Village Welcome, friends! We’ve been going to the Hershey RV Show for about 13 years. You’d think by now we’d know everything about it. We were wrong.

These aren’t the usual “wear comfy shoes” tips (though seriously, wear comfy shoes). These are 10 things even we didn’t know, counted down to the one that surprised Jimmy the most.

Heads up: prices and hours below are what the show listed for 2026. Always double-check the official Hershey RV Show website before you go.

10. Your Favorite Brand Might Have Moved

We’re Keystone brand ambassadors, so we usually make a beeline for Keystone. This year? Not where we expected. Turns out manufacturer spots are assigned by lottery, so they move around year to year.

Download the show app before you go. You can see the map and mark the RVs you want to check out. Or grab the paper map at the gate.

9. Saturday Parking Is Different

Parking is free, which is great. Wednesday through Friday you park close and walk right across the bridge into the show. But on Saturday, when Hersheypark is open, show parking moves to the field across the street from the Giant Center. It’s a longer walk, and a muddy one if it rains.

8. Buy Tickets Online (and Look for the Deals)

There are no tickets sold at the gate. You have to buy online, and buying in advance is cheaper. Here’s what 2026 looked like:

• Wednesday–Friday: $12 in advance, $14 day-of
• Saturday: $17 in advance, $19 day-of
• Sunday: $8 in advance, $10 day-of
• 3-day pass (Wed–Fri): $25 in advance, $30 day-of
• Twilight pass: just $7, from 3pm to close (7pm Wed–Sat, 5pm Sun)
• Special days ($7 in advance): Wednesday for healthcare workers, Thursday for seniors 55+, Friday for veterans and first responders

Show hours were 9am–7pm Wednesday through Saturday and 9am–5pm Sunday.

7. Leave the Pocket Knife in the Truck

Everyone goes through a metal detector. No knives, no weapons. If you forget, you’ll either toss your favorite pocket knife or walk all the way back to your car (and on Saturday, that’s a long way).

They also ask that you not bring outside food and drinks, so you support the food vendors. Since parking is free, you can always walk out to your car for lunch and come back in with your digital ticket.

6. Yes, You Can Bring Your Dog (With a Catch)

Pets are allowed, but they must be in a fully enclosed carrier or stroller. No leashes. That’s very different from shows like Tampa, so don’t get to the gate and find out the hard way.

5. Free Golf Carts, Taxis and Wheelchairs

Free carts and shuttles run across the show grounds and out to parts of the parking areas. There aren’t a ton of them, so lines build up near closing time. Don’t count on one if you’re on a schedule.

A limited number of free wheelchairs are available first-come, first-served, and you can rent motorized scooters right at the entrance.

4. The Show Really Can Be a Good Time to Buy

For years we wondered if show deals were real. Here’s what we’ve learned: lenders are right there, ready to compete on rates, and dealers really don’t want to haul unsold units back to their lots. Toward the end of the week, that gives you some negotiating room.

You can even bring your trade-in to the parking lot and have a salesperson look at it on the spot. Not sure what to buy? Read our 10 questions to ask before you buy an RV first.

3. You Can Test Drive a Motorhome

Shopping for a Class A, B, C or Super C? Dealers can take you out in a similar unit for a test drive. Go Wednesday through Friday, when it’s calmer. By Saturday the crowds can be about 10 times bigger.

Quick tip: try the evening

Crowds thin out after 3pm. Between that and the $7 twilight pass, the late afternoon is a great time to go.

2. Don’t Skip the Giant Center at the Hershey RV Show

Inside the Giant Center you’ll find campgrounds, resorts, memberships, parts and accessories. It’s air-conditioned, it’s dry when it rains, and it has the good bathrooms. Grab your food outside and eat in the seats.

1. You Can Boondock Across the Street

You can bring your RV and dry camp in a field across the street, around $60 a night in 2026, with no water, sewer or power. What Jimmy didn’t know: you can’t just walk across the street to the show. The boondocking area is a long way down, and you’re not allowed to cross on foot. Free shuttles run back and forth, but there are only so many. If you need to dump tanks, check with nearby campgrounds.

See You at the Next Hershey RV Show

Hopefully these tips save your feet and your wallet. If you’re thinking about making RV life a bigger part of your life, check out Is Full-Time RV Living Still Worth It in 2026? And if you spot us at a show, come say hi!
— Jimmy & Lisa, FindUsCamping