A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Charlottesville vs. Bangor for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Charlottesville or Bangor?

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 Bangor. 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 young, collegiate, and southern university town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. Charlottesville 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. See Charlottesville travel costs.

Bangor

Bangor is a welcoming, friendly, and laid back town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food. See Bangor travel costs.

Charlottesville and Bangor: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Charlottesville or Bangor?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Charlottesville. Although Charlottesville and Bangor are both popular with visitors, Charlottesville has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Charlottesville is more popular for its nightlife, historical sights, hiking, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Bangor is known for its food and shopping. Charlottesville is popular for being home to the University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, and serving as a gateway to Shenandoah National Park. It is also home to The University of Virginia Campus. Bangor is popular for its history as a lumber town.

How is Charlottesville different from Bangor?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Bangor. There are a couple of museums around town that focus on culture and daily life in Maine.

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

Bangor is a good destination for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Charlottesville is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Bangor has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. For a small town, there are a range of dining options in the area such as seafood, international cuisine, and quick eats.

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 Bangor Better for Nightlife?

Charlottesville is a university town with good options for its evening party scene. However, Bangor is not a good town for nightlife.

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 Bangor. There are breweries and bars with laid back vibes and a casual atmosphere.

Is Charlottesville or Bangor Better for its Old Town?

Charlottesville is a university town with good options for its historic old town charm. However, Bangor does not have a historic old town.

Charlottesville offers a nice historic old town area. The Historic Downtown Mall is filled with restaurants and shops. It's a pedestrian only area with a lot of character and energy.

Bangor does not have a historic old town.

Is Charlottesville or Bangor Better for Hiking?

Charlottesville is a university town with good options for the nearby hiking options. However, Bangor is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Charlottesville. 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.

Bangor is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Charlottesville or Bangor?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Bangor. Head downtown for the widest selection of locally own shops and boutiques.

Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Charlottesville or Bangor More Beautiful?

Charlottesville is a university town with good options for its scenery and beauty. However, Bangor is not a destination known for its beauty.

Charlottesville offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Surrounded by the Shenandoah Mountains, this is a beautiful town and home to the beautiful University of Virginia.

Bangor is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Charlottesville or Bangor Better for Families?

Both Charlottesville and Bangor are good family-friendly destinations.

Charlottesville offers lots of family activities. 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.

Bangor is a family-friendly place to visit. You'll find a number of parks and walking trails nearby. There's also fruit picking and playgrounds to explore.

Is Charlottesville or Bangor Better for Couples?

Charlottesville is a university town with good options for couples. However, Bangor is not a good town for romance.

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.

Bangor is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are local restaurants and several museums in town that couples will enjoy.

Is Charlottesville or Bangor Better for Students?

Charlottesville is an amazing university town to visit for students. However, Bangor is not popular with students.

Charlottesville is a very popular university town for students. 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.

Bangor is not popular with students.

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

Charlottesville and Bangor both offer decent 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 Bangor. There's a bus system, but visitors usually use their own car to get around.

Is Charlottesville or Bangor a more walkable city?

Bangor is a good destination for its high level of walkability. However, Charlottesville is not known for its ease of walking around.

Bangor is a somewhat walkable place. The downtown is compact and easy to explore 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 Bangor Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bangor or Charlottesville?

How long in Charlottesville or Bangor?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Charlottesville or Bangor to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Charlottesville than Bangor because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Charlottesville, and 1-2 days is enough time in Bangor.

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

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

One day in Charlottesville or Bangor?

Charlottesville might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The welcoming destination of Bangor offers shopping and museums. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Charlottesville or Bangor?

Charlottesville is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

The town of Bangor offers museums and food. 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 Bangor?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Charlottesville. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Bangor is a great place to explore. 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 Bangor?

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. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Many people enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting Bangor. 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 Adventure Tours to United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Charlottesville and Bangor, we can see that Bangor 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 Bangor would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bangor 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 Bangor Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Charlottesville or Bangor?

Charlottesville has a larger population, and is about 10% larger than the population of Bangor. When comparing the sizes of Charlottesville and Bangor, 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 Bangor?

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 Bangor in the Summer?

Both Bangor and Charlottesville during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Charlottesville for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Bangor because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Charlottesville is a little warmer than Bangor. Typically, the summer temperatures in Charlottesville in July average around 78°F (26°C), and Bangor averages at about 69°F (21°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Charlottesville. Charlottesville usually gets more rain in July than Bangor. Charlottesville gets 5 inches (128 mm) of rain, while Bangor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Bangor in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Charlottesville and Bangor. The autumn months attract visitors to Charlottesville because of the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Bangor this time of year.

In October, Charlottesville is generally much warmer than Bangor. Daily temperatures in Charlottesville average around 59°F (15°C), and Bangor fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

In October, Charlottesville usually receives around the same amount of rain as Bangor. Charlottesville gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Bangor receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Bangor in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Charlottesville as well as Bangor. The museums, the Christmas ambience, and the cuisine are the main draw to Charlottesville this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bangor for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Bangor. It's quite cold in Charlottesville in the winter. Charlottesville is much warmer than Bangor in the winter. The daily temperature in Charlottesville averages around 36°F (2°C) in January, and Bangor fluctuates around 18°F (-8°C).

Charlottesville usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Bangor. Charlottesville gets 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Bangor receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Bangor in the Spring?

Both Bangor and Charlottesville are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Charlottesville for the small town charm and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Bangor in the spring for the small town charm.

In the spring, Charlottesville is much warmer than Bangor. Typically, the spring temperatures in Charlottesville in April average around 58°F (14°C), and Bangor averages at about 43°F (6°C).

In April, Charlottesville usually receives less rain than Bangor. Charlottesville gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Bangor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bangor and Charlottesville