You're flying into Roanoke Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) — 5 miles from the city center, 10 minutes drive to downtown. Most people book the airport chain hotels: sterile, overpriced, miles from anywhere interesting. We're 10 minutes away, have actual space, free parking, and you can walk to dinner instead of ordering from a room service menu.
Distance from ROA
Roanoke Blacksburg Regional Airport is on the south side of the city. Downtown is north. The drive is straight north on I-81 or local roads — 10 minutes in light traffic, 15 in heavy. No back roads or complex routing. Straight shot.
Compare to airport hotels: Most are on the south side near the airport, so if you're coming to downtown Roanoke anyway, you're driving back south first, then back north. We're already downtown where you're headed.
Why downtown apartments beat airport hotels
You're not trapped at the airport
Airport hotels are designed for one thing: convenience for airport arrivals/departures. Minimal amenities, no neighborhood, just a room. We're downtown where the actual city is.
Free parking
Included with your stay. No $15/night parking fee. No valet. No hunting for spots.
Full kitchen
Airport hotels have mini-fridges and maybe a coffee maker. We have full stoves, ovens, dishwashers. If you have an early flight and want breakfast at home, you can make it. If you land late and want a snack, you have options.
Real space
Bedroom, living room, bathroom. Not a single hotel room where the bed is the bed. If you're staying 2+ nights, space matters.
Downtown location
If you're in Roanoke for anything beyond the airport connection, you're in the right place. Restaurants, breweries, galleries, trails — all walkable or close drive. Airport hotels give you none of this.
Price
Airport hotels are $100–140/night for a basic room. We're $140/night (Standard) and include kitchen and laundry. Better value.
For layovers or overnight connections
Flying through Roanoke with a 12+ hour layover? Book a night downtown instead of an airport hotel. You get actual sleep in a nice apartment, breakfast from your own kitchen, and maybe a walk around a real neighborhood. Much better than an airport hotel window.
Check-in is 24/7 (keyless digital lock), so even late arrivals work. Sleep, have breakfast, catch your connection. Same price as an airport hotel, better experience.
For multi-day Roanoke visits
If you're in town for 2–5 days (conference, visit friends, hiking trip), base downtown and make airport hotel moot. Everything is closer, you actually experience Roanoke instead of being isolated at the airport.
Uber and Lyft from ROA to downtown
ROA is small, ride-share friendly. Uber/Lyft typically $12–18 from airport to downtown (surge pricing can push it higher during peak hours). With free parking at the flats, if you're renting a car, you're saving $15–20/night on airport parking anyway.
What to do while you're in Roanoke
Quick overnight (connecting flight)
- Land, take Uber to flats (~15 mins).
- Check in, sleep.
- Wake, breakfast from kitchen or walk to Scratch Biscuit (5-minute walk).
- Shower, back to airport.
2–3 day visit
- Day 1: Arrive afternoon, walk downtown, dinner and brewery.
- Day 2: Hike McAfee Knob (30 mins) or Mill Mountain (12 mins), shower at flats, evening downtown.
- Day 3: Walk Greenway or explore galleries, leave afternoon.
4–7 day visit
- Mix hiking trips (McAfee, Grayson Highlands, Humpback) with downtown exploration.
- Brewery-hop at night (A Few Old Goats downstairs, Big Lick 2-min walk).
- Full kitchen means cooking when you want instead of eating out five times a day.
Booking from the airport
You can book even after landing. Reserve at thewestendflats.com/booking on your phone in the baggage claim area. Pick your dates, select Standard/Deluxe/Premium, check out. We'll email confirmation immediately. Take Uber downtown, check in digitally (keyless lock, 24/7).
Or book ahead knowing you'll want a real place to stay instead of being stuck near the airport.
Multi-night airport stays
Staying 4+ nights? Monthly discount kicks in at 28 nights, but even for 4–7 night stays, the nightly rate ($140–220) is competitive with airport chains when you factor in parking, food costs, and actual comfort.
Call us at 1-855-919-7368 if you want to discuss a longer stay or have questions about coming from ROA.
Bottom line
ROA is 10 minutes away. Downtown is where Roanoke actually is. Stay downtown, save money on parking, sleep in a real apartment, walk to dinner. Much better than an airport hotel.