Motorhomes for western Pennsylvania, the Appalachians and Lake Erie
Compare campervan and motorhome rental companies in Pittsburgh to find the best price, and book at the price shown, mandatory fees included.
Hiring a motorhome in Pittsburgh sets you off on the roads of western Pennsylvania from the former steel capital, built where the Allegheny and the Monongahela meet to form the Ohio. To the south-east, the Laurel Highlands hide Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece, and the rapids of the Youghiogheny; to the north, Allegheny National Forest slopes down towards Lake Erie; to the west, Ohio's Amish Country is only a few hours away. 1 partner company, Cruise America, hands over its motorhomes here.
Its only depot is in Carnegie, a small town in the south-western suburbs, on the way to the airport.
Public ratings collected on October 28, 2026 from independent review sites.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike and then Route 381 take you to Fallingwater, the house Frank Lloyd Wright set above the waterfall of Bear Run, then to Ohiopyle, a rafting village on the Youghiogheny, and Kentuck Knob, another of the architect's houses, perched on a hill. Fort Necessity recalls the young George Washington's surrender to French troops in 1754; in Shanksville, the Flight 93 National Memorial honours the victims of 11 September 2001.
Heading north, the road crosses Cook Forest, where white pines and hemlocks several centuries old line the Clarion River, then Benezette, where elk can be watched in the meadows. Kinzua Bridge State Park has turned the remains of a railway viaduct, toppled by a tornado in 2003, into a glass-floored lookout. After the Allegheny Reservoir, held back by Kinzua Dam, the Presque Isle peninsula lines up its beaches on Lake Erie.
To the west, Ohio begins less than an hour's drive away. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, between Cleveland and Akron, follows the old Ohio and Erie Canal to the cascades of Brandywine Falls. Further south, Holmes County, one of the largest Amish communities in the world, mixes cheese dairies, farms and horse-drawn buggies around Berlin and Walnut Creek. The way back follows the Ohio through Wheeling and its 19th-century suspension bridge.
The most pleasant months to set off from Pittsburgh: mild days, cool nights and state park campgrounds open, without the summer crowds. In May, the Youghiogheny still runs fast for rafting at Ohiopyle; in early October, the maples and oaks of the Laurel Highlands and Allegheny National Forest turn red and gold, the most sought-after sight in the region.
Peak season, warm and stormy: June is the wettest month of the year in Pittsburgh. The beaches of Presque Isle and the river at Ohiopyle are very busy at weekends, and nearby campgrounds are booked early. In June, mountain laurel, Pennsylvania's state flower, blooms in the undergrowth of the Laurel Highlands, which owe it their name.
Cool, unsettled transition months, with nights close to freezing and regular showers. Some campgrounds only open in spring or close at the end of autumn: check their dates before you leave. In late November, the opening of rifle deer season fills the forests with hunters: when hiking, wear bright orange clothing, as locals do.
Winter is cold and snowy, especially on the ridges of the Laurel Highlands, where the Seven Springs and Hidden Valley resorts open their slopes, and around Erie, exposed to heavy lake-effect snow. A motorhome's pipes cope badly with frost and most campgrounds close: favour short trips and check in the offer what equipment is provided for the cold.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3 °C | -5 °C | 93 mm | 4 h/day |
| Feb | 7 °C | -3 °C | 110 mm | 6 h/day |
| Mar | 11 °C | 0 °C | 105 mm | 7 h/day |
| Apr | 17 °C | 5 °C | 125 mm | 9 h/day |
| May | 22 °C | 11 °C | 144 mm | 10 h/day |
| Jun | 26 °C | 16 °C | 150 mm | 12 h/day |
| Jul | 29 °C | 19 °C | 117 mm | 12 h/day |
| Aug | 28 °C | 18 °C | 110 mm | 11 h/day |
| Sep | 25 °C | 15 °C | 99 mm | 10 h/day |
| Oct | 18 °C | 9 °C | 108 mm | 8 h/day |
| Nov | 11 °C | 2 °C | 75 mm | 6 h/day |
| Dec | 6 °C | -2 °C | 93 mm | 4 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
The hills surrounding Pittsburgh force the highways through tunnels, such as Fort Pitt and Squirrel Hill on I-376, then over bridges with short ramps and exits often on the left. At rush hour, the approaches to the tunnels clog up quickly: leave Carnegie mid-morning and plan your route before you set off.
Less than an hour west of Carnegie, Raccoon Creek State Park has a campground near a lake, with electric sites: a handy stop to get organised on the first night, or to fill up with water and empty the tanks before the return. Pennsylvania state park sites are booked online, well in advance for summer weekends.
Pennsylvania is among the US states where collisions with deer are most frequent, especially at dawn, at dusk and in autumn. In the Laurel Highlands and Allegheny National Forest, slow down on wooded roads and be extra careful around Benezette, where elk cross the road. Hitting a large animal badly damages a motorhome: report it to the rental company straight away.
In Pittsburgh, a local habit has the first driver turning left go ahead of oncoming traffic when the light turns green: this is the "Pittsburgh left", tolerated by custom but contrary to the highway code. Don't do it yourself, but expect to see it. As everywhere in the United States, you drive on the right and distances are shown in miles.
Cruise America, our partner company, hands over its motorhomes at its depot on Chestnut Street in Carnegie, a former industrial town in the Chartiers Creek valley, about ten kilometres south-west of downtown Pittsburgh. I-376, the Parkway West, runs nearby, as does I-79, which heads north to Lake Erie and south to West Virginia. The exact address is in your confirmation.
The price depends on the period, the size of the motorhome, the number of nights and the return location. Run a search with your dates from Carnegie: you get Cruise America's current rates, mandatory fees included, bookable straight away. As this is the only depot in the region, compare several dates if the model you want is not available.
Yes, to other cities where our partners have depots: Philadelphia, 414 km as the crow flies, via the Pennsylvania Turnpike or Gettysburg; Warrenton, in Northern Virginia, near Manassas; the New York area, in New Jersey and New York State; or Charlotte, in North Carolina, via the New River Gorge. Enter the return city when searching: any one-way fees are then included.
Yes, as a round trip of four to six days: allow about 380 km (240 miles) on I-79 to Erie, then I-90 along the lake to Buffalo. On the American side, Niagara Falls State Park gives access to the falls via Goat Island. Crossing into Canada requires the entry documents needed for your nationality and the rental company's agreement: check the offer conditions.
The centre is best explored on foot and by funicular: Point State Park, at the tip where the two rivers form the Ohio, the Strip District and its markets, then the Duquesne Incline, which climbs Mount Washington for the view over the bridges. The Andy Warhol Museum and the Carnegie Museums round off the visit. As parking in the city is scarce and steep, visit it before or after the rental.
The rental in the US went well. Although I had some trouble reaching people to clarify a few points once on site, there were no issues in the end. The RV on-site was great, spacious, fully equipped, and met our expectations.
Everything went well with Cool Drive!
Vehicle compliant with the request. Lack of clarity on the additional insurance taken out.
A valid car driving licence is enough for rental motorhomes. An International Driving Permit, which translates yours, is recommended if it is not written in English. The same licence is valid in Ohio, West Virginia and New York State, which the routes from Pittsburgh cross. Minimum age and years of driving experience are set by the rental company and shown in the offer.
Dispersed camping, outside developed campgrounds, is generally possible there for a limited stay, away from main roads and riverbanks, except in areas signposted as closed, notably around the Allegheny Reservoir. There is no water and no hook-up: set off with a full water tank and charged batteries. Check the rules in force with the Forest Service offices in Warren or Marienville.
Pittsburgh International Airport lies west of the city, on the same highway as Carnegie, I-376: the trip by taxi or ride-hailing usually takes less than half an hour, less than to downtown. Give the rental company your flight's arrival time to arrange the handover appointment, and plan a night nearby if you land late.
Yes: Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob, Frank Lloyd Wright's other house in the area, are visited on guided tours at set times, with tickets booked in advance. In summer and during the autumn colours, slots are often full several weeks ahead. Opening hours are shorter in winter, and both sites may close for some months: check the opening dates.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike, which leads east and to the Laurel Highlands, no longer has toll booths: the trip is billed by E-ZPass tag or from a photo of the number plate. The toll expressways south of the city, such as the Mon-Fayette Expressway and the Southern Beltway, work the same way. Ask the rental company how these amounts will be charged to you.
With a single depot for the whole region, the number of motorhomes available is limited. For July and August, and for the first weeks of October, when the Laurel Highlands and Allegheny National Forest change colour, book several months ahead. From November to April, a few weeks are usually enough, but the choice of models is narrower.
Pittsburgh combines a city that has turned from steel to museums, universities and food with very varied landscapes within easy reach: the wooded hills and lively rivers of the Laurel Highlands, Frank Lloyd Wright's houses, the Flight 93 memorial, old-growth forests and the Kinzua viaduct to the north, and the beaches of Presque Isle on Lake Erie. Further west, the Cuyahoga Valley and Ohio's Amish Country add another state to the trip, and Niagara Falls is within reach in a few days.
The depot of Cruise America, our partner company, is in Carnegie, between the airport and downtown: you hit the road without crossing the city. Philadelphia, New York, Charlotte and Northern Virginia, other departure points of our partners, let you extend the trip one-way towards the Atlantic or the southern Appalachians. May, September and October, mild and often bright, offer the best conditions.
