Where Is Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania?
Your Mountain Getaway May Be Closer Than You Think
Tucked into the Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania, Ohiopyle is a small mountain community surrounded by some of the region's most remarkable outdoor scenery and recreation.
The Youghiogheny River runs right through town. Ohiopyle State Park surrounds it. Waterfalls, hiking and biking trails, whitewater rafting and mountain scenery are all part of the landscape, while Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater and other Laurel Highlands attractions are just a short drive away.
It may sound like somewhere far removed from everyday life.
That's part of Ohiopyle's appeal.
The surprise is just how easy it is to get here.
Ohiopyle is about a 90-minute drive from Pittsburgh and within a few hours of communities throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC and Western New York. For travelers coming from farther away, commercial airports in Latrobe and Pittsburgh provide additional options for reaching the region.
A mountain getaway may be closer than you think.
Where Exactly Is Ohiopyle?
Ohiopyle is located in Fayette County in southwestern Pennsylvania, in the heart of the Laurel Highlands and along the Youghiogheny River.
The borough of Ohiopyle sits within the approximately 20,500 acres of Ohiopyle State Park, creating an unusual destination where a small mountain town, a major river and thousands of acres of protected landscape come together.
Pittsburgh is northwest of Ohiopyle. Morgantown, West Virginia, is just to the southwest. Maryland is only a short distance to the south, while Ohio, the Washington/Baltimore region and Western New York are all within road-trip range.
In other words, Ohiopyle may feel tucked away in the mountains, but it isn't difficult to reach
HOW FAR IS OHIOPYLE?
For millions of people throughout the Mid-Atlantic and surrounding states, getting to Ohiopyle doesn't require an airport or a week away from home.
APPROXIMATE DRIVE TIMES TO OHIOPYLE
Morgantown, WV — About 1 hour
Pittsburgh, PA — About 1½ hours
Cleveland, OH — About 3¼ hours
Washington, DC / Baltimore, MD Area — About 3½ hours
Columbus, OH — About 4 hours
Buffalo / Western New York — About 5 hours
Drive times are approximate and will vary depending on your exact starting point, route, traffic, weather and road conditions.
PITTSBURGH TO OHIOPYLE:
CITY TO MOUNTAINS IN
ABOUT 90 MINUTES
For Pittsburgh travelers, Ohiopyle makes getting away particularly easy.
Downtown Ohiopyle is roughly 60 miles from Pittsburgh, putting the mountains and Youghiogheny River about an hour and a half from the city.
That's close enough to leave Pittsburgh in the morning and be standing beside a waterfall, riding a bike or getting ready to raft the Yough before lunch.
It's one reason Ohiopyle works equally well as a spontaneous day trip or as the starting point for a weekend in the Laurel Highlands.
Close enough to visit for the day. Different enough to make you want to stay.
AN EASY ROAD TRIP FROM SEVERAL STATES
FROM WEST VIRGINIA
Morgantown is only about an hour from Ohiopyle, making the destination an easy escape from northern West Virginia.
FROM WASHINGTON, DC, MARYLAND & NORTHERN VIRGINIA
Ohiopyle is also within reach of the greater Washington and Baltimore region. Depending on where you begin in the metro area, the drive is generally around three and a half hours—close enough to make Ohiopyle a realistic long-weekend destination.
FROM OHIO
Both Cleveland and Columbus are within comfortable road-trip distance. Visitors can trade city streets for the mountains of southwestern Pennsylvania in just a few hours.
FROM WESTERN NEW YORK
Buffalo and communities throughout Western New York are also within road-trip range of Ohiopyle. At roughly five hours from Buffalo, Ohiopyle is close enough for a long weekend while offering a completely different mountain getaway.
Flying to Ohiopyle
Driving may be the most common way to reach Ohiopyle, but visitors traveling from farther away have air travel options as well.
Arnold Palmer Regional Airport (LBE)
Located in Latrobe, Arnold Palmer Regional Airport provides commercial air service within the Laurel Highlands and is approximately an hour's drive from Ohiopyle.
For travelers whose home market is served by the airport, Latrobe can provide a convenient way to fly into the region without first traveling through a larger metropolitan area.
Rental cars are available at the airport, making it possible to continue directly into the Laurel Highlands and on to Ohiopyle.
Flight destinations and schedules can change, so travelers should check the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport website for current service and travel information.
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
Travelers looking for a larger selection of airlines, routes and flight schedules can also use Pittsburgh International Airport.
Rental cars are available directly at the airport, allowing visitors to continue from Pittsburgh into the Laurel Highlands and Ohiopyle.
Because many of Ohiopyle's attractions, accommodations and outdoor experiences are spread throughout the surrounding area, having access to a vehicle is helpful for visitors who arrive by air.
Close to Home. A World Away.
Distance is only part of the story.
As you approach Ohiopyle, the landscape begins to change. Highways give way to mountain roads. Communities become smaller. Forests become larger. And eventually, you find yourself surrounded by the ridges and river valleys of the Laurel Highlands.
At the center of it all is the Youghiogheny River—usually just called the Yough around here.
The river flows directly through Ohiopyle and the surrounding gorge, helping create the waterfalls, whitewater and scenery for which the area is known.
You don't have to travel across the country to find somewhere that feels far away.
What Is Ohiopyle Known For?
Knowing where Ohiopyle is answers only half the question.
The better question may be: Why make the drive?
Here are a few of the things waiting when you arrive.
Ohiopyle State Park
The borough of Ohiopyle is surrounded by Ohiopyle State Park, approximately 20,500 acres of river gorge, forests, trails, waterfalls and outdoor recreation.
Rather than being somewhere you simply drive to and enter through a gate, the park is part of the entire Ohiopyle experience.
Whitewater Rafting
The Youghiogheny River has helped establish Ohiopyle as one of the East's best-known whitewater destinations, with river experiences ranging from family-friendly outings to challenging whitewater adventures.
Want to experience the Yough from the water?
Explore Ohiopyle Whitewater Rafting with White Water Adventurers
Waterfalls
You don't have to travel far around Ohiopyle before encountering moving water.
Ohiopyle Falls stretches across the Youghiogheny River right in town, while nearby Cucumber Falls is one of the area's most recognizable natural landmarks. Smaller waterfalls and cascades can be found throughout the surrounding landscape.
Hiking & Biking
Ohiopyle offers miles of hiking trails, while cyclists have something special running directly through town.
The Great Allegheny Passage better known as the GAP—travels 150 miles between Pittsburgh and Cumberland, Maryland, passing directly through Ohiopyle along the way.
Whether you're planning a multi-day cycling trip or simply want to ride for a few hours, Ohiopyle provides direct access to one of the region's signature recreational trails.
Come for the Day.
Or Make a Getaway of It.
Ohiopyle's location makes a day trip possible for many visitors.
But you certainly don't have to leave at the end of the day.
Staying overnight gives you more time to explore Ohiopyle State Park, get onto the river, visit Fallingwater, discover more of the Laurel Highlands—or simply enjoy the mountains without trying to fit everything into a few hours.
Vacation rentals are available throughout the greater Ohiopyle area, so staying here doesn't mean limiting yourself to accommodations directly in downtown Ohiopyle.
Find Your Way to Ohiopyle
Whether you're driving from Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Ohio, the Washington/Baltimore area or Western New York—or flying into southwestern Pennsylvania from farther away—Ohiopyle is a destination that can feel surprisingly removed from everyday life without being difficult to reach.
Come for the waterfalls.
Come for the river.
Come to hike, bike or raft.
Come to see Fallingwater.
Come for a day, a weekend or a little longer.