If you're thinking about a fall foliage road trip, the covered bridges of the Laurel Highlands should be at the top of your list.
Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands have everything you need for a memorable outdoorsy fall vacation: rolling hills, waterways, endless outdoor recreation and famous scenic byways.
This is the kind of trip that should be as stress-free as possible, so a planned route is your best bet -- and worth the drive for the amazing photo opps alone.
Choose one or all of the 16 covered bridges that the Laurel Highlands have to offer. You can also map a trip to include attractions along the way like Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural masterpiece that hangs over a waterfall. You'll find it along Route 381, part of the 711/381 route that features 65+ miles of roadway draped in fall foliage and mountain scenes. Fallingwater is between the villages of Mill Run and Ohiopyle, about 90 minutes from Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Scene
The most fun things to do and places to be in D.C., Maryland and Virginia
Most of the covered bridges you'll encounter were built in the 1800s, including such gems as the Packsaddle Bridge near Glen Savage, Pa., built in 1870, and the Trostletown Bridge near Stoystown, Pa., built in 1845.
Of course, along the way to each bridge you'll pass countless farmers' markets accompanied by small-town charm. You may even run into a few festivals, including the Fort Ligonier Days (Oct. 11-13) and Bedfords Fall Foliage Festival (Oct. 5-6 and 12-13) along the way.
For lodging, a bed and breakfast like the quaint Country Seasons in Mill Run will do if you choose the 711 route, or just rough it in the wilderness with a cabin or camping stay.
Peak color for Pennsylvania fall foliage for the central region typically hits the week of Oct. 12-18; southeastern Pennsylvania peak occurs during the last two weeks of October.
