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

Should you visit Dayton or Virginia Beach?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dayton or Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach?

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.

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. It's a popular beach destination and has many of the characteristics of most southeastern beach towns. There are many activities that you can enjoy and there's a concrete boardwalk that runs parallel to the water for about three miles. The boardwalk is a fun place to walk or bicycle. The beach itself is wide and sandy and is a great place to soak up some sun. During the summer months and school holidays it can get quite crowded and you might struggle to find a place for your towel and beach chairs. There are also many beach side resorts that line the water front. Most have pools and hot tubs where you can relax and some hotels have indoor pools as well, which can be nice during the cool winter months.

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.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dayton and Virginia Beach, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Virginia Beach much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Virginia Beach would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach.

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

Which is Bigger, Dayton or Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Dayton. When comparing the sizes of Dayton and Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Dayton or Virginia Beach in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Dayton as well as Virginia Beach. Additionally, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Virginia Beach this time of year.

In July, Dayton is generally around the same temperature as Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in Dayton average around 78°F (26°C), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Virginia Beach. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dayton this time of the year. In the summer, Dayton often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Virginia Beach. Dayton gets 298 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 279 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Virginia Beach. Dayton usually gets less rain in July than Virginia Beach. Dayton gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dayton or Virginia Beach in the Autumn?

Both Virginia Beach and Dayton are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Virginia Beach for the natural beauty of the area.

Dayton is cooler than Virginia Beach in the autumn. The daily temperature in Dayton averages around 57°F (14°C) in October, and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).

It's quite sunny in Virginia Beach. Dayton usually receives less sunshine than Virginia Beach during autumn. Dayton gets 188 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Dayton usually receives less rain than Virginia Beach. Dayton gets 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Dayton or Virginia Beach in the Winter?

Both Virginia Beach and Dayton during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Virginia Beach in the winter for the cuisine.

Virginia Beach can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Dayton. In the winter, Dayton is much colder than Virginia Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dayton in January average around 30°F (-1°C), and Virginia Beach averages at about 39°F (4°C).

In the winter, Dayton often gets less sunshine than Virginia Beach. Dayton gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Virginia Beach receives 168 hours of full sun.

Dayton usually gets less rain in January than Virginia Beach. Dayton gets 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dayton or Virginia Beach in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dayton and Virginia Beach. Also, most visitors come to Virginia Beach for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Dayton is generally cooler than Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in Dayton average around 55°F (13°C), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Virginia Beach this time of the year. In Dayton, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dayton usually receives less sunshine than Virginia Beach during spring. Dayton gets 215 hours of sunny skies, while Virginia Beach receives 253 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Dayton usually receives more rain than Virginia Beach. Dayton gets 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Virginia Beach and Dayton