A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Charlottesville vs. Carmel-by-the-Sea for Food, Couples, Attractions, and Nightlife

Should you visit Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

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 Carmel-by-the-Sea. 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.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a picturesque, quaint, and charming town. You'll find plenty of local activities in this small town. The beauty of Carmel-by-the-Sea is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the museums, food, and beaches. See Carmel-by-the-Sea travel costs.

Charlottesville and Carmel-by-the-Sea: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Although Charlottesville and Carmel-by-the-Sea are both popular with visitors, Carmel-by-the-Sea has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Carmel-by-the-Sea is more popular for its food, beaches, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Charlottesville is known for its nightlife, historical sights, hiking, and quaint atmosphere. Carmel-by-the-Sea is more touristy than Charlottesville and is popular for its storybook architecture, its opulent setting, and its popularity with golf enthusiasts. It is also home to Pebble Beach Golf Course. 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Charlottesville and Carmel-by-the-Sea.

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 Carmel-by-the-Sea. The Carmel Mission is a beautiful and fascinating Spanish mission that dates back to 1770. It's also well worth visiting the nearby Pebble Beach Golf Course. There are also a few fairytale style cottages in the area with some of the most notable being the Hansel cottage, the Gretel cottage, and the Tuck Box cottage.

Is the Food Better in Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a great town for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Charlottesville is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Carmel-by-the-Sea has a huge number of terrific restaurants. For such a small town there is a huge number of bistros and local cafes. Seafood is popular, but you'll also find international restaurants and more casual eateries.

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 Carmel-by-the-Sea Better for Nightlife?

Charlottesville is a university town with good options for its evening party scene. However, Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea. It's not a late night town, but there are a couple of bars and some decent Happy Hours around town.

Is Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea Better for Beaches?

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a great town for the beach. However, Charlottesville is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Carmel-by-the-Sea for it's beautiful beaches. It's easy to walk to the beach from the village center. Just head down Ocean Avenue and you'll be at a beautiful beach with great scenery, surfing, and fun activities.

Charlottesville is not a beach destination.

Is Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea Better for its Old Town?

Charlottesville is a university town with good options for its historic old town charm. However, Carmel-by-the-Sea 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.

Carmel-by-the-Sea does not have a historic old town.

Is Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea Better for Hiking?

Charlottesville is a university town with good options for the nearby hiking options. However, Carmel-by-the-Sea 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.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a great town for its shopping opportunities. However, Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is well-known for its shopping. It's easy to walk around the heart of town and pop in the many shops and galleries. The highest concentration of shops is found around the Carmel Plaza which has upscale brands as well as local items.

Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea More Beautiful?

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a great town for its scenery and beauty. Also, Charlottesville is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for its scenery and beauty.

The beauty of Carmel-by-the-Sea is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. It's a beautiful town with nice beaches and a European atmosphere.

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.

Is Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea Better for Families?

Charlottesville is a university town with good options for its family-friendly activities. However, Carmel-by-the-Sea is not a good town for its kid-friendly activities.

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.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is not always a place people visit with their families. Carmel is a good place to let the kids stretch their legs. There are also some good kid-friendly walks in the area.

Is Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea Better for Couples?

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a great town for its romantic activities. Also, Charlottesville is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for couples.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. It's a charming town with a beautiful coastline and plenty of cute hotels that makes for a great romantic getaway. There's wonderful shopping and many great restaurants where you can enjoy a local meal.

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 Carmel-by-the-Sea Better for Students?

Charlottesville is renowned for students. However, Carmel-by-the-Sea 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.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is not popular with students.

Is Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Charlottesville and Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea. There are a couple of buses, but you can't really depend on them to get around.

Is Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea a more walkable city?

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a great town for its high level of walkability. However, Charlottesville is not known for its ease of walking around.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a very walkable town. The village center is very walkable so it's easy to park you car and shop or walk to the beach.

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 Carmel-by-the-Sea Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Carmel-by-the-Sea or Charlottesville?

How long in Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Charlottesville and Carmel-by-the-Sea. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Charlottesville, and 1-3 days is enough time in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

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

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

One day in Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

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 offers something for everyone.

The charming small town of Carmel-by-the-Sea offers shopping and museums. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Charlottesville is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife. Your budget might influence how long you stay. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here.

The town of Carmel-by-the-Sea offers museums and food. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Charlottesville is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Charlottesville is a popular choice for travelers. This university town offers a variety of activities to choose from. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Many people enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting Carmel-by-the-Sea. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea, we can see that Charlottesville is more expensive. And not only is Carmel-by-the-Sea much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Carmel-by-the-Sea would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Charlottesville would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Charlottesville than you might in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Charlottesville Expensive? and Is Carmel-by-the-Sea Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Charlottesville has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Carmel-by-the-Sea. When comparing the sizes of Charlottesville and Carmel-by-the-Sea, 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea?

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 Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Summer?

Both Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Charlottesville is much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Typically, the summer temperatures in Charlottesville in July average around 78°F (26°C), and Carmel-by-the-Sea averages at about 63°F (17°C).

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

Should I visit Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Charlottesville and Carmel-by-the-Sea. 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, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Carmel-by-the-Sea this time of year.

In October, Charlottesville is generally around the same temperature as Carmel-by-the-Sea. Daily temperatures in Charlottesville average around 59°F (15°C), and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

In October, Charlottesville usually receives more rain than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Charlottesville gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 0.6 inches (14 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Winter?

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

It's quite cold in Charlottesville in the winter. Charlottesville is much colder than Carmel-by-the-Sea in the winter. The daily temperature in Charlottesville averages around 36°F (2°C) in January, and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).

Charlottesville usually gets more rain in January than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Charlottesville gets 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Spring?

Both Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea in the spring for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Charlottesville is around the same temperature as Carmel-by-the-Sea. Typically, the spring temperatures in Charlottesville in April average around 58°F (14°C), and Carmel-by-the-Sea averages at about 56°F (13°C).

In April, Charlottesville usually receives more rain than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Charlottesville gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 1.1 inches (29 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Carmel-by-the-Sea and Charlottesville