Mill Mountain Zoo
Mill Mountain Zoo is a non-profit zoo located atop Mill Mountain in Roanoke, Virginia, dedicated to fostering connections between people and wildlife to promote conservation and environmental stewardship. Its history begins in 1952. Around it, Virginia Museum of Transportation (1.8 mi) comes first on our list.
A zoo & aquarium inside Roanoke
You can stay in Roanoke
Mill Mountain Zoo is inside Roanoke, which has 44 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
Best months: Apr, May, Sep and Oct
April, May, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 70–80°. When to go ↓
An airport 6 miles away
Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional (ROA) has airline service, about 6 miles from Mill Mountain Zoo.
Established in 1952
Mill Mountain Zoo dates from 1952. About ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
How the seasons run
Use the months below to time a visit to Mill Mountain Zoo.
Mill Mountain Zoo
Mill Mountain Zoo is a non-profit zoo located atop Mill Mountain in Roanoke, Virginia, dedicated to fostering connections between people and wildlife to promote conservation and environmental stewardship. The zoo emphasizes educational programs, conservation initiatives, and interactive animal experiences to encourage appreciation for biodiversity.
Highlighting species native to the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains, such as red wolves, bald eagles, and black bears, the zoo celebrates regional ecosystems while supporting global conservation efforts for animals like snow leopards and red pandas. As a non-profit, all donations and purchases directly support the zoo's mission to preserve wildlife and ecosystems for future generations.
- Type
- Zoo & aquarium
- Animals
- 85 animals · 35 species
- Established
- 1952
- Wikipedia readers
- 1.8K a year
Where to base yourself for Mill Mountain Zoo
The closest lodging is in Roanoke (44) and Salem (19).
- 1Appalachian Trail
- 2Lane Stadium
- 3Smith Mountain Lake
- 4Virginia Museum of Transportation
- 5Taubman Museum of Art
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Mill Mountain Zoo | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke | in town | — | 44 33 hotels · 4 motels · 4 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 99,111 | $191K | D |
| Salem | 7 mi west | 10 min | 19 15 hotels · 2 motels · 2 inns & B&Bs | 25,816 | $259K | — |
| Hollins | 7 mi north | 10 min | 13 12 hotels · 1 inn or B&B | 17,097 | $244K | — |
| Daleville | 12 mi north | 15 min | 16 13 hotels · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 1 hostel | 3,797 | $370K | — |
| Cave Spring | 4 mi west | 5 min | 5 4 hotels · 1 lodge or cabins | 25,742 | $326K | — |
| Cloverdale | 7 mi north | 10 min | 4 1 hotel · 1 motel · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 RV park | 3,208 | $360K | — |
| Vinton | 3 mi northeast | 5 min | 2 1 hotel · 1 motel | 7,967 | $191K | C |
| Christiansburg | 27 mi west | 40 min | 20 15 hotels · 3 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 RV park | 22,442 | $253K | C |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Make a day of it near Mill Mountain Zoo
Places worth adding lie within 64 miles.
Big draw125 mi Park & preserveAppalachian Trail3.0M visitors a year
227 mi Stadium & arenaLane Stadium
42 mi LandmarkProject Greek Island
326 mi LakeSmith Mountain Lake
34 mi LakeMountain Lake
42 mi MuseumVirginia Museum of Transportation
63 mi National Historical ParkAppomattox Court House National Historical Park77K visitors a year
52 mi MuseumTaubman Museum of ArtPhoto credits
Appalachian Trail: Paulba. Original uploader was Paulbalegend at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lane Stadium: User:B, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Project Greek Island: Z22, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Smith Mountain Lake: Jay White, Public domain · Mountain Lake: Rolfmueller, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Virginia Museum of Transportation: Warfieldian, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Appomattox Court House National Historical Park: Doug Coldwell, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Taubman Museum of Art: O Palsson, CC BY 2.0
Questions people have about Mill Mountain Zoo
Is Mill Mountain Zoo in Roanoke?
Yes. It’s inside Roanoke, VA.
When is the best time to visit Mill Mountain Zoo?
April, May, September and October, with highs of 70–80°.
How far is Mill Mountain Zoo from Greensboro?
About 80 miles south of Greensboro, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Mill Mountain Zoo?
Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional (ROA), about 6 miles away. The nearest big hub is Piedmont Triad (GSO), about 79 miles.
Where should I stay near Mill Mountain Zoo?
Roanoke (in town, 44 places to stay), Salem (7 mi, 19 places to stay) and Hollins (7 mi, 13 places to stay).
Word from Roanoke
People in Roanoke have not posted tips yet; their Town Square is open.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.