About this Location

Facility Overview

The parking lot at Cocoaplex Center, serving the Penn State Health Cocoa Outpatient Center at 1150 Cocoa Avenue in Hershey, Pennsylvania, provides a spacious, user-friendly open-air surface parking facility. Purpose-built to offer stress-free vehicular access away from the bustling main Milton S. Hershey Medical Center campus, this lot is engineered for effortless patient and visitor entry. Because it is an open-air surface deck with no overhead height barriers, the facility easily accommodates all standard passenger cars, large pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, and high-roof accessible wheelchair conversion vans. Paved pathways and level ground surfaces connect the parking stalls directly to the facility doors, ensuring seamless barrier-free transit for individuals with mobility challenges.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Situated along Cocoa Avenue (PA Route 39) in Derry Township, this lot is positioned strategically south of Downtown Hershey. Key destinations and local points of interest include:

Penn State Health Cocoa Outpatient Center: Located on-site, hosting dedicated outpatient specialty services and clinical offices.
Downtown Hershey & Chocolate Avenue: Approximately 1 mile north (a quick 3-minute drive), featuring the Hershey Theatre, The Hershey Story Museum, and premier local dining.
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center: Located roughly 1.5 miles to the west, easily reached via Governor Road (US Route 322).
Hersheypark, Hersheypark Stadium & GIANT Center: Situated about 2.5 to 3 miles northwest, offering world-class entertainment, amusement rides, and concert venues.
Tanger Outlets Hershey: Just under 3 miles away for brand-name outlet shopping.
Cocoa Castle Playground & Shank Park: Within a short 5-minute drive, offering expansive recreational green space and family activities.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Drivers can conveniently enter the Cocoaplex Center directly from Cocoa Avenue (PA-39), with secondary ingress points off adjacent access roads. Cocoa Avenue connects directly northward to US Route 422 (Chocolate Avenue) and southward toward US Route 322 (Governor Road), making transit smooth and uncomplicated from any direction across Dauphin and Lebanon counties. Capital Area Transit (CAT) and local regional transit networks operate stops along nearby corridors, connecting commuters between Hershey, Hummelstown, and Harrisburg. Exiting the plaza after appointments is typically quick, free of the bottleneck delays often experienced at large multi-level hospital decks.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Complimentary Parking: Self-parking is free for Penn State Health patients, visitors, and facility patrons without the hassle of ticket gates or payment kiosks.
ADA Accessible Stalls: Plentiful ADA-compliant disabled parking bays located immediately adjacent to primary clinic entrances with drop-curb access.
Unrestricted Clearance: Open surface design without overhead clearance limits, ideal for oversized vehicles, wheelchair vans, and utility trucks.
Safe & Well-Lit: Outfitted with bright exterior pole lighting, marked pedestrian walkways, and regular security oversight.
Wide Turning Lanes: Expansive two-way drive aisles facilitate simple parking maneuvers and two-way vehicle circulation.

Ideal For

Penn State Health Patients & Visitors: Offering quick, ground-level access for clinical appointments, therapies, and consultations without navigating main-campus parking structures.
Cocoaplex Center Patrons: Convenient, dedicated parking for clients and patrons visiting commercial offices and local businesses within the complex.
Drivers of Oversized Vehicles: Excellent for visitors driving high-clearance passenger vans or large trucks who cannot fit in structured hospital garages.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Patients are advised to arrive 10 to 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment time to ensure prompt parking and registration. While the lot offers ample capacity, peak utilization generally falls between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM on weekdays. For GPS navigation, enter \'1150 Cocoa Ave, Hershey, PA\' for direct entry into the front medical parking court. If accompanying an individual with limited mobility, make use of the covered front patient drop-off drive before parking in the designated surface spaces.