Best Places to Run
The Best Places to Run in Charlottesville
Here is a list of some of the best places to run in Charlottesville, on the trails or on the roads.
Each route comes with a brief desciption. Just click on the link and you will be taken to the interactive map, which you can print and take with you during your run! If you have any questions on any of these routes, just call 434.293.7115
Road
All road routes are rated on a scale of 1 to 10 for difficulty (hilly versus flat) and scenery
UVA Loop
Distance: 3.5 miles
Starting/finish location: Charlottesville Running Company
Terrain: All roads. Mostly flat with some hills
Difficulty: 2
Scenery: 6
Points of Interest: The University of Virginia Rotunda and Campus
Washington Park Loop
Distance: 5K
Starting/finish location: Charlottesville Running Company
Terrain: All roads. Mostly flat with some hills
Difficulty: 2
Scenery: 5
Points of Interest: Washington Park. Great place to cool off in the shade or to run in the grass
CRC 5K Loop
Distance: 5K
Starting/finish location: Charlottesville Running Company
Terrain: All roads. Mostly flat with some hills
Difficulty: 2
Scenery: 6
Points of Interest: The University of Virginia Rotunda and Campus. Washington Park. Great place to cool off in the shade or to run in the grass
Charlottesville Fall Classic 10K Road Championship
Distance: 10K
Starting/finish location: Charlottesville Running Company
Terrain: All roads. Mostly flat with some hills
Difficulty: 2
Scenery: 6
Points of Interest: the Rivanna river
Hospital Loop
Used during the Charlottesville Marathon/Half Marathon Training Program
Distance: 6.7 miles
Starting/finish location: Charlottesville Running Company
Terrain: Roads with 1/3 of a mile on gravel. Mostly flat with some hills
Difficulty: 3
Scenery: 6
Points of Interest: The University of Virginia Campus and Hospital. Scotts Stadium, home of the UVA Cavaliers
CRC 8 Loop
Used during the Charlottesville Marathon/Half Marathon Training Program
Distance: 8 miles
Starting/finish location: Charlottesville Running Company
Terrain: Roads with 1/3 of a mile on gravel. Mostly flat with some hills
Difficulty: 3
Scenery: 6
Points of Interest: The University of Virginia Campus and Hospital. Scotts Stadium, home of the UVA Cavaliers. Rugby Rd, home of the UVA Fraternities and Sororities.
CRC 10 Loop
Used during the Charlottesville Marathon/Half Marathon Training Program
Distance: 10 miles
Starting/finish location: Charlottesville Running Company
Terrain: Roads with 1 mile on the scenic and shady Rivanna Trail. Mostly flat with some hills
Difficulty: 3
Scenery: 7
Points of Interest: The Rivanna Trail. This trail encircles all of Charlottesville and it's a beautiful wild retreat for many animals. Locust Ave, a beautiful neighborhood.
CRC 13 Loop
Used during the Charlottesville Marathon/Half Marathon Training Program
Distance: 13.06 miles
Starting/finish location: Charlottesville Running Company
Terrain: Roads with 1 mile on the scenic and shady Rivanna Trail. Mostly flat with some hills
Difficulty: 3
Scenery: 7
Points of Interest: The Rivanna Trail. This trail encircles all of Charlottesville and it's a beautiful wild retreat for many animals. Locust Ave, a beautiful neighborhood.
CRC 15 Loop
Used during the Charlottesville Marathon/Half Marathon Training Program
Distance: 14.92 miles
Starting/finish location: Charlottesville Running Company
Terrain: Roads with 1.5 mile on the scenic and shady Rivanna Trail and 1 mile on the Foxhaven Farm Running Trails. Rolling hills
Difficulty: 5
Scenery: 7
Points of Interest: The Rivanna Trail. This trail encircles all of Charlottesville and it's a beautiful wild retreat for many animals. Foxhaven Farm: Owned by nature lover Mrs Hayward, this farm welcomes hikers and runners of all kinds.
CRC 16 Loop
Used during the Charlottesville Marathon/Half Marathon Training Program
Distance: 16.23 miles
Starting/finish location: Charlottesville Running Company
Terrain: Roads. 4 miles on the only paved section of the Rivanna Trail. Mostly flat with some hills
Difficulty: 3
Scenery: 7
Points of Interest: Riverview Park. This portion of the Rivanna Trail is the only paved section and is used by many hikers, runners, dog walkers and bikers. The University of Virginia Campus.
CRC 17.5
Used during the Charlottesville Marathon/Half Marathon Training Program
Distance: 17.5 miles
Starting/finish location: Charlottesville Running Company
Terrain: Roads. 2 miles on the Charlottesville Reservoir trail. Rolling hills.
Difficulty: 5
Scenery: 8
Points of Interest: Charlottesville Reservoir, Ednam neighborhood.
Charlottesville Half Marathon
Route for the Charlottesville Half Marathon, which takes place in April
Distance: 13.1 miles
Starting/finish location: Charlottesville Running Company
Terrain: Roads. Rolling hills.
Difficulty: 5
Scenery: 9
Points of Interest: University of Virginia Campus. Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and scenic Albemarle County
Charlottesville Marathon
Route for the Charlottesville Marathon, which takes place in April
Distance: 26.2 miles
Starting/finish location: Charlottesville Running Company
Terrain: Roads. Rolling hills.
Difficulty: 7
Scenery: 9
Points of Interest: University of Virginia Campus. Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and scenic Albemarle County. Ridge Road, a local runners' paradise with beautiful horse farms.
Reinassance 5K
Route for the Reinassance School 5K
Distance: 5K
Starting/finish location: Reinassance School
Terrain: Roads. Flat.
Difficulty: 4
Scenery: 5
Points of Interest: Court Square and the Historic Downtown Mall
Ridge Road
Local runner' Paradise
Distance: 7.8
Starting/finish location: Ridge Road-Garth Rd intersection
Terrain: Gravel. Rolling Hills
Difficulty: 5
Scenery: 7
Points of Interest: Piedmont of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Great place for a quiet long run
Distance: 14.65, with option for up to 21
Starting/finish location: Miller School Road/Dick Woods Road
Terrain: Gravel. Rolling Hills
Difficulty: 4
Scenery: 7
Points of Interest: Piedmont of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Hereford 5K
Route for the Hereford 5K
Distance: 5K
Starting/finish location: Hereford Dormitories
Terrain: Roads. Mostly Flat
Difficulty: 2
Scenery: 4
Points of Interest: University of Virginia Campus
Trails
Rivanna Trail
This is the best trail in the City of Charlottesville. Accessible by multiple point, it allows for shorter and longer runs. It is very quiet and shady in the summer, and much cooler than the roads. The whole loop is close to 20 miles.
Distance: between 19 and 20 miles
Starting/finish location: multiple. Just look for the Rivanna Trail signs. For more information, visit the Rivanna Trail website .
Terrain: Single track trail. Mostly Flat
Difficulty: 5
Scenery: 6
Points of Interest: the whole trail
