Coney Island/Playland Park/Dorney/Hersheypark trip advise?

[BrianL]

This is a rough plan for a last minute trip for this weekend for me and my girlfriend:

 

Thr 28th - drive from Nashville to hotel in a safe city near/before NYC.

Fri 29th - (drive to) Coney Island, (Rye) Playland Park. (& quick sightseeing?). Drive to same hotel as Thr night

Sat 30th - (drive to - unless Thr/Fri hotel is here) Dorney Park.

Sun 31st - Hersheypark

Mon 1st - casino, etc.

Tue 2nd - drive to Nashville

 

Any recommendations on where to stay on Thr and Fri night, on/near our our initial route from home to NYC? Per google maps, we would be going I-81 through Harrisburg, then I-78 through Allentown. If nothing else, maybe Allentown or Easton, PA (1.5-2 hr from NYC)? Although something closer to NYC would be better. Or how about something in NJ off I-287, not too far from I-78? Is Somerset, NJ a good area?

 

How long would it take to do each of these parks? Could Hershey need 2 days for the park and Chocolate World on Labor Day weekend? Or Dorney, being a Saturday?

 

I know traffic is terrible in NYC, so I'm hoping we can do Coney Island and Playland Park both on Friday. Should that be a problem? Also considering it's just the two of us, is Playland Park safe at night?

[DaveH80]

Sounds like a great trip, have you been to Six Flags Great Adventure yet? If not this a park you may want to work into your plans as it has a great selection of coasters including a favorite of mine "El Toro"...an Intamin woodie. But as far as a hotel goes for the 1st night there's a nice Four Points Sheraton in Plainview, Long Island NY that's about 15-20 min from Rye Playland. Have a great trip!

[larrygator]

Somerset,NJ is a good place to stay.

 

Rye Playland is safe at night. It is not a big place. Traffic might be bad between 2PM-7PM in New York on Friday with the Holiday weekend so be patient.

 

On Saturday I would suggest Dorney during the day and then heading to Hershey at night to take advantage of their preview plan. Details are on their website. Then Hershey again on Sunday morning.

 

Of course you would be better off changing to a hotel closer to Hershey (possibly in Harrisburg area) on Saturday night.

[Coaster Palooza]

If you want a hotel near Dorney Park for Thurs-Fri, then I would suggest the Holiday Inn Express acrosss the street. It is really close and reasonable when we went a few years ago.