This long one-way ride is a delight to make as long as you have someone to meet you at the zoo on Mill Mountain. This variation shortens the ride by 18.7 miles.

Starting Point: Pilot Mountain Grocery Store.

Distance: 50.9 miles, one way.

Terrain: Very hilly with many steep climbs.


Mile Directions
0.0 Turn right onto Pilot Rd. from grocery store.
1.2 Go straight onto SR 612 when SR 614 (High Rock Hill Rd.) makes a right.
4.0 Cross Floyd County Line still on SR 612. At Terry’s Fork, SR 612 first becomes SR 660 (when SR 612 goes right) and then becomes SR 610 when SR 610 joins from the left.
11.2 Stay to right on SR 610 to Check when SR 653 goes to the left to Shawsville.
13.9 Cross US 221 and continue on SR 610. J and J Market located on the right at this intersection.
16.4 Continue on paved SR 610 when dirt road SR 791 enters from right.
16.7 Stay on SR 610, which forks at this point. The left fork is paved SR 647. SR 610 bears to the right and continues to the Blue Ridge Parkway as a dirt road.
22.5 SR 610 joins the Blue Ridge Parkway. Turn left toward Roanoke.
28.9 Cahas Mountain Overlook.
31.9 Adney Gap and US 221 Exit.
32.9 View of Poor Mountain.
38.3 Lost Mountain Overlook.
46.9 Cross over US 220 (Rocky Mount Rd.).
47.9 Left onto Mill Mountain Parkway.
50.4 Mill Mountain Parkway intersection; Mill Mountain Zoo Parking Lot to the left and Fishburn Parkway to the right and down Mill Mountain.
50.9 Left Mill Mountain Roanoke Zoo Parking Lot. Make arrangements for a shuttle vehicle to pick you up here... OR
52.1 Right onto Fishburn Parkway which turns into Walnut Ave.
52.7 Right onto Jefferson Ave.
53.4 Right onto Campbell Ave. Campbell Court bus station is onthe right about one-half block from the intersection. Take the Smart Way Bus back to the Virginia Tech campus at Squires Student Center, just a few blocks from the Blacksburg Town Library.

Notes:
There may be water and bathrooms open on the Parkway during the warm months.