Who’s up for an epic 178 mile round-trip road trip to see the best waterfalls near Pittsburgh?!
If this sounds like something you’ve always wanted to do, I’ve mapped out the perfect road trip for you.
I’ve even created a downloadable version of this route map – simply click the link below to get it!
This article describes each stop along the road trip – click on the blue text links to open more detailed articles about each of these waterfall hotspots near Pittsburgh.
The road trip departs from and returns to Pittsburgh, and I’m going to describe the trip going in a clockwise direction, but you could just as easily go the opposite way and have just as much fun!
1. Frankfort Mineral Springs Falls in Beaver County
Frankfort Mineral Springs Falls is a 10-foot tall waterfall located just off of Route 18 at Raccoon Creek State Park.
The easiest way to access Frankfort Mineral Springs Falls is from a parking area along Route 18, just south of the Raccoon Creek State Park office.
2. Buttermilk Falls in Beaver County
Our second stop on the “best waterfalls near Pittsburgh” road trip is Buttermilk Falls in Beaver County, a magnificent waterfall in a rather unexpected, urban location.
Located just a few hundred yards from the Beaver Falls exit of the PA Turnpike, Buttermilk Falls is one a handful of waterfalls in Pennsylvania you can stand behind!
3. Big Run Falls
Stop number three along the “best waterfalls near Pittsburgh” road trip is Big Run Falls, located at the center of Cascade Park in New Castle, the county seat of Lawrence County.
Big Run Falls in Cascade Park is essentially a roadside waterfall, with the best vantage point for viewing the falls being the overlook directly across from the parking area.
4. Quaker Falls
Quaker Falls (also known as Quakertown Falls) is stop number four along the “best waterfalls near Pittsburgh” road trip – a 50 footer located less than a mile from the Ohio border, north of Pittsburgh in Lawrence County.
Quaker Falls is the centerpiece of the newly-created Quaker Falls Recreation Area, a Lawrence County park.
5. Springfield Falls
Springfield Falls is stop number five, a beautiful roadside waterfall in Mercer County.
Also known as Leesburg Falls, this waterfall stands 20 feet tall and close to 40 feet wide, spanning the entire width of Hunters Run on State Game Lands 284.
6. Waterfalls at McConnells Mill State Park
Stop number six along the “best waterfalls near Pittsburgh” road trip is McConnells Mill State Park in Lawrence County, home to many wonderful attractions, including numerous waterfalls.
Alpha Falls is the tallest waterfall at McConnells Mill State Park, at 35 feet.
Hell’s Hollow Falls may be the most famous, in part because of the ominous-sounding name.
And Grindstone Falls may be the least well-know, as it doesn’t even appear on the official park map (not yet, at least).
7. Fall Run Falls in Allegheny County
Fall Run Falls in Allegheny County has the distinction of being the largest waterfall near downtown Pittsburgh!
Located a mere 7 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, Fall Run Falls is a beautiful 18 foot tall waterfall tucked away in a nature park that is surrounded on all sides by housing developments.
From Fall Run Falls, it’s an easy drive back to downtown Pittsburgh, where this waterfalls road trip began!
Related Attractions
When you’re ready to take your Keystone State waterfall adventures even further, check out this interactive map I’ve created that provides you with directions to HUNDREDS of Pennsylvania’s finest waterfalls!
Does the thought of taking a 540 mile cross-state road trip to see the tallest waterfalls in Pennsylvania intrigue you?
Then you’ll enjoy this east-west route I mapped out with that will take you to some of the tallest waterfalls in each region of Pennsylvania, while allowing for ample opportunity to improvise along the way.
Or maybe the thought of taking a scenic cross-state road trip to see the best roadside waterfalls in Pennsylvania is more up your alley?
Then you’ll never have to get out of the car to enjoy this 483 mile east-west route I came up with that will take you to some of the most beautiful roadside waterfalls across Pennsylvania.
If you’ve always wanted to explore the eastern part of PA, then The Best Waterfalls in the Poconos Road Trip is exactly what you’re looking for!
This 209 mile round-trip road trip will take you to some of tallest and most scenic waterfalls in PA.
24 Must-See Waterfalls in the PA Laurel Highlands is my hand-picked list of the best waterfalls in Somerset, Fayette, and Westmoreland Counties!
How about a road trip to see the best abandoned places in PA.
I’ve mapped out a 587 mile route that takes you to nine of Pennsylvania’s most intriguing abandoned places.
15 Must-See Attractions Along Interstate 80 may just surprise you with how many great things there are to see along this 311 mile stretch of concrete and asphalt.
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