Roanoke travel guide
Roanoke Tourism | Roanoke Guide
You're Going to Love Roanoke
With a population of 97,032, Roanoke is a must-see destination in Virginia, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Roanoke deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Where to Eat in Roanoke
If you’re looking for affordable options, Montano's - Roanoke (3733 Franklin Rd SW) and The River and Rail Restaurant (2201 Crystal Spring Ave SW) are great picks.
When to visit Roanoke
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Roanoke in July, when the average temperature is 77 °F, and the highest can go up to 87.8 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 28.4 °F, with an average temperature of 37.4 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in May, when precipitation is around 4.1″. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in Roanoke, with an average rainfall of 2.9″.
How to Get to Roanoke
Plane
When flying to Roanoke, you’ll arrive at Roanoke (ROA), which is located 4 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Roanoke include Delta, Lufthansa and ANA. The shortest domestic flight to Roanoke departs from Washington, D.C. and takes around 1h 08m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Roanoke. The train journey from Roanoke to Alexandria takes 4h 38m and costs around $23 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Baltimore, expect to pay about $45 for a 6h 01m trip. The train station in Roanoke is called Roanoke, and is located 0.2 miles from the city center.
Car
Another option to get to Roanoke is to pick up a car rental from Washington, D.C., which is about 194 miles from Roanoke. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Sixt, among others, in Washington, D.C..
Bus
You can travel by bus to Roanoke using Megabus or FlixBus. From Washington, D.C., the bus ride to Roanoke takes 310 miles and will cost you around $98. From Newark, the ticket costs about $61 for a journey of 700 miles. Roanoke’s bus station is located 6 miles from the city center.
Airlines serving Roanoke
Where to stay in Roanoke
If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hampton Inn & Suites Roanoke-Downtown and Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Roanoke Hollins/I-81.
Where to stay in popular areas of Roanoke
Most booked hotels in Roanoke
Renting a car in Roanoke
Renting a car in Roanoke costs $66 per day, on average, or $133 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo and Avis are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Roanoke is the Dollar branch at 5202 Aviation Drive Northwest, which is 4 miles from the city center.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 5% more expensive than at Roanoke.
Expect to pay $3.94 per gallon in Roanoke (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $47.24 and $62.99. The most frequently booked car type in Roanoke is Compact (Nissan Rogue or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Chevrolet Cruze or similar) are, on average, 55% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.