A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Charlottesville vs. Olympic National Park for Hiking, Backpackers, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Charlottesville or Olympic National Park?

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 Olympic National Park. 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. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. 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.

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park is a pristine, stunning, and vast park. The beauty of Olympic National Park is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the hiking and museums. See Olympic National Park travel costs.

Charlottesville and Olympic National Park: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Charlottesville or Olympic National Park?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Olympic National Park than Charlottesville, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Olympic National Park is better known for its resorts, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Charlottesville is more popular for its nightlife, historical sights, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere. Olympic National Park is more touristy than Charlottesville and is popular for its diverse landscapes and its frequent rainfall. Also, Olympic National Park is famous for the Hoh Rain Forest. 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 Olympic National Park?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Olympic National Park 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 Olympic National Park?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Charlottesville and Olympic National Park.

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 Olympic National Park. There are several museums near the park that highlight the region's history, culture, and geology. These include the Makah Cultural & Research Center Museum, Forks Timber Museum, Sequim Museum, and Squaxin Island Museum, Library and Research Center.

Is the Food Better in Charlottesville or Olympic National Park? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Charlottesville and Olympic National Park.

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.

Olympic National Park may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Most of the lodges have restaurants within the park, but they can be overpriced. There are also restaurants just outside of the park's border.

Is Charlottesville or Olympic National Park Better for Nightlife?

Charlottesville is a popular place for nightlife and partying. However, Olympic National Park is not a good park for its evening party scene.

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.

Olympic National Park doesn't offer many options. You can enjoy a peaceful natural setting after the sun sets.

Is Charlottesville or Olympic National Park Better for Resorts?

Olympic National Park is a great park for its luxury resorts. However, Charlottesville is not a resort destination.

There are plenty of resorts in Olympic National Park to choose from. There are several lodges within the park as well as cabins and inns. Some have a historic atmosphere while others are more rustic. It's best to book well in advance, particularly if you're visiting during the peak summer months.

Charlottesville is not a resort destination.

Is Charlottesville or Olympic National Park Better for its Old Town?

Charlottesville is a popular place for its old town. However, Olympic National Park 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.

Olympic National Park does not have a historic old town.

Is Charlottesville or Olympic National Park Better for Hiking?

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

Olympic National Park is well-known for its hiking and trekking. Hiking trails will take you through the diverse range of landscapes. There are mountain climbs, coastal trails, and routes that wander through old growth forests. You'll also find a mix of day hikes and backcountry wilderness hikes. Mount Storm King, Marymere Falls, and the High Divide are favorite hikes in the park, but there are countless others.

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 Olympic National Park?

Olympic National Park is adequate for its shopping opportunities. However, Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

If you're looking to go shopping, Olympic National Park has some nice offerings. There's a park store where you can pick up books, informational resources, and souvenirs.

Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Charlottesville or Olympic National Park More Beautiful?

Olympic National Park is a great park 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 Olympic National Park is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. The diversity of landscapes give the park a unique beauty. You can explore old growth rainforests, wander down pristine beaches, or take in the stunning mountain views.

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 Olympic National Park Better for Families?

Olympic National Park is a great park 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, Olympic National Park is very family-friendly. Kids will enjoy exploring the tidal pools and running around the beach. It's also fun to lose yourself in the old growth rainforests and spend some time kayaking or canoeing at Lake Crescent.

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 Olympic National Park Better for Couples?

Olympic National Park is a great park for its romantic activities. Also, Charlottesville is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for couples.

Olympic National Park is a great park if you're traveling as a couple. Couples who enjoy hiking, camping, and natural beauty will love exploring this park together. There are a diversity of ecosystems and landscapes where you can enjoy a couples retreat together.

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 Olympic National Park Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Olympic National Park is terrific for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Charlottesville is not known for backpackers.

With so many budget-friendly offerings, Olympic National Park is extremely popular for backpackers. There are many beautiful backcountry destinations that let you experience this park in depth. Make sure you purchase a permit in advance.

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.

Is Charlottesville or Olympic National Park Better for Students?

Charlottesville is a must-visit destination for students. However, Olympic National Park 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.

Olympic National Park is not popular with students.

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

Charlottesville and Olympic National Park 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 Olympic National Park. There are buses and ferries to the park, but the park is large and requires a private vehicle to fully access it.

Is Charlottesville or Olympic National Park a more walkable city?

Charlottesville is a moderate university town for its high level of walkability. However, Olympic National Park is not a good park 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.

Olympic National Park is not a very walkable university town. The park is large and you'll need a car to reach most of the trailheads.

For even more information, also check out Is Charlottesville Worth Visiting? and Is Olympic National Park Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Olympic National Park or Charlottesville?

How long in Charlottesville or Olympic National Park?

In either Charlottesville or Olympic National Park, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Olympic National Park than Charlottesville because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Charlottesville, and 2-5 days is enough time in Olympic National Park.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Olympic National Park 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 Olympic National Park.

One day in Charlottesville or Olympic National Park?

Even though Charlottesville is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

The pristine destination of Olympic National Park offers museums. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. It's no surprise that hiking is why people visit. 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 Olympic National Park?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Charlottesville. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this university town. It offers something for everyone.

The park of Olympic National Park offers museums. 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.

Five days in Charlottesville or Olympic National Park?

Charlottesville is a fun place to experience. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Olympic National Park is a great place to explore. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. It's no surprise that hiking is why people visit. This park 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 Olympic National Park?

Charlottesville is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Many people enjoy the museums when visiting Olympic National Park. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. 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 Olympic National Park, we can see that Charlottesville is more expensive. And not only is Olympic National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Olympic National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Olympic National Park 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 Olympic National Park.

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

When is the best time to visit Charlottesville or Olympic National Park?

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 Olympic National Park in the Summer?

Both Olympic National Park and Charlottesville during the summer are popular places to visit. 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 Olympic National Park for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Charlottesville is much warmer than Olympic National Park in the summer. The daily temperature in Charlottesville averages around 78°F (26°C) in July, and Olympic National Park fluctuates around 60°F (15°C).

In Olympic National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Charlottesville. In the summer, Charlottesville often gets more sunshine than Olympic National Park. Charlottesville gets 305 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Olympic National Park receives 210 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Charlottesville. Charlottesville usually gets more rain in July than Olympic National Park. Charlottesville gets 5 inches (128 mm) of rain, while Olympic National Park receives 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Olympic National Park in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Charlottesville and Olympic National Park. 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 Olympic National Park 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 Olympic National Park. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Charlottesville in October average around 59°F (15°C), and Olympic National Park averages at about 51°F (10°C).

In Charlottesville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Charlottesville usually receives more sunshine than Olympic National Park during autumn. Charlottesville gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Olympic National Park receives 113 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Olympic National Park receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Charlottesville usually receives less rain than Olympic National Park. Charlottesville gets 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain, while Olympic National Park receives 10.4 inches (263 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Olympic National Park in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Charlottesville as well as Olympic National Park. Many visitors come to Charlottesville in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Olympic National Park for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Olympic National Park can be very cold during winter. Charlottesville can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Charlottesville is generally much colder than Olympic National Park. Daily temperatures in Charlottesville average around 36°F (2°C), and Olympic National Park fluctuates around 41°F (5°C).

In the winter, Charlottesville often gets more sunshine than Olympic National Park. Charlottesville gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Olympic National Park receives 56 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Olympic National Park. Charlottesville usually gets less rain in January than Olympic National Park. Charlottesville gets 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Olympic National Park receives 13.7 inches (349 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Olympic National Park in the Spring?

Both Olympic National Park and Charlottesville are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Charlottesville for the small town charm and the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Olympic National Park because of the natural beauty.

Charlottesville is much warmer than Olympic National Park in the spring. The daily temperature in Charlottesville averages around 58°F (14°C) in April, and Olympic National Park fluctuates around 47°F (8°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Charlottesville. Charlottesville usually receives more sunshine than Olympic National Park during spring. Charlottesville gets 265 hours of sunny skies, while Olympic National Park receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Olympic National Park. In April, Charlottesville usually receives less rain than Olympic National Park. Charlottesville gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Olympic National Park receives 7.4 inches (189 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Olympic National Park and Charlottesville