Looking for an amazing outdoorsy getaway without missing out on the fun of a city? Check out this weekend itinerary for the best time in Roanoke, Virginia!
Disclaimer - Many of the activities mentioned in this blog post were sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Public Relations and Tourism Conference and organized by Visit Blue Ridge. As always, my opinions are unbiased and my own. I want to thank MATPRA and Visit Blue Ridge for their generosity!
Why Roanoke
Roanoke, Virginia is a beautiful city located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. While it’s the tenth largest city in Virginia, it still has a neighborhood, friendly feel. There’s so much to do in this city, including outdoor adventures of all kinds, eat delicious food, and visiting local landmarks. This area took me by surprise with how
Read on for the best things to do during a weekend in Roanoke, VA!
Table of Contents
- What to Do in Roanoke
- Where to Stay in Roanoke
- Where to Eat in Roanoke
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What to Do in Roanoke Virginia
Roanoke, Virginia offers a ton to do, especially if you love the outdoors! This weekend itinerary focuses mostly on outdoor activities, with some indoor adventures for a rainy day.
As always, follow the principles of leave no trace when you're out exploring! Pack out all trash, leave wildlife alone, and generally leave it better than you found it - for more information visit the Leave No Trace Center.
Outdoor Adventures in Roanoke
Go for a Hike
Hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains is a bucket list adventure in and of itself. The area surrounding Roanoke is a nature lover’s paradise with mountain views, natural rock formations, and waterfalls. Check out some of the best hikes in Roanoke below!
McAfee Knob
If you’re looking for a challenge, McAfee Knob is one of the best hikes on the east coast. This ~8 mile hike has beautiful views of the area and with almost 2K feet of elevation gain, you will earn your view! I did this as a sunrise hike which involved about two hours of hiking in the dark, but was absolutely worth it.
Check out my guide to hiking McAfee Knob at sunrise for an all time bucket list experience!
Roaring Run
Britt around Town loved her time exploring the Roaring Run Natural Area, located an hour north of Roanoke. Check out Britt’s other adventures in Small Town America!
Exploring Roaring Run Falls was beyond picturesque! The trail was easy to navigate, and the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. The bridges made for perfect photo locations. While we didn’t have time to explore the swimming spots, fishing locations, or the 1832 Iron Furnace on the Woodland Trail, it’s clear that this area offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts.
Dragon’s Tooth
Anna over at Stuck on the Go loved hiking Dragon’s Tooth. She says:
If you love rock scrambles, beautiful mountain views, and a good workout, then you’ll love the Dragon’s Tooth hike. It’s rated as strenuous, though I didn’t feel it was too difficult, and it clocks in at about 4.6-miles. The trail is very well-marked and leads you to multiple rock formations that look a bit like dragon’s teeth (shocker, right?). Wear sturdy shoes with good grip and you can climb up on these rock formations for some great views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s one of the best hikes near Roanoke if you’re looking for a challenge!
Check out a Sunrise and/or Sunset
The Star at Mountain Mill Park is a great place to check out both sunrise and sunset. I went for sunset and it was a beautiful view of the city. The Star is literally just that – the world’s largest man-made star. Visitors can drive right to the top or can earn their views with a hike from the bottom of the park to the Star. There is a viewing platform right in front of the Star. Sunset was slightly crowded so if you’re looking to have a view to yourself, I’d recommend sunrise.
Swing from the Trees at Treetop Quest at Explore Park
I had the best time at the Treetop Quest Explore Park. This adrenaline junkie’s dream offered progressively challenging aerial obstacles. After suiting us up in our harnesses, giving a demonstration, and making sure we could properly clip in, the staff set us loose on a series of obstacle courses set high in the trees. There was a mix of obstacles to clamber over or walk on, such as swinging bridges, nets, and Tarzan swings as well as ziplines as high as 45 feet in the air. My personal favorite course was one that was almost exclusively ziplines. Once you’ve had your fill on the ziplines, you can head over the Twin Creeks Brew Pub for a beverage or a bite in the historic Brugh Tavern.
Check out my full guide to having a great time at Treetop Quest at Explore Park!
Indoor Adventures in Roanoke
Rediscover Your Inner Child at Center in the Square
Center in the Square in downtown Roanoke is an incredible place to visit for kids of all ages. Visiting the Starcade, a video game museum, was a dream come true for my ten-year-old self. All games in the Starcade are set to free play so you can ski ball, Mario Kart, and Dance Dance Revolution to your heart’s content. I loved shredding on Guitar Hero with my fellow conference attendees. Gamers can also check out Roanoke Pinball, which is the same concept only for pinball machines. I could have spent hours in both of these awesome tributes to my childhood. The building is also home to free aquariums and a children’s museum. I loved my time here.
Visit Black Dog Salvage
Taylor of Brown Eyed Flower Child highly recommends vintage lovers check out Black Dog Salvage during a visit to Roanoke. She says:
Black Dog Salvage is a fascinating warehouse that sells eclectic architectural elements, antiques, restored furniture, and artwork from abandoned, demolished, or renovated buildings. This famous Roanoke landmark has been featured on the show “Salvage Dawgs,” a treasure hunt television series to find and repurpose salvage for a sustainable future. While at Black Dog Salvage, you can purchase unique furniture pieces, clothing and gifts, cooking spices and jams, pet gear, and much more! During your time at Black Dog Salvage, you’ll have the chance to meet Mike, who is on the show, stay at The Stone House, a fully renovated and luxurious rental property from 1911, and enjoy a show or event at The Dog Bowl.
Check out Taylor’s guide to the 10 Best Things to Do in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley for more adventures in the Blue Ridge Mountains!
Where to Stay in Roanoke Virginia
The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, Curio Collection by Hilton
This luxury hotel is one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed in. and the building is beautiful, almost reminiscent of an English manor house. The service is excellent – I had a package delivered to the hotel that the staff went above and beyond to find for me when it didn’t show up when expected. The hotel bar was a great place to wind down at the end of the day. I was super impressed with the bartender’s ability to make me an amazing mocktail based on my less-than-descriptive ask of “not too sour”. The hotel also offers visitors access to their pool and hot tub as well as a well-equipped fitness center.
This hotel was the host of the MATPRA Conference and in addition to being a great place to stay, it was an awesome place to attend a conference. The communal bathrooms were always clean and well stocked and the food was incredible. I highly recommend the Hotel Roanoke for a luxury travel experience.
Home2Suites by Hilton Roanoke
Home2Suites is rapidly becoming one of my favorite hotel properties to stay at. This chain is geared towards extended stay visitors, with a desk, full refrigerator, and kitchenette with dishes, a dishwasher and full sink (with hot plates available upon request). I love that Home2Suites combines the best of hotels and home rentals. I was able to get a late checkout upon request, which helped me balance my meeting schedule. This hotel also offered access to fitness center with a Peleton bike, paid laundry machines, free breakfast, and an indoor pool. Parking was free. I’d highly recommend this hotel for visitors staying longer and wanting to save money by cooking or eating in the hotel.
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Camping at Smith Mountain
While I didn’t camp on my trip to Roanoke, my friend Aleah at Happily Ever Exploring highly recommends camping at Smith Mountain Lake State Park. She says:
If you’re looking to spend your night under the stars, Smith Mountain Lake State Park is an ideal destination. The park’s campground is located less than an hour from Roanoke and offers both tent and RV sites. Each site is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring as well as access to the nicest bathhouse we’ve ever encountered at a campground! Situated on Virginia’s second largest freshwater lake, the park offers access to miles of hiking trails, swimming, fishing, boat rentals, a boat ramp, and accessible fishing pier.
For more Blue Ridge Mountain outdoor adventures, check out Aleah’s Guide to Exploring Front Royal, Virginia!
To book a stay in the Roanoke area, use this maps to find hotels or home rentals!
Where to Eat in Roanoke Virginia
Roanoke has a plethora of amazing restaurants, from casual All-American food to fancier eateries. There’s sure to be something for every taste bud (and not enough time in one weekend to eat it all)!
Casual Places to Eat
Martin’s
This casual eatery offers a giant menu ranging from BBQ to burgers to Tex Mex. I had a burger that had pimento cheese and a friend green tomato on it. It was super filling and delicious – just what I wanted after a day of adventures! We unknowingly showed up for trivia night, which was so fun. Trivia was run through an app with immediate scoring, which was such an improvement from having to wait to get answers and find out what place your team is in. Our team ended up getting third and won a $10 gift card.
Village Grill
The Village Grill has a ton of classic American options with funky names. I had a burger and chose to get the Jr Arsonist, a grilled smash burger with jalapenos, pepper jack cheese and spicy mayo. It brought the heat!
Jaybird Tavern
Jaybird is a new addition to the Roanoke food scene. Here’s what Darla from FunFitnessFamily had to say about it!
This small cozy restaurant is designed to keep things social. The restaurant’s main specialty is Chicago-style tavern pizza meant to be shared. Each pizza has an inventive name from the Joe Pesto, with pistachio pesto sauce, sausage, double mozzarella and hot honey to Weird Al Pastor, with chorizo salsa verde, pineapple and red sauce. I went with the veggie-based Ratatouille (less the capers) and it was delicious!
Mac and Bob’s
This family friendly restaurant was a hit with Liz from Get Lost in the USA. She says:
Located just 15 min from Roanoke, Mac and Bob’s in Salem VA, is a casual American style restaurant know for its famous calzones that are as delicious as they are massive. And whatever you do – save room for dessert – their cakes are outrageously good!
Green Goat
Michele of Adventures Abound loved her time at the Green Goat, an American-style cafe.
The Green Goat in Roanoke is a no-frills cafe serving up sandwiches and classic fare. Located on an old railyard, this neighborhood favorite sources a lot of their ingredients from local farms, and even partners with a local pie shop for incredible desserts.I enjoyed my Turkey Reuben just fine, but I was googling my neighbor’s Pimento Grilled Cheese with bacon, avocado, and tomato. Yummm!
If you’re looking for a great place to stay while in Roanoke, check out Michele’s review of the Fire Station One Boutique Hotel, a hotel located inside of an old fire station. Cool!
Upscale Places to Eat
Six and Sky
Our conference kicked off with a seafood focused dinner and cocktails at Six and Sky. This rooftop bar was beautifully decorated and had great views of the city. As someone who drinks sparingly, I appreciated that the bartenders made a delicious cocktail based on a Cosmo especially for me. All the staff were so nice and the food was amazing. I especially loved the Creole-style red snapper with wild rice pilaf.
Fortunato
Faith from PrettyLilTraveler raved about her Italian dinner at Fortunato.
If you’re looking for a chic restaurant with homemade pastas, pizza, and incredible desserts, look no further than Fortunato in Roanoke. From the moment we walked in, we were warmly greeted by the host and escorted to a private room – perfect for our party of 14. It gave us privacy while still allowing us to enjoy the lively atmosphere of the restaurant. The menu was nearly impossible to choose from but we started with the burrata and Frito Misto for the table, followed by a variety of entrees ranging from spicy honey pizza to pasta and branzino. We wrapped up the meal with elegant cannoli and zeppole, which were the perfect finishing touch. Fortunato was giving an “adults only” dinner party vibe, making it an ideal spot for a night out in Roanoke for all occasions.
For more of Faith's Virginia adventures, check out her Three Day Itinerary for a Shenandoah Valley Getaway.
Sidecar
This awesome restaurant is located in a former bank building. While I didn’t get to eat here, my friend Alex at Alex Eats Too Much had a great experience. He says:
Sidecar features French and European style dishes. Our group sat in a space that looked like the former front desk of the bank with a small vault. I highly recommend both the Haus Sausage platter and Duck Pastrami – both were fantastic!
Roanoke is an amazing city that has a ton to offer every type of adventurer. From foodie to luxury traveler to the outdoorsy adventure folks, a weekend in Roanoke Virginia has something for everyone!
Updated December 3, 2024