I went to Roanoke's main tourist website before traveling to Roanoke. I discovered that the Mill Mountain Star is the top attraction. Like Diamond Head and Waikiki are icon landmarks in Hawaii, and Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in New York City, Roanoke has the Mill Mountain Star. It was a short 15 minute drive from downtown Roanoke to the Star itself. My friend and I decided to spend a little time here before heading back to downtown Roanoke for dinner. It looked like a beautiful drive and it ended up being one of the most beautiful ones I've done all day in Roanoke. Once we got to the parking area, we found parking and walked to the viewing platform. The overlook was fenced off from people who happened to be looking a little too close and might fall off the cliff. There was informational signage for those who want to learn more about the area and the mill mountain star itself. The views were spectacular looking out into the city of Roanoke and Roanoke valley. It was very beautiful and amazing to see. The mill mountain star is the symbol of the city of Roanoke and it is made out of neon tubing and is 88.5 feet tall. It was initially created as a Christmas symbol but gradually became a symbol of the city of Roanoke. I soaked it all in for maybe 10 minutes and took a selfie with the Mill Mountain Star before we went back to downtown Roanoke for dinner. It was definitely worth going, even if it was just 30 minutes, including the drive times. Definitely Recommended if you're in the area. At least there is restroom facilities here, which is a big plus. The overall experience here at the Mill Mountain Star was breathtaking and indescribable. It was a highlight of my trip to Roanoke, Virginia for sure. The drive up the hill was nice and definitely walkable if you want to, just watch out for cars if you do. There is a long bench directly in front of the structure that you can sit on to rest. On this March 2026 day I was here, my friend and I came across a group of adolescent girls who happened to be sitting on the bench at the time. All 5 of them hanging out together. Thought that was pretty neat and typical. Friends hanging together. After reading those information signage at the Mill Mountain Star, I gazed out into the Roanoke valley and reminded myself that it was absolutely great that I am able to travel. How the history of the Roanoke valley came to be and how the city gradually was formed and is currently thriving. The area is kept clean by the local parks department and there were a few trash cans around for visitors to throw away their garbage. There's also restroom facilities here too for visitors. After leaving downtown Roanoke and driving south towards Rocky Mount, we saw the Star being lit up for the evening. It was great to see it being lit up as a landmark of Roanoke. If you're in the area and want to look at the top attraction of Roanoke, swing on by. Best bet would be to come in the morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds if possible. The Mill Mountain Star is the iconic symbol of the city of Roanoke, Virginia. Its physical address is located in Mill Mountain Park, 2000 JB Fishburn Parkway SE. There was no admission fee required here, which s very nice. Just be respectful to others that are around and keep the area litter free. As far as parking goes, there are maybe 8 parking stalls that are readily available for visitors. You may want to avoid crowds for the best time possible. If you're a fan of public transportation, bus route 41 takes you from the 3rd street station in downtown Roanoke close enough to Mill Mountain. You'd stop off at the Dollar General at Riverland Road EB and Garden City (Hwy 116) but you'd have to walk close to 2 miles from there to get to the parking lot and the Mill Mountain Star. There is also the Mill Mountain Trail head if you don't want to follow the road leading up to the Star. Might be more scenic if you have the time to hike versus driving. And of course, there's always Uber and Lyft if you need them for your convenience. It was one thing that I can knock off my list to visit. It's quite nice to see at night. If you're in the area and want to see the Roanoke Star, come on by. And by the way, There's nothing up here besides restrooms and a parking lot, as far as amenities go. Best thing to do is eat or drink before or after you visit. 5.0 stars for the overall experience. Support local! A+ read more

Mill Mountain Star - Local Flavor Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

See all

We stopped here on our travels to Roanoke. We read about it being one of the most visited places in Roanoke. We followed the directions and arrived before the sun was setting. We were told it is great place to see the sunset. We parked in the small parking area and took the short walk to the observation deck which is just below the star. The view from the observation deck is amazing. There is a display that shows the mountains you can see with names and distance. We read there is another observation deck if you follow one of the trails but we did not explore more. Our only recommendation is to get here early because parking is limited. read more

See all

This was truly an amazing thing to behold. It was in a park on top of a hill the overlooks downtown VA. Our family went here while we were on vacation and I have to say it did not disappoint at all. The views are amazing especially if you love being outside and enjoy nature. read more

See all

This majestic star at the top of a hill lights up at night and overlooks the town. The park that has been built up around it includes a zoo (which is the only part that you have to pay to get into), a garden, and trails going up, down, and around the small mountain. A loop of the mountain was quite shady on a hot day, and the views looking down from the star are as good as the views looking up at it. There was some more trail construction advertised, but what was already there was easily worth a visit. read more

Mill Mountain Star - Local Flavor Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

See all

What a beautiful place to be at night time in Roanoke! Sparkling view of the city and lovely trail to walk on. Nothing there not to love. The viewing spots in front of the star can be crowded but if you go down the trail on the left, there's another viewing deck that's less crowded. Looking forward to returning again in the future. read more

Mill Mountain Star - The view of Roanoke from the Star - Local Flavor Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

See all

This **** was dope. Nighttime and the fog and empty is 5 Stars. I can't speak to during the day with a bunch of strangers, but at night + fog + I Am Legend vibes = 5 stars. The star is massive and just pops up out of nowhere once you leave the parking lot. I was expecting a slight trek, but no, I was wrong....it's a super quick jaunt to the world's biggest manmade star. read more

Mill Mountain Star - Local Flavor Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

The Mill Mountain Star (also called the Roanoke Star) is a star at the top of Mill Mountain. You can drive right up to a parking lot at the base of the star, where you can take in views of Roanoke and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The view is great, and there are trails up there (don't know length since we didn't have time to explore any trails when we were there), but it's really just a quick get out of the car, take in the view, take your picture, and move on. It's only a 10-minute drive from downtown Roanoke, so it's definitely worth a quick drive out of your way to get a shot of the most photographed attractions in the area. read more

See all

The view from Mill Mountain was great even though the weather was not so great! Even with limited visibility and rain on our heels we were still able take in a pretty nice view from the vantage point at the base of the star. From what I could see the trails were nice(at the beginning at least)wish the weather was nicer so we could have meandered about for awhile. The restrooms...well...for guys I hope you don't have IBS or another sensitive tummy issue. Ladies I would just hold it seriously! It's not worth it! read more

See all

If you need a fun family day, take a trip up the mountain and explore the Mill Mountain activities. There are two giant observation decks that overlook the city. You can pack a picnic and sit at a picnic table or bring a blanket. There are vending machines and bathrooms. There are pretty gardens to explore. There is even a zoo. You can also go bike riding. There is a frog pond and playground. If some of your group doesn't want to walk around, they can sit on a bench. read more

See all

You could easily spend a half hour or a whole day exploring the Mill Mountain area. We mostly enjoyed the view from the star area, where you have a great view of the city below. You can drive pretty easily straight to the top. I would love to go back at night! read more

Mill Mountain Star - Local Flavor Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

A landmark symbol and a great tourist attraction in Roanoke. This star is huge on top of the mountain for everyone to see. The lit up star is viewed at night. After a day hiking at the parks, it's nice to end with a drive to the top of Mill mountain for an up close look and a beautiful view of the city. read more

Mill Mountain Star - Star - Local Flavor Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

See all

Best time to go to Roanoke Star is at NIGHT to view the city and the STAR. Day time is great for hikes, runs and walks throughout the Mill Mountain park. +. Ambiance is both touristy and cheerful. Plenty of locals use to exercise. It's a short drive from downtown. ++. There's a couple lookout decks for city vistas. Nice view of the city and the STAR at night! The park has a small garden with a koi pond, a play ground and a zoo. Mostly it has many trails for walking, mountain biking and hiking. It connects to Blue ridge parkway. Well kept trails and clean parking lots. +. Parking is free and ample. It's a good park to jog and bike if you don't have time to hit the peaks nearby. This park provides the best view of the city and a fabulous sight of the STAR lit up after sunsets. read more

See all

Such a cool landmark for the Star City. Funny, when I lived in Roanoke I never took the time to visit Mill Mountain and check out the famous Star. Now as a visitor I try to hike or ride up here as frequently as possible. There are some easy jogging or hiking paths that lead you up the mountain or or can drive and save your strength for greater deeds. I am amazed at the runners who frequently attack this hill, but that's because I have lived in the Gulf Coast for so long now that any kind of bump winds me. Still, bless those hardy folks. Once at the top you have a great vista of the Blue Ridge Mountains and downtown Roanoke. You will also find restrooms and picnic tables if you want to spend the day there. read more

See all

A beautiful outlook to the city of Roanoke! I was worth the drive here to witness this overlook in person, especially on a beautiful day. The weather was a bit chilly but the warmth of the sun made up for it. I could only imagine how beautiful it is during the fall. The drive up to the top was soothing and like a breath of fresh air. The air was amazing from the top. I loved the trails for walking. I could easily spend a full day but walking and reading a book. If you are from out of town, I recommend stopping here to enjoy the view of the city from the top. read more

What a beautiful accommodation for the people of Roanoke! Two different viewing platforms, ample parking, even public restrooms, and picnic tables made available. And, of course, stunning views. We spent New Year's Eve here watching the sunset and the lights twinkle over Roanoke. A great way to start off the new year! read more

This was our first visit to Roanoke and our first visit to the Mill Mountain star! What a beautiful view of Roanoke and all of the mountains! Seeing the star lit up at night is definitely a site to see! This is a perfect little tourist spot! You can drive up, there are benches to sit and enjoy the view or there are other hiking trails that are a little more challenging. What was really cool to me was seeing the star lit up from below and then driving up and seeing it up close! Perfect little free touristy idea for the family! read more

Mill Mountain Star - Local Flavor Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

See all

Been here several times over the years... it's a quick, easy ride from the Hotel Roanoke (if you're staying there) and is well worth the drive! You can see a lot of valley below and learn about the star, which is they claim is the largest manmade star in the world. It's also a free attraction! read more

Gorgeous, sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Roanoke from up here! We didn't have time to hike, so we parked in the parking lot right behind the star and enjoyed the scenery. Watching the fog roll in over the mountains was epic, and I can't wait to go back to explore the trails, too! read more

So the Star is supposed to be lit every night until midnight, but I somehow missed it because I never thought to look during the few days' trip to Roanoke, which was my very first. In fact, I didn't even know about the Star until I arrived! The Star is big and impressive, but the real 'star' for me was the spectacular view from the lookout directly across from the Star. The clear weather certainly helped, and we had an eyeful of gorgeous 180 view from the two lookouts up at the top. Come for the Star, stay for park, yes! read more

See all

Really nice place to come stop by on top of Mill Mountain in Roanoke. Day or night, you'll enjoy the beautiful views of downtown and the surrounding mountains. There are also some hiking trails to take around the star. However, come at night and the star of brightly lit and it's also a nice spot to catch a sunset. It is popular with locals and does get crowded so expect the parking to be a bit of a pain. Worth stopping by. read more

Mill Mountain Star - Local Flavor Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

See all

The proper title for this review is Mill Mountain Star & State Park. Worth a visit especially to get pix at dusk. Recommended. Roanoke is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountain range. Mill mountain lies southwesterly about 1.5 miles from the downtown area directly in front of the industrial era train station (now the tourist center) which itself is only a few city blocks from the city market. This places Mill mountain in an ideal location to flick some pix of the city and surrounding areas either at dawn or dusk. As well, it offers hiking trails. We'll be back with our camera gear to get some time lapse night shots! And, oh yes, there's a huge star formation of lights perched atop the mountain visible from 60 miles away at night. It's a neon-tubed structure built in 1949 and a major attraction for the town and area. Many stop to flick selfie's with the star in the background. In days bygone, Roanoke bore the nickname "Star City". read more

This is definitely the highlight of things to see here in the valley. It's a must stop for anyone visiting Roanoke. read more

Mill Mountain Star - Local Flavor Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Worth the trip up the mountain to see it. Wish Apple Maps wouldn't have sent me up the other side of the mountain first. The view is great during the day and I'd bet the place is magical at night. read more

You can see the whole city from here! This place is awesome! It was an easy walk to get to the star, and then I phoned my brother to look at me from the internet! How cool is that? The zoo nearby is fantastic and was very receptive to having a service dog touring the grounds. I love going to the Star! read more

The star is so peaceful and beautiful!! Wonderful place to take your family! Great place to have a picnic or to even go on a small hike! Animal friendly and very beautiful at night!! read more

Great view. Some wonderful hiking trails and a zoo. Great place to spend an afternoon. Bring a picnic.