City and County Transportation
Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT)
The City of Charlottesville operates Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT), a bus system that links neighborhoods to the city's and county's major commercial areas. CAT’s most popular route among students, the Free Trolley, links UVA to the downtown area. A UVA ID can be scanned in lieu of paying the fare on all CAT routes. Update: All CAT routes are currently free to ride and do not require a UVA ID.
CONNECT: Regional Connections by Jaunt
CONNECT offers affordable and convenient public transit alternatives for commuters from Crozet, Route 29 North, Lovingston, and Buckingham. CONNECT services include:
- Crozet CONNECT – Workday public transit bringing riders from east and west Crozet to UVA and Downtown Charlottesville.
- 29 North CONNECT – Workday public transit bringing riders from the Hollymead area to UVA and Downtown Charlottesville.
- Buckingham CONNECT – Workday public transit bringing riders from central Buckingham along Rt. 20 to UVA, 29 North, Downtown Charlottesville, and Pantops.
- Lovingston CONNECT – Workday public transit bringing riders from the Lovingston area along Rt. 29 to UVA, Downtown Charlottesville, and Belmont.
UVA students, faculty, and staff ride free with presentation of a valid UVA ID. Update: All Connect routes are currently free to ride.
Jaunt
In addition to its CONNECT routes, Jaunt provides ADA transportation services to individuals who live and/or work in Charlottesville, Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Louisa, and Nelson. Call 434-296-3184 to reserve a ride.
Intercity Transportation
Afton Express
The Afton Express is a public transportation service that connects Staunton, Fishersville, and Waynesboro to UVA, Downtown Charlottesville, and Fifth Street Station with multiple trips per day. The schedule supports commuting for work and appointments. Afton Express buses feature comfortable seating with optional seat belts, Wi-Fi, USB charging, overhead storage, and bicycle racks. The buses are lift-equipped to assist passengers with mobility needs. Route maps, time tables, and fares can be found here. Frequent Afton Express riders are eligible to enroll in RideShare’s Guaranteed Ride Home program, which guarantees a free ride home in case of emergency.
Starting September 23, 2024, UVA affiliates can ride Afton Express for free. All you must do is present your UVA ID to the driver when you board.
Amtrak
Amtrak provides passenger train services from the Charlottesville Union Station, conveniently located less than one mile east from Central Grounds along W Main St. Amtrak routes that directly serve Charlottesville include the Cardinal, the Crescent, and the Northeast Regional, each providing links to cities in the Northeast, South, and Midwest.
Greyhound
Greyhound provides intercity bus service to locations across Virginia and beyond. The Greyhound bus stop is located at the Charlottesville Union Station along W Main St and is easily reachable via Charlottesville Area Transit.
Virginia Breeze
The Virginia Breeze provides affordable bus service to many cities across the Commonwealth. Its Piedmont Express route serves Charlottesville and is a great option if traveling to Lynchburg, Northern Virginia, Washington D.C., or anywhere along that north-south corridor. The service is operated by Megabus and runs 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Effective February 17, 2024, the Virginia Breeze Bus Lines stop will be moved to Alderman Road at Gooch/Dillard.
Airports
