A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Charlottesville vs. Hershey for Families, Couples, Attractions, and Nightlife

Should you visit Charlottesville or Hershey?

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 Hershey. 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 southern, proud, and traditional university town. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. It's 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.

Hershey

Hershey is a fun-filled, playful, and lighthearted town. Visitors also love the shopping and museums.

Charlottesville and Hershey: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Charlottesville or Hershey?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Charlottesville. Although Charlottesville and Hershey are popular destinations, Charlottesville has more sights and attractions for tourists. Charlottesville is very popular for its nightlife, historical sights, hiking, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Hershey attracts visitors for its resorts and shopping. Hershey is more touristy than Charlottesville and is popular for being the home of the Hershey's milk chocolate bar. Charlottesville is famous for being home to the University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, and serving as a gateway to Shenandoah National Park. It is also well known for The University of Virginia Campus.

How is Charlottesville different from Hershey?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Hershey 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 Hershey?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Charlottesville and Hershey.

Charlottesville offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Hershey. In addition to Hershey's Chocolate World, there's the Hershey Story Museum, the Hershey Historic Center, and the Pennsylvania State Police Museum. There's also the AACA Museum (a car museum).

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

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Charlottesville and Hershey.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Charlottesville. 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.

Hershey may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Restaurants range from casual to fine dining, and many have a very family-friendly atmosphere.

Is Charlottesville or Hershey Better for Nightlife?

Charlottesville is a popular place for nightlife. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for nightlife and partying.

Charlottesville has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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.

Hershey doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. Head to downtown Harrisburg for the best nightlife. You'll find some bars and casino's in the area.

Is Charlottesville or Hershey Better for Resorts?

Hershey is a great town for its luxury resorts. However, Charlottesville is not a resort destination.

There are plenty of resorts in Hershey to choose from. There are a few of resorts affiliated with Hersheypark including a lodge, a hotel, and even camping.

Charlottesville is not a resort destination.

Is Charlottesville or Hershey Better for its Old Town?

Charlottesville is a popular place for its historic old town. However, Hershey 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.

Hershey does not have a historic old town.

Is Charlottesville or Hershey Better for Hiking?

Charlottesville is a popular place for its hiking experiences. However, Hershey is not a hiking destination.

Charlottesville is a good destination for hiking. 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.

Hershey is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Charlottesville or Hershey?

Hershey is a good destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Hershey. You'll find shops, boutiques, and plenty of Hershey apparel that you can pick up in town.

Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Charlottesville or Hershey Better for Christmas?

Charlottesville is a great destination for its Christmas activities. However, Hershey does not offer Christmas activities.

Visitors come from all around to experience the Christmas activities in Charlottesville. From Christmas lights on campus to a festive atmosphere at the Monticello, the town is beautiful for Christmas.

Hershey does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Charlottesville or Hershey Better for Families?

Hershey is terrific for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Charlottesville is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for its family-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Hershey is very family-friendly. Hersheypark offers family-friendly resorts and camping. There's also the themed amusement park and even a zoo. When the weather's warm there's a water park and, of course, there's the famous Hershey's Chocolate World.

Charlottesville is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Is Charlottesville or Hershey Better for Couples?

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

Hershey is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. If you don't take yourself too seriously, couples can enjoy a fun and active few days exploring the activities in the area.

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 Hershey Better for Students?

Charlottesville is very popular for students. However, Hershey is not popular with students.

Many students frequent Charlottesville. 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.

Hershey is not popular with students.

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

Charlottesville and Hershey 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 Hershey. While there is a bus system, it's very limited and most visitors do not rely on it.

Is Charlottesville or Hershey a more walkable city?

Charlottesville and Hershey are reasonable when it comes to walkability.

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

Hershey is generally not very walkable. You really need a car to get to the area's attractions.

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

Should I spend more time in Hershey or Charlottesville?

How long in Charlottesville or Hershey?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Charlottesville than Hershey 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 Hershey?

Charlottesville is a small town with plenty to do. This university town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

The lighthearted destination of Hershey offers shopping and museums. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. 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 Hershey?

Charlottesville might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Charlottesville has to offer.

The town of Hershey offers museums and shopping. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. 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 Hershey?

Charlottesville is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Hershey is a great place to explore. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This town offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Charlottesville or Hershey?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Charlottesville. Since Charlottesville is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Many people enjoy the museums and shopping when visiting Hershey. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. 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 Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Charlottesville and Hershey, we can see that Hershey 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 Hershey would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hershey 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 Hershey Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Charlottesville or Hershey?

Charlottesville has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Hershey. When comparing the sizes of Charlottesville and Hershey, 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 Hershey?

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 Hershey in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Charlottesville as well as Hershey. The hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Charlottesville this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Hershey for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Charlottesville is generally around the same temperature as Hershey. Daily temperatures in Charlottesville average around 78°F (26°C), and Hershey fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hershey. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Charlottesville this time of the year. In the summer, Charlottesville often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Hershey. Charlottesville gets 305 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hershey receives 310 hours of full sun.

Charlottesville receives a lot of rain in the summer. Charlottesville usually gets more rain in July than Hershey. Charlottesville gets 5 inches (128 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Hershey in the Autumn?

Both Hershey and Charlottesville are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Charlottesville for the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Hershey in the autumn for the shopping scene.

Charlottesville is a little warmer than Hershey in the autumn. The daily temperature in Charlottesville averages around 59°F (15°C) in October, and Hershey fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Charlottesville. Charlottesville usually receives more sunshine than Hershey during autumn. Charlottesville gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Hershey receives 194 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Charlottesville usually receives more rain than Hershey. Charlottesville gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Hershey in the Winter?

Both Hershey and Charlottesville during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Charlottesville in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Hershey for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Hershey can be very cold during winter. Charlottesville can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Charlottesville is much warmer than Hershey. Typically, the winter temperatures in Charlottesville in January average around 36°F (2°C), and Hershey averages at about 30°F (-1°C).

In the winter, Charlottesville often gets more sunshine than Hershey. Charlottesville gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hershey receives 153 hours of full sun.

Charlottesville usually gets more rain in January than Hershey. Charlottesville gets 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Hershey in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Charlottesville and Hershey. Most visitors come to Charlottesville for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Charlottesville is generally a little warmer than Hershey. Daily temperatures in Charlottesville average around 58°F (14°C), and Hershey fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hershey this time of the year. In Charlottesville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Charlottesville usually receives more sunshine than Hershey during spring. Charlottesville gets 265 hours of sunny skies, while Hershey receives 237 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Charlottesville usually receives less rain than Hershey. Charlottesville gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hershey and Charlottesville