Trail Town

Somerset

Somerset County, PA

Gateway to Flight 93

About Somerset

Somerset, the county seat of Somerset County, sits at 2,190 feet elevation in the scenic Laurel Highlands. Founded in 1795 and incorporated in 1804, this town of 6,046 residents serves as the primary access point to the Flight 93 National Memorial. Accessible via PA Turnpike Exit 110, Somerset welcomes over 350,000 annual visitors to the memorial while offering a charming downtown, outdoor recreation, and rich coal mining heritage.

9/11 Connection

Somerset is officially recognized as the Gateway to Flight 93 National Memorial, located just 15 miles away in Shanksville. The memorial honors the 40 passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 who fought back against hijackers on September 11, 2001, preventing the aircraft from reaching its intended target in Washington, D.C. Their sacrifice is widely credited with saving countless lives.

The 9/11 National Memorial Trail connects to Somerset via the Great Allegheny Passage at Garrett, with a dedicated connector trail leading to the Flight 93 Memorial. This segment is a key part of the 1,300-mile trail linking all three 9/11 memorial sites.

Trail Access

The 9/11 Memorial Trail connects to Somerset via the Great Allegheny Passage at Garrett, with a dedicated connector trail to the Flight 93 National Memorial. The route features a mix of rail-trail and rural roads through the scenic Laurel Highlands, also linking to Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site.