We all have those times when we just want to escape from it all, right? Well, now we can run away from reality for just a day by hopping on a train for an adventure unlike any other. These train trips from Pittsburgh will undoubtedly give you the opportunity to relax, see the countryside, and create memories. Two of the train trips, however, require you to drive from Pittsburgh, but both are well worth the effort.

Here are a few of the best day trips in Pittsburgh that are worthy of your bucket list.

1. Amtrak Pennsylvanian to Cleveland
Flickr/Eric Drost
200 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway, Cleveland, OH 44114, USA
Flickr/Dustin Jamison
Watch the Pennsylvania countryside roll by as you head to Cleveland, Ohio, perhaps one of Pittsburgh's biggest sports rivals. The nearly three-hour train ride sets off from the Amtrak Station in downtown Pittsburgh (1100 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222) and arrives at the Amtrak Station in Cleveland (200 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway Cleveland, OH 44114). For train schedule information, go to Amtrak and plug in Pittsburgh (PGH) to Cleveland (CLE).

You'll find plenty to do once you arrive in Cleveland: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Great Lakes Science Center, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium, and the Children's Museum of Cleveland. You might even find that a single day just isn't enough time to take it all in. In that case, check into one of the city's many hotels, B&Bs, or Airbnbs.
2. Amtrak Pennsylvania to Altoona
Flickr/David Brossard
1231 11th Ave, Altoona, PA 16601, USA
Flickr/Adam Moss
Spend a day in Altoona, home of the world-famous Horseshoe Curve - by boarding a train from the Amtrak Station in downtown Pittsburgh, which will take you to the Altoona Amtrak Station at 1231 11th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16601. The train trip takes approximately two-and-a-half hours. To find a seat on the day you want, visit Amtrak and put in Pittsburgh (PGH) to Altoona (ALT).

Plan what you'll do in Altoona ahead of time so you don't miss anything. Some of the attractions in the city include Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark, Railroaders Memorial Museum, Lakemont Park, Boyer Candy Factory Outlet, and Peoples Natural Gas Field. If you're visiting during the summertime, head over to Lakemont Park. Make sure you ride Leap the Dips, the oldest roller coaster in the world.

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3. Amtrak Pennsylvanian to Philadelphia
Flickr/Peter Miller
30th St, 3000 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Flickr/Peter Miller
So, technically, this next trip isn't a day trip unless you feel like spending a lot of time on the train in one 24-hour period. Journey across the state to our biggest rival - Philly - by boarding your departing train at the Amtrak Station in Pittsburgh, which will take you to the Amtrak Station in Philadelphia at 2955 Market Street, 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA 19104. For schedule information, go to Amtrak and type in Pittsburgh (PGH) to Philadelphia (PHL).

You may want to spend a couple of days in Philly, especially if you want to day trip out of the city and head to New York City or Atlantic City. You'll also find a ton to do in Philadelphia itself, including the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Please Touch Museum, and Reading Terminal Market. And, that's just scratching the surface of all you'll find to do in the City of Brotherly Love.
4. Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
Facebook/Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad, 409 S Perry St, Titusville, PA 16354, USA
Facebook/Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
You'll have to jump behind the wheel of your own vehicle to climb aboard a train with the Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad, which is approximately two hours from downtown Pittsburgh. The railroad offers regular train rides and special events through the summer season, which usually kicks off in June. The railroad also hosts a variety of special events throughout the year, including train rides to celebrate Easter (with the Easter Bunny), Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Christmas in July. Wine Tastings and Murder Mystery Dinners are also popular excursions held at different times of the year. It promises one of the best train rides in Pennsylvania.

Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad is located at Perry Street Station, 409 South Perry Street, Titusville, PA 16354. Visit the Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad website for more information.

Who’s ready to hit the rails for a day trip like no other on these train trips from Pittsburgh? What are your train rides in Pittsburgh? Let us know in the comments! Are you a fan of waterfalls and wine? If so, you’ll want to follow this day trip that will take you to some of the best waterfalls and wineries near Pittsburgh.

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Best Day Trips In Pittsburgh

Beth Price-Williams | April 20, 2022

What are some of the best getaway spots near me?

No matter what your interests, you’re sure to find the perfect getaway spot near Pittsburgh. How about, for example, heading to one of the nearby Pennsylvania state parks to reconnect with nature? Some of the state parks near Pittsburgh host campgrounds; others are within close proximity to off-site campgrounds and unique Airbnbs. Some of the best state parks near Pittsburgh include:

  • Just over an hour from downtown Pittsburgh, Ohiopyle State Park is a one-of-a-kind getaway near Pittsburgh. It is home to three waterfalls (only one requires a hike), natural waterslides, and miles and miles of hiking trails. Explore by bike, and check out one of the many scenic overlooks.
  • Keystone State Park is a picture-perfect year-round destination with a sandy beach, a beautiful lake, and a network of hiking trails.
  • Moraine State Park and McConnells Mill State Park are only a 10-minute drive from each other and boast a ton of gorgeous hiking trails. Moraine State Park is perhaps best known for the massive Lake Arthur, where you can go swimming, hang out at one of its two sandy beaches, or go boating.

Where can I find unique things to do around Pittsburgh?

We've got some pretty unique things to do around Pittsburgh, so we can never really get bored. Here are just a few:

  • Did you know that McDonald’s Big Mac was invented in Western Pennsylvania? Yep, and you can visit the Big Mac Museum in Irwin, which pays homage to the world-famous burger. It’s not a huge museum, but it provides a glimpse into the rich history of the sandwich and the burger joint.
  • If you’re up for a bit of a drive, around two hours, check out the house-size Coffee Pot in Bedford County.
  • Challenge yourself to walk or bike up the steepest street in Pittsburgh (and once the steepest in the United States): Canton Avenue in Beechview.
  • Explore the strangest, self-described tourist trap in the city at Trundle Manor.

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