Living here
Getting around from Blacksburg.
Interstate access, fare-free buses, the Smart Way to Roanoke, the airport, Amtrak and the trails. Distances are approximate; times vary with traffic.
The short version
- I-81 is about 8.5 miles from downtown Blacksburg on US 460, a limited-access highway from Exit 118 to campus.
- Roanoke is about 40 miles away. The Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport is about 40 miles, a 40 to 50 minute drive.
- Blacksburg Transit is fare-free. The Smart Way bus runs to Roanoke, its airport and its Amtrak station for $4 each way.
- A New River Valley Amtrak station in Christiansburg is expected to open to service in 2027.
Live. Updated 1 hour ago.
By car
- I-81
- Exit 118, then US 460 WestAbout 8.5 miles to the Prices Fork Road exit for downtown
- Roanoke
- About 40 milesNortheast, by I-81
- Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport
- About 40 milesRoughly 40 to 50 minutes from campus
- I-77
- Exit 32 to I-81 NorthAbout 36 miles on I-81 to Exit 118
US 460 between Christiansburg and Blacksburg is a limited-access highway from I-81 to the Virginia Tech campus. At I-81, one ramp serves Exits 118A, B and C; miss it and the next turnarounds are Exit 128 to the north or Exit 114 to the south. Montgomery County's I-81 interchanges include Exits 109, 114, 118 and 128.
By bus
Blacksburg Transit. BT runs routes connecting Blacksburg neighborhoods, shopping areas and the Virginia Tech campus, plus Explorer routes in Christiansburg. It is fare-free on every vehicle: no fare, ID or pass. BT Access offers door-to-door rides for eligible riders with disabilities in Blacksburg. Service levels follow the Virginia Tech academic calendar.
The Smart Way. Valley Metro's Smart Way bus links the New River Valley with the Roanoke Valley for $4 each way.
| Stop | Where |
|---|---|
| Transit Center | Virginia Tech campus, Blacksburg |
| Main Street | Downtown Blacksburg |
| Laurel Street | Christiansburg |
| Park and ride | I-81 Exit 118 and Exit 140 |
| Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport | Roanoke |
| Hotel Roanoke | Downtown Roanoke |
| Third Street Station | Downtown Roanoke |
Schedules and maps are on the Smart Way site.
By air
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) is at 5202 Aviation Drive NW in Roanoke, about 40 miles from campus. Allegiant, American, Delta and United fly from ROA. The Smart Way bus stops at the airport, and rental cars are available there.
For private aircraft, the Virginia Tech/Montgomery Executive Airport sits next to the Virginia Tech campus.
By train
Today, the closest Amtrak station is in Roanoke, at 55 Norfolk Avenue SW. Amtrak sells a connecting bus between Blacksburg and the Roanoke station, operated by the Smart Way.
By bike and on foot
The Huckleberry Trail is a paved, 15-mile rail trail connecting Blacksburg and Christiansburg. Its original trailhead is downtown on Draper Road beside the Blacksburg library, and from there it is about 7.5 miles to Christiansburg. To the north, it connects with the Jefferson National Forest's Gateway Trail, which leads to the Poverty Creek trail system and Pandapas Pond.
How long commutes are
14.8 min
Blacksburg
Mean travel time to work, 2020-2024
18.1 min
Christiansburg
Mean travel time to work, 2020-2024
18.2 min
Montgomery County
Mean travel time to work, 2020-2024
These are the Census Bureau's estimates for workers 16 and older. Want to be close to campus? See living near Virginia Tech and homes for sale near Virginia Tech.
Questions, answered
How far is Blacksburg from Roanoke?
Blacksburg is about 40 miles southwest of Roanoke, by I-81 and US 460. The Smart Way bus connects the two for $4 each way.
Is there a bus from Blacksburg to the Roanoke airport?
Yes. Valley Metro's Smart Way bus stops at the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport on its route between Blacksburg and downtown Roanoke. The fare is $4 each way.
Does Amtrak serve Blacksburg?
Not by rail yet. Amtrak sells a connecting bus, operated by the Smart Way, between Blacksburg and its Roanoke station. A New River Valley station in Christiansburg is expected to begin service in 2027.
How far is the airport from Blacksburg?
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport is about 40 miles from the Virginia Tech campus, roughly a 40 to 50 minute drive.
Sources
Every fact in this guide that is not a market number comes from an official or primary source below, checked on the date shown. Market numbers come from live listing and sales data and update automatically. Something out of date? Tell us.
- Virginia Tech: directions to Virginia TechChecked October 13, 2026
- Virginia Tech APSC: travel information (airport drive)Checked October 13, 2026
- Virginia Tech CPES: directions (airport drive)Checked October 13, 2026
- Montgomery County Economic Development: transportationChecked October 13, 2026
- Blacksburg Transit: fare informationChecked October 13, 2026
- Blacksburg Transit: about BTChecked October 13, 2026
- Valley Metro: Smart Way busChecked October 13, 2026
- Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional AirportChecked October 13, 2026
- Amtrak: Roanoke, VA (RNK) stationChecked October 13, 2026
- Virginia Tech News: New River Valley breaks ground on passenger rail (May 2, 2025)Checked October 13, 2026
- Montgomery County Parks and Recreation: Huckleberry TrailChecked October 13, 2026
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Blacksburg town, Christiansburg town and Montgomery County, VirginiaChecked October 13, 2026