An hour east of Pittsburgh on the Turnpike you are in the Laurel Highlands, with Fallingwater, whitewater on the Yough and three ski areas. Two hours north is old-growth forest on the Clarion River. Here are the five areas we would send you to, and what is cheap in each right now.
Where to go
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Laurel Highlands
1 hr 15 min from Pittsburgh · 65 miles
The all-rounder: Fallingwater, ridge trails, four seasons
The ridges between Ligonier, Somerset and the Maryland line, with more cabin rentals than anywhere else near Pittsburgh. Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob are here, so are the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail and Laurel Caverns. Works in every season, which is why it is first.
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Ohiopyle
1 hr 30 min from Pittsburgh · 70 miles
Whitewater, waterfalls, the GAP trail
The most active weekend here. Raft the Lower Yough, ride the Great Allegheny Passage, walk to Cucumber Falls and slide down the natural waterslides at Meadow Run once the water warms up. Cabins around Ohiopyle and Confluence go fast in summer.
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Seven Springs
1 hr 15 min from Pittsburgh · 60 miles
Skiing, snow tubing, resort amenities
Three ski areas within a few miles of each other, and Seven Springs is the biggest. Rent a chalet on the mountain and walk to the lifts. In summer there is an alpine slide, ziplines and mountain biking, and the same cabins for a lot less.
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Cook Forest
2 hr from Pittsburgh · 100 miles
Old-growth forest, the Clarion River, quiet
One of the largest stands of old-growth white pine and hemlock in the eastern US, and the Forest Cathedral trail is the reason to come. Cabins line the Clarion River around Cooksburg. Rent a canoe, float the river, and do not plan much else.
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Bedford Springs
1 hr 45 min from Pittsburgh · 105 miles
Spa resort, a historic town, low effort
For when someone in the car wants a spa rather than a wood stove. The Omni Bedford Springs Resort has the springs, golf and the spa; the town has a walkable historic centre. Nearby rentals are cheaper than the resort and close enough to use it.
Pick the drive time first
Everything here is one to two hours, but the difference matters at half past five on a Friday. Laurel Highlands, Ohiopyle and Seven Springs you can reach before dark most of the year. Cook Forest and Bedford are two hours in good traffic, and the last stretch of both is dark two-lane road.
A cheap cabin stops being a bargain if you arrive at eleven to a keypad code that does not work. Read the check-in instructions before you book, and look at the last mile on the map.
Filters worth using
Hot tub and fireplace for a couples trip. Fenced yard if you are bringing a dog; most of these cabins sit on open acreage next to a road. For groups, count the beds in the photos rather than trusting the headline guest number.
In winter, ask about plowing. Plenty of Laurel Highlands rentals are up gravel roads the owner clears when they get to it. In summer, check for air conditioning. The ridges are cooler than the city, but not by enough in July.
Common questions
Where are the closest cabins to Pittsburgh?
The Laurel Highlands, about an hour and fifteen minutes east via the Turnpike to Donegal or Somerset. Seven Springs is the same distance. Ohiopyle is another fifteen minutes past Donegal.
Are there cabins with hot tubs near Pittsburgh?
Yes, a lot, mostly in the Laurel Highlands around Donegal, Champion, Confluence and Ohiopyle. Cook Forest has fewer. Check the reviews for whether the hot tub actually worked; it is the most common complaint.
How far is Ohiopyle from Pittsburgh?
About 70 miles and an hour and a half, via the Turnpike to Donegal then south on Route 381. In summer, leave early; the road in backs up on Saturday mornings when the rafting companies load up.
Which is best in winter?
Seven Springs for skiing and snow tubing, and the Laurel Highlands generally if the cabin has a fireplace and plowed access. Cook Forest is beautiful under snow but the roads in are slow. Bedford works in any weather.