15 Peaceful Allegheny Towns You’ll Want To Explore

Away from traffic and crowds, these peaceful Allegheny towns offer a different kind of getaway. With trails, festivals, and stories that still shape their streets, each one has something worth seeing. Save these names for when you need a break that actually feels like one.

Bedford, Pennsylvania

With colonial buildings, mineral springs, and quiet streets, Bedford offers historic calm. The Omni Bedford Springs Resort, open since 1806, even welcomed George Washington during the Whiskey Rebellion. Today, over 70,000 visitors pour in each fall to experience the town’s annual foliage festival in full color.

Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

Set along the Juniata River, Huntingdon offers scenic trails and a quiet pace. It’s home to Juniata College and one of the oldest train stations in Pennsylvania. Kayakers enjoy nearby Raystown Lake, and Amish-run bakeries just outside town keep things refreshingly old-school.

Berkeley Springs, West Virginia

This small town is known for the warm mineral springs used since colonial times. In the 1700s, George Washington bathed here, and today, the area has spas, local shops, and one of the smallest state parks in the country. Each fall, it hosts a well-loved Apple Butter Festival.

Frostburg, Maryland

Along the old National Road, Frostburg balances history with a small-town pace. The scenic railroad station draws train lovers, while the Great Allegheny Passage attracts cyclists. The Thrasher Carriage Museum also highlights 19th-century horse-drawn vehicles inside a preserved train depot.

Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

Talleyrand Park and Big Spring Creek bring quiet to Bellefonte’s downtown, lined with Victorian-era charm. The birthplace of five Pennsylvania governors, it’s a town that honors tradition through seasonal trolley tours and a vibrant arts festival filled with more than 50 vendors throughout the year.

Thomas, West Virginia

This laid-back mountain town blends creative energy with natural scenery. Blackwater Falls State Park sits just outside the center, and the Purple Fiddle draws music lovers year-round. Plus, local artists have taken over old storefronts, and everything is close enough to reach on foot.

Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania

Once a retreat for the wealthy in the 1900s, Eagles Mere is known as “the town that time forgot.” The protected lake remains private, and the winter toboggan slide draws locals year after year. A small museum inside a restored general store keeps its past alive in a quiet and personal way.

Elkins, West Virginia

Set in the Allegheny foothills, Elkins offers timeless calm. Vintage trains whistle through the trees, and the Monongahela Forest sits just beyond town. Since 1930, the Mountain State Forest Festival has honored this balance of nature and culture. A nearby college adds just the right amount of motion.

Coudersport, Pennsylvania

Deep in Susquehannock State Forest, Coudersport remains one of the best stargazing spots in the East. The summer Ice Mine draws curiosity seekers, while the God’s Country Marathon appeals to dedicated runners. With no chain stores or traffic, it stays quiet and refreshingly unchanged.

Emporium, Pennsylvania

In Emporium, industry gave way to stillness. Metal and dynamite once defined its days, but now elk roam near forest roads at dusk. Deep in Elk State Forest, light pollution is nearly nonexistent. Its deep quiet and remote surroundings create a sense of distance that feels healing.

Philippi, West Virginia

Philippi made Civil War history with its first land battle and still shows its past proudly. The 1852 Philippi Covered Bridge remains a centerpiece here, and Alderson Broaddus University’s hilltop campus adds peaceful views. There is also a unique museum of medical oddities that surprises visitors.

Ligonier, Pennsylvania

Fort Ligonier sits at the center of this quiet mountain town, which features a walkable layout and a charming town green. October brings the Fort Ligonier Days festival, and nearby Idlewild Park—one of America’s oldest amusement parks—adds a nostalgic draw for visiting families.

Davis, West Virginia

Thanks to its high elevation, Davis stays cool through summer and gets early fall color. It’s next to Canaan Valley, where outdoor adventures are easy to find. As one of the least populated ski towns in the East, it features lots of quiet indie cafes and mountain gear shops to explore. 

Smethport, Pennsylvania

Along Route 6, Smethport stands out for its 19th-century mansion-lined streets and small-town character. It’s the birthplace of magnetic toys, and the McKean County Courthouse draws fans of classic architecture. Locals also organize walking tours and garden events that make the most of the town’s preserved charm.

Mount Savage, Maryland

This old railway village still shows its industrial roots and is named for its iron furnace history. It’s where the first American iron rail was made, just a mile off the Great Allegheny Passage. Moreover, a small museum inside a former schoolhouse shares the stories of immigrants who helped shape the town.