region.

Save Time: Family Activities You Can Do in Less Than An Hour

Indian Echo Caverns

-GUIDED TOURS-

Indian Echo Caverns Tour 

45-minute tour

Breathtaking natural beauty is waiting just below the surface at Echo Dell – Indian Echo Caverns. On a guided tour, learn how this geologic wonder was formed and who its first inhabitants might have been. If you have time to stick around, check out their petting zoo and gem mining activity. Pro Tip: No matter the weather outside, the caverns maintain a steady 52-degree temperature. If that sounds chilly to you - bring a sweater!

 

Millersburg Ferry

1-hour roundtrip ride

Did you know that the Millersburg Ferry operates the last known all-wood, double-stern wheel paddle boats believed to be operating in the country? Take a scenic ride on the ferry through the mountains of Central Pennsylvania along the mile-wide Susquehanna River. Check their Facebook page for up-to-date operating information.

-ON-YOUR-OWN ATTRACTIONS-

It’s up to you how long you spend browsing these extraordinary exhibits, but most visitors can fill up on learning in under an hour.

The Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue

You’re a big fan of Hershey’s Chocolate, but how much do you know about Milton Hershey, the man who started it all? Enjoy the educational and entertaining exhibits at The Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue, including a museum experience that brings Milton Hershey’s intriguing personality to life. Pro Tip: If you have a preschooler with you, ask the front desk for an I Spy guide, filled with colorful and easy-to-spot items throughout the museum!

 

 

 

ZooAmerica Golden Eagle

Hershey Story Museum

 

ZooAmerica® North American Wildlife Park

11-acre ZooAmerica is home to more than 200 mammals, birds, reptiles, and more throughout its five themed exhibits. Their open-air outdoor enclosures house deer, wolves, big cats, and bears. Indoors you’ll find temperature-controlled habitats that mimic the swamps or deserts. Admission to ZooAmerica is included with your Hersheypark® ticket or available separately. Pro Tip: The animals who live outdoors at ZooAmerica are most active when it's cool. Visit in the mornings or in spring and fall.

AACA Museum, Inc.

There’s no need to speed through the AACA Museum, a three-story automobile enthusiast’s dream filled with a pristine collection of antique cars, buses, and motorcycles. There’s also an interactive kids’ exhibit and rotating special collections that keep things fun for the entire family.