1) By airplane
The closest airport is Roanoke, VA, (ROA) which is a 45-minute drive from Blacksburg. It is a small airport, with service to major cities such as Washington Dulles, Atlanta, Charlotte, NC, NY La Guardia, …, and some low cost services, mainly from Florida (with Allegiant), but also from Norfolk. Beware that low cost companies are not regular. There is no direct international flight to Roanoke.
Participants coming from the US may find it convenient to fly directly to Roanoke.
International flyers may have to buy a separate ticket for their connection to Roanoke, as not all companies are proposing connecting flights on their websites. If bought through the same company, however, luggage and registrations can be arranged at the departure airport. Most frequent direct flights to Roanoke from major cities are Washington Dulles, Charlotte, NC, Atlanta, or NY La Guardia.
See in the section “coming by car” for driving information to Blacksburg and Virginia Tech from the different airports.
Other airports in the area at reasonable driving distances:
- Richmond, VA: 3.5-hour drive, no convenient bus, requires a rental car.
- Charlotte, NC: 5-hour drive, rental car recommended. A bus is available to Roanoke but takes a long time.
- Washington Dulles: 5-hour drive, rental car recommended. The Amtrak train is available to Roanoke but can take longer. Bus is not convenient.
- Norfolk, VA: 5-hour drive, rental car needed. Possibility to carpool with other participants coming from the Hampton Roads area.
- Newport News, VA: 4.5-hour drive, rental car needed. Possibility to carpool with other participants coming from the Hampton Roads area.
Carpooling options and shuttles will be proposed from Roanoke airport and train/bus stop. Please contact the organizers once you book your flight if you would like to propose a seat in your car or if you are interested in driving with someone else, and if you need a shuttle from Roanoke.
If you are arriving at another airport and are looking for carpooling options, please contact the organizers to see if any other participant is using the same airport.
2) By car
- From Roanoke Airport
Enter interstate I 581, which is the first right exit just after leaving the airport parking lot, on Airport Road. (Rental cars are on the same road, parking is behind the airport. Private car parking is in front.) Keep driving on I 581 until it merges with I 81, then take the left exit to I 81 towards Bristol/Blacksburg/Christiansburg.
About 40 minutes after Roanoke on I 81, take the exit 118B to Blacksburg, to US 460 (direction WV). Exit 118A/B/C has a ~1 mile lane before it splits to 118B. Keep following signs to "Blacksburg downtown". Take the 5th exit on US 460, "Blacksburg Pricefork/downtown" and follow the "downtown" signs (first one, to the right).
Estimated time: 45 minutes
Direct bus and possibly shuttle are also available from Roanoke airport to downtown Blacksburg, or to some hotels. Please contact the organizers if you need a shuttle arrangement and your hotel does not provide one. We will also prepare a spreadsheet for people who want to carpool from Roanoke airport.
- From Hampton Roads, from DC or from Northern Virginia:
Interstate I 64 West towards Charlottesville, VA. Past Charlottesville, keep going North to Stauton until the intersection with I 81. Then, take I 81 South direction Lexington/Roanoke. Keep going to Roanoke and stay on the I 81 (right line) at the bifurcation I 81/581.
About 35 minutes past Roanoke on I 81, when the interstate goes up and splits into 3+1 truck lane, take the exit 118B to Blacksburg, to US 460 (direction WV). Before the exit, you will see many trucks struggling on the right lane, but it is better to stay on the right to avoid missing the exit which is only indicated at the last minute. Exit 118A/B/C has a ~1 mile lane before it splits to 118B. Keep following signs to "Blacksburg downtown". Take the 5th exit on US 460, "Blacksburg Prices Fork/downtown" and follow the "downtown" signs (first one, to the right).
Estimated time: 4:30 hours from Newport News, 5 hours from Norfolk/Hampton, 3:30 hours from Richmond, 5 hours from DC, 2:30 hours from Charlottesville.
- From Charlotte, NC:
Take the interstate I 81 North towards Northern Virginia until Exit 118B to Blacksburg, on US 460. Keep following signs to "Blacksburg downtown". Take the 5th exit on US 460, "Blacksburg Prices Fork/downtown" and follow the "downtown" signs (first one, to the right).
Estimated time: 5 hours.
- From south of West Virginia state (coming from Charleston, WV, or South Ohio through Kentucky, …)
Take the interstate I 77 south towards Whyteville/Bluefield (toll road, need cash bills). Just after Melrose at the big intersection (with WV visitor center), take the bifurcation to US 460 East. It is a panoramic road crossing multiple small towns for about 40 minutes, and passing over the New River. However, be aware that these are all mountainous roads. In that direction, it is mostly going down steep slopes.
Alternatively it is possible to head South to Whitesville on interstate I 77. Then at Whitesville, take interstate I 81 North (less mountainous). It may add 5 to 10 minutes on the road, and is the recommended way if you drive at night or a large/heavy vehicle. That road is generally less dangerous regarding truck traffic.
- From North West Virginia state (coming from Northern Ohio, Indiana, …)
It is recommended to avoid mountainous backroads and stay on interstates or main US roads.
See coming from Northern Virginia: the best way is to enter I 81 South when possible, possibly driving on I 64 until Staunton.
Once in Blacksburg, driving to hotels and Physics department
At the red light, the hotel Virginia Tech Inn is on the right, across the street from CVS. Hyatt is just after CVS. Hilton Suite and Holiday Inn Express are in the other direction (Prices Fork Road exit, to the left), 2 miles down the Prices Fork Road. Parking is available at the Hotel.
To the physics department (Robeson Hall): keep going to the second traffic light, turn right. There is a big parking lot on the left of the road. A few metered parking spots are also available at Duck pond, further on the right. Walk to Hahn lot parking, the physics department is the second building, with the stairs at the main entrance.
Handicapped parking spots are available on Hahn lot as well as behind Robeson Hall, with ramp access to the elevator. To get to this access, turn left after the big parking in the "walk only" area. You will access from the back of the building at the basement level, from the ramp (behind the "neutrino lab trailer"). The elevator is on the left after the second door.
To go from Hahn North building to Robeson Hall, the easiest is to go to the basement of Robeson Hall, exit from the back of the building, and enter the main Hall. The door is on the left. It is also possible to go from inside the building using the stairs next to the elevator, and following signs.
Parking is available in downtown Blacksburg, but is usually not convenient and recommended only for persons with walking difficulties. Parking at restaurants in Blacksburg is generally easy besides the downtown area. ADA parking is available everywhere downtown. Some metered spots are available as well.
3) By bus or train
There are several options for bus or train, mostly from main cities on the East coast, to go to Roanoke, VA. Beware that the city is touristic in summer and this means of transportation may be used by people coming for the Appalachian trail. It is recommended to book tickets in advance.
Once in Roanoke, it is possible to carpool or shuttle with other participants, or take another bus, to go to Blacksburg (45 minutes drive). Roanoke train and bus stations are both in the same area (downtown Roanoke by the transportation museum). The airport is a 5-minute drive further via interstate I 581.
- From Hampton Roads:
No direct or convenient bus available to/from Hampton Roads. The best way is to travel by car or carpool with another participant. The only bus connection requires 3 changes and takes over 12 hours.
Contact other participants and/or organizers if you are looking for someone coming by car, or if you are coming by car and would like to propose a seat, as there are several participants who are driving form JLab.
- From DC or Northern Virginia:
Greyhound and buses from other companies, as well as a train to Roanoke, are available from DC, Richmond, and some other major cities on the East Coast.
- From NYC or other major cities in the North-East of US:
While the most convenient way is to take the airplane to Roanoke airport, it is also possible to take the train from NY central station, which stops at Philadelphia, Baltimore… Greyhound or other buses are also available to Roanoke. Another bus or shuttle/carpool are needed to go to Blacksburg (extra 45 minutes).
- From Charlotte, NC
Bus is possible to Roanoke but takes long and is inconvenient.
