Best Western Hotels in Roanoke: Planning Your Stay and Booking the Best Rate
Roanoke sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia, a compact city that works well as a base for hiking, exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway, or visiting family in the region. Best Western maintains a presence in markets like Roanoke as part of a wider network across the United States, and the details of which property is currently operating, its exact location, and its amenities can change. This guide focuses on how to plan your stay and how to book directly for the best available rate, rather than pointing you to a single named hotel that may not reflect current inventory.
Understand the layout before you book
Roanoke is built around a small downtown core, a busy commercial corridor along Route 460 and Interstate 581, and residential neighborhoods that spread toward the mountains. Downtown puts you near the Taubman Museum of Art, the Roanoke City Market, and walkable restaurants, which suits travelers without a car or those who want an evening out on foot. Properties near the interstate and the regional airport suit travelers who are passing through, attending a conference at the Berglund Center, or driving in and out for day trips to the Blue Ridge Parkway or Smith Mountain Lake.
Because Roanoke is a driving destination for most visitors, having a car changes what matters most. If you plan to explore the parkway, McAfee Knob, or nearby small towns, proximity to the interstate on-ramps often beats proximity to downtown attractions you'll only visit once.
Getting in from Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) is a small regional airport a short drive from most parts of the city. There's no dedicated hotel shuttle system citywide, so check with the specific property about shuttle service before you fly in, especially if you're arriving without a rental car. If you're renting a car at the airport, most hotel areas in Roanoke are within a 15 to 20 minute drive, though actual times vary by traffic and time of day.
When to visit and how many nights to plan
Fall brings leaf-peeping crowds to the Blue Ridge Parkway and can push demand up across the whole region, so book earlier if you're traveling in October. Spring and early summer are popular for hiking and outdoor activity around Roanoke Mountain and the Appalachian Trail access points nearby. Winter is quieter and can bring lower demand, though mountain weather can affect parkway access.
For a first visit, two to three nights is enough to see downtown Roanoke, walk or drive up to the Mill Mountain Star overlook, and take one day trip along the parkway. Add nights if you're using Roanoke as a base for multi-day hiking or for exploring Smith Mountain Lake and surrounding small towns.
How to book the best rate
Room rates for any Best Western in Roanoke move with demand, so the figure you see today may differ from what's available next week. The most reliable way to get the best current rate is to book directly on the hotel's own booking page rather than through a third-party site, since direct bookings often include the loyalty benefits and flexible cancellation terms that aggregators don't pass through.
Booking direct also means you're dealing straight with the property if your plans change, which matters in a market like Roanoke where mountain weather can affect travel dates. Always check the current rate and room availability on the site before finalizing your dates, and compare a couple of nearby options if flexibility on location matters more than a specific neighborhood.