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

Should you visit Charlottesville or Vernon?

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 Vernon. 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 traditional, young, and collegiate 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.

Vernon

Vernon is a relaxing, quiet, and peaceful town. Visitors also love the museums, food, and hiking. See Vernon travel costs.

Charlottesville and Vernon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Charlottesville or Vernon?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Vernon. Although Charlottesville and Vernon are both popular with visitors, Vernon has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Vernon is more popular for its food, hiking, and shopping, while Charlottesville is known for its nightlife, historical sights, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Vernon is more touristy than Charlottesville and is popular for its surrounding valley with lakes and hiking trails. It is also home to Davison Orchards Country Village. 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 Vernon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Charlottesville and Vernon.

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 Vernon. There are local galleries and museums that offer information on the region's history and culture. You can visit the Canadian Wildlife Museum, the Caetani Center, the Museum and Archives of Vernon, the Paddlewheel Park Stationhouse Museum, and the Vernon Public Art Gallery.

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

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

Vernon has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The region is known for its vineyards and wineries and many of the local restaurants have been around for generations. The food is often locally produced and prepared with traditional recipes.

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 Vernon Better for Nightlife?

Charlottesville is a nice place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Vernon 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 Vernon. The town gets very quiet in the evenings, so you won't find much of a nightlife scene.

Is Charlottesville or Vernon Better for its Old Town?

Charlottesville is a nice place to visit for its historic old town charm. However, Vernon 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.

Vernon does not have a historic old town.

Is Charlottesville or Vernon Better for Hiking?

Vernon 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 Vernon for the hiking trails. The surrounding valley has more than 300 kilometers of hiking trails. They run along pristine lakes, pass by granite rock formations, and take you to impressive viewpoints.

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 Vernon?

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Vernon. There are a number of boutique shops that are fun to explore in the downtown area.

Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Charlottesville or Vernon More Beautiful?

Charlottesville is a nice place to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Vernon is not a destination known for its 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.

Vernon is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Charlottesville or Vernon Better for Families?

Both Charlottesville and Vernon are good family-friendly destinations.

Charlottesville offers lots of family activities. 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.

Vernon is a family-friendly place to visit. There are biking and hiking trails as well as other outdoor activities. You can also visit the Allan Brooks Nature Center or the Rock Garden Climbing Center.

Is Charlottesville or Vernon Better for Couples?

Charlottesville and Vernon both good 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.

Vernon is a good university town for couples to visit. It offers a peaceful getaway for couples. You can visit the Okanagan wineries or enjoy one of the many hiking trails. There are also nice restaurants to try.

Is Charlottesville or Vernon Better for Students?

Charlottesville is terrific for students. However, Vernon is not popular with students.

Charlottesville is a great destination 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.

Vernon is not popular with students.

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

Charlottesville and Vernon 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 Vernon. There is a bus system, but it's better not to rely on it.

Is Charlottesville or Vernon a more walkable city?

Charlottesville and Vernon are decent 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.

Vernon is generally not very walkable. You'll really want to have a car to make the most of your time here.

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

Should I spend more time in Vernon or Charlottesville?

How long in Charlottesville or Vernon?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Charlottesville and Vernon. In our opinion, Charlottesville has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Charlottesville than Vernon. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Charlottesville, and 1-3 days is enough time in Vernon.

Families should spend more time in Charlottesville than Vernon. 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.

One day in Charlottesville or Vernon?

Charlottesville might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The peaceful destination of Vernon offers shopping and museums. 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 enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Charlottesville or Vernon?

Charlottesville is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

The town of Vernon offers museums 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.

Five days in Charlottesville or Vernon?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Charlottesville. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Vernon 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.

A week in Charlottesville or Vernon?

Charlottesville is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This university town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Many people enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting Vernon. 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 Coach Bus Tours in Canada, and The Best Adventure Tours to Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Charlottesville or Vernon?

Vernon has a larger population, and is about 36% larger than the population of Charlottesville. When comparing the sizes of Charlottesville and Vernon, 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 Vernon?

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 Vernon in the Summer?

Both Vernon and Charlottesville during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Charlottesville in the summer for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Vernon for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Charlottesville is a little warmer than Vernon. Typically, the summer temperatures in Charlottesville in July average around 78°F (26°C), and Vernon averages at about 23°C (73°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Charlottesville. Charlottesville usually gets more rain in July than Vernon. Charlottesville gets 5 inches (128 mm) of rain, while Vernon receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Vernon in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Charlottesville and Vernon. Most visitors come to Charlottesville for the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Vernon because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In October, Charlottesville is generally a little warmer than Vernon. Daily temperatures in Charlottesville average around 59°F (15°C), and Vernon fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

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

Should I visit Charlottesville or Vernon in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Charlottesville as well as Vernon. The winter months attract visitors to Charlottesville because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Vernon this time of year.

It's quite cold in Vernon in the winter. The weather in Charlottesville can be very cold. Charlottesville is much warmer than Vernon in the winter. The daily temperature in Charlottesville averages around 36°F (2°C) in January, and Vernon fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).

Charlottesville usually gets more rain in January than Vernon. Charlottesville gets 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Vernon receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlottesville or Vernon in the Spring?

Both Vernon and Charlottesville are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The small town charm and the natural beauty are the main draw to Charlottesville this time of year.

In the spring, Charlottesville is a little warmer than Vernon. Typically, the spring temperatures in Charlottesville in April average around 58°F (14°C), and Vernon averages at about 12°C (53°F).

In April, Charlottesville usually receives more rain than Vernon. Charlottesville gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Vernon receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Vernon and Charlottesville