//
Edge City / Neighborhood in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States
Photo: User: (WT-shared) Bz3rk at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
University City is a semi-urban area in the northern reaches of Charlotte. It is an "edge city", a sprawling, suburban area with a population of 160,000 (2012) centered around a "downtown" area at the intersection of N. Tryon St. and W.T. Harris Blvd. University City is home to contains major establishments such as the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) and Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
The city's public university, located in the growing northern side of the city. It is a rapidly expanding suburban campus, but still lacks the on-campus vibrance of a larger state school. From a traveler's point of view, there's not much to see there on an ordinary day.
Located in the University area, this is the location of Charlotte's summer concert series. Seats up to 20,000 including general-admission lawn space; larger concerts will typically sell out. If you purchase lawn seats you may rent chairs, but for a larger show you will probably not be able to use them.
Performs several times throughout the year.
A pool hall that takes the game seriously. One of the city's best places to find a competitive game, as well as a reliable cue retailer.
The teams representing UNC Charlotte are members of the American Athletic Conference. The 49ers are largely in the shadow of the city's pro sports teams, as well as the state's higher-profile athletic programs (namely Duke, NC State, North Carolina, and Wake Forest). Also, while UNC Charlotte had a football team when it was founded in 1946, that team was shut down in 1948, not resuming play until 2013 (by which time the school had changed its athletic brand to "Charlotte"). Also, the football stadium, Jerry Richardson Stadium, seats barely over 15,000—although the 49ers haven't exactly covered themselves in success, having played in only one bowl game since their revival. Nonetheless, plans are in place to double the stadium's capacity. Basketball has traditionally been the most popular sport, playing on-campus at Dale F. Halton Arena. The banner image for the district page features the 49ers' baseball park, Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium.
Not fast-food, but not dine-in either. Fast, delicious and super friendly service. Ice-cream there is a perfect treat for summer weather and it is a great place to grab a bite as you sit enjoy the summer concerts. Wonderful place for family. Fantastic milkshakes as well.
Probably Charlotte's best Mexican (though some Spanish-speaking joints on the east side might beg to differ). Relatively upscale, Zapata's enjoys one of the best restaurant locations in the University area: perched over a picturesque lake, across from the Hilton hotel, and within minutes of shopping destinations. Almost everything on the menu is good, including the drink specials.
Popular beach-themed bar and restaurant. Frequent drink specials.
This is an authentic pub, with lots of beer and quality pub food. The beer Goddesses are cute, and friendly. Come at night for Trivia, Glass night, etc. Check the website's calendar for more info.
Holiday Inn Charlotte University
InTown Suites Extended Stay Select Charlotte NC - University
Possibly the cheapest hotel in the city. Located off Tryon St. in a somewhat gritty area, but easily accessible to a lot of the city's amenities (you can get to almost anything in Uptown, University City and NoDa within 15 minutes' drive). Most rooms run about $25/night.
If staying Uptown isn't your cup of tea, consider this one of the best alternatives around. This hotel is one of the vibrant University City area's keystones, and is located adjacent to a major shopping complex. Take a stroll around the lake, try out the paddleboats, eat dinner on a patio balcony only a few minutes' walk from your room. Upper rooms have excellent views of the surrounding area, and most lower rooms have a nice view of the lake. $98-169.
A large, mixed-use community that will feature a 356,000-square-foot IKEA, the first store in the Carolinas.
Designed around a pedestrian lake, this unique shopping center includes a mix of retailers and offices, including Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Michael's, Sam's Club, TJ Maxx and Ross.
Driving is the only realistic way to explore University City because of its sprawling commercial districts.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Charlotte · International · CLT
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about University City and United States.
Travel tipsFind the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.
8 min read
Travel tipsFind the best time to visit Hawaii in 2026. Compare whale seasons, big-wave surf, dry shoulder months, hotel rates, and island microclimates.
8 min read
InspirationDiscover the best places to visit in April. Compare Dutch tulip fields, Thailand's Songkran water festival, Roman spring gardens, and cherry blossoms.
6 min read
Travel tipsA practical guide to travelling with medication and refrigerated drugs like insulin and GLP-1s. Learn airline rules, customs papers, and cooling tips.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.