A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Charlottesville vs. Kamloops for Families, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Charlottesville or Kamloops?

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 Kamloops. 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. 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.

Kamloops

Kamloops is a nature-filled, laid-back, and outdoorsy city. Visitors also love the nightlife, food, and hiking. See Kamloops travel costs.

Charlottesville and Kamloops: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Charlottesville or Kamloops?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Kamloops than Charlottesville, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Kamloops is better known for its skiing, food, and shopping, while Charlottesville is more popular for its museums and attractions, historical sights, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. 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. Kamloops is well known for its hiking trails, bike paths, and golf courses. Also, Kamloops is famous for Sun Peaks Resort.

How is Charlottesville different from Kamloops?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Kamloops and Charlottesville. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is Charlottesville or Kamloops Better for Skiing?

Kamloops is a great city for skiing. However, Charlottesville is not a skiing destination.

Visitors travel far to experience snow skiing in Kamloops. There's a long ski season that runs from mid-November to mid-April. The region has two major ski resorts - Sun Peaks Resorts and Harper Mountain.

Charlottesville is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Charlottesville or Kamloops?

Charlottesville is a university town with good options for its museums and history. However, Kamloops is lacking in 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.

Kamloops offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are a couple of museums in the area that highlight the local culture and the region's heritage.

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

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

Kamloops has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. You'll find restaurants that range from casual to fine dining. There are also international options like Jamaican, Indian, or Chinese.

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 Kamloops Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find notable options in both Charlottesville and Kamloops.

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 Kamloops. You'll find pubs, bars, breweries and night clubs around town that range in personality and style.

Is Charlottesville or Kamloops Better for its Old Town?

Charlottesville is a university town with good options for its old town. However, Kamloops 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.

Kamloops does not have a historic old town.

Is Charlottesville or Kamloops Better for Hiking?

Hiking trails can be found around both Charlottesville and Kamloops, and they are notable.

Charlottesville offers some nice hiking trails. 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.

Kamloops is a good destination for hiking. The area is filled with hiking trails that pass through grasslands, desert landscapes, and pine forests. There is something for every skill level.

Is the Shopping Better in Charlottesville or Kamloops?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Kamloops. Downtown you'll find local boutiques and eclectic shops. You could also head to Aberdeen Mall for all of the major brands and recognizable stores.

Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Charlottesville or Kamloops More Beautiful?

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

Charlottesville is a beautiful place to visit, too. Surrounded by the Shenandoah Mountains, this is a beautiful town and home to the beautiful University of Virginia.

Kamloops is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Charlottesville or Kamloops Better for Families?

Kamloops is a great city 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, Kamloops is very family-friendly. There are great parks and outdoor spaces for kids as well as the Deep Creek Tool Museum, Westsyde Centennial Park and Petting Zoo, and Hells Gate Air Tram. You can also take a ride on the Kettle Valley Railway Steam Engine. Animal lovers will enjoy a visit to either Kamloops Wildlife Park or Kangaroo Creek Farm.

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.

Is Charlottesville or Kamloops Better for Couples?

Charlottesville and Kamloops both notable destinations for a couple.

Charlottesville makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Kamloops is a good university town for couples to visit. The area is filled with great hikes and nice parks. There are also great restaurants that make for a good date night.

Is Charlottesville or Kamloops Better for Students?

Charlottesville is an amazing university town to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Kamloops 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.

Kamloops is not popular with students.

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

Charlottesville and Kamloops 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 Kamloops. There is a bus system through the city.

Is Charlottesville or Kamloops a more walkable city?

Charlottesville and Kamloops 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.

Kamloops is generally not very walkable. The downtown is the most walkable part of town.

For even more information, also check out Is Charlottesville Worth Visiting? and Is Kamloops Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Kamloops or Charlottesville?

How long in Charlottesville or Kamloops?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Charlottesville or Kamloops to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Charlottesville than Kamloops 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 Kamloops.

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

One day in Charlottesville or Kamloops?

Charlottesville is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

The laid-back destination of Kamloops offers skiing and nightlife. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Charlottesville or Kamloops?

Charlottesville is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this university town makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Charlottesville, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

The city of Kamloops offers nightlife 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 Kamloops?

Charlottesville is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Kamloops is a great place to explore. This city offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Charlottesville or Kamloops?

Charlottesville is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This university town offers something for everyone.

Many people enjoy the shopping and skiing when visiting Kamloops. 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 Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Charlottesville and Kamloops, we can see that Charlottesville is more expensive. And not only is Kamloops much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kamloops would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kamloops 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 Kamloops.

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

Which is Bigger, Charlottesville or Kamloops?

Kamloops has a larger population, and is about 98% larger than the population of Charlottesville. When comparing the sizes of Charlottesville and Kamloops, 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 Kamloops?

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.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Kamloops in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Charlottesville and Kamloops. Most visitors come to Charlottesville for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Kamloops because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Charlottesville is a little warmer than Kamloops in the summer. The daily temperature in Charlottesville averages around 78°F (26°C) in July, and Kamloops fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

Charlottesville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Charlottesville usually receives more rain than Kamloops. Charlottesville gets 5 inches (128 mm) of rain, while Kamloops receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Kamloops in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Charlottesville as well as Kamloops. The autumn months attract visitors to Charlottesville because of the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Kamloops this time of year.

In the autumn, Charlottesville is a little warmer than Kamloops. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Charlottesville in October average around 59°F (15°C), and Kamloops averages at about 11°C (51°F).

Charlottesville usually gets more rain in October than Kamloops. Charlottesville gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Kamloops receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Kamloops in the Winter?

Both Kamloops and Charlottesville are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the Christmas ambience, and the cuisine are the main draw to Charlottesville this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Kamloops for the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Kamloops. It's quite cold in Charlottesville in the winter. In January, Charlottesville is generally much warmer than Kamloops. Daily temperatures in Charlottesville average around 36°F (2°C), and Kamloops fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).

In January, Charlottesville usually receives more rain than Kamloops. Charlottesville gets 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Kamloops receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Kamloops in the Spring?

Both Kamloops and Charlottesville during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Charlottesville for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

Charlottesville is a little warmer than Kamloops in the spring. The daily temperature in Charlottesville averages around 58°F (14°C) in April, and Kamloops fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

Charlottesville usually gets more rain in April than Kamloops. Charlottesville gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Kamloops receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Kamloops and Charlottesville