A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Charlottesville vs. Bar Harbor for Food, Couples, Hiking, and Families

Should you visit Charlottesville or Bar Harbor?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Charlottesville and Bar Harbor. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Charlottesville

Charlottesville is a young, collegiate, and southern university town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. Charlottesville is a gorgeous place to visit. It also has that perfectly quaint feel that is like no other place. It's also known for nightlife, hiking, and museums. See Charlottesville travel costs.

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is a picturesque, relaxed, and quaint coastal town. You'll find plenty of local activities in this small town. The beauty of Bar Harbor is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. It also has a unique and quaint vibe that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the shopping, food, and beaches. See Bar Harbor travel costs.

Charlottesville and Bar Harbor: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Charlottesville or Bar Harbor?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Bar Harbor. Although Charlottesville and Bar Harbor are popular destinations, Bar Harbor has more sights and attractions for tourists. Bar Harbor is very popular for its food, resorts, beaches, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Charlottesville attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, nightlife, and historical sights. Bar Harbor is more touristy than Charlottesville and is popular for its small town vibe, picturesque setting, whale watching tours, and convenient location near Acadia National Park. It is also well known for Acadia National Park. Charlottesville is famous for being home to the University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, and serving as a gateway to Shenandoah National Park.

How is Charlottesville different from Bar Harbor?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Bar Harbor and Charlottesville. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Charlottesville or Bar Harbor?

Charlottesville is a university town with good options for its sights and museums. However, Bar Harbor does not have museums and landmarks.

Charlottesville is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. A highlight of a trip to the area is a visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. The city is also famously home to the beautiful University of Virginia, which has a manicured and beautiful campus. History buffs will also appreciate visiting the Civil War Sites that are nearby as well.

Bar Harbor does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Charlottesville or Bar Harbor? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bar Harbor is a great coastal town for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Charlottesville is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Bar Harbor has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The town is famous for its Maine lobster, but there are also countless other types of fresh seafood available. You'll find waterfront restaurants with beautiful views and fresh ingredients.

Charlottesville may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Head to the Historic Downtown Mall to enjoy an outdoor meal at a top rated restaurant. There are also restaurants that cater specifically to students and offer affordable and quick meals.

Is Charlottesville or Bar Harbor Better for Nightlife?

Charlottesville is a university town with good options for nightlife. However, Bar Harbor is not a good coastal town for nightlife and partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Charlottesville. Charlottesville is a university town with an active nightlife. The best areas for nightlife are found around the Downtown Mall, Belmont neighborhood, the Corner, and University Ave west near the mall. Even though there are a number of activities to enjoy at night, this is still a small town and the nightlife scene reflects that.

Bar Harbor doesn't offer many options. It's a peaceful and sleepy town, so you wont find much in the way of nightlife.

Is Charlottesville or Bar Harbor Better for Resorts?

Bar Harbor is a good destination for its luxury resorts. However, Charlottesville is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, Bar Harbor makes a nice vacation spot. The town is all about the cute hotel. Several favorites include Sand Bar Cottage Inn, Bluenose Inn, and Bar Harbor Inn and Spa.

Charlottesville is not a resort destination.

Is Charlottesville or Bar Harbor Better for Beaches?

Bar Harbor is a good destination for the beach. However, Charlottesville is not a beach destination.

Bar Harbor offers a nice beach destination. A nice beach is close by but do note that the sand is very shelly and there is a big difference between high and low tides.

Charlottesville is not a beach destination.

Is Charlottesville or Bar Harbor Better for its Old Town?

Charlottesville is a university town with good options for its historic old town. However, Bar Harbor does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Charlottesville to see the historical old town. The Historic Downtown Mall is filled with restaurants and shops. It's a pedestrian only area with a lot of character and energy.

Bar Harbor does not have a historic old town.

Is Charlottesville or Bar Harbor Better for Hiking?

Hiking trails can be found around both Charlottesville and Bar Harbor, and they are nice.

Charlottesville offers some nice hiking trails. Just outside of town there are plenty of hiking opportunities including in and around Shenandoah National Park. Hiking is at its best during the fall season when the leaves are changing.

Bar Harbor is a good destination for hiking. Nearby Acadia National Park has plenty of hiking options. There's also the Bar Harbor Shore Path that wanders along the coastline and offers beautiful views.

Is the Shopping Better in Charlottesville or Bar Harbor?

Bar Harbor is a great coastal town for its shopping opportunities. However, Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Bar Harbor is well-known for its shopping. Filled with plenty of local boutique shops, its fun to enjoy some shopping around town.

Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Charlottesville or Bar Harbor More Beautiful?

Bar Harbor is a great coastal town for its scenery and beauty. Also, Charlottesville is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for its scenery and beauty.

The beauty of Bar Harbor is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Surrounded by the water and beautiful landscaping, the town offers visitors plenty of beauty.

Charlottesville offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Surrounded by the Shenandoah Mountains, this is a beautiful town and home to the beautiful University of Virginia.

Is Charlottesville or Bar Harbor Better for Families?

Both Charlottesville and Bar Harbor are nice family-friendly destinations.

Charlottesville offers lots of family activities. Wandering the campus of UVA, picking fruit at Carter Mountain Orchard or exploring the downtown mall, including the Virginia Discovery Museum are all activities that everyone can enjoy. There are also great hiking trails just outside of town.

Bar Harbor is a family-friendly place to visit. It is a small town with a lot of outdoor activities that kids will enjoy. Whale watching, kayaking, and wildlife spotting are all fun activities for all ages.

Is Charlottesville or Bar Harbor Better for Couples?

Bar Harbor is a great coastal town for its romantic activities. Also, Charlottesville is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for couples.

Bar Harbor is a great coastal town if you're traveling as a couple. It is a quaint coastal town that is perfect for a couple's getaway or a short honeymoon. There are romantic restaurants, scenic walks, and beautiful views that make this a wonderful retreat.

Charlottesville is a good university town for couples to visit. The UVA campus is beautiful to explore, as is Monticello. The Downtown Mall has many great restaurants and activities that make for a nice date night and during the day, there's also beautiful hikes nearby that are at their peak during the fall season.

Is Charlottesville or Bar Harbor Better for Students?

Charlottesville is terrific for students. However, Bar Harbor is not popular with students.

Charlottesville is a very popular university town for students. The town is home to the beautiful University of Virginia and it's a popular destination for international students as well as local students. Much of the town is focused around student life, and the city's proximity to Washington, DC means it has access to global opportunities.

Bar Harbor is not popular with students.

Is Charlottesville or Bar Harbor Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Charlottesville and Bar Harbor both offer reasonable public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Charlottesville. There is a bus system that runs between campus, downtown, and several neighborhoods in Charlottesville.

Public transit is generally limited in Bar Harbor. There is a free shuttle bus that will help you get around town if needed.

Is Charlottesville or Bar Harbor a more walkable city?

Bar Harbor is a great coastal town for its high level of walkability. However, Charlottesville is not known for its ease of walking around.

Bar Harbor is a very walkable coastal town. The town is small enough that it's easily explored on foot.

Charlottesville is generally not very walkable. While the University of Virginia campus and the Downtown Mall are both very walkable, most of the town is not.

For even more information, also check out Is Charlottesville Worth Visiting? and Is Bar Harbor Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bar Harbor or Charlottesville?

How long in Charlottesville or Bar Harbor?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Charlottesville and Bar Harbor. In our opinion, Bar Harbor has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Bar Harbor than Charlottesville. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Bar Harbor than Charlottesville. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Bar Harbor, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Bar Harbor than Charlottesville. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Bar Harbor that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Charlottesville than Bar Harbor if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Charlottesville.

One day in Charlottesville or Bar Harbor?

Charlottesville might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The charming small town of Bar Harbor offers food and shopping. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Charlottesville or Bar Harbor?

Even though Charlottesville is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this university town.

The quaint coastal town of Bar Harbor offers shopping and food. A weekend here is typical. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Five days in Charlottesville or Bar Harbor?

Charlottesville, a popular university town, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Bar Harbor is a great place to explore. This coastal town offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Charlottesville or Bar Harbor?

Charlottesville is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Many people enjoy the shopping and food when visiting Bar Harbor. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Charlottesville and Bar Harbor, we can see that Bar Harbor is more expensive. And not only is Charlottesville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Charlottesville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Charlottesville and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bar Harbor would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bar Harbor than you might in Charlottesville.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Charlottesville Expensive? and Is Bar Harbor Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Charlottesville or Bar Harbor?

Charlottesville has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Bar Harbor. When comparing the sizes of Charlottesville and Bar Harbor, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Charlottesville or Bar Harbor?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Bar Harbor in the Summer?

Both Bar Harbor and Charlottesville during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Charlottesville for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Bar Harbor because of the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Charlottesville is generally a little warmer than Bar Harbor. Daily temperatures in Charlottesville average around 78°F (26°C), and Bar Harbor fluctuates around 69°F (21°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Charlottesville. Charlottesville usually gets more rain in July than Bar Harbor. Charlottesville gets 5 inches (128 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Bar Harbor in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Charlottesville and Bar Harbor. The autumn months attract visitors to Charlottesville because of the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Bar Harbor this time of year.

Charlottesville is much warmer than Bar Harbor in the autumn. The daily temperature in Charlottesville averages around 59°F (15°C) in October, and Bar Harbor fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

In October, Charlottesville usually receives around the same amount of rain as Bar Harbor. Charlottesville gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Bar Harbor in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Charlottesville as well as Bar Harbor. The museums, the Christmas ambience, and the cuisine are the main draw to Charlottesville this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bar Harbor for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Bar Harbor. It's quite cold in Charlottesville in the winter. In the winter, Charlottesville is much warmer than Bar Harbor. Typically, the winter temperatures in Charlottesville in January average around 36°F (2°C), and Bar Harbor averages at about 18°F (-8°C).

Charlottesville usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Bar Harbor. Charlottesville gets 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Bar Harbor in the Spring?

Both Bar Harbor and Charlottesville are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Charlottesville for the small town charm and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Bar Harbor in the spring for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

In April, Charlottesville is generally much warmer than Bar Harbor. Daily temperatures in Charlottesville average around 58°F (14°C), and Bar Harbor fluctuates around 43°F (6°C).

In April, Charlottesville usually receives less rain than Bar Harbor. Charlottesville gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bar Harbor and Charlottesville