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This was an awesome site that we saw while we were on our adventure through the Carolinas. This is the Roanoke star we came across the beautiful and seek while we were hiking up with the trails and taking pictures of things. This is definitely worth the stop.
I wish that we could give this 4.5 stars -- 5 for the Mill Mountain Star experience and 4 for the hike up the Star Trail. We arrived on a unseasonably cold and windy day on a Wednesday around noon in mid-October, 2022. We were only the 2nd car in the parking lot that holds maybe 15 cars. Be careful coming up the short driveway off Riverdale Road; there is a lot of erosion/potholes. There is good signage at the beginning, and along the Star Trail, and well-positioned benches if you'd like to take a breather. This is usually an out-and-back trail with a total distance of about 3.6 miles, and an elevation gain of about 800 feet, but we turned it into a lollipop hike of about 4.8 miles (same elevation change) by coming back along the road (there's a bicycle lane on the road for a good portion of it) until we hit the crosswalk back to the lower part of the trail and parking. Our main concern with the trail is the difficult footing, especially towards the top 0.3 miles or so. It appears that rocks have been brought in to maintain the trail (to deal with mud and erosion?) but they're difficult to balance on, especially on an already steep section of the trail and during autumn when there are many leaves covering the rocks and hidden tree limbs. Once on top, and you can just drive up, it's a really cool experience. There are to-die-for views of Roanoke and beyond at two observation decks, picnic tables, a clean restroom, and even a zoo. And, of course, don't miss the chance to get up close and personal with the Star that lights up over Roanoke every evening. It's reputed to be the world's largest man-made star structure.
Having been to Roanoke a few times I was always curious about the Star & since you can see it from everywhere - I HAD to go to the top of the mountain to see it up close;) As I expected, the view from the top is awesome - great views of Roanoke & environs! Was easy to get to if you're not into hiking... just parked at the top maybe a few hundred feet away. You can walk around all sides of the star - even underneath if you want to. Nice observation deck where you can either gaze down over the valley or do a 180 & check out the star 'up close & personal'. There are even nearby restrooms...not too shabby;) If you're in the area & curiosity gets the best of you - check it out!
The Roanoke star was built November 1949 it was put up as a Christmas decoration to shine over the city. They were going to disassemble it after Christmas but decided to keep it up all the time. The star is located on Mill Mountain a mountain were bike riders travel and a park for relaxing and even a zoo. The star stands 88.5 ft and visibility from air-60 miles. The star is lit up white all year except for Memorial day -flag day- July 4 - 9-11 and Veterans Day then it is red white and blue. There is a star camera up toward the top that is videotaping all the time you can go to the starcam website witch is www.roanokeva.gov/star on and see friends and family that are there or to see downtown Roanoke from the top of Mill Mountain.
Five stars for the Roanoke Star. Built in 1949 at the top of Mill Mountain, it was originally designed to inspire Christmas shoppers. Since then, it was decided that it would be lit year-round. The star is over 88 feet tall and can be seen for miles. Usually the three concentric stars are lit red-while-blue but the colors change to honor various events. There is an observation area at the base of the star and on a clear day (today was a clear day despite a light drizzle), you can see the entire Roanoke Valley for miles and miles. If it's slippery when you're driving, as it was when I did, the road can also be a little slippery so watch your speed and your following distance! There is free parking at the top of the mountain but if if's a day for hiking, you may find trouble getting a spot. [Review 13792 overall, 1113 of 2020, number 1226 in Virginia.]
Bottom Line: A 71-year old landmark of Roanoke that is a popular attraction and offers sweeping views of the Roanoke Valley. The Mill Mountain Star, or Roanoke Star, was built in 1949 as a temporary display for Christmas. Seventy-one years later it is still sitting 1,000 feet above the city and it is illuminated each night until midnight. On a clear night the star is visible from 60 miles away so while it can be enjoyed from the ground the best way to appreciate the star is to drive up to it and check it out from the nearby observation deck. From the observation deck the 100 foot tall star is interesting but I think the real draw is the view of the Roanoke Valley and the Allegheny Mountains to the west. Regarding illumination, the star is typically three concentric stars of white light each night. But occasionally the colors are changed symbolically. Historically, when there was bad traffic accidents the star would be changed to red. During the United States bicentennial in 1976 and after 9-11 it was changed to red, blue and white. But after the Virginia Tech Shooting in 2007 it was once again turned to white to symbolize hope. A year later the star went dark for a night in remembrance of that tragic event. As mentioned above, the original intention was for the star to be temporary, or at least for the illumination to be seasonal. The team behind the project intended to leave the star in place but only to light it during the Christmas season. The illuminated star was so popular it was decided to light it nightly. The Roanoke Star underwent a renovation in 2006 to upgrade the electrical work. The Blue Ridge Mountains icon has earned a place on the National Register for Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register. There is a parking lot immediately behind the star. There are not a ton of spots in the lot but we were easily able to get a spot on a early Saturday morning in November.
Located at the top of Mill Mountain Park, the Roanoke Star overlooks town. You can see it lit in the evenings from the distance. When you visit it, you get a nice view. After checking the Star out, I'd recommend checking out the rest of the park, which is nice.
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.
The Roanoke Star is part of the tradition of Roanoke. We always look for it when driving at night. It is wonderful being able to stand right beside the star. There is a viewing deck that overlooks the city. If you stand to the far right corner of the deck (if the star was behind you), you can find your image on the live camera feed. It is a fun activity. There are benches around the area.
While in Virginia I had a chance to drive up to the Roanoke Star that's over 88ft tall. Once you get to the top it's a beautiful view but really is just a quick get out of the car I'm going to take a picture type moment . We went during the day time hours so I'm sure the star and the view is even more beautiful at night . But if you live in Virginia or visiting I would say add it to your list .
Love coming up here! This time we got to bring our little one! She enjoyed it so much. Any season is a good time to go, great views of the mountains and the city! Has yet to be over crowded when we go. We haven't done any of the hiking paths, but we'd love to soon!
Came here the night of July 4th to watch the sunset and ended up staying for most of the night. The Roanoke Star is located at the top of Mill Mountain overlooking the city of Roanoke and Salem. After sunset the star lights up and since it was July 4th, the colors were red/white/blue. The coolest thing about the overlook on July 4th is after the sun went down, you could see all the fireworks displays happening in the valley below. At one point I counted almost 30 fireworks displays happening within view. Such an awesome site! Super short drive up the mountain from downtown Roanoke and if you want, I talked to a few people who hiked up it as well!
You definitely need to make the Star a priority if you ever find yourself in Roanoke. Not only is it a beautiful sight to see when you get there, but the ride up through the mountains offers a lot of gorgeous views. They also have a lookout of downtown Roanoke, which sadly it was too foggy to see when we went up but it was still fun to check out. The star also lights up every night, and certain colors for different holidays!
Beautiful scenic ride up the mountain to breathtaking views of Roanoke. Dragged my husband there and he said he was glad because it was something totally worth doing. Takes about 10 minutes to drive up. The star is massive and way better than visiting the "HOLLYWOOD SIGN" read more
A majestic object that looks down on the city from a small mountain. The mountain has a series of trails, with more planned, so there is plenty of opportunity to spend more time than just looking at the star and checking out the overlook. However, even if one is just going to do that, the views are nice. read more
This was an awesome site that we saw while we were on our adventure through the Carolinas. This is the Roanoke star we came across the beautiful and seek while we were hiking up with the trails and taking pictures of things. This is definitely worth the stop. read more
I wish that we could give this 4.5 stars -- 5 for the Mill Mountain Star experience and 4 for the hike up the Star Trail. We arrived on a unseasonably cold and windy day on a Wednesday around noon in mid-October, 2022. We were only the 2nd car in the parking lot that holds maybe 15 cars. Be careful coming up the short driveway off Riverdale Road; there is a lot of erosion/potholes. There is good signage at the beginning, and along the Star Trail, and well-positioned benches if you'd like to take a breather. This is usually an out-and-back trail with a total distance of about 3.6 miles, and an elevation gain of about 800 feet, but we turned it into a lollipop hike of about 4.8 miles (same elevation change) by coming back along the road (there's a bicycle lane on the road for a good portion of it) until we hit the crosswalk back to the lower part of the trail and parking. Our main concern with the trail is the difficult footing, especially towards the top 0.3 miles or so. It appears that rocks have been brought in to maintain the trail (to deal with mud and erosion?) but they're difficult to balance on, especially on an already steep section of the trail and during autumn when there are many leaves covering the rocks and hidden tree limbs. Once on top, and you can just drive up, it's a really cool experience. There are to-die-for views of Roanoke and beyond at two observation decks, picnic tables, a clean restroom, and even a zoo. And, of course, don't miss the chance to get up close and personal with the Star that lights up over Roanoke every evening. It's reputed to be the world's largest man-made star structure. read more
Having been to Roanoke a few times I was always curious about the Star & since you can see it from everywhere - I HAD to go to the top of the mountain to see it up close;) As I expected, the view from the top is awesome - great views of Roanoke & environs! Was easy to get to if you're not into hiking... just parked at the top maybe a few hundred feet away. You can walk around all sides of the star - even underneath if you want to. Nice observation deck where you can either gaze down over the valley or do a 180 & check out the star 'up close & personal'. There are even nearby restrooms...not too shabby;) If you're in the area & curiosity gets the best of you - check it out! read more
The Roanoke star was built November 1949 it was put up as a Christmas decoration to shine over the city. They were going to disassemble it after Christmas but decided to keep it up all the time. The star is located on Mill Mountain a mountain were bike riders travel and a park for relaxing and even a zoo. The star stands 88.5 ft and visibility from air-60 miles. The star is lit up white all year except for Memorial day -flag day- July 4 - 9-11 and Veterans Day then it is red white and blue. There is a star camera up toward the top that is videotaping all the time you can go to the starcam website witch is www.roanokeva.gov/star on and see friends and family that are there or to see downtown Roanoke from the top of Mill Mountain. read more
Five stars for the Roanoke Star. Built in 1949 at the top of Mill Mountain, it was originally designed to inspire Christmas shoppers. Since then, it was decided that it would be lit year-round. The star is over 88 feet tall and can be seen for miles. Usually the three concentric stars are lit red-while-blue but the colors change to honor various events. There is an observation area at the base of the star and on a clear day (today was a clear day despite a light drizzle), you can see the entire Roanoke Valley for miles and miles. If it's slippery when you're driving, as it was when I did, the road can also be a little slippery so watch your speed and your following distance! There is free parking at the top of the mountain but if if's a day for hiking, you may find trouble getting a spot. [Review 13792 overall, 1113 of 2020, number 1226 in Virginia.] read more
6 years ago
Bottom Line: A 71-year old landmark of Roanoke that is a popular attraction and offers sweeping views of the Roanoke Valley. The Mill Mountain Star, or Roanoke Star, was built in 1949 as a temporary display for Christmas. Seventy-one years later it is still sitting 1,000 feet above the city and it is illuminated each night until midnight. On a clear night the star is visible from 60 miles away so while it can be enjoyed from the ground the best way to appreciate the star is to drive up to it and check it out from the nearby observation deck. From the observation deck the 100 foot tall star is interesting but I think the real draw is the view of the Roanoke Valley and the Allegheny Mountains to the west. Regarding illumination, the star is typically three concentric stars of white light each night. But occasionally the colors are changed symbolically. Historically, when there was bad traffic accidents the star would be changed to red. During the United States bicentennial in 1976 and after 9-11 it was changed to red, blue and white. But after the Virginia Tech Shooting in 2007 it was once again turned to white to symbolize hope. A year later the star went dark for a night in remembrance of that tragic event. As mentioned above, the original intention was for the star to be temporary, or at least for the illumination to be seasonal. The team behind the project intended to leave the star in place but only to light it during the Christmas season. The illuminated star was so popular it was decided to light it nightly. The Roanoke Star underwent a renovation in 2006 to upgrade the electrical work. The Blue Ridge Mountains icon has earned a place on the National Register for Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register. There is a parking lot immediately behind the star. There are not a ton of spots in the lot but we were easily able to get a spot on a early Saturday morning in November. read more
4 years ago
Located at the top of Mill Mountain Park, the Roanoke Star overlooks town. You can see it lit in the evenings from the distance. When you visit it, you get a nice view. After checking the Star out, I'd recommend checking out the rest of the park, which is nice. read more
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
The Roanoke Star is part of the tradition of Roanoke. We always look for it when driving at night. It is wonderful being able to stand right beside the star. There is a viewing deck that overlooks the city. If you stand to the far right corner of the deck (if the star was behind you), you can find your image on the live camera feed. It is a fun activity. There are benches around the area. read more
5 years ago
While in Virginia I had a chance to drive up to the Roanoke Star that's over 88ft tall. Once you get to the top it's a beautiful view but really is just a quick get out of the car I'm going to take a picture type moment . We went during the day time hours so I'm sure the star and the view is even more beautiful at night . But if you live in Virginia or visiting I would say add it to your list . read more
Love coming up here! This time we got to bring our little one! She enjoyed it so much. Any season is a good time to go, great views of the mountains and the city! Has yet to be over crowded when we go. We haven't done any of the hiking paths, but we'd love to soon! read more
Came here the night of July 4th to watch the sunset and ended up staying for most of the night. The Roanoke Star is located at the top of Mill Mountain overlooking the city of Roanoke and Salem. After sunset the star lights up and since it was July 4th, the colors were red/white/blue. The coolest thing about the overlook on July 4th is after the sun went down, you could see all the fireworks displays happening in the valley below. At one point I counted almost 30 fireworks displays happening within view. Such an awesome site! Super short drive up the mountain from downtown Roanoke and if you want, I talked to a few people who hiked up it as well! read more
You definitely need to make the Star a priority if you ever find yourself in Roanoke. Not only is it a beautiful sight to see when you get there, but the ride up through the mountains offers a lot of gorgeous views. They also have a lookout of downtown Roanoke, which sadly it was too foggy to see when we went up but it was still fun to check out. The star also lights up every night, and certain colors for different holidays! read more
9 years ago
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
9 years ago
Fantastic place to get a great view of the mountains and trees and view of Roanoke. This is the worlds largest man-made star just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. There is a moderate amount of parking and a short walk to the Star. There is also a short hike around the backside of the Star. We were here just as leaves were changing color...definitely a good time to go. The overlook has a safe railing which allows you to see the beautiful views. Highly recommend. read more
Nice hiking trails, a very small zoo (didn't go), and a playground. Bathrooms need some serious help (lots of trash and no soap) so 1 star off. The views were great, just wish people would social distance (6 feet not 3) or at least wear a mask. Only saw one other family wearing them. Kinda frustrating after your friend dies from COVID read more
Great little spot to see if you are in town or passing through. It's FREE, dog friendly and won't take long. I was here on a weekday afternoon at 3:30 PM and it was a zen like experience since it was empty. It's a nice place to take in lovely views, snap a few pics and see the giant star. I would say this spot also rates as romantic. I used to hike a lot back in NY, so I do have an affinity for the mountains. After living in flat FL, it was nice to come here and take in the views from this elevated perch on a sunny day. I would describe it as a peaceful and serene spot, I adore being back in the mountains. I stayed at a hotel about 15 minutes from here. I would have loved to come back at night to see the star lit up at night, but I just didn't have it in me after driving solo for 500+ miles. The downtown wasn't too far from here either, maybe about a ten minute drive. Looked really cute! read more
10 years ago
Definitely a must see if you are in the Roanoke area! At night the star is perfect for a date night, take your loved one up there for a stunning view of the city. It does light up different colors depending on the occasion (Ex: 4th of July & Christmas). read more
6 years ago
We decided to check out the Roanoke Star while we were in town and the view of the City from up high is amazing! We saw people riding bikes and jogging the trails, and I could see this being a really awesome place for a picnic date or marriage proposal. There is a also small zoo, a kids playscape, and picnic tables close by for a fun family adventure. If you are just looking to snap a selfie, it's only about a 10-15 minute drive from the City center and worth the drivr! read more
15 years ago
On this trip to Roanoke I finally decided that I had to visit the famous Roanoke Star. Impressive structure, with an equally impressive story behind the star. Wonderful viewing platform allows to you have good photo angles for the star and a superb view of the Roanoke area. My only negative comment is that road signage directing you from the highways to the top of Mill Mountain need to be improved. read more
4 years ago
Born and raised in Botetourt Co. I've been to the star several times . Brought a friend from out of town up there this past weekend to see our local landmark and boy, was it crowded! There were lines of cars waiting for people to back out so they could get in. The observation deck was crowded and tons of people were taking photos in front of the star. I suppose there were a lot of out of towners in town for the 4th weekend. Usually, it is very quiet with only a few people who have made the trek. The star is one of those things I think you take for granted... growing up under the white glow of the Star City. For as long as I can remember I've seen that star glowing on the top of the hill over the city of Roanoke every single night. I now live in Virginia Beach and when I came home for the weekend to see family and friends this 4th of July seeing that star shining red, white and blue was a subtle reminder of Roanoke and how glad I am to have grown up there. read more
Stunning view of Roanoke and to the north. See pic. Easy to locate and drive up the mountain. I was in awe of joggers and bikers making their way up the mountain. Kudos! Next time think I may hike up rather than drive. Tip: watch speed limit en route to mountain through the residential neighborhood. Don't become a victim and donor to city revenue generation. read more
4 years ago
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6 years ago
My family and I decided to stay one night in Roanoke while visiting Panther Falls. Not much to do as Covid has options limited but came across this must do on yelp and trip advisor. This point gave u a wonderful view of Roanoke during sunset. This is a nice photo op and cool place to just hang out and enjoy an evening. read more
4 years ago
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10 years ago
Wow. I went on two occasions once in evening and once during the day on my residency interview visit at Virginia Tech Carrilion. I would recommend doing the same. Each view has its pluses!! Evening was certainly my favorite as it was crisp and cold and clear!!! The picture I posted is one of my favorites on the residency trail! Of course we all want our pic to be the best! Aaah, the mountain air and grandeaur!! I'm ready to recite some Robert Frost. Haha. read more
Free & neat little overlook at the peak of Mill Mountain Park. There are several trails to hike, as well as a fun little zoo (not free), but the famous Roanoke Star is certainly worth taking the drive up the mountain to see & look out over the city if you're in the area. read more
12 years ago
What a magical and spectacular place! So of course I gotta give the star of all stars, 5 stars!! Driving into Roanoke on a random road trip, we could see the star at the top of Mill Mountain, overlooking the city. I thought it was just an awesome decorative piece, so you can imagine my excitement, when I was told it was a park with a spectacular city and mountainous view. We went twice in one day, once during sunlight and again at night. Both experiences were quiet, private, and enjoyable. I preferred the evening view -- the sky went from pinks and then to blues, and it was a joy to watch the city and Star all lit up. Tips: Great place for a romantic evening. I would call this the Mecca of Romance for this area. Bring walking/hiking shoes for the trials. Possibly carpool in the summer -- I didn't notice loads of parking. Bring a camera, a nice picnic lunch or some cocoa, and enjoy the views! read more
19 years ago
Roanoke star is the symbol of the City. The city is known as the Star City. Location: On top of Mill Mountain Star Facts Height of star 88.5 feet Weight of star 10,000 lbs Height above sea level 1,847 feet Height above city 1,045 feet Visibility from air 60 miles Cost to build $28,000 read more
12 years ago
If you live in the Roanoke area, and you are thinking of getting married, this is where you are to go to propose. Yes, you're going there. It's beautiful. The nighttime views of the city are unmatched. Don't get lost on the trail, though. It's perfectly romantic! read more
4 years ago
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