The Charlottesville center point is about the area of Charlottesville Amtrak and the area of Vinegar Hill Theatre.
You'll get better deals on lodging and airfare if you visit Charlottesville during the winter, but you'll have to bundle up every time you step outside your hotel. Plus, you won't get to enjoy the area's natural beauty. Consider visiting in late spring, instead, when UVA has finished the semester, and the city is less crowded. This is also the best time to tour wineries and attend tastings because it's the grape harvesting season.
If you love fall foliage, though, you might prefer an autumn vacation in Charlottesville. The trees and other plants change colors, which can make for amazing travel photographs. You'll feel the first bite of chilly wind during this time, but the temperatures will stay high enough for outdoor explorations during the day.
You can visit during the hot summer months, but you might find yourself uncomfortable if you're not used to temperatures in the high 90s. Additionally, summer brings more tourists to this city, so you'll pay more for travel expenses, and you'll be forced to fight the crowds at every tourist attraction.
If you're a AAA or CAA member, you can get a discount at the Econo Lodge North as well as the Sleep Inn & Suites Monticello. Just flash your membership card when you check in to receive the discounted rate.
You don't always have to choose between luxury and affordability. Several Charlottesville hotels feature great rates while also delivering premium amenities that make your visit more special. You'll still keep some cash in your pocket, but you won't have to feel like you're roughing it.
Start with the Days Inn, which is conveniently located on Emmett Street off the 250 Bypass. All rooms and suites at this hotel are 100 percent smoke-free, so you don't have to worry about foul odors when you walk down the corridors. You get not only a flat-screen television with cable channels, but also access to HBO programming. Free wireless internet access is available throughout the property, and you'll enjoy a free breakfast every morning before you start your Charlottesville adventures.
Alternatively, check out the Sleep Inn & Suites Monticello. It's a more modern choice that features free newspapers, coffee, and breakfast every morning. The rooms come with triple-sheeted bedding on king or queen mattresses, and some rooms also come with microwaves and refrigerators. If you feel like splurging a little, book a room with a whirlpool for the ultimate relaxation strategy after a long day of sightseeing.
There's an indoor heated pool and hot tub on the property, as well as an exercise room and guest laundry facilities. The indoor corridors also serve as a perk because they provide more safety when you're entering and exiting your room. Plus, the hotel is equipped with elevators, so you don't have to worry about lugging 50 pounds of luggage up three flights of stairs.
Shenandoah National Park offers all the outdoor adventure you could want. It's the perfect place to spot native Virginia wildlife, from white-tail deer to jackrabbits. It's also beautiful in terms of flora: you'll find flowers, plants, trees, and lush ground cover throughout the park.
If you're here to hike and you're in excellent physical condition, consider tackling the Old Rag Mountain Trail. It's the most challenging hike in the park, so bring along plenty of water. When you're not in the best shape or when you've brought the kids along, try an easier trek. The Snead Home Site trail covers just 1.6 miles, and you'll encounter a babbling brook along your way.
To get into Shenandoah National Park, you'll pay $20 per vehicle. The pass you'll receive lasts for seven days (including the day on which you purchase it), so you can visit as many times as you want so you can explore the entire park.
Charlottesville is one of the best destinations in Virginia thanks to the variety of activities it offers, so don't hesitate to choose a hotel, book your reservations, schedule your flight, and start drawing up an itinerary. You'll thank yourself the moment you arrive in this historic, diverse city.
Below are reviews of the city of Charlottesville, VA from an actual visitor's perspective.
Friendly area with many activities available. Not overly crowded.
I love Charlottesville for the beauty of the city plus my nephew and his family live there. Beautiful scenery!!!
Lots of great restaurants!
Clean area.
Creative, tasty restaurants and bars, walkable downtown, beautiful Autumn weather, near the mountains.
We toured wineries and drove thru the Fall vistas up to Skyline Drive. Excellent time of the year for touring and viewing.
Charlottesville is a lovely city with a lot of historical attributes.
It was easy to get to restaurants from the hotel.
Was in town to visit my sister in a nursing home. Very convenient to her location and also good restaurants nearby!
The views!
Enjoyed visiting the wineries.
Visited Monticello.
Charming, hisoric college town. There's a lot to like about Charlottesville!
Mellow Mushroom and walking the athletics facilities at UVA.
The Aberdeen Barn was right next door to the hotel.
Downtown mall was so nice, even in the rain.
I love the great music scene and the restaurants are wonderful too!
Very historic scenery yet modern upgrades all around!
I enjoyed seeing Charlottesville having never been been there before. UVA is a beautiful campus.
Monticello
I love the city of Charlottesville, the restaurants, the shops, the people! I recommend, if you haven't been here to visit, that you come experience it for youself.
Eastwood Winery was a beautiful venue for a lovely wedding.
The rooms were very clean, and the bed was comfortable. The city is worth the trip…history, culture, outdoor adventures, restaurants of all kinds, and shopping!
The rooms were very clean, and the bed was comfortable. The city is worth the trip…history, culture, outdoor adventures, restaurants of all kinds, and shopping!
Love the university and the city!
Beautiful place with lots to see and enjoy!
Great dining options!
There were a lot of good restaurants.
Charlottesville is a beautiful city nestled in the foothills of the Shenandoah Valley. Worth a weekend or vacation.
John Paul Arena
Charlottesville is a beautiful city nestled in the foothills of the Shenandoah Valley. Worth a weekend or vacation!
Convenient
Restaurants, lovely scenery.
I liked seeing the preserved historic buildings.
Close to University Hospital.
Close to University Hospital.
Monticello and Picketts's Tavern.
Lovely city full of history!
Very casual and good restaurants!
Quiet area eating places close parking easy travel was great to uva.hospital
Very close to Monticello!
So many places near the hospital that are within walking distance.
Great restaurants!
Close to gas stations and accessible roads.
Been working at UVA for 3 years and I just moved here on 1/6/22. I love history, the restaurants are great, and so are the people.
I work in this town and I love it. The people for the most part are very friendly.
Enjoyed the scenery and the many choices of restaurants.
Enjoyed the choices of restaurants and the scenery.
The food, culture, and just about everything was within walking distance from the hotel! Overall the best vacation my husband and I have ever been on.
Enjoyed downtown outside mall, breweries, and wineries. Tour of Monticello was very interesting!
Thomas Jefferson home visit!
Great place, lots of history. Best hospital in Virginia
Friendly people.
The beauty of the mountain views. The nice people and the cleanliness.
Loved the town and the downtown mall.
Primary and secondary roads were in great condition.
The friendly atmosphere! As well as the historic Monticello and Monroe Highland estates. The surrounding mountains are beautiful to drive through.
I came to the city of Charlottesville for business, however the city seemed to have a friendly atmosphere.
Love C'ville! Having a child attend UVA and now live in Charlottesville we love the area!
Really nice college town with a rich history and very nice and helpful citizens. Fantastic unique eating establishments and shopping to meet everyone's needs. Unmatched healthcare facility with caring staff of doctors nurses and support personnel.
Really nice college town with a rich history and very nice and helpful citizens. Fantastic unique eating establishments and shopping to meet everyone's needs. Unmatched healthcare facility with caring staff of doctors nurses and support personnel.
Enjoyed Shadwell's restaurant and the pedestrian mall.
Good restaurants on Thomas Jefferson Boulevard.