A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Charlottesville vs. Santa Barbara for Hiking, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Charlottesville or Santa Barbara?

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 Santa Barbara. 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. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and hiking.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a opulent, pristine, and affluent coastal town. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and hiking.

Charlottesville and Santa Barbara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Charlottesville or Santa Barbara?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Santa Barbara. Although Charlottesville and Santa Barbara are both popular with visitors, Santa Barbara has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Santa Barbara is more popular for its museums, food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Charlottesville is known for its small town charm and quaint atmosphere. Santa Barbara is more touristy than Charlottesville and is popular for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. It is also home to The Old Mission Santa Barbara. Charlottesville is popular 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 Santa Barbara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Santa Barbara is a great coastal town for its historical sights. Also, Charlottesville is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Santa Barbara. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Charlottesville. 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.

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

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

Santa Barbara has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class. Head for a waterfront setting for the best views and some of the freshest seafood.

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 Santa Barbara Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find good options in both Charlottesville and Santa Barbara.

If you're looking for night time activities Charlottesville has a few options to choose from. 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Santa Barbara. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds. There's a large student population in town, so you'll find much of the nightlife scene is focused on the younger population.

Is Charlottesville or Santa Barbara Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara is a great coastal town for its luxury resorts. However, Charlottesville is not a resort destination.

There are plenty of resorts in Santa Barbara to choose from. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

Charlottesville is not a resort destination.

Is Charlottesville or Santa Barbara Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santa Barbara is adequate for its diving and snorkeling. However, Charlottesville is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are few places where you can go snorkeling in Santa Barbara. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

Charlottesville is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Charlottesville or Santa Barbara Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is terrific for the beache. However, Charlottesville is not a beach destination.

Santa Barbara offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has many options.

Charlottesville is not a beach destination.

Is Charlottesville or Santa Barbara Better for its Old Town?

Visitors enjoy the good old town areas in both Charlottesville and Santa Barbara.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Charlottesville. The Historic Downtown Mall is filled with restaurants and shops. It's a pedestrian only area with a lot of character and energy.

Santa Barbara offers a nice historic old town area. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Is Charlottesville or Santa Barbara Better for Hiking?

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

Santa Barbara is well-known for its hiking and trekking. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

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 Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is terrific for its shopping opportunities. However, Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Known for shopping, Santa Barbara draws large crowds to its stores. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Charlottesville or Santa Barbara Better for Christmas?

Charlottesville is a well-known place for its Christmas activities. However, Santa Barbara 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.

Santa Barbara does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Charlottesville or Santa Barbara Better for Families?

Santa Barbara is a great coastal 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, Santa Barbara is very family-friendly. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

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 Santa Barbara Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is terrific for its romantic activities. Also, Charlottesville is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for couples.

Santa Barbara is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

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 Santa Barbara Better for Students?

Charlottesville is renowned for students. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its student-friendly activities.

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.

Santa Barbara is very popular with students. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

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

Santa Barbara is a good destination for times when you don't have a car. However, Charlottesville is not known for its public transit.

While Santa Barbara offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

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

Is Charlottesville or Santa Barbara a more walkable city?

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

Santa Barbara is a very walkable coastal town. The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly and best 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 Santa Barbara Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Barbara or Charlottesville?

How long in Charlottesville or Santa Barbara?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara.

One day in Charlottesville or Santa Barbara?

Even though Charlottesville is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

The affluent destination of Santa Barbara offers nightlife and food. 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 Santa Barbara?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Charlottesville. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

The coastal town of Santa Barbara offers food and shopping. 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 Santa Barbara?

Charlottesville is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This university town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days 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.

Santa Barbara is a great place to explore. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. 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 Santa Barbara?

Charlottesville is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Santa Barbara. 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 comparing the travel costs between Charlottesville and Santa Barbara, we can see that Santa Barbara is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Charlottesville or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Charlottesville. When comparing the sizes of Charlottesville and Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Barbara?

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 Santa Barbara in the Summer?

Both Santa Barbara and Charlottesville during the summer are popular places to visit. The hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Charlottesville this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Charlottesville is a little warmer than Santa Barbara. Typically, the summer temperatures in Charlottesville in July average around 78°F (26°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 65°F (19°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Charlottesville. Charlottesville usually gets more rain in July than Santa Barbara. Charlottesville gets 5 inches (128 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Charlottesville and Santa Barbara. 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 Santa Barbara in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Charlottesville is generally cooler than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Charlottesville average around 59°F (15°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

In October, Charlottesville usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Charlottesville gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Santa Barbara in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Charlottesville as well as Santa Barbara. Many visitors come to Charlottesville in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Charlottesville can get quite cold in the winter. Charlottesville is much colder than Santa Barbara in the winter. The daily temperature in Charlottesville averages around 36°F (2°C) in January, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

Charlottesville usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Santa Barbara. Charlottesville gets 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Santa Barbara in the Spring?

Both Santa Barbara and Charlottesville are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Charlottesville for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Charlottesville is around the same temperature as Santa Barbara. Typically, the spring temperatures in Charlottesville in April average around 58°F (14°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 57°F (14°C).

In April, Charlottesville usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Charlottesville gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Charlottesville