Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (IATA: ROA, ICAO: KROA, FAA LID: ROA) (Woodrum Field) is a regional airport located three miles (c. 5 km) northwest of downtown Roanoke, Virginia, United States,[1] although still within the independent city's borders.

[1][3] Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 315,293 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008,[4] 297,588 in 2009 and 316,478 in 2010.

[5] It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2021–2025, in which it is categorized as a non-hub primary commercial service facility.

[2] After World War I, the idea of opening an airport in the Roanoke Valley became a priority for local leaders.

It was initially privately operated, but the city of Roanoke took control of the facility in 1937 after it purchased the original hangar, with Works Progress Administration funds paying the costs of paving the runways.

[10] A proposal for runway expansion and facilities upgrades was developed in 1975 but was put on hold while a new regional airport was being studied.

[12] This was the case as the U.S. Customs Service increased the radius covered by the inland port in Dublin to include Roanoke.

This expansion allowed the airport to add customs officials to accommodate international travel and cargo passing through Roanoke.

[12] Residents and businesses have been known to take issue with the airport's limited non-stop flights and lack of low-price fares.

[16][17] Aviation industry consultant Michael Boyd compared Roanoke's level of air service favorably to similarly sized cities.

Earlier attempts to lobby AirTran Airways[20][21] and the now defunct Independence Air[22] to serve the airport were unsuccessful.

[24] From Roanoke, Piedmont flew non-stop to many airports, including: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Greensboro, Louisville, Nashville, Newark, Pittsburgh, Richmond, and Washington–Reagan.

[8] The Y-shaped building features a front of blue-tinted, reflecting glass with exposed white triangular tube steel trusses.

[8] The lobby interior includes an arched brick wall leading into a central plaza and a front courtyard at the main entrance.

[11] Expansion was delayed until the early 1980s while a proposed new regional airport serving Roanoke, Lynchburg and Martinsville, to be built in Bedford County, was evaluated.

The total airspace controlled by Roanoke stretches well over 200 miles (320 km) from the Mountain Empire region to Farmville.

[42] An additional 598 parking spaces are available in an overflow lot across Aviation Drive during peak travel times.

[43][44] A multi-level parking garage is planned atop the site of the existing long term lot.

[45] The airport is accessible via Aviation Drive, which branches off Hershberger Road just east of Exit 3E off I-581 leading to downtown Roanoke.

[46] The airport can also be reached from Virginia State Route 118 by connecting with Municipal Drive just east of the terminal.

Operating Monday through Saturday, the Smart Way serves both downtown Roanoke as well as Salem, Christiansburg, Blacksburg and Virginia Tech.