Flag a Mario’s Cab right outside Terminal T at CHO
Mario’s Cab runs as a standard taxi service from Charlottesville Albemarle Airport’s single Terminal T, picking up at the curb just outside arrivals. You walk out of baggage claim, cross one traffic lane, and you’re at the taxi stand in under 60 seconds. This is a direct point‑to‑point ride with no shared seating or fixed route like the JAUNT or CAT buses.
Fares run on a meter, starting with a base drop similar to other Charlottesville cabs, then ticking up by distance in miles. From CHO to downtown Charlottesville is typically about a 20–25 minute ride, depending on Route 29 traffic and signals. Keep some cash on hand in $5 and $10 bills in case card machines act up, but most airport‑focused cab drivers in the area do accept major credit cards.
You’ll usually find Mario’s Cab drivers staged during normal arrival banks, roughly between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. If you land on the last late‑evening flight, plan ahead and call as soon as you deplane at Gate T1–T4 so the car is rolling in as you reach the curb. The airport is about 8 miles north of downtown, so a driver coming from the city needs 15–20 minutes to reach the terminal.
Step-by-step from plane to taxi, plan on about 15–25 minutes total. 1) Deplane at Terminal T and walk to baggage claim, which takes 3–5 minutes. 2) Grab checked bags from the single carousel, usually within 10–15 minutes of arrival. 3) Call Mario’s Cab dispatch once you have your bag if you don’t see a car already waiting. 4) Exit to the curb, cross the first lane, and meet your driver at the taxi area signed for “Cabs/Rideshares.”
For trips back to CHO, build in a 25–30 minute buffer from downtown Charlottesville plus the airport’s suggested 90 minutes before departure, especially for morning flights between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. The simple move: book Mario’s Cab for a set pickup time, then aim to be at the Terminal T check‑in counters roughly 2 hours before your scheduled takeoff.