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

Should you visit Charlottesville or Ketchikan?

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 Ketchikan. 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 proud, traditional, and young university town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. 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.

Ketchikan

Ketchikan is a scenic, quaint, and local town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the museums, food, and hiking.

Charlottesville and Ketchikan: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Charlottesville or Ketchikan?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Ketchikan. Although Charlottesville and Ketchikan are popular destinations, Ketchikan has more sights and attractions for tourists. Ketchikan is very popular for its food, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Charlottesville attracts visitors for its nightlife, historical sights, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere. Ketchikan is more touristy than Charlottesville and is popular for its salmon fishing, beautiful natural environment, and strong sense of local culture. It is also well known for the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center. 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 Ketchikan?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Ketchikan. There are a few local museums in town such as the Tongass Historical Museum and the Totem Heritage Center.

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

Ketchikan is terrific for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Charlottesville is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Eat your way through Ketchikan, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. It's known as the salmon capital of the world for good reason. You can expect some of the freshest seafood around with many local restaurants serving up fresh Dungeness Crab, Alaska King Crab, and Alaskan King Salmon. It's a huge fishing destination and the cuisine reflects that, but even if you're looking for a landlover's menu, you'll find a number of good dishes.

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 Ketchikan Better for Nightlife?

Charlottesville is very good for nightlife. However, Ketchikan is a mediocre 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.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Ketchikan. Because most visitors arrive by cruise ship, there's a more local vibe to the nightlife scene. You'll find a few local bars around town where you can enjoy a drink and good conversation.

Is Charlottesville or Ketchikan Better for its Old Town?

Charlottesville is very good for its historic old town. However, Ketchikan 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.

Ketchikan does not have a historic old town.

Is Charlottesville or Ketchikan Better for Hiking?

Ketchikan is terrific for hiking. Also, Charlottesville is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for the nearby hiking options.

Ketchikan is well-known for its hiking and trekking. You'll find many hikes that will take you through the local vegetation or to impressive viewpoints. Some hikes involve challenging climbs while others are more relaxing. Some visitors prefer to hire a guide to the lead them through the Alaskan wilderness, but the most popular and easier trails are usually well marked.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Charlottesville or Ketchikan?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Ketchikan. As tourism has grown, the shopping in downtown Ketchikan has shifted from locally-oriented venders to jewelry and souvenir stores. Many shops are only open during the summer months, and you'll find the more local shops outside of town.

Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Charlottesville or Ketchikan Better for Christmas?

Charlottesville is notable for its Christmas activities. However, Ketchikan does not offer Christmas activities.

Charlottesville is an extremely popular place to visit during the Christmas season. From Christmas lights on campus to a festive atmosphere at the Monticello, the town is beautiful for Christmas.

Ketchikan does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Charlottesville or Ketchikan Better for Families?

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

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Ketchikan is very family-friendly. There are a number of kid-friendly activities and tours, but do note that many tours book up fully with cruise ship passengers. Any tours you wish to do should be arranged well in advance. Popular kid-friendly activities include the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, Misty Fjords, and a visit to Totem Bight State Historical Park. Everyone will enjoy learning about the area's history and nature at the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center. And anyone who enjoys the show "The Most Dangerous Catch" will appreciate the Bering Sea Crab Fishermen's Tour.

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 Ketchikan Better for Couples?

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

Ketchikan is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Couples who enjoy natural beauty, hiking, and wildlife will appreciate their time here. There are many opportunities for fishing and a plethora of seafood restaurants in the area that take advantage of this past time.

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 Ketchikan Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ketchikan is a good destination for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Charlottesville is not known for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Ketchikan. While most visitors arrive by cruise ship, for those travel independently will appreciate the hostel in town.

Charlottesville is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There is camping an hiking in the area that is a good option for backpackers.

Is Charlottesville or Ketchikan Better for Students?

Charlottesville is renowned for students. However, Ketchikan is not popular with students.

Students come from all over the world to visit 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.

Ketchikan is not popular with students.

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

Charlottesville and Ketchikan 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 Ketchikan. There are buses that travel through town.

Is Charlottesville or Ketchikan a more walkable city?

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

Ketchikan is a very walkable town. The downtown is relatively compact and walkable.

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 Ketchikan Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Ketchikan or Charlottesville?

How long in Charlottesville or Ketchikan?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Charlottesville and Ketchikan. In our opinion, Ketchikan has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Ketchikan than Charlottesville. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Charlottesville, and 1-3 days is enough time in Ketchikan.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Ketchikan than Charlottesville 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 Ketchikan.

One day in Charlottesville or Ketchikan?

Even though Charlottesville is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The scenic destination of Ketchikan offers shopping and museums. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Charlottesville or Ketchikan?

Charlottesville is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this university town has to offer. This university town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

The town of Ketchikan offers museums and food. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. 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 Ketchikan?

Charlottesville is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Ketchikan is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. 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 Ketchikan?

Charlottesville is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many people enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting Ketchikan. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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 Ketchikan, we can see that Ketchikan 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 Ketchikan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ketchikan 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 Ketchikan Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Charlottesville or Ketchikan?

Charlottesville has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Ketchikan. When comparing the sizes of Charlottesville and Ketchikan, 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 Ketchikan?

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 Ketchikan in the Summer?

Both Ketchikan and Charlottesville during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Charlottesville for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Ketchikan in the summer for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Charlottesville is generally much warmer than Ketchikan. Daily temperatures in Charlottesville average around 78°F (26°C), and Ketchikan fluctuates around 58°F (15°C).

Ketchikan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Charlottesville. Charlottesville usually gets less rain in July than Ketchikan. Charlottesville gets 5 inches (128 mm) of rain, while Ketchikan receives 7.6 inches (193 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Ketchikan in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Charlottesville and Ketchikan. Many visitors come to Charlottesville in the autumn for the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, most visitors come to Ketchikan for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Charlottesville is much warmer than Ketchikan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Charlottesville averages around 59°F (15°C) in October, and Ketchikan fluctuates around 46°F (8°C).

Ketchikan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Charlottesville usually receives less rain than Ketchikan. Charlottesville gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Ketchikan receives 22.9 inches (581 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Ketchikan in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Charlottesville as well as Ketchikan. Most visitors come to Charlottesville for the museums, the Christmas ambience, and the cuisine during these months. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Ketchikan because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Ketchikan can be very cold. Charlottesville can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Charlottesville is much warmer than Ketchikan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Charlottesville in January average around 36°F (2°C), and Ketchikan averages at about 34°F (1°C).

It's quite rainy in Ketchikan. Charlottesville usually gets less rain in January than Ketchikan. Charlottesville gets 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Ketchikan receives 14.9 inches (379 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Ketchikan in the Spring?

Both Ketchikan and Charlottesville are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Charlottesville because of the small town charm and the natural beauty. Also, the small town charm and the natural beauty are the main draw to Ketchikan this time of year.

In April, Charlottesville is generally much warmer than Ketchikan. Daily temperatures in Charlottesville average around 58°F (14°C), and Ketchikan fluctuates around 44°F (6°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Ketchikan. In April, Charlottesville usually receives less rain than Ketchikan. Charlottesville gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Ketchikan receives 11.3 inches (286 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Ketchikan and Charlottesville