Mill Mountain Park in Roanoke, Virginia is one of the top family attractions in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. This 568-acre park is home to Roanoke’s iconic landmark, discovery center, mountain-top zoo, wildflower garden, scenic playground, and nature trails. The family activities at Mill Mountain Park make it an ideal destination for kids of all ages, whether you’re visiting Roanoke for the first time or just in search of local fun!
We recently explored Mill Mountain Park in Roanoke, VA and found educational family fun in abundance. Your family’s pace might run a little differently than ours, but we could have easily spent a whole day on top of the mountain!
Thank you to Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge for hosting us for a visit to Mill Mountain Park in Roanoke!
The Roanoke Star
The Roanoke Star is a regional symbol for good reason! This illuminated landmark was first built in 1949 as a Christmas decoration, but remains today as the world’s largest free-standing star. At 88.5 feet tall, it sits poised on the top of Mill Mountain and overlooking the entire city of Roanoke.
With a northward-facing overlook, the platform at the base of the star is an incredible place to catch either the sunrise or sunset over Roanoke. We loved visiting at night, when the star was ablaze and all the city lights were twinkling in the valley below. No matter what time you visit, you’ll want to get a photo in front of both the star and the valley!
If you’re ever driving through the city of Roanoke at night, you’re sure to notice the star blazing in the sky to the south. To find it, just put Mill Mountain Park into your GPS, use the free parking lot right behind the star, and then enjoy the view!
Hours: 6 am – 11 pm
Cost: Free
Mill Mountain Discovery Center
The Mill Mountain Discovery Center is a free visitor’s center with refreshments and educational activities. Parents will appreciate comfortable seating, clean restrooms, a place to refill your water bottle, and snacks available to purchase.
Kids will love the bright decorations from floor to ceiling, and themed displays about local wildlife and ecosystems. Plan ahead to attend one of Play Roanoke’s educational activities for kids at the Discovery Center, or just drop by during their open hours to check out the exhibits and grab a cute photo in the cutout of the Roanoke Star!
Hours:
- 12 – 6 pm on Thursday – Sunday, April – Thanksgiving
- 12 – 4 pm on Thursday – Sunday, Thanksgiving – March
Cost: Free
Mill Mountain Zoo
Mill Mountain Zoo is a non-profit conservation zoo, specializing in animals that are endangered, vulnerable, or unable to be released into the wild. Highlight exhibits include the critically endangered red wolves and red ruffed lemurs, and a huge American black bear that hibernates during the cooler months of the year.
The zoo offers some pretty fun play options for kids, too. You can purchase a cup to feed the farm animals with your admission, or passes to ride the seasonal Zoo Choo around the perimeter of the property. Our kids loved the talented train conductor, who played guitar, sang songs, juggled, and told jokes along the ride!
Younger kids will be begging to play inside Curiosity Corner, a fully fenced play area designed for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Little ones can ride on bouncy bugs, crawl through caterpillar tunnels, and dig in the sand pit here. If your children are a bit older, then be on the lookout for the Adventure Playground, which is hidden down the hill to the left of the Herpetarium (reptile house). This playground offers a playset with a slide, a playhouse, a climbing dome, and sensory stations along the fence.
The best part? The actual acreage of the zoo is relatively small, making it easy to explore within just an hour or stretch out your time with the play areas, zookeeper chats, and the seasonal train ride and bistro.
Hours:
- 10 am – 5 pm daily in the summer
- 10 am – 5 pm, Thursday – Monday in the winter
Last admission at 4 pm. Confirm seasonal hours with the zoo directly.
Cost:
- Free for children 2 and under
- $10 for children aged 3 – 12 years
- $12 for teens and adults
- $3 for cup of animal feed
- $3 for the Zoo Choo ride
Discounts are available to seniors and military members with ID. Note that pricing is subject to change, so you may want to confirm current prices when planning your visit!
Don’t want to miss a thing in Roanoke, Virginia? Check out our Complete Family Travel Guide to Roanoke!
Wildflower Garden
The Wildflower Garden at Mill Mountain Park sits just between the Discovery Center and the Zoo, with 2.5 acres of blooms typically starting in early April. This quiet garden offers peaceful exploration and opportunities to observe birds, pollinators, and even fish.
A waterfall pond sits at the center of the garden, and kids will love the Star Stump Jump, where they can leap across a series of low tree stumps in the outline of a star! The fairy garden is another delightful area, sure to entrance more imaginative children.
Most of the garden is shaded by mature trees with several stone benches, where you can take a rest or grab a photo among the flowers. Stroll down paved and mulched paths with gentle slopes, and pack a picnic to make a magical afternoon of your visit!
Hours: 8 am – 11 pm daily
The Wildflower Garden can be reserved for weddings and other events, so consider contacting Play Roanoke in advance if you want to be sure to avoid a scheduling conflict.
Cost: Free
Playground at Mill Mountain Park
The playground at Mill Mountain Park is free to enjoy anytime the park is open. It features a nature-based playset, where kids will climb a rock tower to reach a tall, open slide. On the ground, kids can crawl through a short log tunnel, traverse tree stumps and balance beams, and climb on rocks. The play area is mulched and mostly shaded, with benches and picnic tables nearby for parents and caregivers.
A covered picnic shelter and free public restrooms are available just up the hill near the Roanoke Star, but families may prefer to use the restrooms at the Discovery Center if your visit coincides with its narrower open hours.
Hours: 6 am – 11 pm daily
Cost: Free
Nature Trails
Families can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and even horseback riding on the Mill Mountain trail network. Trailheads are scattered throughout the park, with parking available at the Roanoke Star, Discovery Center, off Riverland Road, and at the intersection of Mill Mountain Spur, Mill Mountain Parkway, and JB Fishburn Parkway.
A complete trail map with details on distance, difficulty, and usage rules is posted right outside the Discovery Center. Most of the trails are naturally surfaced and considered very challenging, but we found some options for hiking with little kids:
- The Watchtower Trail is a paved, 0.2-mile trail starting at the Roanoke Star and ending near the playground area. This is definitely our top choice for pushing strollers!
- The Crystal Spring Trail is an easy, gravel trail stretching about 0.6 miles between Ivy Road and Woodcliff Road along the western edge of the park.
- For a more relaxed stroll, parents with young children might prefer to wander the interconnected trails of the Wildflower Garden at Mill Mountain Park.
Keep in mind that all these trails are on the top of Mill Mountain, so close supervision is critical for hiking with young children. There are many drop-offs, and it is easy to get lost in this 568-acre park if you wander off the trails, so stick together!
Hours: 6 am – 11 pm daily
Cost: Free
Plan Your Visit to Mill Mountain Park
Ready to plan your visit to Mill Mountain Park in Roanoke, VA? If you’re visiting for the first time or just trying to fit everything in, we can help you put together the perfect plan. Here are the key details to know before visiting with kids, with logistics and tips for your time on the mountain!
In this section…
- When is the best time to visit Mill Mountain?
- Are there special events on Mill Mountain?
- Are pets allowed at Mill Mountain Park?
- Are restrooms available at Mill Mountain Park?
- Which parts of Mill Mountain Park are handicap-accessible?
- How much does it cost to visit Mill Mountain Park?
- Where to eat near Mill Mountain?
Return to navigation bar at the top.
When is the best time to visit Mill Mountain?
The park itself is open to the public every day from 6 am to 11 pm, the Wildflower Garden opens at 8 am. Mill Mountain Zoo opens at 10 am daily in the summer, and on Thursdays through Mondays in the off season. The Discovery Center opens at 12 pm on Thursdays through Sundays year-round.
While the top of Mill Mountain is gorgeous in any season, we especially recommend visiting in late spring and early summer! This time of year, you can catch the flowers blooming in the Wildflower Garden, plus enjoy seasonal offerings at Mill Mountain Zoo like the Zoo Choo and Bali’s Bistro.
And if you’ve never been, make sure you visit the Roanoke Star at night at least once! You have no idea what you are missing… Just wait till you see the city of Roanoke sparkling beneath your feet from under this extraordinary star!
Are there special events on Mill Mountain?
The Discovery Center is known for hosting Music on the Mountain, a monthly live music series with food trucks, and educational programs for kids. Mill Mountain Zoo offers animal education programs, as well as daily zookeeper talks with details available at Guest Services. Other events may be hosted on the mountain in coordination with Play Roanoke.
Are pets allowed at Mill Mountain Park?
Only service animals are permitted inside Mill Mountain Zoo, and it is not generally recommended to bring pets into the play area or picnic shelter. However, pets are allowed in the rest of Mill Mountain Park as long as they are on-leash and under control.
Are restrooms available at Mill Mountain Park?
Public restrooms are available behind the Roanoke Star during Mill Mountain Park’s open hours. Additional restrooms are available inside the Discovery Center when it is open. Visitors to Mill Mountain Zoo will find restrooms just past the Herpetarium.
Which parts of Mill Mountain Park are handicap-accessible?
The Roanoke Star, Discovery Center, Mill Mountain Zoo, most of the Wildflower Garden, and the Watchtower Trail are all fully ADA-accessible. Mill Mountain Zoo also offers electric scooters and manual wheelchairs available for check-out.
How much does it cost to visit Mill Mountain Park?
Almost everything at Mill Mountain Park is completely free! There are no fees for park admission or parking, and the Roanoke Star, Discovery Center, Wildflower Garden, playground, and trails are free to enjoy during your visit.
The Mill Mountain Zoo charges a modest admission fee of about $10 for visitors ages 3 and up. Exact pricing depends on guest age, and you may also want to purchase add-ons like animal feed or tokens for the seasonal Zoo Choo.
Where to eat near Mill Mountain?
Bali’s Bistro inside Mill Mountain Zoo is open seasonally during the warmer months, offering a selection of drinks and grab-and-go food items to zoo visitors. Food trucks also visit the mountain during some special events, like the monthly Music on the Mountain series. However, there is not a year-round dining option inside the park.
There are several great eateries in Roanoke at the base of Mill Mountain, and Blue Cow Ice Cream Co. is a must-visit option for ice cream overlooking the river. If you’re looking for a meal, consider an awesome breakfast at Scratch Biscuit Co., southern comfort food at The Hatch, the brick oven pub at Fork in the Alley, or even fine dining at The River and Rail Restaurant.
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