We know first hand that traveling with kids can present many challenges. That’s why we’re here to help you check some tasks off of your vacation to-do list. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite kid-friendly accommodations at Ohiopyle Vacation Rentals, along with family-friendly areas and activities. This way, you can stop stressing over planning and  focus on enjoying time with your family up in the Laurel Highlands, or as we like to call it, Nature’s Playground. A vacation to Ohiopyle with kids cannot be beat. This area offers an abundance of kid-friendly areas and an opportunity to enjoy all that mother nature has to offer as a family.

At OVR, all our accommodations welcome families and pets, but some truly shine for family vacations. Here are a few of our top picks, featuring private pools, nearby parks, game rooms, outdoor fire pits, creeks & more.

One of the biggest challenges when vacationing with your kids is choosing activities. If you’re like us, you wade through travel blogs, sifting out the adult activities to compile a list of family-friendly options.  Well, log off Pinterest and power down your computer because we have created a comprehensive list of kid friendly activities and areas in and around Ohiopyle! Note that we are in the mountains, 30 minutes from the larger towns of Uniontown, Connellsville and Somerset, Pennsylvania. Therefore most of our recommendations are outdoor and nature focused.

There is no better way to experience this area than by immersing yourself in the Youghiogheny River.  White Water Adventurers offers a range of rafting opportunities for all ages and skill levels. As an added perk, you will receive a discount on White Water Adventurers activities as an OVR guest. 

Middle Yough: This family style trip takes you down 11 miles of class I-II rapids that  lasts 3-4 hours. The minimum age to participate is 5.

Lower Yough: This trip offers a bit of excitement and challenge as it takes you down 7.5 miles of class II-IV rapids. This trop takes 3-4 hours to complete and is perfect for beginner to expert rafters.The minimum age to participate is 10.

Upper Yough: This trip is for adventure and adrenaline seekers, taking you down 11 miles of class III-V white water. It is perfect for athletic individuals ready to challenge themselves in the rapids. The minimum age to participate is 16. 

Summer Tubing: White Water Adventurers offers a tubing float from Confluence to the Middle Yough Put-in. This float is perfect for relaxing on the river. For more information on this trip contact White Water Adventurers. 

Snow Tubing: If you’re lucky enough to visit Ohiopyle in the winter, you must rent snow tubes from White Water Adventurers and head to the Sugarloaf Sled Hill for some good old-fashioned snow tubing. Sugarloaf has restrooms, a warming shelter, covered pavilion, and fire pit. 

The riverbanks between the Low Bridge and the rapids above Ohiopyle Falls hold many calm pools which are perfect for cooling off on a hot day.

The natural watersides are a popular spot for both kids and adults.. Located  along Meadow Run near its confluence with the Youghiogheny River, the  waters of Meadow Run have cut a narrow channel through the rock that resembles a waterslide as it twists and turns downstream.

Tips: Parking lots fill up quickly on weekends and busy summer days. If the Meadow Run lot is full, parking on the street is not allowed. You will need to park in town and walk to the Natural Water Slides along the road, so be mindful of your children. Also, you are sliding on rocks,  which can be rough. Exercise caution and travel down the slides at your own risk.

Slide Rock is a calmer, flat rock natural water slide located  further up Meadow Run Trail. It is a great option for younger children as the slide itself is a bit calmer with smoother rocks. Exercise caution and travel down the slides at your own risk.

If you’re looking for a sandy beach to relax and calm waters to swim in, visit this beach on Yough Lake in Confluence, PA.. This swim spot features a large parking lot, bathroom, short paved trail to the beach, picnic tables, and a roped off swimming area. There is no lifeguard so swim at your own risk.  We recommend stopping at The Luck Dog for dinner or grabbing ice cream at The Outflow Soft Freeze on your way back to your OVR. 

Directions: From 40 east, turn left on 281/Mae West Road heading into the town of Confluence. As you approach Confluence, turn right on Flanigan Road. Keep left at a split onto Hydro Lane where you will actually drive over the top of the dam. Cross the dam and park in the large parking lot at the bottom of the hill on the other side.

Below we have compiled a list of our favorite kid friendly hikes. We recommend looking up these trails on an app like All Trails to read recent trail reports and ensure they are appropriate for your family.

This stunning trail contains two waterfalls, the Youghiogheny River, and the gorge cut by Meadow Run as it flows into the Yough River.  Other impressive features include natural waterslides and impressive tall sandstone cliffs.

A popular for  birding, fishing, and hiking, it explores the Ferncliff Peninsula along the Youghiogheny River with views of Ohiopyle Falls and the river below. There are multiple trails within Ferncliff Peninsula, including Oakwood, Fernwood, and Ferncliff Trail.  Note the trail can  muddy if it has recently rained, so plan accordingly. 

A heavily trafficked hike, Cucumber Falls is a short hike from the road. However, there are stone steps to reach the bottom of the waterfall, which can be somewhat difficult to navigate, so use extreme caution and only do what you believe your kids can handle. Water levels can vary throughout the year, affecting the appearance of the waterfall.  

This out and back trail is our longest on the list at 4.9 miles. It features several waterfalls and stunning views of the Youghiogheny River Gorge. 

Bear Run Nature Reserve offers many trails of differing skill levels and mileage. It is mostly wooded, offering cooler hikes with stunning views of the verdant landscape. These hikes are not within Ohiopyle State Park and therefore  don’t draw the crowds that some of the other trails do. 

This 19 mile trail (14 miles finished and 5 unfinished) is perfect for walking, biking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing, Again, this trail system is not within Ohiopyle State Par, making it less crowded than the other trails mentioned.

Laurel Caverns, Pennsylvania’s largest cave system, boasts over four miles of passages and is a must-see stop on your Laurel Highlands vacation. A local tip: bring a light jacket or sweater, as the temperature inside the caves is a cool 52 degrees year-round.

A kids wonderland complete with game rooms, jumping pad, snowless snow tubing, mini golf, mining sluice, paintball and laser tag, rides, waterslides, pools, and a splash pad. While the park is only open to campers Friday and Saturday, they offer a day pass Sunday-Thursday, granting access to  all its amenities. For more information visit https://www.jellystonemillrun.com/amenities/day-use/

The Mountain Watershed Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, and restoring the Youghiogheny River watershed and its broader communities through conservation, recreation, education, and advocacy. They host events throughout the year,  some of which are kid friendly,  including the Indian Creek Watershed Festival. This festival, held on September 28th, 2024, from 10:00am to 3:00pm, features a free kids fishing day, eco-art and craft activities, free lunch for kids, games and prizes, interactive environmental learning, a fly fishing clinic hosted by our local Trout Unlimited chapters, and the famous Indian Creek Duck Race. Registration opens this summer and can be found at Mountain Watershed Association Events: https://mtwatershed.com/events/

Children visiting Fort Necessity can pick up a Junior Ranger booklet at the front desk. They can explore the park by watching a movie and visiting the reconstructed fort while completing activities along the way. Once finished, they can show their work to a ranger or volunteer at the visitor center desk to earn an official Junior Ranger badge. For more information, visit Junior Ranger Program at Fort Necessity.

We always recommend checking the weather before heading to the mountains and bringing the following essentials: