Life in Blacksburg
A great town to start in—and come back to
Walk across campus and past Squires Student Center and before you know it, you’ll find yourself in downtown Blacksburg. The brick-lined streets are your gateway to unique shops and restaurants, a vibrant music scene, and a full slate of festivals during the spring and summer months.
Blacksburg has about 43,000 residents and is located in the New River Valley, which is Virginia’s fastest growing region west of Richmond. The city and region get high marks from outdoor enthusiasts, so make sure you get out to enjoy the region's wild spaces like Cascade Falls and Claytor Lake State Park.
Looking for something to do?
Although there’s always something happening at Virginia Tech, sometimes it’s nice to get off campus and into the outdoors. Southwest Virginia offers great hiking and biking, scenic lakes and drives, and all kinds of festivals. Check out some of these options for things to see and do.
- Visit Southwest Virginia (Southwest Virginia activities and travel information)
- Divergent Travelers (road trip to Southwest Virginia)
- The Crooked Road – Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail
- Next Three Days (events in the New River Valley)
How to get to Blacksburg
Blacksburg is located in Southwest Virginia and nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We’re only a few hours away from the following major cities: Roanoke, Virginia, 1 hour; Richmond, Virginia, 3.5 hours; Charlotte, North Carolina, 3.5 hours; Washington, D.C., 4.5 hours. There are a variety of shuttles and regional transportation services that serve Blacksburg, the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport, and other locations.