Charlottesville travel guide
Charlottesville Tourism | Charlottesville Guide
You're Going to Love Charlottesville
With a population of 43 475, Charlottesville is a must-see destination in Virginia, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Charlottesville deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Activities & attractions in Charlottesville
Where to Eat in Charlottesville
North Downtown is the neighborhood with the most restaurants in Charlottesville. These include popular favorites such as Zocalo (201 East Main Steet), Red Pump Kitchen (401 East Main Street) and Tastings - A Restaurant, Wine Shop & Wine Bar (502 East Market). If you’re looking for affordable options, Orzo Kitchen & Wine Bar (416 W Main St) and Shadwells Restaurant (1791 Richmond Rd) are great picks. For delicious green meals, North American Sake Brewery (522 2nd St SE) and Birdhouse (711 Henry Ave) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Charlottesville.
When to visit Charlottesville
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Charlottesville in July, when the average temperature is 75.2 °F, and the highest can go up to 86 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 26.6 °F, with an average temperature of 35.6 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in September, when precipitation is around 4.5″. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Charlottesville, with an average rainfall of 2.7″.
How to Get to Charlottesville
Plane
When flying to Charlottesville, you’ll arrive at Charlottesville Albemarle (CHO), which is located 12 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Charlottesville include American Airlines, Delta and WestJet. The shortest domestic flight to Charlottesville departs from New York and takes around 1h 27m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Charlottesville. The train journey from Charlottesville to Alexandria takes 2h 12m and costs around $19 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Newark, expect to pay about $44 for a 5h 59m trip. The train station in Charlottesville is called Charlottesville, and is located 1.1 km from the city center.
Car
Another option to get to Charlottesville is to pick up a car rental from Washington, D.C., which is about 159 km from Charlottesville. You’ll find branches of Sixt and Kyte, among others, in Washington, D.C..
Bus
Megabus operates bus routes to Charlottesville. The most popular bus station is Charlottesville Barracks Road Shopping Center, located 3.1 km from downtown Charlottesville. Charlottesville Campbells Travel - 310 W Main St is also a commonly used station, and is 0.5 km from the city center.
Airlines serving Charlottesville
Where to stay in Charlottesville
There are also lots of vacation rental options in Charlottesville, with prices from $28 to $819 per night. North Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Charlottesville are about 97% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Where to stay in popular areas of Charlottesville
Most booked hotels in Charlottesville
Renting a car in Charlottesville
Renting a car in Charlottesville costs $71 per day, on average, or $143 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National and Budget are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Charlottesville is the Hertz branch at 100 Bowen Loop #200, which is 12 km from the city center.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 2% more expensive than at Charlottesville Albemarle.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Charlottesville (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Charlottesville is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (GMC Terrain or similar) are, on average, 42% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Best car rental deals in Charlottesville
Economy
2 Adults, 2 Bags
$48/day
Compact
4 Adults, 2 Bags
$48/day