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

Should you visit Dayton or Wisconsin Dells?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dayton or Wisconsin Dells, 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 Wisconsin Dells?

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.

Wisconsin Dells

Located in central Wisconsin, Wisconsin Dells offers natural beauty, fun rivers, and some of the area's most famous theme parks. Wisconsin Dells is one of the two towns that make up "The Dells." The other town, Lake Delton, is another popular Midwestern tourist spot.

Wisconsin Dells is about an hour north of Madison and two hours from Milwaukee. It's famous for its striking rock formations and scenic bluffs. The town's name comes from the Dells of the Wisconsin River, which is an impressive gorge that was originally formed by a glacier.

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 Wisconsin Dells, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Wisconsin Dells much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Wisconsin Dells would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Wisconsin Dells 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 Wisconsin Dells.

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

Which is Bigger, Dayton or Wisconsin Dells?

Dayton has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Wisconsin Dells. When comparing the sizes of Dayton and Wisconsin Dells, 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 Wisconsin Dells?

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 Wisconsin Dells in the Summer?

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

In July, Dayton is generally around the same temperature as Wisconsin Dells. Daily temperatures in Dayton average around 78°F (26°C), and Wisconsin Dells fluctuates around 74°F (24°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Wisconsin Dells this time of the year. In Dayton, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dayton usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Wisconsin Dells during summer. Dayton gets 298 hours of sunny skies, while Wisconsin Dells receives 309 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Dayton usually receives more rain than Wisconsin Dells. Dayton gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Wisconsin Dells receives 3 inches (76 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Dayton or Wisconsin Dells in the Autumn?

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

Dayton is a little warmer than Wisconsin Dells in the autumn. The daily temperature in Dayton averages around 57°F (14°C) in October, and Wisconsin Dells fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

In the autumn, Dayton often gets more sunshine than Wisconsin Dells. Dayton gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wisconsin Dells receives 171 hours of full sun.

Dayton usually gets more rain in October than Wisconsin Dells. Dayton gets 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain, while Wisconsin Dells receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dayton or Wisconsin Dells in the Winter?

Both Wisconsin Dells 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 Wisconsin Dells this time of year.

It's quite cold in Wisconsin Dells in the winter. The weather in Dayton can be very cold. In the winter, Dayton is much warmer than Wisconsin Dells. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dayton in January average around 30°F (-1°C), and Wisconsin Dells averages at about 19°F (-7°C).

Dayton usually receives less sunshine than Wisconsin Dells during winter. Dayton gets 129 hours of sunny skies, while Wisconsin Dells receives 141 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Dayton usually receives more rain than Wisconsin Dells. Dayton gets 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain, while Wisconsin Dells receives 1 inches (25 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Dayton or Wisconsin Dells in the Spring?

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

In April, Dayton is generally a little warmer than Wisconsin Dells. Daily temperatures in Dayton average around 55°F (13°C), and Wisconsin Dells fluctuates around 49°F (10°C).

In Wisconsin Dells, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Dayton. In the spring, Dayton often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Wisconsin Dells. Dayton gets 215 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wisconsin Dells receives 208 hours of full sun.

Dayton usually gets more rain in April than Wisconsin Dells. Dayton gets 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain, while Wisconsin Dells receives 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Wisconsin Dells and Dayton