Traveling with the dog on the PA turnpike?

[Anonymous]

Any recommendations for a good place to walk the dog between DC and Cleveland? Our dog usually needs a bit of a walk to do his business, and I was wondering if anyone knew of a state or local park not too far off the PA turnpike or I-70 that could work.
Any tips would be much appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Most of the turnpike plazas have pretty good size grassy areas surrounding them, a good number of people with dogs using them.

[Anonymous]

Hopefully, someone can give you a good suggestion, but your dog may not require as much of a walk as he normally does if you’re at a service plaza. It won’t take him long to figure out that that’s where lots of dogs do their business.

[Anonymous]

The turnpike service areas/pet relief areas on the PA Turnpike are nasty. LOTS of people (I would say the overwhelming majority) do not pick up after themselves. I mean it's really bad - you're either going to step in it or your dog is, and then you have to get back in your car.

We had better luck with the smaller "overlooks" or non-Turnpike service areas before and after the Turnpike. There is one in Frederick before the 70 intersection, one in Washington County (I think, roughly 15 mins outside of Frederick on 70) and then smaller towns prior to Breezewood. I think it's exactly 2 hours on the PA Turnpike from Breezewood to the Ohio line, so if you can make it through there, you'll be ok. There is a nice new Ohio Welcome Center right over the state line and I found that pretty clean. Once you're over the Ohio line, you've got about 70 miles to Cleveland.

The entire trip is no more than 5.5-6 hours (I've done it more times than I can count). If you must stop, park as far away from the building and/or grassy area as possible, or by the larger truck parking on the far side of the building. Those areas seemed a *little* better in terms of cleanliness. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The turnpike service areas/pet relief areas on the PA Turnpike are nasty. LOTS of people (I would say the overwhelming majority) do not pick up after themselves. I mean it's really bad - you're either going to step in it or your dog is, and then you have to get back in your car.

We had better luck with the smaller "overlooks" or non-Turnpike service areas before and after the Turnpike. There is one in Frederick before the 70 intersection, one in Washington County (I think, roughly 15 mins outside of Frederick on 70) and then smaller towns prior to Breezewood. I think it's exactly 2 hours on the PA Turnpike from Breezewood to the Ohio line, so if you can make it through there, you'll be ok. There is a nice new Ohio Welcome Center right over the state line and I found that pretty clean. Once you're over the Ohio line, you've got about 70 miles to Cleveland.

The entire trip is no more than 5.5-6 hours (I've done it more times than I can count). If you must stop, park as far away from the building and/or grassy area as possible, or by the larger truck parking on the far side of the building. Those areas seemed a *little* better in terms of cleanliness. Good luck!

NP who moved away from OH ages ago but did this drive a million times with my late dad who had very strong opinions on how every rest stop along the way should be handled and just wanted to say that you brought back some happy memories, so thank you. And also: he would thoroughly approve of your advice.

[Anonymous]

Agree that the OH/PA turnpike rest stops are full of litter. It's so upsetting as a dog owner who often makes that same drive. At Breezewood, the cleanest grass is by the Dunkin donuts/gas station quickie Mart or by the Pittsburgh sports fan store, both on the right side as you go west from DC to CLE. But those are tiny bits of grass within small parking lots. I don't have a good suggestion for the reverse back to DC.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for the tips! We went with the small town before Breezewood theory and then stopped in Cranberry before the Ohio border.