Pennsylvania has so many beautiful regions in the state! And the Laurel Highlands is definitely one of the best. We planned a weekend getaway to the Laurel Highlands to explore some of the best places in the area. And I can’t wait to go back!
A long weekend was enough time to capture the highlights, including visits to both Laurel Hill and Ohiopyle State Parks. Of course, you can’t see everything over a long weekend, but the itinerary below will give you a good taste of what the region offers.
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Where to Stay in the Laurel Highlands
Although the Laurel Highlands feels like a more remote part of Pennsylvania, there are plenty of options to rest your head.
We stayed at a rental in Hidden Valley Resort, with access to pools and a short drive to both Laurel Hill State Park and Ohiopyle.
Right next door is Seven Springs Mountain Resort, where you can stay at the hotel or one of the chalets or villas. There are also several hotels in Somerset, which is a little further from Ohiopyle, but still not a long drive.
What to Pack for a Long Weekend in the Laurel Highlands
Thanks to various outdoor activities available to you in the Laurel Highlands, you’ll want to make sure you bring everything you need!
- Hiking cloths, boots, backpack, and all of your hiking essentials
- Beach towel, chair, umbrella, and swimsuit for the beach at Laurel Hill State Park
- Swimsuit and water shoes for whitewater rafting in Ohiopyle State Park
- “Nice” clothes for touring Fallingwater
The Ultimate Laurel Highlands 3-Day Itinerary
Arrival Day: Laurel Hill State Park
Check in to your hotel or rental and then head to Laurel Hill State Park in Somerset. You’ll need your hiking boots for the first stop and beach attire for the second. And don’t forget your chairs and a towel!
Good to know: All of the Pennsylvania State Parks are FREE to visit, so there is no entrance fee for the park.
The first stop in the park should be the trail to the Jones Mill Dam. Park at the Pumphouse Trailhead on Laurel Hill Park Road and then take the Pumphouse Trail to the dam (easy and mostly flat), and then you can return via the more interesting Tram Road Trail. The loop is about 1.5 miles, so it shouldn’t take more than an hour to complete.
After the hike, hopefully you worked up a sweat and need to cool down, because that is your next stop!
Drive over to the day-use area of Laurel Hill State Park. Here, you’ll find a large sandy beach and access to swim in Laurel Hill Lake. There are changing rooms next to the lake, as well as a snack bar if you need to refuel.
Arrival Night: Laurel Hill State Park
After getting cleaned up from swimming and grabbing a bite to eat for dinner, head over to the scenic overlook at Laurel Hill State Park to catch the sunset.
There is a small tower with seating where you can enjoy the gorgeous beauty of the Laurel Highlands. It’s a short walk from the parking area (about 3/10 mile).
Day Two: Fallingwater
After breakfast, drive over to Fallingwater, probably Frank Lloyd Wright’s most well-known architectural design.
There are several options to tour the property and home. We chose to purchase the grounds pass, which gave us access to the outside of the home and one of the terraces.
It also allowed us to do a short hike to a beautiful overlook of the Youghiogheny River.
If you want to see inside the home, you’ll have to take a guided architecture tour.
It was really fun to see the famous building and walk the grounds, and it is worth visiting at least once!
Day Two: Ohiopyle
After Fallingwater, continue down the road into Ohiopyle State Park. This is one of the most unique state parks in Pennsylvania, since there is a small town inside the park!
There is so much to do in Ohiopyle. Depending on the weather and the crowds, you can enjoy hiking, swimming, waterfalls, whitewater rafting, and more. And also grab a bite to eat!
Park at the lot next to the visitor center and head over to the observation deck to view Ohiopyle Falls. After that, visit the museum inside the visitor center. The exhibit is well done and shares a lot of great information about the park’s history. You can also chat with a park ranger about some of the best things to do there.
If you’d like to get changed, there is a brand new shower and changing house across the road from the visitor center. Follow the path to the tunnel leading under Main Street.
Some of the activities I would recommend:
- Cool off (or watch others slide down) the Natural Waterslides
- Hike to Cucumber Falls
- Go whitewater rafting on the Youghiogheny River
- Hike the Ferncliff Trail on the Ferncliff Peninsula
- Bike on the Greater Allegheny Passage
- Enjoy some ice cream or a cup of coffee in town
After spending time in town, if you’re looking for another easy activity, drive over to the Baughman Rock Overlook. There is a small parking area off the road and then a short trail (about 75 yards) that leads to the overlook.
For dinner, you can grab something to eat in town (the Twisted Spoke Cafe has a nice menu) or drive to Hillbilly’s Grub n Pub. We ate there for dinner, and everyone enjoyed their meals!
Last Day: Choose Your Own Adventure
For the last day of your long weekend in the Laurel Highlands, there are some different options for you to enjoy depending on how much time you have.
If you have plenty of time, head over to Laurel Summit State Park to hike the Wolf Rocks Trail (not to be confused with Wolf Rocks on the other side of the state).
The loop is about 4.5 miles and features limited elevation gain (about 275 feet) making it a easy-ish way to end your weekend in the Laurel Highlands. The rocky outcropping offers some incredible views of what makes the Laurel Highlands so special.
If you are like us, driving east to home, I would recommend stopping by the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown. We’ve visited many memorials and museums about the attacks on 9/11, but I think this one is one of the best. It is so well done and really is an amazing tribute to the passengers and crew on the flight.
Laurel Highlands Long Weekend Getaway Wrap Up
We had a great time exploring this small area of the Laurel Highlands. It is the perfect place for any outdoor lover, with multiple hiking trails, opportunities to swim in lakes and rivers, and plenty of chances to enjoy the beauty of Pennsylvania.
The weekend we visited was during a massive heat wave, so we didn’t get to hike as much as we wanted. I’m hoping to return during cooler weather to explore more trails in the region.
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