Which place is cheaper, Hood River or Charlottesville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Charlottesville and Hood River. 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 is a southern, proud, and traditional university town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. Charlottesville is a beautiful place to visit, too. It also has a unique and quaint vibe that attracts lots of visitors. Visitors also love the hiking, museums, and nightlife. See Charlottesville travel costs.
Hood River is a scenic, charming, and agricultural town. The beauty of Hood River is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the nightlife, food, and hiking. See Hood River travel costs.
Visitors will usually find more to do in Hood River than Charlottesville, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Hood River is better known for its skiing, food, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Charlottesville is more popular for its museums and attractions, historical sights, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere. Hood River is more touristy than Charlottesville and is known for its waterfalls, wineries, and impressive mountains. Also, Hood River is famous for Multnomah Falls. Charlottesville is well known for being home to the University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, and serving as a gateway to Shenandoah National Park.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Hood River and Charlottesville. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Hood River is a good destination for skiing. However, Charlottesville is not a skiing destination.
For winter sports and skiing, Hood River is a great destination to visit. During the winter months, Hood River makes a nice base for nearby skiing. Timberline and Cooper Spur and both less than an hour away and offer great skiing opportunities.
Charlottesville is not a skiing destination.
Charlottesville is a popular place for its museums and history. However, Hood River is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.
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.
Hood River offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are a couple of interesting museums in town such as the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automoblie Museum, the History Museum, and 301 Gallery.
Hood River is a great town for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Charlottesville is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.
Hood River has a huge number of terrific restaurants. Head to the downtown or waterfront areas for the best selection of restaurants. Most restaurants pride themselves on using local ingredients and supporting local farms. Dishes use fresh and healthy ingredients that make simple but high quality meals.
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.
If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find notable options in both Charlottesville and Hood River.
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.
There's a variety of activities in the evening in Hood River. There are breweries, wineries, and local bars in the area that offer a laid back place where you can enjoy the local atmosphere.
Charlottesville is a popular place for its old town. However, Hood River does not have a historic old town.
Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Charlottesville. The Historic Downtown Mall is filled with restaurants and shops. It's a pedestrian only area with a lot of character and energy.
Hood River does not have a historic old town.
Hood River is a great town for hiking. Also, Charlottesville is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for the nearby hiking options.
Many visitors go to Hood River for the hiking trails. There's a diversity of landscapes in the area that include waterfalls, agriculture, vineyards, and high-reaching mountain peaks. The best way to experience these is through the many hiking trails. Drive along the Historic Columbia River Highway and stop off at the trails that lead to the waterfalls, or head south of town to explore the vineyards on foot, and to the north where you'll find mountain peaks.
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.
Hood River is a good destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Hood River. Local shops sell local produce, artisan crafts, and wine. There are boutiques and independent vendors that are fun to visit and many visitors enjoy spending an afternoon shopping.
Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.
Hood River 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 Hood River is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. There's a beautiful natural environment with wonderful hikes and local farms and wineries.
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.
Hood River is a great town 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, Hood River is very family-friendly. The area is filled with outdoor adventures that the whole family can enjoy. There's swimming, tubing, hiking, and even windsurfing. Make sure you check out the Waterfront Park and Powerdale Substation.
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.
Hood River is a great town for its romantic activities. Also, Charlottesville is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for couples.
Hood River is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Couples will enjoy the scenic natural setting and charming hotels and bed and breakfasts in the area. There are romantic hikes, local wineries, and many great restaurants that you can try.
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.
Hood River is a great town for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Charlottesville is not known for backpackers.
Many backpackers visit Hood River. There are a couple of hostels and some nice campgrounds in the area as well as many great hikes and a laid back atmosphere that backpackers appreciate.
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 unbeatable place for its student-friendly activities. However, Hood River 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.
Hood River is not popular with students.
Charlottesville and Hood River both offer respectable 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 Hood River. There are buses in the area but you really need your own transportation to see the region efficiently.
Charlottesville and Hood River are respectable when it comes to walkability.
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.
Hood River is generally not very walkable. While there are parts of the town that are walkable, if you don't have a car you'll miss out on the surrounding natural landscapes and most of the hiking opportunities.
For even more information, also check out Is Charlottesville Worth Visiting? and Is Hood River Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Charlottesville and Hood River. In our opinion, Hood River has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Hood River than Charlottesville. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.
Families should spend more time in Hood River than Charlottesville. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Hood River, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Hood River than Charlottesville. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Hood River that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Hood River than Charlottesville 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 Hood River.
Charlottesville might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
The agricultural destination of Hood River offers skiing and nightlife. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this university town.
The town of Hood River offers nightlife and food. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. 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.
Charlottesville, a popular university town, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Hood River is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. This town offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.
Charlottesville is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Many people enjoy the shopping and skiing when visiting Hood River. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Charlottesville is $185, while the average daily cost in Hood River is $174. 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 Charlottesville and Hood River in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Charlottesville or Hood River? 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 Hood River and Charlottesville 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 Charlottesville.
For Hood River, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also in Charlottesville, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When comparing the travel costs between Charlottesville and Hood River, 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 Charlottesville Expensive? and Is Hood River Expensive?.
Charlottesville has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Hood River. When comparing the sizes of Charlottesville and Hood River, 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.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Charlottesville and Hood River. The hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Charlottesville this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Hood River for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
Charlottesville is a little warmer than Hood River in the summer. The daily temperature in Charlottesville averages around 78°F (26°C) in July, and Hood River fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hood River this time of the year. In Charlottesville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Charlottesville usually receives less sunshine than Hood River during summer. Charlottesville gets 305 hours of sunny skies, while Hood River receives 338 hours of full sun in the summer.
Charlottesville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Charlottesville usually receives more rain than Hood River. Charlottesville gets 5 inches (128 mm) of rain, while Hood River receives 0.7 inches (18 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Charlottesville as well as Hood River. Many travelers come to Charlottesville for the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Hood River in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Charlottesville is a little warmer than Hood River. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Charlottesville in October average around 59°F (15°C), and Hood River averages at about 55°F (13°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Charlottesville this time of the year. In the autumn, Charlottesville often gets more sunshine than Hood River. Charlottesville gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hood River receives 155 hours of full sun.
Charlottesville usually gets more rain in October than Hood River. Charlottesville gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Hood River receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Hood River and Charlottesville are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Charlottesville in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Hood River for the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Hood River can be very cold during winter. Charlottesville can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Charlottesville is generally much colder than Hood River. Daily temperatures in Charlottesville average around 36°F (2°C), and Hood River fluctuates around 40°F (4°C).
Charlottesville usually receives more sunshine than Hood River during winter. Charlottesville gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Hood River receives 86 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Hood River. In January, Charlottesville usually receives less rain than Hood River. Charlottesville gets 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Hood River receives 5.2 inches (132 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Hood River and Charlottesville during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Charlottesville for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Hood River because of the natural beauty.
Charlottesville is a little warmer than Hood River in the spring. The daily temperature in Charlottesville averages around 58°F (14°C) in April, and Hood River fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).
In Hood River, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Charlottesville. In the spring, Charlottesville often gets more sunshine than Hood River. Charlottesville gets 265 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hood River receives 231 hours of full sun.
Charlottesville usually gets more rain in April than Hood River. Charlottesville gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Hood River receives 2.4 inches (61 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Charlottesville | Hood River | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 36°F (2°C) | 3.2 inches (83 mm) | 40°F (4°C) | 5.2 inches (132 mm) |
Feb | 39°F (4°C) | 3.2 inches (80 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
Mar | 49°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
Apr | 58°F (14°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
May | 67°F (19°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2 inches (51 mm) |
Jun | 74°F (24°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.5 inches (39 mm) |
Jul | 78°F (26°C) | 5 inches (128 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.7 inches (18 mm) |
Aug | 77°F (25°C) | 4.4 inches (113 mm) | 69°F (20°C) | 1 inches (25 mm) |
Sep | 71°F (21°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.7 inches (44 mm) |
Oct | 59°F (15°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
Nov | 50°F (10°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 46°F (8°C) | 5.4 inches (136 mm) |
Dec | 41°F (5°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 40°F (5°C) | 6.1 inches (156 mm) |