Small Towns Near Pittsburgh: A Couples Day Trip to Volant and New Wilmington
Two Small Towns Near Pittsburgh Worth the Drive
Volant and New Wilmington are two small towns near Pittsburgh that most city travelers drive past without a second look, and that is exactly why they make such a rewarding day trip for couples. They sit about five minutes apart in Lawrence County, connected by a historic covered bridge and the quiet backroads of western Pennsylvania’s Amish country. From Tara, A Country Inn in Clark, you can drive the full loop in an afternoon and still be back in time for dinner.
What to Know Before You Go
Both towns sit roughly 60 miles north of Pittsburgh, so the trip works whether you start in the city or in Mercer County. From Tara, plan on about 45 minutes each way. October is the best month for the drive, when the farmland and the trees along the Neshannock Creek turn color. Bring cash, because many Amish-run shops and bake stands do not accept credit cards.
Stop 1: Volant, PA
Volant grew up around Volant Mills, a wooden grist mill established in 1812 on the Neshannock Creek. Today the three-story mill anchors Main Street as a gift shop, and its two-ton milling stones, gears, and shafts are still in place inside. Antique shops, boutiques, and Amish-owned stores fill the rest of the walkable village. Give yourselves an hour or two here, and if time is short, start with the mill itself.
Stop 2: Bank’s Covered Bridge
Between the two towns, Bank’s Covered Bridge crosses the Neshannock Creek southeast of New Wilmington. Built in 1889, the 121-foot Burr arch truss bridge is one of only two covered bridges still standing in Lawrence County, and it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980. Amish buggies still use it, so a few minutes here often come with a scene worth photographing.
Stop 3: New Wilmington, PA
Home to Westminster College, New Wilmington has more energy than its size suggests, with coffee shops and a town square anchored by Tavern on the Square. It is also the center of an Old Order Amish community of roughly 2,500 people who live on the farms surrounding New Wilmington and Volant. Drive the backroads and you will pass horse-drawn buggies, laundry lines, working farms, and small Amish stores that sell primarily to their own community.
For a guided introduction, Simple Life Amish Tours runs personalized tours through the area by reservation. On the way back, stop at Apple Castle on Route 18, a family orchard operating since 1861 and known for its fresh cider and homemade donuts.
Why Tara Is the Right Home Base for a Couples Getaway
A day spent walking Main Street and driving farm roads ends best with a good dinner and a room worth coming back to. Tara, A Country Inn is an 1854 Greek Revival mansion near Shenango Lake, with guest rooms featuring gas fireplaces and jetted tubs. Belle’s Boudoir, with its four-pillar king bed and large sunken tub, and Master Gerald’s Room, with a private sunroom holding a jetted tub for two, are especially well suited to couples.
Dinner is easy to plan. Stonewall’s Tavern serves steaks and seafood most evenings, so there is no need to find a restaurant on the drive home. On Friday and Saturday nights, Ashley’s Fine Dining Room offers a seven-course prix fixe dinner by candlelight, with live piano music and white-gloved service. Weekend arrivals are also greeted with a glass of champagne.
If you are planning a longer weekend, Tara also puts you within easy reach of Pymatuning State Park and the Mercer County Wine and Brew Trail, so this loop can be one piece of a larger trip.
Plan your couples getaway and book your stay at our romantic bed and breakfast in Pennsylvania directly with Tara.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best small towns near Pittsburgh for a day trip?
Volant and New Wilmington are two of the most rewarding. They sit about 60 miles north of the city, five minutes apart, with a historic covered bridge and Amish farmland between them.
Where is Amish country in Pennsylvania?
Lancaster County is the best-known Amish region, but western Pennsylvania has its own Old Order Amish community centered on New Wilmington and Volant in Lawrence County, about an hour north of Pittsburgh.
What county is Volant, PA in?
Volant is in Lawrence County, in western Pennsylvania, close to the Mercer County line.
Is there a covered bridge between Volant and New Wilmington?
Yes. Bank’s Covered Bridge, built in 1889, sits between the two towns over the Neshannock Creek and is one of two covered bridges remaining in Lawrence County.
Where should couples stay when visiting Amish country in western Pennsylvania?
Tara, A Country Inn in Clark is about 45 minutes from Volant and offers rooms with gas fireplaces and jetted tubs, plus on-site dining at Stonewall’s Tavern and Ashley’s Fine Dining Room.