The best road trip stops on the Pittsburgh to Cleveland drive are the Air Heritage Aviation Museum, the McKinley Birthplace Home and Cuyahoga National Park. By car, the distance from Pittsburgh to Cleveland is 133 miles, with a driving time of 2h3m.
Planning a Pittsburgh to Cleveland road trip
The Pittsburgh to Cleveland drive connects two cities full of character that have more going for them than most Americans give credit for.
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.
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.
Top attractions in Cleveland include the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Science Center and Cleveland History Center. Alternatively, try the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Cleveland tour options focus on neighbourhood food scenes and ghostly tales after dark.
5 Great Cleveland Experiences to Book
- 👻 Cleveland Ghost Tour: Hear spooky stories from the city’s past and explore haunted landmarks on a guided evening walking tour.
- 🌲 Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Link together the best viewpoints and trails on a self-drive visit with a comprehensive smartphone audio guide.
- 🎸 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Explore the history of music legends through iconic artifacts and immersive exhibits at this world-famous lakeside museum.
- 🌮 Ohio City Neighborhood Food Tour: Experience one of the city’s trendiest districts through multiple food tastings and expert drink pairings.
- 🍎 West Side Market Food Tour: Get to know the best local stalls and the history of Cleveland’s oldest operating indoor/outdoor market.
Pittsburgh to Cleveland distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Pittsburgh to Cleveland is 133 miles. Traffic permitting, that makes for a driving time of around two hours and three minutes.
Most of the drive is along the I-76 and I-80. The best stops to add to a Pittsburgh to Cleveland road trip itinerary are the Air Heritage Aviation Museum, the McKinley Birthplace Home and Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Pittsburgh to Cleveland road trip attractions: Air Heritage Aviation Museum
At Beaver County Airport north-west of Pittsburgh, the Air Heritage Aviation Museum isn’t going to be for everyone. But those who enjoy looking at classic aircraft are in for a treat. If an F4C Phantom II or Cessna 150 means nothing to you, you might be better skipping this one.
Pittsburgh to Cleveland drive: McKinley Birthplace Home
In Niles, Ohio, just north of Youngstown, the McKinley Birthplace Home is a replica of the house where former president William McKinley was born. As with all such presidential birthplaces and museums, it serves as a time capsule of his period in office.
Tours of the home run on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons, with the guides going into McKinley’s family life in Niles and his political career.
Attractions between Pittsburgh and Ohio: Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Near Cleveland, Cuyahoga Valley National Park offers a dose of nature. Based around the Cuyahoga River, the park has plenty of hiking and biking trails. Brandywine Falls is the obvious highlight, while wildlife-lovers can keep an eye out for beavers, muskrats, otters and mink.
Come in the fall, and Cuyahoga Valley National Park is one of the best places in Ohio to see the changing colours.
More Ohio travel
Other Ohio travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Plan your visit to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum.
- Getting to Cleveland: The best stops on the Toledo to Cleveland drive.
- What to see at Toledo Zoo and the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo, Ohio.
- Tackling the giant rollercoasters at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.
- Guide to visiting the Thomas Edison Birthplace Museum in Milan, Ohio.
