A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Dayton vs. Chattanooga for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dayton or Chattanooga?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dayton or Chattanooga, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Dayton or Chattanooga?

Dayton

Located in southwest Ohio, Dayton is known as the "Gem City." It's the original home of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who designed the first airplane. You'll also find the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park here, which is one of the only multi-site National Parks in the United States. The cities climate has four different seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall. The winter months are quite cold and you can expect a decent amount of snow in the area. Spring remains cool and there are infrequent showers. This is also the peak time for tornadoes in the area. Summer is hot and humid and can be unpleasant at times, but fall is crisp and refreshing with occasional storms and infrequent tornadoes.

Chattanooga

Located on the Tennessee River near the border of the U.S. state of Georgia, Chattanooga is Tennessee's fourth largest city and a major transportation hub. The city has received national recognition for the renaissance of its once dilapidated downtown and redevelopment of its riverfront, including the restoration of the historic Walnut Street Bridge.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, and The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Chattanooga or Dayton?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Dayton is $323, while the average daily cost in Chattanooga is $182. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Dayton and Chattanooga in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dayton $250
    Chattanooga $92
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dayton $500
    Chattanooga $184
Compare Hotels in Dayton and Chattanooga

Looking for a hotel in Dayton or Chattanooga? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Dayton


Hotels in Chattanooga


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Dayton Hotel Prices and Chattanooga Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dayton $25
    Chattanooga $35

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chattanooga

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Chattanooga:


  • Chattanooga Zoo (for 2)
    $16

Is it cheaper to fly into Dayton or Chattanooga?

Prices for flights to both Chattanooga and Dayton change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Dayton $61
    Chattanooga $59
Typical Food Prices in Dayton

Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:


  • Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)
    $17
  • Indian Food Dinner (for 2)
    $34

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chattanooga

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chattanooga.

  • MLK Walking Art History & Food Tour: $65
  • Historic Southside Food Tour in Chattanooga: $99
  • ChattaBrunch Food Tour: $99
  • Downtown Chattanooga Food Tour: $119

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dayton -
    Chattanooga $52

Tours and Activities in Dayton

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dayton are as follows:

  • Daytona Beach: Guided Kayaking or Standup Paddling Tour: $65

Tours and Activities in Chattanooga

Here are a few actual costs in Chattanooga for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure Self-Guided City Game: $10
  • National Medal of Honor Heritage Museum Admission Ticket in Chattanooga: $14
  • Scenic City Ghosts, Voodoo, Murder Mystery Tour: $21
  • Guided Ghost Walking Tour: $23
  • Chattanooga Guided Walking Tour: $23
  • ChattaBOOga Ghost Walk Tour in Chattanooga: $23
  • Original Local Award-Winning Walking Ghost Tour: $25
  • Murder & Mayhem Haunted History Walking Tour: $25
  • Ghost & Booze Tour of Chattanooga - 21+ Over: $25
  • A Spooky and Family-Friendly Walking Tour: $25
  • Family-Friendly Ghost Tour in Chattanooga: $25
  • Ghosts of Scenic City: Chattanooga Ghosts, Murder & Mystery Tour: $25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dayton -
    Chattanooga $24

Sample the Local Flavors in Dayton

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dayton:

  • Dive Bar Bus Crawl: $38


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dayton and Chattanooga, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Chattanooga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chattanooga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chattanooga and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Dayton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dayton than you might in Chattanooga.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dayton Expensive? and Is Chattanooga Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Dayton or Chattanooga?

Dayton has a larger population, and is about 2% larger than the population of Chattanooga. When comparing the sizes of Dayton and Chattanooga, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.


When is the best time to visit Dayton or Chattanooga?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Dayton or Chattanooga in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Dayton and Chattanooga. Also, most visitors come to Chattanooga for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Dayton is around the same temperature as Chattanooga in the summer. The daily temperature in Dayton averages around 78°F (26°C) in July, and Chattanooga fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Chattanooga this time of the year. In Dayton, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dayton usually receives more sunshine than Chattanooga during summer. Dayton gets 298 hours of sunny skies, while Chattanooga receives 265 hours of full sun in the summer.

Chattanooga receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Dayton usually receives less rain than Chattanooga. Dayton gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Chattanooga receives 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Dayton 78°F (26°C) 
    Chattanooga 81°F (27°C)

Should I visit Dayton or Chattanooga in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Dayton as well as Chattanooga. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Chattanooga because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Dayton is cooler than Chattanooga. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Dayton in October average around 57°F (14°C), and Chattanooga averages at about 63°F (17°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chattanooga. In the autumn, Dayton often gets less sunshine than Chattanooga. Dayton gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chattanooga receives 211 hours of full sun.

Dayton usually gets less rain in October than Chattanooga. Dayton gets 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain, while Chattanooga receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Dayton 57°F (14°C) 
    Chattanooga 63°F (17°C)

Should I visit Dayton or Chattanooga in the Winter?

Both Chattanooga and Dayton are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Chattanooga this time of year.

It's quite cold in Chattanooga in the winter. The weather in Dayton can be very cold. In January, Dayton is generally much colder than Chattanooga. Daily temperatures in Dayton average around 30°F (-1°C), and Chattanooga fluctuates around 40°F (5°C).

Dayton usually receives less sunshine than Chattanooga during winter. Dayton gets 129 hours of sunny skies, while Chattanooga receives 145 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Chattanooga. In January, Dayton usually receives less rain than Chattanooga. Dayton gets 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain, while Chattanooga receives 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Dayton 30°F (-1°C) 
    Chattanooga 40°F (5°C)

Should I visit Dayton or Chattanooga in the Spring?

Both Chattanooga and Dayton during the spring are popular places to visit.

Dayton is cooler than Chattanooga in the spring. The daily temperature in Dayton averages around 55°F (13°C) in April, and Chattanooga fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

In Chattanooga, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Dayton. In the spring, Dayton often gets less sunshine than Chattanooga. Dayton gets 215 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chattanooga receives 243 hours of full sun.

Chattanooga gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Dayton usually gets less rain in April than Chattanooga. Dayton gets 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain, while Chattanooga receives 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Dayton 55°F (13°C) 
    Chattanooga 62°F (17°C)

Typical Weather for Chattanooga and Dayton

Dayton Chattanooga
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 30°F (-1°C) 2.1 inches (54 mm) 40°F (5°C) 5.4 inches (137 mm)
Feb 33°F (1°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm) 44°F (7°C) 5.2 inches (132 mm)
Mar 44°F (7°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm) 53°F (12°C) 5.6 inches (143 mm)
Apr 55°F (13°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm) 62°F (17°C) 4.4 inches (112 mm)
May 65°F (18°C) 4 inches (102 mm) 70°F (21°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm)
Jun 74°F (23°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm) 78°F (25°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm)
Jul 78°F (26°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm) 81°F (27°C) 5.2 inches (131 mm)
Aug 76°F (25°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) 80°F (27°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
Sep 69°F (21°C) 2.6 inches (65 mm) 74°F (24°C) 3.7 inches (94 mm)
Oct 57°F (14°C) 2.5 inches (64 mm) 63°F (17°C) 3 inches (75 mm)
Nov 47°F (8°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm) 53°F (12°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm)
Dec 35°F (2°C) 3 inches (75 mm) 44°F (7°C) 5.2 inches (133 mm)