The distance from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh by car is 203 miles, with a 3h26m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Harrisburg to Pittsburgh drive are Bedford, the Flight 93 National Memorial and Fallingwater.
Planning a Harrisburg to Pittsburgh road trip itinerary
The drive from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh connects the capital of Pennsylvania to its second largest city.
Top Harrisburg experiences include scavenger hunts and visiting the State Capitol Building.
The National Civil War Museum is the major attraction, though. This dense, detailed and reverent museum takes visitors through the American Civil War, from causes to aftermath.
Pittsburgh is surprisingly beautiful – take a ride up the Duquesne Incline for the best views out over the city, Point State Park and Fort Pitt. After that, check out the Warhol Museum, National Aviary or the Nationality Rooms in the gigantic Cathedral of Learning.
Pittsburgh experiences include guided whiskey-themed walks and craft beer sampling on a multi-brewery tour.
For Pittsburgh hotels with great reviews, try the Italian villa-style Priory Hotel or the often good value Drury Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh Downtown.
5 great Pittsburgh experiences worth booking
- 🏙️ Take an incredibly well-reviewed private Pittsburgh highlights tour.
- 🍽️ Go on a downtown food tour, with 6 fantastic food and drink stops.
- 👻 Hear spooky tales in the evening on a Pittsburgh ghost tour.
- 🥃 Discover Pittsburgh’s whiskey-soaked history – with two cocktails thrown in.
- 🛴 Visit Pittsburgh’s top photo stops – on a fun-packed Segway tour.
Harrisburg to Pittsburgh distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh is 203 miles. That makes for a driving time of around three hours and 26 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-76.
The best stops to add to a Harrisburg to Pittsburgh road trip itinerary are Bedford, the Flight 93 National Memorial and Fallingwater.
Harrisburg to Pittsburgh road trip attractions: Bedford, PA
There are a few attractions in Bedford, PA. None of them are essential, but combined, they can happily fill a few hours. The Fort Bedford Museum commemorates the star-shaped fort that saw French and Indian War, as well as covering regional history.
Old Bedford Village is a living history museum, with more than 40 historic buildings gathered in one place. And the Coral Caverns offers rudimentary cave tours.
Harrisburg to Pittsburgh drive: Flight 93 National Memorial
The Flight 93 National Memorial pays tribute to the fourth plane that crashed on 9/11. This is the plane that was heading for the US Capitol Building, but the crew and passengers fought the hijackers until it crashed in a field.
The Flight 93 National Memorial is near the settlement of Shanksville. The Visitor Centre tells the story of what happened on board, while the 93ft-tall Tower of Voices plays 40 wind chimes, acting as the voices of the 40 passengers and crew.
Best stops between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh: Fallingwater
Visiting Frank Lloyd-Wright’s architectural masterpieces will add another 37 miles to the journey, but it’s worth it. This signature piece of architecture in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands is partially built over a waterfall, with a daring cantilever design.
Tours of Fallingwater show the Japanese influences of Lloyd-Wright’s design and show off how it blends with the mountain landscape.
More Pennsylvania travel
Other Pennsylvania travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Getting to Pittsburgh from elsewhere in Pennsylvania: Where to stop on the Allentown to Pittsburgh drive.
- Getting to Pittsburgh from interstate: The best stops on the Chicago to Pittsburgh drive and Washington DC to Pittsburgh drive.
- Road trips from Pittsburgh: The best stops on the Pittsburgh to Cleveland drive, Pittsburgh to Cincinnati drive, Pittsburgh to Louisville drive and Pittsburgh to Nashville drive.
- Visitor tips for the Heinz History Center, Phipps Conservatory and Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh.
- What to expect at the Gettysburg Heritage Center, Seminary Ridge Museum and Jennie Wade House in Gettysburg.
