Charlottesville is the perfect size city for a run — big enough that there’s lots to see, but small enough that it’s easy to get around. Sidewalks are plentiful and pristine, so options for a run downtown are abundant. Some favorite roads include Main Street, High Street, Market Street, Jefferson Street, and the car-free “Downtown Mall.” Piece together your own run as you explore downtown, or see one of the routes recommended by Ragged Mountain Running Shop, Visit Charlottesville, and the Charlottesville Track Club. Their 3 mile Downtown Loop is a good route through beautiful residential areas, and their 8 mile loop connects to the Rivanna Trails, and more options intersect with the UVA Campus.
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Essentials
- 3 or 8 miles
- Main Street
Current Weather & Forecast
Charlottesville, US
8:27 pm,
Jun 3, 2026
clear sky
21°C
L: 20°
H: 22°
Daily ForecastHourly Forecast
Tomorrow
5:00 pm
20° / 22°°C
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7 mph
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Friday
5:00 pm
14° / 22°°C
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6 mph
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Saturday
5:00 pm
16° / 20°°C
0.97 mm
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2 mph
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Sunday
5:00 pm
15° / 17°°C
1 mm
100%
5 mph
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Monday
5:00 pm
14° / 18°°C
1 mm
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11 mph
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Today
11:00 pm
15° / 16°°C
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3 mph
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Tomorrow
2:00 am
14° / 15°°C
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3 mph
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5:00 am
15° / 15°°C
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8:00 am
15° / 15°°C
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5 mph
73 %
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Tomorrow
11:00 am
21° / 21°°C
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7 mph
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Tomorrow
2:00 pm
25° / 25°°C
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7 mph
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5:00 pm
22° / 22°°C
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Other Routes in Charlottesville, VA
The University of Virginia is the heart of Charlottesville, and the Jeffersonian architecture of its beautiful grounds makes for a wonderful run of any length. We have several mapped routes, ranging from 3 to 7 miles.
The Rivanna Trail encircles Charlotteville for about 20 miles, covering prime ground on the banks of the Rivanna River and through a series of city parks. Paved and dirt trail sections.
Just off the Thomas Jefferson Parkway, the Saunders Monticello Trail is a 4 mile (out and back) run leading around Carter Mountain to Monticello.
The 7.5 mile hilly gravel sprawl of Dick Woods is something of a legend among Charlottesville area runners.
This beautiful 4.5 mile paved road leads to the Sugar Hollow Reservoir and dam, the scenic doorway to the Ragged Mountain Natural Area.
This paved 2.25 mile route circles one of the most prestigious residential areas in Charlottesville. Can be combined with the Sugar Hollow route or the Rivanna Trail for more mileage.
A series of scenic dirt roads through a quiet oasis of farmland just south of the city. 7 mile loop.
Preddy Creek Trail Park occupies 521 relatively flat but beautiful acres. A full loop around the main trail system is about 3.5 miles, but runners can easily add on mileage by exploring cross paths and extensions.
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