Travel Budget for Charlottesville Visit Charlottesville on a Budget or Travel in Style

Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America

How much does it cost to travel to Charlottesville?

You should plan to spend around $154 per day on your vacation in Charlottesville. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $42 on meals
  • $53 on local transportation
  • $161 on hotels

A one week trip to Charlottesville for two people costs, on average, $2,151. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $154
  • One Week Per person
    $1,075
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $2,151
  • One Month Per person
    $4,609
  • One Week For a couple
    $2,151
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $4,302
  • One Month For a couple
    $9,218
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Charlottesville cost?

A one week trip to Charlottesville usually costs around $1,075 for one person and $2,151 for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Charlottesville on average costs around $2,151 for one person and $4,302 for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Charlottesville will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Charlottesville on average costs around $4,609 for one person and $9,218 for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Charlottesville has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Charlottesville expensive to visit?

Prices in Charlottesville are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.

Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Charlottesville is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Durango or Atlantic City.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Charlottesville Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Charlottesville?

The average Charlottesville trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Charlottesville travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) $161
Local Transportation 1 $53
Food 2 $42
Entertainment 1 $18
Alcohol 2 $26 - 79
Accommodation Budget in Charlottesville
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Charlottesville is $80. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Charlottesville is $161. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $80
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $161

Hotel Prices in Charlottesville

Looking for a hotel in Charlottesville? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Charlottesville based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $170. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Charlottesville
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Charlottesville is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $53 per person, per day, on local transportation in Charlottesville.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $53

Recommended Services


Flights to Charlottesville
How much does it cost to go to Charlottesville? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Charlottesville
The price of renting a car in Charlottesville will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.



Food Budget in Charlottesville
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Charlottesville can vary, the average cost of food in Charlottesville is $42 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Charlottesville should cost around $17 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Charlottesville is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $42

Recommended


Entertainment Budget in Charlottesville
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Charlottesville typically cost an average of $18 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $18

Recommended Activities


Alcohol Budget in Charlottesville
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $53 on alcoholic beverages in Charlottesville per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $53

Recommended


Charlottesville On a Budget
Charlottesville UVA at Charlottesville, Viginia
Located in central Virginia, Charlottesville is a little university town steeped in history and culture. Home to Thomas Jefferson, much of the town's architecture is heavily influenced by his hand, while the people scene is full of activities, dining, and entertainment. Many visitors are drawn to the area for the University of Virginia, the Historic Downtown Mall, plus many quaint vineyards and farms in the surrounding countryside.
Sights
The University of Virginia, also known as "Mr. Jefferson's University," is renowned for having one of the most beautiful college campuses on the east coast. The architecture was designed by Jefferson himself, in his signature style of brick structure with grand white columns. Visitors often take a walk along the Lawn to admire the campus and its buildings, especially the iconic Rotunda.

Monticello is another notable sight of Charlottesville, also complete in Jeffersonian architecture. Featured on the U.S. nickel, Monticello encompasses the residence of Thomas Jefferson, the gardens, servant quarters, and Jefferson's grave. Another famous residence is that of James Monroe, called Ash Lawn-Highland, and is open daily.

The Virginia Discovery Museum is also fun place for the family to visit. It located on the Downtown Mall, which in itself is an attraction (more below).

Finally there is the countryside surrounding Charlottesville. Drive just west of the city and you will come across farms, fences, horses, and vineyards reminiscent of the 18th century when Jefferson called this place home. The general area is especially beautiful in the fall when the colors are at their peak. The country west of town, the hills to the south, Skyline Drive, and the Blue Ridge Parkway are all great routes for taking in the autumn scenery. Another recommended route is the Monticello Wine Trail where you can visit wineries and vineyards.
Neighborhoods
The historic downtown Charlottesville is a hub for most leisurely activities in the city. Centered on a brick-paved pedestrian area and surrounded by restored and renovated buildings, the downtown offers a charming little example of a classic town in the American South. The Downtown Mall encompasses this area with more than 120 shops and 30 restaurants housed in historic buildings on and around Main Street. Many of the restaurants offer dining al fresco with views of the busy passersby, beautiful fountains, shady oak trees, and historic streets. The downtown is also a center for shopping with many unique boutiques and storefronts, and had much to offer in entertainment with movies and plays showing regularly at the local theaters.

Activities
As far as activities go, Charlottesville is a place of history with much in the avenue of historic sight-seeing, but also thriving with the fun and entertainment of a city. Once you've had your fill of Jeffersonian architecture, enjoyed the bustling activity of the Downtown Mall, and have had a chance to roam the rolling countryside beyond city limits, there are a few more opportunities that the city has to offer. You might hop on a hot air balloon through Boars Head Country Club, or ice skate in the chillier season at the Main Street Arena. There are all kinds of dance clubs and societies to get you grooving with social, ballroom, swing, or salsa and there are plenty of festivals held throughout the year, some of which include Charlottesville Dogwood Festival in the spring, The Ash Lawn Opera Festival in the summer, The Virginia Film Festival in late October, and The Jeffersonian Thanksgiving Festival in late November.
Food and Dining
As far as food goes, some of the more traditional meals in Virginia include dishes like barbeque pork, Brunswick stew, and peanut soup-which was especially popular during colonial times. Desserts like marble cake and shoofly pie come largely from the Pennsylvania Dutch, while fried peaches with vanilla ice cream is considered a more upscale dessert. And, of course, the closer you get to the coast, the more likely you will able to indulge in fresh seafood dishes. In Charlottesville there are a ton of great restaurants offering a variety of cuisines at reasonable prices. With the University of Virginia nearby, the downtown area is a nice little hub to enjoy a meal. Some of the top-rated restaurants on TripAdvisor include places like the Ivy Inn Restaurant, Citizens Burger Bar, Hamiltons'at First and Main, Downtown Grille, Mel's Cafe, Sultan Kebab, Old Mill Room, Public Fish and Oyster, The Local, and Burtons Grill. Michie Tavern is a great place to visit for the history buffs-dating back to 1784 as an inn the place is now a museum and restaurant with some of the best fried chicken around.

Transportation
By plane, the nearest airport is Charlottesville Albemarle Airport, located about 10 miles from the downtown. One might also flight to Washington Dulles International Airport or Richmond International and then reach Charlottesville from either by car.

By train, Charlottesville is on the Cardinal, Crescent, and Northeast Regional routes for Amtrak. The station is on West Main Street, about halfway between the Downtown Mall and the University.

By car, the major highways leading into Charlottesville are US-29 and I-64, which runs through the city in an east-west direction.

By bus, there is a Greyhound station on West Main Street.
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Looking for a party hostel in Las Vegas or San Diego? Traveling alone to NYC or LA? Want a budget hostel in San Francisco?

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.