Pittsburgh to New Orleans drive: Best stops, distance & time
The best road trip stops on the Pittsburgh to New Orleans drive are New River Gorge WV, Pigeon Forge TN and Birmingham AL. The distance from Pittsburgh to New Orleans by car is 1,092 miles, with a 16h35m driving time.
Planning a Pittsburgh to New Orleans road trip itinerary
The Pittsburgh to New Orleans drive connects a hugely underrated city in Pennsylvania to the most exciting destination in Louisiana.
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.
New Orleans resolutely refuses to feel like any other American city. From the raucous hedonism of Bourbon Street to the European-influenced charm of the French Quarter, New Orleans is mesmerizingly unusual to hang out in.
Top New Orleans experiences include French Quarter food tours, haunted pub crawls, jazz cruises aboard the steamboat Natchez and cemetery walking tours.
For other attractions, try the National WWII Museum, the Vue Orleans observation deck and the urban enslavement tours at Hermann Grima House.
If looking for New Orleans accommodation, the pool and jazz bar-equipped Royal Sonesta in the French Quarter is a great option. The Virgin Hotel downtown has a huge sense of fun, too.
Pittsburgh to New Orleans distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Pittsburgh to New Orleans is 1,092 miles. That makes for a driving time of around 16 hours and 35 minutes. The quickest route is usually via the I-79, US-19, I-81, I-75 and I-59.
The best stops to add to a Pittsburgh to New Orleans road trip itinerary are New River Gorge WV, Pigeon Forge TN and Birmingham AL.
For more suggestions, check out the guides to separate legs of the journey.
- Pittsburgh to Nashville drive.
- Nashville to Birmingham AL drive.
- Birmingham AL to Meridian MS drive.
Pittsburgh to New Orleans road trip attractions: New River Gorge, West Virginia
Near Beckley WV, the New River has carved the longest and deepest river gorge in the Appalachians. In the surrounding forests of New River Gorge National Park, several hiking trails lead to dramatic gorge views. Meanwhile rock climbers get some serious practice in on the steep walls.
The upper stretch of the river is beloved by white water canoeists, while the Lower Gorge has often ferocious rapids.
It is, therefore, one of the best places in the country to do a whitewater rafting tour. Nearby, you can also try ATV adventures and ziplining.
Pittsburgh to New Orleans drive: Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Pigeon Forge is popular because of its close proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the US. But so many attractions have built up around the resort town that it’s now much more than a gateway.
Most famous of these is Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park, but there’s also the Titanic Museum, the Beyond The Lens interactive museum and the Rocky Top Mountain Coaster.
Other Pigeon Forge experiences include small group jeep tours in the mountains, guided ATV adventures and wine plus moonshine tours.
Pigeon Forge is also known for its evening shows, whether Elvis tributes, Motown performances, lumberjack feuds or country music extravaganzas.
Best stops between Pittsburgh and New Orleans: Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama, has a rich civil rights heritage. This is best explored on a civil rights tour which links the key sites and, crucially, puts them into context. Other Birmingham experiences include ghost walks and multi-brewery beer tours.
For museums, you’ve got the McWane Science Center, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, the Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark and more.
The top-rated Birmingham accommodation picks are the Drury Inn and Suites Birmingham Grandview and the TownePlace Suites by Marriott Birmingham South.
More Pittsburgh road trips
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