Hotel & Travel
Here is a map that shows relative locations of James Branch Cabell Library at VCU, the airport, train stations, and the hotels listed below (among other information). If you want a copy that has the full-bore regular Google Map background, here it is [coming soon].
Traveling to Richmond
By Plane
Richmond International Airport (RIC) is about 7 miles from VCU as the crow flies, or about 25 minutes by car/rideshare. There is also a bus (the 7A) that connects from the airport to the Pulse bus rapid transit line–see the information below about buses and the Pulse.
By Train
Richmond boasts not one, but two Amtrak stations: Main Street Station (RVM) and Staples Mill Station (RVR). Main Street Station, about 1.7 miles east of the library, is on the Pulse bus rapid transit line (see below), so it would be easy to transport yourself to the area of VCU from there. However, fewer trains get routed to Main Street Station than to Staples Mill Station. Staples Mill Station is on the northwest edge of Richmond about 7 miles from VCU. A number of the hotel options listed below are only a couple of miles from the Staples Mill Station, though a rideshare/cab would be needed to reach the hotel.
By Automobile
Richmond is at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Interstate 64 (the I-95 corridor in particular from Washington DC to Richmond can often have pretty ugly traffic, so route yourself thoughtfully).
Getting Around Town
The Pulse
The Pulse is Richmond’s bus rapid transit system, which uses a dedicated bus lane to travel up and down Broad Street. Pulse buses are approximately 10-15 min apart. The VCU Pulse stop–called the VCU & VUU Station–is three (flat) blocks from VCU’s James Branch Cabell Library. Note that all Pulse stops (except the western terminus at Willow Lawn Station and the eastern terminus at Rocketts Landing Station) have an eastbound station and a westbound station, which might be separated by as much as a city block or two (and usually be on opposite sides of the street). Be sure to hop on headed in the right direction! Note that the only buses that stop at Pulse stations are Pulse buses; local-route buses have separate stops in the area. Google Maps does a good job of transit directions in Richmond. All Richmond buses including the Pulse are free (zero fare) for all riders. More info about riding all buses (including how-to-ride videos) from the GRTC website.
City bus system (GRTC)
There are a lot of other bus routes traveling through and around the city. Visit GRTC’s website for more information about routes. Google Maps does a good job with transit directions in Richmond. All Richmond buses including the Pulse are free (zero fare) for all riders. More info about riding all buses (including how-to-ride videos) from the GRTC site above.
Rideshare and cabs
Uber and Lyft are both popular options and widely available in Richmond. There are a number of cab companies operating in the city as well.
Bicycles
Richmond has a bike share system called RVA Bike Share; due to the bankruptcy of the company that provided the rental software, the system went dormant, but (as of August 6) a contract with a new vendor is in place and the system should be returned to operation soon. This page will be updated as soon as that information is available. The area around VCU is generally flat or gently sloped.
Scooters
Richmond has a number of scooter rental options: Bird, Lime, and SPIN.
Hotel Information
Here is a selection of hotels in the vicinity of VCU’s Monroe Park Campus arranged by distance from James Branch Cabell Library with approximate pricing (as of 9/5/23). Hotels near Pulse stops are noted, but please note that there are other buses that may serve some of these hotels and get you to campus. There are also other hotels in the area if none of these meet your needs.
| Hotel | Sense of the cost | Distance to Cabell Library | Distance to nearest Pulse stop |
| The Graduate – Richmond 301 W Franklin St.Richmond, VA 23220 | $175/night for two queen beds | 0.4 mile | 3 blocks (Arts District Westbound Station at Broad St. & Adams St. / 1 stop to VCU / 3 min ride) |
| Quirk Hotel 201 W Broad St.Richmond, VA 23220 | $279/night for two double beds | 0.6 mile | 1 block (Arts District Westbound Station at Broad St. & Adams St. / 1 stop to VCU / 3 min ride) |
| Linden Row Inn 100 E Franklin St.Richmond, VA 23219 | $211/night for two queen beds ($127/night rate for non-refundable prepayment) | 0.7 mile | 3 blocks(Convention Center Westbound Station at Broad St. & 3rd St. / 2 stops to VCU / 4 min ride) |
| Holiday Inn Express Richmond – Downtown201 East Cary St.Richmond, VA 23219 | $126/night for two queen beds | 0.8 mile | 7 blocks (but not practical as walking that distance in another direction gets you close to VCU)(Convention Center Westbound Station at Broad St. & 3rd St. / 2 stops to VCU / 4 min ride)Other bus routes available |
| Hilton Richmond Downtown501 E Broad St.Richmond, VA 23219 | $270/night for two queen beds | 1 mile | 2.5 blocks(Convention Center Westbound Station at Broad St. & N 3rd St. / 2 stops to VCU / 4 min ride) |
| Richmond Marriott500 E Broad St. Richmond, VA 23219 | $251/night for two double beds | 1 mile | 2.5 blocks(Convention Center Westbound Station at Broad St. & N 3rd St. / 2 stops to VCU / 4 min ride) |
| Homewood Suites by Hilton Richmond-Downtown700 East Main Street Suite B Richmond, VA 23219 | $189/night for two queen beds (suite) | 1 mile | 6 blocks (up somewhat of a slope)(Government Center Westbound Station at Broad St. & 9th St. / 3 stops to VCU / 7 min ride)Other bus routes available |
| Delta Hotels Richmond Downtown555 East Canal St.Richmond, VA 23219 | $235/night for two double beds | 1 mile | 7 blocks (up somewhat of a slope)(Convention Center Westbound Station at Broad St. & N 3rd St. / 2 stops to VCU / 4 min ride)Other bus routes available |
| Courtyard by Marriott – Richmond Scott’s Addition3800 W Broad St.Richmond, VA 23230 | $196/night for two queen beds | 2.4 miles | 0.5 mile(Scott’s Addition Station at Broad St. & Cleveland St. / 3 stops to VCU / 8 min ride) |
| Courtyard by Marriott – Richmond West6400 W Broad St.Richmond, VA 23230 | $143/night for two queen beds | 5.4 miles | Drive 1.3 miles to Willow Lawn shopping center and park there near Willow Lawn Station, the west end of the Pulse line (Willow Lawn Station at Broad St & Willow Lawn Dr. / 5 stops to VCU / 16 min ride) |
| The Westin Richmond6631 W Broad St.Richmond, VA 23230 | $209/night for two queen beds | 5.7 miles | Drive 2.2 miles to Willow Lawn shopping center and park there near Willow Lawn Station, the west end of the Pulse line (Willow Lawn Station at Broad St & Willow Lawn Dr. / 5 stops to VCU / 16 min ride) |
| Hampton Inn & Suites Richmond/Glenside 5406 Glenside Dr.Richmond, VA 23228 | $148/night for two queen beds | 6.1 miles | Drive 2.6 miles to Willow Lawn shopping center and park there near Willow Lawn Station, the west end of the Pulse line (Willow Lawn Station at Broad St & Willow Lawn Dr. / 5 stops to VCU / 16 min ride) |
| Embassy Suites by Hilton Richmond 2925 Emerywood Pkwy Richmond, VA 23294 | $233/night for two queen beds (two-room suite) | 7.7 miles | Drive 2.7 miles to Willow Lawn shopping center and park there near Willow Lawn Station, the west end of the Pulse line (Willow Lawn Station at Broad St & Willow Lawn Dr. / 5 stops to VCU / 16 min ride) |
Other Lodging
Airbnb and VRBO both have a lot of (affordable) offerings in the VCU vicinity. If you want to center your search on James Branch Cabell Library, the address is 901 Park Ave., Richmond, VA 23284.
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