Pittsburgh has carved out a reputation as a city on the rise. The city has a reputation as one of the friendliest big cities in the country, and Pittsburghers have a reputation for being welcoming to anyone who comes to their town. Whether it is enjoying arts, nature or restaurants, there is plenty to do in the Steel City. It presents a perfect combination of history and modernity. If you are planning an RV trip to Pittsburgh, you have plenty of options.
The first step in planning your RV trip is to decide on the type of RV rental in Pittsburgh that you want. Before you pick, know that there are three primary types of Pittsburgh RV rentals.
A Class A motorhome is the largest. It is the size of a bus, and its roomy floor plan makes it a comfortable home on wheels for as long as you are renting it. The Class A RV can fit your entire family plus a few more people, with a master bedroom and several other bedrooms.
At the other end of the spectrum for motorhome rentals in Pittsburgh, a Class B rental is like an RV and a van all rolled into one. It is like a cozy bedroom and will generally provide enough space for two travelers. This is easier to maneuver and does not go hard on your wallet.
The Class C is the best of both worlds for camper rentals in Pittsburgh. It is an RV built onto a truck chassis. It will combine some extra space with a lower cost than the biggest RVs. You can also get pop-up camper rentals in Pittsburgh for a rental that is easy to store.
One of the top RV campgrounds that is located just outside of the city limits is Fox Den Acres Campgrounds. This campground has 350 spaces and can accommodate the largest vehicles. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Mill Run is both a campground and a resort. There are rides and a waterpark to keep the family entertained. Smith Grove Campground is near some of the state parks that surround Pittsburgh, and it is on wooded property that allows for privacy.
There are no national parks in Pennsylvania, but the state parks near Pittsburgh allow you to enjoy nature to its fullest. Alleghany Islands State Park consists of three islands in the middle of a river that are suitable for camping. Point State Park is a rare state park accessible from the city's downtown, and it is where three rivers meet. One of the best places for hiking and nature just outside the city is Hillman State Park, which has miles of trails and horseback riding. It even has an area for radio-controlled aircraft.
For a national park experience, you can take your RV on the road for about 120 miles to Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park that's home to more than 100 waterfalls.
Do you need to park your RV for a while? Brady’s Bend Underground Storage gives you RV storage in a climate-controlled environment, which reduces the risk of mold and mildew. Wampum Underground is another underground storage option with a constant temperature. Store Express is an indoor storage option that is within the city limits.
Flying J Travel Plaza provides a dumpstation option for even the biggest of rigs. Other dumpstations in and around Pittsburgh include Fox Den Acres Campground, Smithton Truck Stop, Mountain Top Campground and Whispering Pines Family Campground.
Summer is a great time to enjoy Western Pennsylvania by planning an RV trip there. The three rivers are best enjoyed when the weather is warm and the city of Pittsburgh comes alive in the summer. Visitors can enjoy fireworks, food, live music and more at Heinz Field on Independence Day.
When you're in Pittsburgh, make sure to visit the Andy Warhol Museum, which is devoted to the art of one of the city's most famous sons. You can also ride two of the country's only remaining railroads up to the top of Mt. Washington. The Strand District is the place to go to enjoy the city's cuisine, like a famous sandwich from Primanti Brothers. There are also a number of great offerings for the kids, including the Carnegie Science Center.
Pittsburgh is one of the greatest sports towns in the country, and its fans are known for their passion. Steelers' fans come to the football game with Terrible Towel in hand and give the team a home-field edge. The Pittsburgh Penguins have been one of the best hockey teams of the last 25 years, while the Pirates play in a jewel of a ballpark where a well-hit ball ends up in the Allegheny River. There's plenty of sports fun to be had!
For options that aren't sports-related, visitors can head to the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, which is a historic landmark. Or, you can check out Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, which features 20 threatened or endangered species.
The primary road going to the Pittsburgh area is I-76, which is the Pennsylvania Turnpike. To get to the city, you need to take I-376, which goes right downtown. There are several tunnels in Pittsburgh that go under the city's mountains, so make sure before you travel that the tunnel can accommodate your RV.