ROA · Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional
20 min from facility
Direct service from ATL, CLT, ORD, DFW, LGA, MCO, PHL, DCA, IAD. The most direct option.
Directions · Salem, VA
How to get to Roanoke Refuge.
1630 Braeburn Drive, Salem, Virginia 24153. Driving directions, airport options, and public-transit access for clients and family members arriving from anywhere in Virginia and the surrounding region.
The bottom line
Getting to Salem, Virginia, the short version.
- 1630 Braeburn Drive, Salem, VA 24153 — off Route 419, quick I-81 access. Twelve minutes from downtown Roanoke; twenty minutes from ROA airport.
- Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) is the closest airport, with direct flights to ATL, CLT, ORD, DFW, LGA, MCO, PHL, DCA, and IAD.
- Major-city drive times: Richmond ~3 hrs, DC ~4 hrs, Charlotte ~3 hrs, Greensboro ~2 hrs, Knoxville ~5 hrs, Charleston WV ~3 hrs, Lynchburg ~1 hr.
- I-81 is the main artery, with I-581 connecting into Roanoke and Route 419 reaching Salem. The interstate handles east-west traffic via US-460.
- Amtrak and Greyhound serve Roanoke directly. The admissions team can help coordinate last-mile transportation for clients arriving from out of region.
The facility sits at 1630 Braeburn Drive, Salem, Virginia 24153, off Route 419 with quick access to Interstate 81. Salem is an independent city adjacent to Roanoke, in the Roanoke Valley along the I-81 corridor. The location is twelve minutes from downtown Roanoke, twenty minutes from Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport, and a manageable drive from most of the mid-Atlantic and Southeast. The page below covers the practical arrival options from each direction.
From the Roanoke Region
For clients and families in the Roanoke Valley, Salem is reachable from each of the major corridors. The drive times below are conservative estimates for typical traffic.
| From | Time | Distance | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke City (downtown) | 12 min | ~7 mi | I-581 N to US-11/Apperson Drive, follow signs to Salem |
| Vinton | 20 min | ~12 mi | Route 24 W to I-581 N to I-81 S to Salem exits |
| Daleville / Botetourt County | 25 min | ~17 mi | I-81 S directly to Salem |
| Bedford City | 40 min | ~30 mi | US-460 W to I-581 S to I-81 S |
| Moneta / Smith Mountain Lake | 50 min | ~37 mi | Route 122 to US-460 W to I-81 S |
| Lynchburg | 1 hr | ~55 mi | US-460 W direct |
| Christiansburg / Blacksburg | 40 min | ~30 mi | I-81 N directly to Salem exits |
| Lexington (Rockbridge County) | 55 min | ~50 mi | I-81 S directly |
From Major Cities (Out of Region)
For clients arriving from outside the immediate region, the routes below are the practical primary options. Interstate 81 is the main north-south spine through the Roanoke Valley; most regional drives connect to I-81 for the final approach.
| From | Time | Distance | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | ~3 hrs | ~190 mi | I-64 W to I-81 S |
| Washington, DC | ~4 hrs | ~250 mi | I-66 W to I-81 S |
| Charlottesville, VA | ~2 hrs | ~120 mi | I-64 W to I-81 S |
| Charlotte, NC | ~3 hrs | ~180 mi | I-77 N to I-81 N |
| Greensboro, NC | ~2 hrs | ~110 mi | US-220 N direct (or I-77 + I-81) |
| Knoxville, TN | ~5 hrs | ~280 mi | I-81 N from Knoxville directly |
| Charleston, WV | ~3 hrs | ~180 mi | I-64 E to I-81 S |
| Baltimore, MD | ~5 hrs | ~290 mi | I-95 S to I-66 W to I-81 S |
By Air
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) is the closest commercial airport, about 20 minutes from the facility. ROA has direct flights from most major hubs, which makes it the default choice for clients and family members flying in from out of state. For destinations not served by ROA, Charlotte Douglas (CLT) and Washington Dulles (IAD) are the practical fallbacks, with longer drives but broader service.
CLT · Charlotte Douglas International
~3 hrs from facility
Major hub with very broad domestic + international service. Best fit when ROA does not have the flight schedule needed.
IAD · Washington Dulles International
~4 hrs from facility
International hub. Long drive but often the right call for inbound international clients or family members.
DCA · Reagan National
~4.5 hrs from facility
Closest DC-area option to downtown DC if connecting from there.
RIC · Richmond International
~3 hrs from facility
Alternative when Charlotte and Dulles do not have the right schedule.
For clients flying into ROA, our admissions team can help coordinate ground transportation from the airport. For longer connecting drives from CLT, IAD, DCA, or RIC, rental car is usually the most practical option. The drive from any of these airports to Salem is straightforward interstate driving the entire way.
By Train and Bus
Amtrak operates the Northeast Regional service to Roanoke (ROA station, 55 Norfolk Avenue SW). Direct connections include Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Washington D.C. (Union Station), Philadelphia, and New York Penn Station. The route is comfortable, scenic, and meaningfully cheaper than flying for clients arriving from the Northeast Corridor.
Greyhound operates from the Roanoke bus terminal at 26 Salem Avenue SW. Multiple daily connections to major Southeast and Mid-Atlantic cities. Greyhound is the practical option for clients without access to a car or air travel budget.
From either the Amtrak station or the Greyhound terminal in downtown Roanoke, ground transportation to Salem takes 15 to 20 minutes. Valley Metro, the local bus system, runs service between downtown Roanoke and Salem along Route 419. Rideshare (Uber, Lyft) is widely available across the metro. Our admissions team can help coordinate the last-mile depending on the client's situation.
For Family Members Visiting
Family members visiting for family therapy inside IOP and PHP sessions, family therapy appointments, or general support typically drive in for the day. Hotels and short-term lodging are widely available in both Salem and Roanoke, with the lowest concentration along the I-81 corridor near the I-581 interchange in Roanoke. The team can recommend lodging options when needed; the admissions intake call is a good time to ask.
If You Are Driving In for Admissions
Before the admissions intake appointment, please confirm:
- Photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or passport)
- Insurance card (both medical and behavioral health components)
- Current medications list with dosages and prescribing physicians
- Prior treatment records if available (intake assessments, discharge summaries)
- Emergency contact information for at least one family member
The admissions process page covers the full intake sequence. The what to expect page walks through Day One.
Frequently Asked
Common questions about getting here.
If you need help coordinating arrival, the admissions team can walk through the specifics.
Where exactly is Roanoke Refuge located?
1630 Braeburn Drive, Salem, Virginia 24153. Salem is an independent city adjacent to Roanoke, approximately 12 minutes from downtown Roanoke and 20 minutes from Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport. Off Route 419 with quick access to Interstate 81.
What is the nearest airport?
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) is the closest, approximately 20 minutes from our facility. Direct flights connect ROA to Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, New York LaGuardia, Orlando, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. (Reagan and Dulles). For more flight options, Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) is about three hours by car; Washington Dulles (IAD) is about four hours; Richmond International (RIC) is about three hours.
Is the facility accessible by public transit?
Valley Metro operates bus service across Roanoke City and into Salem; the closest stops to the facility are along Route 419. For clients arriving from further away, Amtrak's Roanoke Northeast Regional service connects to Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Washington D.C., and New York. Greyhound also serves Roanoke from major regional cities. Our admissions team can help coordinate the last-mile from any of these arrival points.
Is parking available on-site?
Yes. On-site parking is available for clients, family members, and visiting referral partners. Detailed arrival instructions are provided during the admissions intake call.
I am driving in from out of state. Anything I should know?
Salem and Roanoke sit in a mountain valley along Interstate 81, which means weather can change quickly in fall, winter, and early spring. Check the forecast before driving, especially on the segments through the Blue Ridge from Charlottesville and the Appalachian sections from Knoxville and Charleston. The drive itself is scenic and uncomplicated; the practical considerations are weather and the occasional slow truck traffic on I-81.
When You Arrive
The hardest part is the call. The drive comes after.
Whether you are coming from a neighborhood in Roanoke or from a connecting flight at Dulles, the path to the front door of the facility is short once the first conversation has happened. The admissions team can coordinate the practical details once the clinical picture is clear.