Mill Mountain Star

This place is a wonderful piece if Roanoke's past, present, and future. With a enormous lit up star at the top of Mill Mountain that can be seen easily from across town, to the beautifully crafted overlook which leads way to the so many beautiful lights across the city, it's definitely worth visiting. If you come early in the day you can visit the Mill Mountain Zoo, and by the time you go grab dinner (possibly take out) and come back, if you're returning around the time the sun sets, you're in luck. The views at sunset are amazing and just continues to impress as the day goes on leading to nightfall. From a beautiful sun set to a gorgeous view of so much of the city, and to be free to visit, you just can't go wrong.

Very cool and super unique to Roanoke. The star is truly amazing along with the view is unbelievable. It lights up every night and even changes colors on special holidays. It definitely gets packed so good luck actually being to see the star during the holidays it changes colors.

I visited the Mill Mountain Star on a weekday, and it was definitely worth the stop. The overlook provides an amazing panoramic view of the Roanoke Valley and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains — the scenery is just stunning. Even on a cloudy day, it felt peaceful and gave me a moment to pause and enjoy the beauty of the area. The parking lot was easy to access and there was no wait at all. It’s a quick drive up the mountain, and there are also a few short trails if you want to stretch your legs a bit more. Highly recommend making the trip if you’re in Roanoke — it’s one of those landmarks that really delivers on the hype.

Had a great visit to the Star of Roanoke—amazing views, especially on a beautiful afternoon. The nearby zoo was also a fun stop and made for a nice outing overall.

The Mill Mountain Star is absolutely beautiful and a must-see when visiting Roanoke! The star itself is iconic, and the view from the overlook is just as impressive stunning panoramic scenery of the city and mountains. There’s also plenty of interesting information about the history of the star and its significance to the area, which makes the visit even more meaningful. It’s a great spot to visit during the day or evening, especially if you enjoy scenic views and a touch of local history. Easy to access, well-kept, and perfect for photos definitely worth the stop!

Walking around the trails, wildflowers, and up to the star was really nice. Unfortunately we got there a few minutes after 6:00 and the zoo and the Discovery center were closed and so we're the bathrooms, except for porta-potties. Definitely plan in advance, especially if you want to use the Discovery center or go to the zoo.

An iconic landmark with a breathtaking view. You've got to see it for yourself! It is beautiful any time of day or night until the gates close at 11 pm. Admission is free. If you go at night, be careful not to leave valuables in your car, and also watch for deer on the winding roads to and from the site. There are bathrooms on site, but they are horribly dirty (can only speak for the men's room, but I assume they're all that way).

I’ve lived in Roanoke all my life and have loved going to the star to see the stunning view of our valley. I went a week ago (end of June 2025) and was very disappointed that they have allowed the tree growth to overtake the overview area and it blocks most of the view. You can just barely see the downtown buildings above the trees, and not much else. Roanoke needs to trim the tree growth back to preserve the view at this Roanoke landmark.