The NFL Draft, coming to Pittsburgh April 23-25, may attract nearly 1,000,000 people, roughly half visitors and half locals. By the time the first pick is announced on the North Shore this April, Pittsburgh will be humming with hotel lobbies packed, restaurants fully booked, and every bridge pulsing with Draft Day traffic. It will be electric! Many of us will cheer loudly about all of the above, but will steer clear of the thrum. May we suggest some crowd-free alternatives?
Hate Crowds? These Pittsburgh Places Are Perfect for Escaping the NFL Draft
North Hills
Align your compass with the north star for a weekend of wine tastings, woodland walks, game nights, and restorative afternoons — all comfortably removed from the Draft’s Downtown frenzy. North of the city and along its edges, there are places that invite languid afternoons: a glass of wine with a view of vines, a guided walk through an eccentric historic home, quiet forest paths alive with birdsong, or a spa reset.
South Hills
From charming main streets with zero chance of gridlock to rolling meadows, the South Hills and beyond offer a way to enjoy the Draft weekend on your own terms. Think leisurely brunches instead of long security lines, back-road drives instead of congestion, and patios where the Draft is on—but with plenty of elbow room.
There’s a lot to do just beyond the city limits to get you away from the NFL Draft crows, including the Waterfront shopping district and the numerous charms of Regent Square. But dining, nightlife and activities don’t stop there — they stretch all the way to Greensburg. There’s plenty to find if you start at the city’s East End and travel east from there.
West End
If sharing Downtown and North Side with 500,000+ visitors sounds a bit “people-y” for your taste, Go west, bold traveler, along Route 65. You’ll find a range of options that are technically “outta tahn,” but still wonderfully local.
Story by Susan Fleming Morgans, Aakanksha Agarwal, Alex Lancianese, and Lauren Davidson
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