Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Getting Home on Breaks
Tips for when home is a long ways away, by Brynna G.
UVA has become my home in many ways, but it can never replace the home that I grew up in with
my family. As fun and challenging as the school year can be, it can also call for a break every now and
again. There are several breaks throughout the academic year that are a great time to go back home,
whether you’re from down the street or overseas. These breaks include:
Fall Break: This falls approximately 5 weeks after the first week of classes, typically the last my family. As fun and challenging as the school year can be, it can also call for a break every now and
again. There are several breaks throughout the academic year that are a great time to go back home,
whether you’re from down the street or overseas. These breaks include:
weekend of September or the first weekend of October. Classified as “reading days”, students will
have a designated Saturday-Tuesday to themselves.
Thanksgiving Break: Students do not have classes the Wednesday-Friday the week of
Thanksgiving, and most go home Tuesday evening-Sunday.
Thanksgiving, and most go home Tuesday evening-Sunday.
Winter Break: Classes for the fall semester end the first week of December. Finals week follows and
students can head home as soon as they complete their last final. There is an optional January term where
students can take a course over 2 weeks in January, or you can take the entirety of the month to rest
before spring semester.
Spring Break: Halfway through the spring semester (typically 7 weeks), students are given a week off
of classes.
Summer Break: Spring semester classes wrap up the first week of May and are followed by finals.
After finishing your last final you can go home for the summer!
While students don’t have to go home for every break if they don’t want to, it’s nice to have the option.
For first year students who can’t have cars on grounds and out-of-state students, this can be a bit trickier.
I myself am an out of state student who has to travel a good ways without access to a car in order to
subdue that occasional homesickness. I’ve utilized almost every medium available to get home over the
course of my first year, and here’s some tips I picked up along the way:
For first year students who can’t have cars on grounds and out-of-state students, this can be a bit trickier.
I myself am an out of state student who has to travel a good ways without access to a car in order to
subdue that occasional homesickness. I’ve utilized almost every medium available to get home over the
course of my first year, and here’s some tips I picked up along the way:
Automobiles: Find a Carpool
If home is within a reasonable driving distance, finding a carpool is an easy and affordable option.
There’s a great Facebook page called “Hoo’s Riding? Hoo’s Driving?” (get it?). You can post that you’re
looking for a ride to a certain destination and an upperclassman headed to the same place will almost
always offer you an empty seat in their car. This is a well-utilized Facebook page that a lot of students
use to get home. I used this page to get home over fall break my first year. As I joined clubs and met
more people on grounds, I have been able to find carpools without this Facebook page. UVA students
are more than willing to help out their friends without cars if you just ask.
There’s a great Facebook page called “Hoo’s Riding? Hoo’s Driving?” (get it?). You can post that you’re
looking for a ride to a certain destination and an upperclassman headed to the same place will almost
always offer you an empty seat in their car. This is a well-utilized Facebook page that a lot of students
use to get home. I used this page to get home over fall break my first year. As I joined clubs and met
more people on grounds, I have been able to find carpools without this Facebook page. UVA students
are more than willing to help out their friends without cars if you just ask.
For in-state students, UVA has a program called “Home Ride” that takes students to popular locations
like Northern Virginia and Richmond for a small fee. It runs most weekends, as well as over breaks.
like Northern Virginia and Richmond for a small fee. It runs most weekends, as well as over breaks.
Train: The Amtrak Station Downtown
University Avenue is home to the Corner (see Jordan’s article on eating off-grounds). This street
runs right through the heart of grounds. It eventually turns into W. Main Street, where the Amtrak Train
Station is located. Only about a half mile off of grounds, students can walk there easily or take the free
Charlottesville Area Trolley (CAT) that makes stops around grounds. You can go anywhere that Amtrak
will take you. This is one of my favorite ways to get home because it’s easy to buy a ticket online,
requires little planning, and is an easy ride home with WiFi and comfy seats.
runs right through the heart of grounds. It eventually turns into W. Main Street, where the Amtrak Train
Station is located. Only about a half mile off of grounds, students can walk there easily or take the free
Charlottesville Area Trolley (CAT) that makes stops around grounds. You can go anywhere that Amtrak
will take you. This is one of my favorite ways to get home because it’s easy to buy a ticket online,
requires little planning, and is an easy ride home with WiFi and comfy seats.
The Charlottesville Amtrak Station in all its glory. Is it just me, or can you also hear the deafening roar of the
Northeast Regional Rail?
Northeast Regional Rail?
Plane: The Charlottesville Albemarle Airport
Ok, so this is the one way home I haven’t tried. But I have a lot of friends who use this airport to fly
home, whether they live in New York, Florida, or Montana. You can catch the CAT to the airport, catch
a ride with friends, or uber there if necessary. Many of my friends who live in New York and Florida find
this not only a shorter trip than a train, but also cheaper because of how far they have to travel.
home, whether they live in New York, Florida, or Montana. You can catch the CAT to the airport, catch
a ride with friends, or uber there if necessary. Many of my friends who live in New York and Florida find
this not only a shorter trip than a train, but also cheaper because of how far they have to travel.
Regardless of how you get there, being home with friends and family is always a nice retreat away
from the hustle and bustle of dear ole UVA. Enjoy holidays and breaks, and know that your
home-away-from-home in Charlottesville will be there when you get back.
from the hustle and bustle of dear ole UVA. Enjoy holidays and breaks, and know that your
home-away-from-home in Charlottesville will be there when you get back.
Enjoy the rest of your summer lil hoos!
-Brynna
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