Great Accommodations in Beautiful Settings
The Great Allegheny Passage is known for trail towns with welcoming accommodations, from fancy to modest. You can book a room at a charming bed and breakfast, cozy guesthouse, or luxury resort, and make a perfect recovery from a long day on the GAP. You can find a modest hotel, quiet cabin, or historic inn and experience a well-deserved getaway. All these options are also available in canal towns along the adjoining C&O Canal Towpath as well.
Most lodging properties cater to bicyclists and hikers with secure storage for gear or bike-wash stations. Proprietors often have suggestions for local flavors or your next day’s itinerary. While in a trail town, tour public art, shuttle to a nearby museum, explore a hiking trail, or visit a memorial.
Bed and Breakfasts
You’ll enjoy a private bedroom in a multi-room house with other guests, with a private or shared bathroom. Breakfast is included each morning, and most hosts are accustomed to preparing lovely morning meals that will fuel your travel the next day. Expect good conversation with other travelers if you’re up early, and enjoy the unique beauty of a historic home. Bed and breakfasts are the quintessential Great Allegheny Passage overnight stay and you’ll have lots of options along your journey.
Hotels
Several trail towns feature hotels — both boutiques and nationally-known marques are along the GAP — and you’ll stay in a private room with an en-suite bathroom. Some choices offer up a continental breakfast, or have restaurant options on the main floor. In Downtown Pittsburgh, you’ll find a vast range of options, including skyscrapers with great views of Point State Park.
Inns
Accommodations range from several rooms to several floors, and you’ll appreciate having a private room with an en-suite bathroom. Some country inns have served travelers long before the Great Allegheny Passage was complete and are local landmarks. Plan on getting a recommendation on a great local restaurant from the innkeeper.
Guesthouses
Up and down the Great Allegheny Passage, you’ll find guesthouses — private homes with one or more bedrooms available for rent, often with a private bath and kitchenette or kitchen. Breakfast may be included. The homeowner may leave you a key or welcome you and tell you about local events and amenities.
Hostels
For folks on a budget who still want a comfortable night’s sleep, a hostel is a great option. Typically, hostels offer you a bed in a shared space with a shared bathroom. If you’re traveling with a small group, sometimes you can rent out the whole hostel and build great memories.
Lockhouses
Along the adjoining C&O Canal Towpath, you can stay overnight in any of seven preserved canal lockhouses. Some have been restored to period-correct specifications and are quite rustic, but others have heat, air-conditioning, and running water. To reserve a night, make arrangements with the C&O Canal Trust.
Camping
If you love a campfire and views of the night sky, camping along the Great Allegheny Passage or C&O Canal Towpath might be the way to travel. Several free hiker-biker campgrounds, advanced-reservation public campgrounds, and commercial campgrounds offer designated sites, typically between the trail surface and nearby river. Spring, summer, or fall, campgrounds are attractive options and you can make the most of your travel time.