Heading out of Deep Creek Lake can provide travelers with many options for recreation, entertainment, and fine dining. With many nearby cities, small towns, and forests, visitors to Deep Creek Lake will have choices to make when it comes to day trips. We’ve picked out a few of the best day trips from Deep Creek Lake, so take a look and start planning your vacation!
Take A Day Trip To These 7 Places Near Deep Creek Lake
1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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If you’re an art lover, Pittsburgh has a surprise in store for you. Head about two hours northwest of Deep Creek Lake and take a day trip to this city. You’ll want to check out the Andy Warhol Museum first, where seven floors of drawings, paintings, film screenings and much more will provide you with a comprehensive look into Warhol’s life and work. Next, head to the Carnegie Museum of Art where you’ll see world-class exhibits at, arguably, the nation’s first museum of contemporary art. It features more than 30,000 objects, including paintings, prints, photographs, film, and so much more. Finally, the Mattress Factory is another one of Pittsburgh’s art institutions. It was founded in 1977 by artists to support artists and played a major role in the community revitalization on Pittsburgh’s North Side. Make the trip to Pittsburgh and explore all these art spaces before heading back to Deep Creek Lake.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Located in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, this state forest is just a 40-minute drive northwest of Deep Creek Lake. For an easy hike, start with the Clay Furnace Trail, an out and back hike that leads to the Henry Clay iron furnace. For a more moderate workout, try the 1.5-mile long Ravens Rock Trail. At the Ravens Rock overlook, you’ll be treated with an incredible view of the Cheat River canyon. A quick .2-mile long hike, the Underlook Trail gives hikers a unique view of the geological formation of the Coopers Rock overlook. If you’re coming in the winter, you can also do some cross-country skiing on the Intermediate, Advanced, or Reservoir Ski Trails.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
3. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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A little over an hour north, in Pennsylvania, is where you’ll find this small town. With its unique position in the Ohiopyle State Park on the southern end of the Laurel Ridge, Ohiopyle has many offerings for its visitors. Spanning over 20,000 acres, the state park itself features the Youghiogheny River Gorge, mountain biking and hiking trails, and hunting grounds. Just outside of the town is Fallingrock, an incredible masterpiece of a home built over a waterfall in Bear Run Nature Preserve. Designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the home quickly became famous and is now a National Historic Landmark. In addition, Kentuck Knob, one of the last homes completed by Wright, is just seven miles south of Fallingrock. Today, it is also a National Historic Landmark and can be visited throughout the year, weather permitting.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
4. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Just an hour’s drive north lies Seven Springs Mountain Resort, one of Western Pennsylvania’s premier ski resort. There are 33 slopes and trails, seven terrain parks, and 10 lifts that provide visitors with plenty of slope side variety. In addition, the resort features the Trillium Spa that will help rejuvenate your body before heading back to Deep Creek Lake. There are also many dining options, so there’s plenty of variety for every member of your group to find something they like. For the non-skier, the resort also offers snow tubing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing as well as bowling and shopping. There’s a little something for everyone at Seven Springs!
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
5. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Whether you’ve heard of it or not, the town of Martinsburg played a role in our nation’s history. This small town was home to a few events during the French and Indian War, the Civil War and the Revolution, and the still-standing Mendenhall’s Fort, now called Aspen Hall, serves as a reminder to visitors and locals that this town was once integral to our country’s freedom. Check out the quaint downtown where you can catch a show at Apollo Civic Theater, bring the kids to Wonderment Puppet Theater, or enjoy a fancy dinner at Boyd’s Steakhouse. At Boyd’s, you’ll also get a chance to dine and drink among the infamous Al Capone’s bar and whiskey hutch. This charming town is a perfect distance for a day trip.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
6. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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If you’ve ever wanted to experience college football tailgating at its finest, a visit to the West Virginia University campus in Morgantown might be the perfect day trip for you. Morgantown Brewing Co. is West Virginia’s oldest operating brewery, and it’s worth a visit; but, there are also a few watering holes known for being game day favorites. Mario’s Fishbowl, Boston Beanery, and Kegler’s are within walking distance to the stadium and the tailgate lots, and you can grab food and drink here before heading out to the game. West Virginia fans pride themselves on being polite and inclusive to visitors, so even if you wear the opposing team’s colors to the game, you’ll likely be offered food and drink from tailgaters on your way into the stadium. Enjoy the college football atmosphere and take a day trip to Morgantown!
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
7. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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This forest, comprised of one million acres, is home to the scenic Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area (NRA). This area features some of the best rock climbing on the entire East Coast and was the first NRA to be designated in the USDA Forest Service. Stop by the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center and watch climbers scale the rocks outside or pay for a guided tour and do it yourself! In addition to the great rock climbing, the forest also houses some caves—check out Seneca Caverns or Smoke Hole Caverns and take a trip under the earth. Spruce Knob is one stop you should definitely make while in Monongahela National Forest. The highest point in West Virginia, Spruce Knob offers visitors an incredible view of the beautiful nature below. There are many hiking and biking trails of all levels of difficulty, so don’t miss out on some great outdoor time.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
This article was written by Julianne Aiello.