UVA graduation weekend 2027: things to do in Charlottesville

14 to 16 May 2027 · ExpectedCharlottesville, United States

University of Virginia Final Exercises brings parents, grandparents and siblings to Charlottesville for a weekend. The ceremony takes a morning: this guide covers where to stay, the celebration dinner and what to do with the rest of the time.

Tours in Charlottesville Hotels for these dates

Know before you go

Confirm the date and ticket rules on the school's commencement page: guest tickets are often limited.
Book the celebration dinner when you book the hotel. Every restaurant in town is full that weekend.

Airport to The Lawn

Charlottesville-Albemarle (CHO) is 15 minutes away; Washington Dulles is 2 hours.

Free trolley from downtown.

Public transport directions to The Lawn

Where to stay by budget

Budget	Where	Why
Budget	Route 29 chains	North of town.
Mid-range	Downtown Mall	Walk to restaurants.
Splurge	Boar's Head Resort and Keswick Hall	Country resorts.

Three hotels we would book

Budget: Hampton Inn and Suites Charlottesville at the University
Mid-range: Graduate Charlottesville
Splurge: Keswick Hall

Links search the nights from 13 May to 17 May. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual graduation weekend schedule for 14 to 16 May 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Arrival day

Thursday 13 May

Check in, walk the campus with your graduate and book a celebration dinner.

FreeUVA Lawn.
EatBlue Mountain Brewery Brewery with views

Ceremony day

Friday 14 May

Ceremonies take the morning. The afternoon is for photos and a long lunch.

EatBodo's Bagels Local favourite
Easy outingUVA Lawn and Rotunda tour Half day · Family
The Academical Village.

The day after

Monday 17 May

A free day before everyone leaves. A good time for a trip out of town.

Half-dayMonticello Half day · Family
Jefferson's home.
EatDowntown Mall restaurants Pedestrian street

Grandparents and siblings

Low walking and kid friendly.

Family pickShenandoah Skyline Drive Full day · Family
Blue Ridge views.
Rain or heat backupFralin Museum of Art.

Family-friendly picks

Full day · Family

Shenandoah Skyline Drive

Blue Ridge views.

See times and prices

Half day · Family

UVA Lawn and Rotunda tour

The Academical Village.

See times and prices

Half day · Family

Monticello

Jefferson's home.

See times and prices

Carter Mountain Orchard.

Evening and day-trip tours

Full day · Food

Virginia wine tour

Monticello wine trail.

See times and prices

Full day · Family

Shenandoah Skyline Drive

Blue Ridge views.

See times and prices

After dark

Downtown Mall.

4 tours worth booking for UVA

Tour	Length	Good for
Virginia wine tour	Full day	Food lovers
Shenandoah Skyline Drive	Full day	Families
UVA Lawn and Rotunda tour	Half day	Families
Monticello	Half day	Families

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

Bodo's Bagels Local favourite
Downtown Mall restaurants Pedestrian street
Blue Mountain Brewery Brewery with views

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

Fralin Museum of Art.

Getting around on event days

Free trolley between downtown and UVA. Hotels for commencement weekend often sell out a year ahead and require two- or three-night minimums. Book as soon as the date is posted.

Day trips from Charlottesville

Shenandoah: 45 minutes
Richmond: 1 hour

Bringing a group?

Corporate hospitality, fan clubs, teams and families travelling together: tell us the dates and group size and we will put together tours, transfers and a group dinner for UVA.

Plan a group trip

Questions people ask

When is University of Virginia Final Exercises 2027?

The next edition is 14 to 16 May 2027, following the usual pattern. The organiser has not confirmed it yet.

How do I get from the airport to The Lawn?

Charlottesville-Albemarle (CHO) is 15 minutes away; Washington Dulles is 2 hours. Free trolley from downtown.

Where should I stay for University of Virginia Final Exercises?

For most visitors the best base is Downtown Mall: Walk to restaurants.

What else can we do around University of Virginia Final Exercises?

Good short outings in Charlottesville include Monticello, UVA Lawn and Rotunda tour. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

What is there for kids and families near University of Virginia Final Exercises?

Family-friendly picks: Monticello, Shenandoah Skyline Drive, UVA Lawn and Rotunda tour. Carter Mountain Orchard.

How far is The Lawn from Charlottesville centre?

About 2 km in a straight line. Free trolley from downtown.

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