Explore Fayette County.

Getting to know Fayette County

Fayette County sits south of Pittsburgh along the West Virginia line, where the farmland of the Monongahela valley climbs into the ridges of the Laurel Highlands. Most of it is within about an hour and a half of the city, which makes it an easy day trip or a relaxed weekend away.

Formed in 1783 and named for the Marquis de Lafayette, Fayette County has deep roots. Uniontown is the county seat, and the old National Road (US Route 40) still runs through it on the way up and over Chestnut Ridge.

History and architecture in Fayette County

• Fort Necessity National Battlefield – near Farmington, where a young George Washington fought in 1754 in one of the opening clashes of the French and Indian War. The National Park Service has current visitor details.
• Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob – two Frank Lloyd Wright houses, in Mill Run and Chalk Hill. Tours are usually by reservation, so book ahead.
• Friendship Hill National Historic Site – near Point Marion, the country home of Albert Gallatin, Treasury secretary under Jefferson and Madison.
• Brownsville – a Monongahela River town that was once a busy jumping-off point for travelers heading west.

Outdoor adventures in Fayette County

Ohiopyle State Park is Fayette County’s big outdoor draw. The Youghiogheny River runs right through the park, with whitewater rafting, kayaking and the falls in the village of Ohiopyle. The Great Allegheny Passage rail-trail follows the river through Ohiopyle and Connellsville, so it’s easy to ride a stretch and stop in town for a meal.

Elsewhere in Fayette County, Laurel Caverns on Chestnut Ridge offers cave tours, and the hills around Chalk Hill and Markleysburg are full of hiking and quiet back roads.

Coal, coke and river towns

Much of Fayette County grew up around coal and the coke ovens that fed Pittsburgh’s steel mills. Connellsville sat at the center of that coke region, and towns like Dunbar, Perryopolis and Fayette City still carry traces of the era. Today they’re good places to find a local diner, a coffee shop or a small family business.

When to visit Fayette County

• Spring and summer – peak season for rafting, biking the trail and touring the Wright houses.
• Fall – leaf season brings color to the ridges. Weekends get busy, so plan ahead.
• Winter – quieter, with some attractions on reduced or seasonal schedules. Check before you go.

Tips for a day in Fayette County

• Reserve Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob tours in advance; popular times fill up.
• Cell service can be spotty in the mountains and along the river, so download maps before you leave.
• Pair a morning outdoors in Ohiopyle with lunch in Uniontown or Connellsville.
• Check current hours for smaller businesses in Fayette County, since many keep seasonal schedules.

Whether you come for the river, the history or a Frank Lloyd Wright house, Fayette County rewards an unhurried drive south from Pittsburgh.

Make a day of it.

Start with the YinzMart places above. For visitor information, lodging and additional trip ideas, visit the county’s official tourism resource.

Hours, admission, accessibility and seasonal availability can change. Confirm details directly before you go.

Know a neighborhood favorite?

Suggest a missing place or tell us about a correction.