Which place is cheaper, Charlottesville or Nags Head?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Nags Head or Charlottesville? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Visitors also love the food.
Charlottesville is a southern, proud, and traditional university town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It also has that perfectly quaint feel that is like no other place. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, hiking, and museums.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Charlottesville. Although Nags Head and Charlottesville are popular destinations, Charlottesville has more sights and attractions for tourists. Charlottesville is very popular for its museums, nightlife, historical sights, hiking, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Nags Head attracts visitors for its food. Charlottesville is more touristy than Nags Head and is known 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. Nags Head is famous for
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Charlottesville and Nags Head. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Charlottesville is a popular place for its historical sights. However, Nags Head 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.
Nags Head does not have museums and landmarks.
Nags Head is a good destination for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Charlottesville is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.
Nags Head has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are a wide variety of seafood restaurants that serve locally caught fish, shrimp, and crabs. Cajon flavors are popular and you'll also find cheese grits at many places.
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.
Charlottesville is a popular place for nightlife. However, Nags Head is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.
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.
Nags Head is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.
Charlottesville is a popular place for its historic old town. However, Nags Head does not have a historic old town.
Charlottesville is a good destination for visiting its 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.
Nags Head does not have a historic old town.
Charlottesville is a popular place for hiking. However, Nags Head 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.
Nags Head is not a hiking destination.
Charlottesville is great for its Christmas holiday experiences. However, Nags Head does not offer Christmas activities.
Charlottesville is a very popular destination during Christmas. From Christmas lights on campus to a festive atmosphere at the Monticello, the town is beautiful for Christmas.
Nags Head does not offer Christmas activities.
Nags Head is a great 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, Nags Head is very family-friendly. It makes a wonderful base for the many family-friendly activities in the area. Jockey's Ridge is a fun place to visit with kids. There are also wonderful beaches and many kids enjoying flying kites.
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.
With fun activities for couples, both Nags Head and Charlottesville make for a nice place to visit.
Nags Head is a nice destination for couples. There are great seafood restaurants and a number of activities in the area that are fun for couples.
Charlottesville makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.
Nags Head is a good destination for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Charlottesville is not known for backpackers.
Plenty of backpackers visit Nags Head. This is one of the more affordable places to stay in the Outer Banks, so it appeals to more budget-oriented travelers.
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.
Charlottesville is an amazing university town to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Nags Head 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.
Nags Head is not popular with students.
Charlottesville is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Nags Head does not have public transit.
Public transit is mostly limited in Charlottesville. There is a bus system that runs between campus, downtown, and several neighborhoods in Charlottesville.
Nags Head does not have public transit.
Charlottesville is adequate for its walkability. However, Nags Head is not a walkable destination.
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.
Nags Head is not a walkable destination.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Nags Head and Charlottesville. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Nags Head than in Charlottesville. Usually, 4-7 days is a good amount of time for Nags Head, and 2-3 days is enough time in Charlottesville.
Families should spend more time in Nags Head than Charlottesville. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Nags Head, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Charlottesville than Nags Head. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Charlottesville that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Charlottesville than Nags Head 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.
The destination of Nags Head offers food. 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.
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 of Nags Head offers food. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.
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.
Nags Head is a great place to explore. This offers something for everyone. It is common to spend five days here. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.
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.
The of Nags Head offers food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. For many, it makes a great getaway for one week. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Nags Head is $149, while the average daily cost in Charlottesville is $154. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Nags Head and Charlottesville in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Nags Head or Charlottesville? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Also for Charlottesville, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Charlottesville and Nags Head change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
For Charlottesville, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Nags Head.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Charlottesville.
Also in Charlottesville, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When comparing the travel costs between Nags Head and Charlottesville, we can see that Charlottesville 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 Nags Head Expensive? and Is Charlottesville Expensive?.
Charlottesville has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Nags Head. When comparing the sizes of Nags Head and Charlottesville, 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.
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Both Charlottesville and Nags Head are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Nags Head for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Charlottesville because of the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Nags Head is around the same temperature as Charlottesville. Typically, the summer temperatures in Nags Head in July average around 78°F (26°C), and Charlottesville averages at about 78°F (26°C).
It's quite sunny in Charlottesville. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Nags Head. Nags Head usually receives less sunshine than Charlottesville during summer. Nags Head gets 274 hours of sunny skies, while Charlottesville receives 305 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Charlottesville. It's quite rainy in Nags Head. In July, Nags Head usually receives around the same amount of rain as Charlottesville. Nags Head gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Charlottesville receives 5 inches (128 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Charlottesville and Nags Head during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Charlottesville this time of year.
In October, Nags Head is generally around the same temperature as Charlottesville. Daily temperatures in Nags Head average around 62°F (16°C), and Charlottesville fluctuates around 59°F (15°C).
In Charlottesville, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Nags Head. In the autumn, Nags Head often gets less sunshine than Charlottesville. Nags Head gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charlottesville receives 221 hours of full sun.
Nags Head usually gets less rain in October than Charlottesville. Nags Head gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Charlottesville receives 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Nags Head and Charlottesville. The cuisine are the main draw to Nags Head this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Charlottesville for the museums, the Christmas ambience, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Charlottesville. It's quite cold in Nags Head in the winter. Nags Head is much warmer than Charlottesville in the winter. The daily temperature in Nags Head averages around 41°F (5°C) in January, and Charlottesville fluctuates around 36°F (2°C).
Nags Head usually receives less sunshine than Charlottesville during winter. Nags Head gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Charlottesville receives 169 hours of full sun in the winter.
Nags Head gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Nags Head usually receives more rain than Charlottesville. Nags Head gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Charlottesville receives 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Nags Head as well as Charlottesville. Additionally, many visitors come to Charlottesville in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Nags Head is around the same temperature as Charlottesville. Typically, the spring temperatures in Nags Head in April average around 59°F (15°C), and Charlottesville averages at about 58°F (14°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Charlottesville. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nags Head this time of the year. In the spring, Nags Head often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Charlottesville. Nags Head gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charlottesville receives 265 hours of full sun.
Nags Head usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Charlottesville. Nags Head gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Charlottesville receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Nags Head | Charlottesville | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 41°F (5°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 36°F (2°C) | 3.2 inches (83 mm) |
Feb | 42°F (6°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 39°F (4°C) | 3.2 inches (80 mm) |
Mar | 50°F (10°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 49°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
Apr | 59°F (15°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 58°F (14°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
May | 67°F (19°C) | 4.6 inches (117 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) |
Jun | 74°F (23°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
Jul | 78°F (26°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 5 inches (128 mm) |
Aug | 78°F (25°C) | 5 inches (127 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (113 mm) |
Sep | 72°F (22°C) | 4.7 inches (119 mm) | 71°F (21°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
Oct | 62°F (16°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 59°F (15°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) |
Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) |
Dec | 45°F (7°C) | 3.4 inches (85 mm) | 41°F (5°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |