10 Mar Riding the Monongahela Incline in Pittsburgh

I was born and raised not far outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. My family and friends and I thus visited the city often, whether for Steelers games or to introduce a new friend to the area. When I introduce someone to Pittsburgh for the first time, I always recommend riding the Monongahela Incline. It offers a beautiful overlook of the city at the top, and I also enjoy pointing out certain familiar attractions in the distance. Back in 2018 I road tripped from Pennsylvania to California with a couple of friends, and this was our first stop! 

After riding the Monongahela incline, my friends and I then headed to West Virginia on our road trip to check out some natural wonders. For example, we explored underground at the Lost World Caverns and hiked to three waterfalls at Falls of Hills Creek.

Contents:

1) Location of Monongahela Incline in Pittsburgh

2) Hours of Operation and Tickets

3) Quick Facts

4) Riding the Monongahela Incline in Pittsburgh

5) Attractions At the Top 

6) Another Option: Duquesne Incline

1) Location of Monongahela Incline in Pittsburgh

One of the most classic and popular attractions in Pittsburgh is the Monongahela Incline. At the top visitors enjoy an unobstructed view of the city from multiple viewpoints. The lower station is located on West Carson Street while the upper station is on Wyoming Street in the Mt. Washington neighborhood. 

Did you know that there is a national park only a couple of hours outside of the city of Pittsburgh? Cuyahoga National Park is located just south of Cleveland, Ohio. It is close enough that you only need to plan a day trip to explore.

Parking

There is plenty of parking available if you start your ride on the incline from the lower station. First, you can look for street parking. However, there is not too much so you might be looking for a needle in a haystack. Second, you can park at one of the various garages or surface lots along the water. For example, there is the Station Square Parking Garage as well as east and west surface lots for Station Square Parking. 

On the other hand, there is less parking available at the upper station. You will most likely need to find street parking if you begin your incline ride from here. 

Nearby Lodging

If you are staying in the city of Pittsburgh for the whole weekend, then you will need to reserve lodging accommodations. You can check out options in Mount Washington specifically as well as in Pittsburgh in general. 

Nearby Airport

The closest airport is the Pittsburgh International Airport, which is only 25 minutes west. You can either rent a car from the Pittsburgh airport and drive to the Monongahela Incline or take public transportation. 

View of Pittsburgh from the Monongahela Incline viewpoint

2) Hours of Operation and Tickets

Visitors can ride the incline at any time from 5:30am to 12:45am from Monday to Saturday. However, there are limited hours of operation on Sunday from 8:45am to 12:00am. In addition to tourists riding the incline for a view, locals use it as public transportation to and from work. 

In terms of ticket prices, a round trip fare costs $3.50 while a one-way fare costs $2.50 for adults. Children, individuals with disabilities, and older citizens receive discounted fares. Additionally, the incline accepts ConnectCard for payment. Check out their site for more information.

Another angle of the city from the Monongahela Incline viewpoint

3) Quick Facts – Monongahela Incline, Pittsburgh

1. The Monongahela Incline is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The lower station is on West Carson Street and the upper station is on Wyoming Street. 

2. Hours of operation for the incline are 5:30am to 12:45am from Monday to Saturday. However, Sunday has limited hours from 8:45am to 12:00am.

3. A round trip fare for an adult costs $3.50.

4. The Monongahela Incline climbs approximately 400 feet at six miles per hour. 

5. There are three viewpoints as well as a variety of restaurants at the top of the incline. 

4) Riding the Monongahela Incline in Pittsburgh

First off, those with a fear of heights might not fully enjoy riding the Monongahela incline. While all visitors ride within an enclosed car, it does travel almost 400 feet in elevation. 

Accessing the incline is fairly easy. We entered the building, bought our tickets at the machines, and then walked right up to the doors. There are three different levels to the car. We chose to sit in the bottom section because it has the best view. While we waited for the car to arrive, we made sure to stand back against the wall. It is important to leave room for those exiting the cars. As soon as the car arrived and all previous passengers exited, we entered and then enjoyed the ride. 

The ride only takes a couple of minutes as it climbs approximately 367 feet at six miles per hour (~9.7 kph). Once at the top, exit and feel free to explore!

While the Monongahela Incline leads to one of the most popular viewpoints in Pittsburgh, the New River Gorge Bridge Overlook offers one of the most popular viewpoints in the state of West Virginia.

Getting ready to board the Monongahela Incline

5) Attractions At the Top

There are three viewpoints visitors can walk to at the top of the Monongahela Incline. First is the Patrick T. Fagan overlook. Second is the Pittsburgh Skyline overlook and third is the Paul F. Jones overlook. Each offers a view of the city from above. See if you can spot Heinz Field or try to count how many bridges are in sight.

Additionally, there are a variety of restaurants and other food options. The restaurants include Shiloh Gastro, RedBeard’s Bar and Grill, and Sloppy Joe’s. On the other hand, for those craving something a little sweeter, check out Grandview Bakery or DiFiore’s Ice Cream Delite.

Enjoying the views (in a bit of chilly weather)!

6) Another Option: Duquesne Incline

What is better than one incline in Pittsburgh? Two inclines in Pittsburgh! The Duquesne Incline is located on West Carson Street, just a few minutes west of the Monongahela Incline. Furthermore, there is a viewpoint as well as multiple restaurants at the top. 

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Check out a popular hike in nearby West Virginia: Endless Wall Trail near New River Gorge.

Or head to a nearby national park: Blue Hen Falls in Cuyahoga National Park.