Allentown PA to Pittsburgh drive: Best stops, distance & time

Planning an Allentown to Pittsburgh road trip itinerary

The Allentown to Pittsburgh drive takes you from Pennsylvania’s third largest city to its second largest.

There is a handful of solid attractions in Allentown PA, including the Da Vinci Science Center. This is very much aimed at teaching kids a bit of science through play, with lots of buttons to push and interactivity.

Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, meanwhile, is a combination of theme park and water park. The rides cover a good age range, with the Hydra rollercoaster being the big thrill ride.

Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania is a monstrously underrated city, with a series of stellar attractions. Get great views from the top of the Duquesne Incline, enjoy the globally-themed rooms at the unmissable Cathedral of Learning and become immersed in pop art at the Warhol Museum.

You can explore Pittsburgh with a hop-on, hop-off bus pass. Pittsburgh experiences include bike tours full of stories, 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.

Allentown to Pittsburgh distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Allentown to Pittsburgh is 284 miles. That makes for a driving time of around four hours and 33 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-78, I-81 and I-76.

The best road trip stops on the Allentown to Pittsburgh drive are Crystal Cave, Harrisburg PA and the Flight 93 National Memorial.

Allentown PA to Pittsburgh road trip attractions: Crystal Cave

Crystal Cave is the oldest show cave in Pennsylvania, having been discovered in 1871. The one hour tours include a video presentation about the history of the cave, but that’s just a taster for what you get when you’re inside.

The cave is best known for the milky white flowstone formations throughout the caverns, which you’ll discover as the tour heads 125ft underground.

Best stops between Allentown and Pittsburgh: Harrisburg PA

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.

Allentown 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.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Photo by David Whitley/ Best3Stops.

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