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

Should you visit Gainesville or Dayton?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or Dayton, 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: Gainesville or Dayton?

Gainesville

Home to the University of Florida as well as Santa Fe College, the town of Gainesville has all of the shopping, entertainment, and restaurants that you could want in a college town - plus easy access to a number of outdoor adventures from canoeing, diving, and kayaking to birding, fishing, hiking, and biking. Some of the top features include the Butterfly Rainforest, the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, and Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, and The Best Camping Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Dayton or Gainesville?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Gainesville is $221, while the average daily cost in Dayton is $323. 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 Gainesville and Dayton in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Gainesville $119
    Dayton $250
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Gainesville $238
    Dayton $500
Compare Hotels in Gainesville and Dayton

Looking for a hotel in Gainesville or Dayton? 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 Gainesville


Hotels in Dayton


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: Gainesville Hotel Prices and Dayton Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Gainesville $40
    Dayton $25

Is it cheaper to fly into Gainesville or Dayton?

Prices for flights to both Dayton and Gainesville 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
    Gainesville $70
    Dayton $61
Typical Food Prices in Gainesville

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


  • Diner Breakfast for Two
    $17
  • Lunch at Chop Stix (for 2)
    $24

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Gainesville $44
    Dayton -
Typical Entertainment Prices in Gainesville

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Gainesville are as follows:


  • Manatee Tour for Two
    $98
  • Tour Guide Tip
    $5.00

Tours and Activities in Gainesville

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

  • Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Gainesville by Operation City Quest: $10
  • Butterfly Rainforest at Florida Museum of Natural History Ticket: $15
  • Private Snorkeling Tour in Florida Springs: $250

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Gainesville $49
    Dayton -


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

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


Which is Bigger, Gainesville or Dayton?

Dayton has a larger population, and is about 27% larger than the population of Gainesville. When comparing the sizes of Gainesville and Dayton, 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 Gainesville or Dayton?

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 Gainesville or Dayton in the Summer?

Both Dayton and Gainesville are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Gainesville because of the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Gainesville is generally around the same temperature as Dayton. Daily temperatures in Gainesville average around 81°F (27°C), and Dayton fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).

It's quite rainy in Gainesville. In July, Gainesville usually receives more rain than Dayton. Gainesville gets 6.8 inches (174 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


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

Should I visit Gainesville or Dayton in the Autumn?

Both Dayton and Gainesville during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene are the main draw to Gainesville this time of year.

Gainesville is much warmer than Dayton in the autumn. The daily temperature in Gainesville averages around 71°F (22°C) in October, and Dayton fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

Gainesville usually gets less rain in October than Dayton. Gainesville gets 2 inches (51 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain this time of the year. Keep in mind that June to November is the hurricane season in Gainesville.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Gainesville 71°F (22°C) 
    Dayton 57°F (14°C)

Should I visit Gainesville or Dayton in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Gainesville and Dayton. Many travelers come to Gainesville for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Dayton can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Gainesville is much warmer than Dayton. Typically, the winter temperatures in Gainesville in January average around 54°F (12°C), and Dayton averages at about 30°F (-1°C).

In January, Gainesville usually receives more rain than Dayton. Gainesville gets 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Gainesville 54°F (12°C) 
    Dayton 30°F (-1°C)

Should I visit Gainesville or Dayton in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Gainesville as well as Dayton.

In April, Gainesville is generally much warmer than Dayton. Daily temperatures in Gainesville average around 69°F (20°C), and Dayton fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).

Gainesville usually gets less rain in April than Dayton. Gainesville gets 2 inches (50 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to November in Gainesville is the hurricane season.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Gainesville 69°F (20°C) 
    Dayton 55°F (13°C)

Typical Weather for Dayton and Gainesville

Gainesville Dayton
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 54°F (12°C) 2.9 inches (75 mm) 30°F (-1°C) 2.1 inches (54 mm)
Feb 57°F (14°C) 4.5 inches (115 mm) 33°F (1°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm)
Mar 63°F (17°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) 44°F (7°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Apr 69°F (20°C) 2 inches (50 mm) 55°F (13°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm)
May 75°F (24°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm) 65°F (18°C) 4 inches (102 mm)
Jun 80°F (26°C) 6.8 inches (174 mm) 74°F (23°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm)
Jul 81°F (27°C) 6.8 inches (174 mm) 78°F (26°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm)
Aug 81°F (27°C) 8.3 inches (211 mm) 76°F (25°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)
Sep 78°F (26°C) 5.5 inches (139 mm) 69°F (21°C) 2.6 inches (65 mm)
Oct 71°F (22°C) 2 inches (51 mm) 57°F (14°C) 2.5 inches (64 mm)
Nov 63°F (17°C) 2.4 inches (61 mm) 47°F (8°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm)
Dec 56°F (14°C) 2.9 inches (74 mm) 35°F (2°C) 3 inches (75 mm)