Whether racing for Churchill Downs or just jonesing to pick up a bottle of fine bourbon, this six-hour route to the Bluegrass State is a direct shot to a top tourist destination. Head southwest out of Pittsburgh on Interstate 70 across the Ohio state line, skirting Columbus on the south side and passing through Cincinnati. There's not a lot to see on this direct route except for some hilly country between Pittsburgh and Zanesville, and Columbus is probably your best bet to stretch your legs, so put some gas in the tank and fuel up with some coffee. After you've followed the Ohio River from Cincinnati into Louisville, though, you've arrived at a city known for its high quality of living and high degree of tastiness from comfort food to gourmet cuisine.
In a six-hour trip from Pittsburgh, you can be comfortably ensconced in another country, so pack you passport or card. Head north on Interstate 79 toward Erie, and follow Interstate 90 along the shore of Lake Erie toward Buffalo. Enter Canada and pass Niagara Falls to the shore of Lake Ontario, pausing around Grimsby to stretch a bit and appreciate the view from the shore. Continue driving into Toronto, and turn northward on Ontario Highway 400 until you hit the south shore of Lake Huron. Welcome to Wasaga Beach, a small city with lots of sparkling white sand, incredible sunsets and quaint shops along Nottawasaga Bay. Lounging on the beach isn't the only activity here, either, as antique hunting, nature-spotting at marshes teeming with wildlife and canoeing a key War of 1812 waterway, the Nottawasaga River, are just a few of the things to do in the area.
In just under six hours, you could find yourself transplanted from an Allegheny County steel hub to the glitz of the Big Apple. Just catch Interstate 76 out of town and begin crossing Pennsylvania, being tempted by state forests and parks off the turnpike. Pull off in Harrisburg for a midway stop, knowing that you're tantalizingly close to chocolate mecca Hershey. Pass through Allentown on your way into New Jersey, and soon you'll be spreading the news that you're in New York City. Go shopping on 5th Avenue, catch a play on Broadway, visit Lady Liberty or just grab a nice, foldable, gooey slice of pizza. If you didn't see enough green space on the drive in, head for Central Park.
Just start driving south if you want a refreshing cruise through Appalachian country along its main corridor. Interstate 79 feeds down from Pittsburgh to enter West Virginia just north of Morgantown, launching a scenic route that winds through mountains and is interrupted by just a handful of towns. Pull off at the lake at Summersville, West Virginia, to stretch your legs and grab a bite for the road. Turn off at U.S. Route 19 toward Interstate 64 to cross the Allegheny Mountains and head toward Roanoke. Even at your destination, though, you're not done with mountain scenery. Roanoke is a perfect staging point for Blue Ridge Parkway drives and themed trails focused around music and the arts in the region.
