Why Stay in Cranberry Township?
Here's what nobody's telling out-of-town visitors. You don't need to stay downtown to enjoy the NFL Draft. Cranberry Township is 25-30 minutes north of the venues, and it's where a lot of locals would tell you to book if you asked them.
The math is simple. Downtown hotels are running $500-2,000/night for draft weekend. Cranberry hotels? $120-180/night. That's not a typo. You'll save enough on one night's stay to cover gas, food, and probably a jersey.
Why Cranberry works for draft weekend:
- Hotels run $120-180/night vs. $500-2,000 downtown
- 25-30 minutes to the draft via park-and-ride bus
- Free parkingat Ross Park & Ride
- Great restaurants, shopping, and suburban comfort
- You skip the downtown chaos entirely
Cranberry isn't some random truck stop. It's one of the fastest-growing communities in western Pennsylvania. There are chain restaurants, local gems, craft breweries, shopping centers, and every hotel brand you can think of. You're not roughing it. You're being smart.
How to Get Downtown from Cranberry Township
This is the most important section on this page. Getting from Cranberry to the draft is straightforward if you know your options. Here they are, ranked from best to worst.
Ross Park & Ride (I-279 Exit 5)
This is it. The option Reddit recommends unanimously. Every single thread about getting from Cranberry to the draft says the same thing: drive to Ross Park & Ride.
Step by step:
- From Cranberry, take I-79 South to I-279 South
- Get off at Exit 5. The park-and-ride lot is right there.
- Park for free. That's right. Free.
- Take the #8 bus or O1 express to downtown Pittsburgh.
- You're at the draft in about 25 minutes.
The drive from most Cranberry hotels to Ross Park & Ride is about 10 minutes. Total door-to-draft time: 35-40 minutes. And you paid $0 for parking.
Butler Transit Authority (528 Lot)
If you're coming from further north (Butler, Slippery Rock, even closer to I-80), the Butler Transit Authority runs a commuter bus from the 528 lot. It takes longer (40-70 minutes depending on the route), but it picks you up further north so you don't have to drive as far south.
Cost: $2-6 depending on the route. Best for: People coming from north of Cranberry who don't want to deal with I-279 at all.
Driving Yourself Downtown (Not Recommended)
Can you do it? Sure. Should you? Probably not. Here's why.
- Road closures are massive. Roberto Clemente Bridge, Andy Warhol Bridge, multiple I-279 exits, and Fort Duquesne Boulevard are all shut down.
- Downtown parking garages are expected to hit $50-100+ during draft weekend. North Shore lots that normally run $20 will be higher.
- Traffic will be unlike anything Pittsburgh has ever seen. Officials are literally telling people not to drive downtown.
If you absolutely must drive, take I-279 South from Cranberry, exit before downtown, and park in a neighborhood lot. South Side or the Strip District are your best bets. Then walk or take the T from there. But seriously, just do the park-and-ride.
Uber/Lyft from Cranberry
It works. It's just expensive. Expect $40-80 one way with surge pricing during draft weekend. One Reddit commenter estimated $80 from Cranberry with surge. That's $160 round trip for one day.
The bigger problem is getting a ride back to Cranberry at night. When 200,000+ people are all trying to leave downtown at the same time, drivers go where the money is. Getting matched with a driver heading 30 minutes north won't be easy.
Pro tip: If you go the Uber route, pre-schedule your rides in the app. Book your return trip before you even head downtown. And accept that surge pricing is going to hit.
For more transit details across all of Pittsburgh, check out our full Parking & Transportation Guide.
Cranberry Township Hotels ($120-180/night)
While downtown visitors are paying $500-2,000/night, you can stay at a perfectly good hotel in Cranberry for a fraction of the cost. Every hotel listed here has easy access to I-79 and I-76 (the Turnpike), which gets you to the Ross Park & Ride in about 10 minutes.
Hampton Inn & Suites Cranberry
$120-16010015 Pendleton Way, Cranberry Woods Business Park
Free hot breakfast, indoor pool, 24-hour gym. Easy highway access. Hilton says it's 30 minutes from downtown, and that tracks. Solid choice if you want reliable and straightforward.
Courtyard by Marriott Cranberry Woods
From $92Cranberry Township
One of the cheapest name-brand options. Fitness center, clean rooms, Marriott loyalty points. Booking.com lists it at 20 miles from the Andy Warhol Museum. Good value for Marriott members.
Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Cranberry
$140-180Cranberry Township
Full-service Hilton property. A step up from the Hampton Inn if you want a slightly nicer room. On-site restaurant saves you a trip if you get back late from the draft.
Home2 Suites by Hilton Cranberry
$130-170Cranberry Township
Extended stay with kitchenettes. Perfect if you're coming for all 3 days of the draft and want to cook some meals instead of eating out every night. Saves money on top of already saving money.
Pittsburgh Marriott North
$140-180Cranberry Township
Full-service Marriott. The biggest property in the area. Good for groups who want a bit more space and don't mind paying a little extra to stay within the Marriott ecosystem.
TownePlace Suites Cranberry
$120-160Cranberry Township
Another extended-stay Marriott option with kitchen suites. Great if you're making a long weekend out of it and want to keep food costs down.
Best Western Plus Cranberry-Pittsburgh North
$100-140Cranberry Township
Indoor pool, free buffet breakfast, 24-hour gym. The cheapest option on this list. Travelers consistently rate the location highly. No-frills, but clean and well-run.
Book now. These hotels know the draft is happening. Prices will climb as April 23 gets closer. Lock in a free-cancellation rate today and keep checking. Even at $180/night in Cranberry, you're saving $300-1,800 per night compared to downtown. For more options, see our full Where to Stay guide.
Restaurants & Bars in Cranberry Township
You don't need to eat downtown every night. Cranberry has legit dining options. Grab dinner here before heading to the draft, or eat when you get back so you're not fighting 200,000 other people for a table on the North Shore.
Juniper Grill
#1 on TripAdvisorAmerican cuisine with a full bar. 326 reviews and the top-rated restaurant in Cranberry Township. Good for a nicer sit-down meal without downtown prices.
The Turn Club
#2 on TripAdvisor. Newer spot that's earned a solid reputation fast. American menu. Worth checking out if Juniper is packed.
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
#3 on TripAdvisor with 229 reviews. Wood-fired steaks and seafood. A step up if you want a nicer dinner after a long day at the draft.
Napa Prime Chophouse
Upscale steakhouse. OpenTable top pick. If you're celebrating your team's first-round pick, this is where you do it.
The Sports Grille at Cranberry
The spot to watch draft coverage if you don't feel like heading downtown. Sports on every TV, happy hour specials, and you can actually hear yourself think, unlike the North Shore.
Off The Hook / Mr. Mister Supper Club
Both OpenTable top picks. Off The Hook for seafood, Mr. Mister for a supper club vibe. Solid date-night options.
Tamarind
Reddit's pick for the best Indian food in the Pittsburgh area. Tons of vegetarian options. Not what you'd expect to find in Cranberry, but it's genuinely excellent.
Local Breweries
Smiling Moose
#1 bar on Yelp for Cranberry (77 reviews). Good spot for a beer after the draft.
Recon Brewing / Dented Keg / Stick City Brewing
Three local craft breweries in the Cranberry area. If you're a beer person, you can hit all three without ever going downtown. Recon is the Yelp top pick.
Want to explore the downtown food scene too? Check out our Bars & Restaurants Guide for North Shore, Strip District, and South Side options.
The Day-Trip Strategy
Not staying overnight? No problem. This is the playbook for people driving in from Ohio, West Virginia, or further north in Pennsylvania who want to do the draft as a day trip.
The day-trip game plan:
- Drive to Cranberry Township. If you're coming from I-80, I-79, or the Turnpike, Cranberry is the natural stopping point. You don't need to fight traffic any further south than this.
- Park at Ross Park & Ride (I-279 Exit 5). It's about 10 minutes south of Cranberry. Free parking.
- Take the #8 bus or O1 express downtown. 25 minutes. Enjoy the ride.
- Spend the day at the draft. Walk between Acrisure Stadium (main stage) and Point State Park (Draft Experience) via the Roberto Clemente Bridge, which is pedestrian-only all weekend.
- Bus back to Ross Park & Ride. Grab your car and you're on the highway in 5 minutes.
- Drive home. Or stop for dinner in Cranberry first. Juniper Grill or Firebirds are right off the highway.
This strategy works perfectly for Day 1 (Thursday, picks start at 8pm ET) or Day 3 (Saturday, starts at noon). Saturday is the best day for casual fans and day-trippers. Smaller crowds, free concerts, and the 5K run in the morning.
For a full breakdown of which day is best for you, see our Budget Guide.
Things to Do in Cranberry (When You're Not at the Draft)
If you're staying for the whole weekend, you'll have downtime. Cranberry has options.
Fun Fore All Family Fun Park
Go-karts, mini-golf, arcade, bumper boats. TripAdvisor's top family activity in Cranberry. Great if you've got kids who need to burn energy before or after the draft.
Streets of Cranberry
Outdoor shopping center with restaurants and stores. Good for killing time or picking up anything you forgot to pack.
LumberjAxes Axe Throwing
Axe throwing in Cranberry. Fun group activity, especially if you're here with a crew and need something to do before the evening picks start.
Graham Park
Local park for walking and relaxing. Nice in late April when the weather cooperates. (Pittsburgh weather in late April can be 40 degrees or 85 degrees. Pack layers.)
Other Northern Suburbs (Wexford, Mars, Warrendale)
Cranberry isn't the only option up north. A few neighboring towns have similar hotel prices and the same highway access.
Wexford
Just south of Cranberry on I-79. Home to Wexford Public (locally owned, creative comfort food) and Tapville Social. Slightly closer to the Ross Park & Ride, which shaves a few minutes off your commute.
Mars
East of Cranberry along Route 228. Smaller and quieter, but some hotels and restaurants are available. About the same distance to downtown.
Warrendale
Between Cranberry and Wexford on I-79. Some hotel options and quick access to the same park-and-ride routes. If Cranberry hotels are booked, check here.
All three towns use the same strategy: drive to Ross Park & Ride, bus downtown, enjoy the draft, bus back. The route is identical. It's just a question of which hotel has availability and the best price.
Cranberry Township NFL Draft FAQ
How do I get from Cranberry Township to the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh?
The best option is to drive to the Ross Park & Ride at I-279 Exit 5, park for free, and take the #8 bus or O1 express to downtown Pittsburgh. The ride takes about 25 minutes. You can also take the Butler Transit Authority commuter bus from the 528 lot if you're coming from further north. Uber/Lyft will cost $40-80 with surge pricing during draft weekend.
How much are hotels in Cranberry Township during the NFL Draft?
Hotels in Cranberry Township typically run $120-180/night during draft weekend. That includes Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, and Home2 Suites. Compare that to $500-2,000/night downtown. You'll save $300-1,800 per night by staying in Cranberry and taking the bus in.
Is it worth staying in Cranberry Township for the NFL Draft instead of downtown?
Yes, if you want to save serious money. Cranberry Township hotels are 40-60% cheaper than downtown, and you're only 25-30 minutes from the draft venues via park-and-ride. You also get free parking, more restaurant options, and you skip the downtown chaos entirely. The trade-off is you can't walk to the venues, and late-night bus service is limited.
Where is the Ross Park & Ride and how do I get there from Cranberry?
The Ross Park & Ride is at I-279 Exit 5, about 10 minutes south of Cranberry Township. From Cranberry, take I-79 South to I-279 South. Get off at Exit 5 and the park-and-ride lot is right there. Parking is free. From there, take the #8 bus or O1 express downtown. This is the route Reddit unanimously recommends for anyone coming from the north.
More Draft Weekend Guides