A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Charlottesville vs. Maui for Hiking, Families, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Charlottesville or Maui?

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 Maui. 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 southern, proud, and traditional university town. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. Charlottesville is a beautiful place to visit, too. It also has a unique and quaint vibe that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the hiking, museums, and nightlife. See Charlottesville travel costs.

Maui

Maui is a stunning, idyllic, and adventure-filled island. Many visitors also come to Maui because of it's amazing beauty. Visitors also love the shopping, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches. See Maui travel costs.

Charlottesville and Maui: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Charlottesville or Maui?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Maui than Charlottesville, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Maui is better known for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Charlottesville is more popular for its museums and attractions, nightlife, historical sights, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere. Maui is more touristy than Charlottesville and is popular for its beach-filled coastline, world-class snorkeling and scuba diving, dramatic landscapes, and paradise environment. Also, Maui is famous for Haleakala National Park. 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.

How is Charlottesville different from Maui?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Charlottesville is a popular place for its museums and landmarks. However, Maui is a island with minimal options for its historical sights.

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.

While most people don't head to Maui specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. Most people prefer not to spend their time inside or at a museum, but for a rainy day you can check out the Maui Ocean Center.

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

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Charlottesville and Maui.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Charlottesville. 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.

Maui may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Like the other Hawaiian islands, food is expensive and of varying quality here, but the food scene continues to grow and improve. There are eclectic food trucks where you can try local flavors. There's also plenty of fresh tropical produce like mangos, avocadoes, and coconuts. Seafood is common on many menus as well.

Is Charlottesville or Maui Better for Nightlife?

Charlottesville is a popular place for nightlife and partying. However, Maui is a island with minimal options for its evening party scene.

Charlottesville has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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.

The nightlife scene is quiet in Maui The island is not known for its nightlife, but the limited activities that do exist you'll find in Kaanapali and Lahaina.

Is Charlottesville or Maui Better for Resorts?

Maui is a great island for its luxury resorts. However, Charlottesville is not a resort destination.

There are plenty of resorts in Maui to choose from. There are a number of nice resorts, but there are also VRBOs, condos, and local hotels where you can stay. High-end luxury resorts on the island include The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua and Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. There are also more reasonable priced resorts without all of the glitz and glam.

Charlottesville is not a resort destination.

Is Charlottesville or Maui Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Maui is a great island for its diving and snorkeling. However, Charlottesville is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are many scuba diving and snorkeling spots near Maui. The island has excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. You can really find it anywhere on the island, but some places are more crowded than others. Some of the best beaches for snorkeling include Honolua Bay, Slaughterhouse (Mokuleia Bay), DT Fleming Beach, and Kapalua Bay.

Charlottesville is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Charlottesville or Maui Better for Beaches?

Maui is terrific for the beach. However, Charlottesville is not a beach destination.

Maui offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The island has stunning beaches and more miles of swimmable beach than any of the other Hawaiian islands. One of the best swimming beaches is Kapalua Beach, but other favorite beaches include Makena Beach State Park, Ka'anapali Beach, Baldwin Beach Park, and Wai'anapanapa State Park.

Charlottesville is not a beach destination.

Is Charlottesville or Maui Better for its Old Town?

Charlottesville is a popular place for its old town. However, Maui does not have a historic old town.

Many people head to Charlottesville to see the old town. The Historic Downtown Mall is filled with restaurants and shops. It's a pedestrian only area with a lot of character and energy.

Maui does not have a historic old town.

Is Charlottesville or Maui Better for Hiking?

Maui is terrific for hiking. Also, Charlottesville is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for the nearby hiking options.

Maui is well-known for its hiking and trekking. There are many diverse hikes on the island that pass through different landscapes and ecosystems. Hikes range from easy to challenging and are of varying length. Some of the favorites include 'Iao Valley State Park, Haleakala's Sliding Sands Trail (in Haleakala National Park), and The Pipiwai Trail.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Charlottesville or Maui?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Maui. There are many shopping centers where you'll find souvenirs, Hawaiian clothing, and even handmade crafts. If you forgot something from home, you'll also find many of the major chains that are common on the mainland.

Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Charlottesville or Maui More Beautiful?

Maui is terrific for its scenery and beauty. Also, Charlottesville is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for its scenery and beauty.

Many visitors also come to Maui because of it's amazing beauty. With its dramatic mountains and beautiful blue water, this island offers stunning 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.

Is Charlottesville or Maui Better for Families?

Maui is terrific for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Charlottesville is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for its family-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Maui is very family-friendly. It is one of the best of the Hawaiian islands to explore with kids. There's plenty of snorkeling, outdoor adventure sports, and hiking that are great for kids of all ages. There are some kid-friendly beaches where kids can play in the water. There's also the Maui Ocean Center, Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm, and 'Iao Valley State Park.

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 Maui Better for Couples?

Maui is terrific for its romantic activities. Also, Charlottesville is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for couples.

Maui is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. Couples will enjoy the outdoor sports, excellent snorkeling and diving, and beautiful waterfalls that make for a romantic getaway. There are world-class resorts and breathtaking scenery that attract honeymooning couples from around the globe.

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 Maui Better for Students?

Charlottesville is a must-visit destination for students. However, Maui 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.

Maui is not popular with students.

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

Charlottesville and Maui 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 Maui. The island does have a bus system with 14 routes, but most visitors prefer to have their own transportation to get around.

Is Charlottesville or Maui a more walkable city?

Charlottesville is a university town with a few options for its high level of walkability. However, Maui is a island with minimal options for its ease of walking around.

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.

Maui is not a very walkable university town. The island is large enough that you'll want to have access to a car if you hope to explore it in its entirety.

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

Should I spend more time in Maui or Charlottesville?

How long in Charlottesville or Maui?

Both Charlottesville and Maui have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Maui than in Charlottesville. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Charlottesville, and 3-7 days is enough time in Maui.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Charlottesville than Maui 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 Maui?

Charlottesville is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

The adventure-filled destination of Maui offers scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. 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.

A weekend in Charlottesville or Maui?

Charlottesville is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

The island of Maui offers shopping and scuba diving and snorkeling. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Five days in Charlottesville or Maui?

Charlottesville is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. This university town offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Maui is a great place to explore. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This island offers something for everyone. It is common to spend five days here. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in Charlottesville or Maui?

Because Charlottesville is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week 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 adventure-filled island of Maui offers shopping and scuba diving and snorkeling. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. For many, it makes a great getaway for one week. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.

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 Maui, we can see that Maui 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 Maui would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Maui 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 Maui Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Charlottesville or Maui?

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 Maui in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Charlottesville as well as Maui. The hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Charlottesville this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Maui for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

Charlottesville is around the same temperature as Maui in the summer. The daily temperature in Charlottesville averages around 78°F (26°C) in July, and Maui fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Maui. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Charlottesville this time of the year. In the summer, Charlottesville often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Maui. Charlottesville gets 305 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Maui receives 290 hours of full sun.

Charlottesville receives a lot of rain in the summer. Charlottesville usually gets more rain in July than Maui. Charlottesville gets 5 inches (128 mm) of rain, while Maui receives 0.4 inches (10 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Maui in the Autumn?

Both Maui and Charlottesville are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. 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 Maui in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Charlottesville is much colder than Maui. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Charlottesville in October average around 59°F (15°C), and Maui averages at about 78°F (26°C).

It's quite sunny in Maui. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Charlottesville. Charlottesville usually receives less sunshine than Maui during autumn. Charlottesville gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Maui receives 245 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Charlottesville usually receives more rain than Maui. Charlottesville gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Maui receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Maui in the Winter?

Both Maui and Charlottesville during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Charlottesville in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Maui for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Charlottesville can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Charlottesville is generally much colder than Maui. Daily temperatures in Charlottesville average around 36°F (2°C), and Maui fluctuates around 72°F (22°C).

In Maui, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Charlottesville often gets less sunshine than Maui. Charlottesville gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Maui receives 217 hours of full sun.

Maui gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Charlottesville usually gets less rain in January than Maui. Charlottesville gets 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Maui receives 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Maui in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Charlottesville and Maui. Most visitors come to Charlottesville for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Maui because of the beaches and the natural beauty.

Charlottesville is much colder than Maui in the spring. The daily temperature in Charlottesville averages around 58°F (14°C) in April, and Maui fluctuates around 74°F (24°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Maui this time of the year. In Charlottesville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Charlottesville usually receives more sunshine than Maui during spring. Charlottesville gets 265 hours of sunny skies, while Maui receives 231 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Charlottesville usually receives more rain than Maui. Charlottesville gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Maui receives 1.8 inches (47 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Maui and Charlottesville