Roanoke County Traffic: Orange Market Park & Ride Opens, Hanging Rock Trail Lot Closes

Roanoke County commuters will see changes to parking options near Orange Market this week as the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) opens a novel park and ride lot and closes another for improvements. The Orange Market Park and Ride Lot, located between Kessler Mill Road and the entrance to Orange Market, officially opens Friday, March 27, 2026.

Yet, starting Monday, March 30, 2026, the smaller Hanging Rock Battlefield Trail parking lot at Orange Market, situated closer to Route 419, will close for construction. The closure is expected to last through the summer of 2026, according to VDOT.

The project aims to improve both parking lots at Orange Market and the adjacent roundabout on Route 311/Route 419. Work will include paving and striping both lots, as well as designating a specific area for the McAfee Knob shuttle stop, supporting access to the popular hiking trail.

Commuters are advised to seek alternative parking arrangements during the construction period. VDOT warns that vehicles left in the closed lots will be towed. Drivers can utilize the Orange Market Alternate Parking Lot, accessible from Route 311 (Thompson Memorial Drive) across from the park and ride, or consider other park and ride locations such as the I-81 Exit 140 Park and Ride.

The larger Orange Market Park and Ride lot had been gradually reducing parking spaces since January 23, 2026, as work began. The project initially focused on the larger lot before shifting to the Hanging Rock Battlefield Trail lot.

More information on park and ride locations can be found on the VDOT website. Updates on the traffic alert are available on the 511 website, as well as on the VDOT Salem District’s Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) accounts.