Fallingwater is the most famous house in America and the best reason to leave Pittsburgh for a day. Frank Lloyd Wright designed it in the 1930s as a weekend retreat for the Kaufmann family, owners of a Pittsburgh department store, and instead of placing it with a view of the waterfall on Bear Run he set it directly over the falls, with concrete terraces cantilevered out above the water and the sound of the stream running through every room. It is now part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing of Wright's twentieth-century architecture and is cared for by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, which runs guided house tours and a self-guided grounds pass. The drive from the city takes about an hour and a half through the Laurel Highlands, which is why many visitors prefer to be driven. This page links to a private Fallingwater trip from Pittsburgh run by The Essential Pittsburgh Experience on Viator, rated 4.9 from 39 reviews, with a guide-driver, commentary and gratuities included.
How the trip works: the tour is private, so only your group travels, and the price is per group of up to four people, at a few hundred dollars. Pickup is from downtown Pittsburgh early in the morning, around 6:30am, with pickups at the airport, outlying hotels or highway interchanges available for an extra charge, and the whole day runs about six hours. The listing is clear that Fallingwater admission is not included: you must book your house tour directly with Fallingwater, then arrange the trip around your tour time. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and the minimum age is 9. Free cancellation is offered up to 24 hours before the start.
Fallingwater in November and December: the house is closed every Wednesday and on Thanksgiving (26 November), Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. From 1 September to 29 November it opens from 8am to 4pm, and from 30 November it moves to winter hours of 9:30am to 3pm. Tours are limited in size and tickets are nonrefundable and cannot be exchanged within 48 hours of the tour, so book your house tour first. Children under six are not allowed on house tours, but families can buy a self-guided grounds pass instead.
Good to know: it is usually about ten degrees colder at Fallingwater than in Pittsburgh, so bring a warm layer. Backpacks, camera bags and large handbags are not allowed in the house and must stay in the car or a locker. Photos without flash are allowed inside only when your guide says so, and drones are banned. There is a café on site, and outside food is not allowed in its dining areas.
What to expect
The experience
A private round trip by car from downtown Pittsburgh to Fallingwater in the Laurel Highlands, with commentary from your guide-driver and a house tour you book separately with Fallingwater.
Best time
A weekday other than Wednesday in autumn, when the woods around Bear Run turn color and the house is open from 8am.
How long
About six hours door to door, including roughly three hours of driving.
Tips
Book your Fallingwater house tour first, then the trip, bring a warm layer, and leave big bags in the car.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Architecture lovers and anyone who wants to see Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece without driving the country roads themselves.
- Families
- Children under six cannot join house tours and the minimum age for this trip is 9, so it suits families with older children only.
- Couples
- A private, unhurried day in the Laurel Highlands that feels like a special occasion.
- Pair with
- A quiet evening back in the city with dinner downtown, or the Carnegie Museum of Art's architecture galleries the next day.
- Time needed
- A full morning and early afternoon.
Good questions
Does the Fallingwater day trip include admission?+
No, the listing says Fallingwater admission is not included and the house tour must be booked directly with Fallingwater. Book that first, then arrange the trip around your tour time.
How far is Fallingwater from Pittsburgh?+
It is in Mill Run in the Laurel Highlands, about an hour and a half by car southeast of the city. The private trip takes around six hours in total.
Is Fallingwater open in November?+
Yes, Fallingwater is open in November except on Wednesdays and Thanksgiving Day. From 30 November it switches to winter hours of 9:30am to 3pm.
Can young children visit Fallingwater?+
Children under six are not allowed on house tours, but families can buy a self-guided grounds pass. This private trip has a minimum age of 9.
Can you take photos inside Fallingwater?+
Photos without flash are allowed inside only at your guide's direction, and personal photos are welcome on the grounds. Drones are prohibited.
