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

Should you visit Jacksonville or Dayton?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Jacksonville and Dayton. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Jacksonville or Dayton?

Jacksonville

As the sky above you darkens, the city around you glows with a vividness of a thousand colors as you hear the soft swell of waves upon the shore. Such an urban paradise is none other than Jacksonville, Florida. Located on the northeastern side of the sunshine state, Jacksonville stands where the St. John's River meets the Atlantic Ocean. Estimated to be the 12th most populous city in the United States, Jacksonville works as the cultural, commercial and financial hive of north Florida. The large city is known for its exquisite beaches, interactive museums, and golf course areas. Surf, shop, and socialize in one of Florida's most popular metropolitan areas.

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 Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, and The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Dayton or Jacksonville?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Jacksonville is $220, 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 Jacksonville and Dayton in more detail.



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

Looking for a hotel in Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville


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: Jacksonville Hotel Prices and Dayton Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Jacksonville $53
    Dayton $25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jacksonville

Also for Jacksonville, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Jacksonville Airport (JAX) to Jacksonville Cruise Port -Arrival Private Transfer: $54
  • Jacksonville Airport (JAX) to Jacksonville City - Arrival Private Transfer: $61
  • Carnival Cruise Port Jacksonville to Jacksonville, FL - Arrival Private Transfer: $63
  • Jacksonville Airport (JAX) to Jacksonville City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $121
  • Carnival Cruise Port Jacksonville to Jacksonville - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $126
  • JAX Airport Transfer to Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront: $147
  • JAX Airport Transfer to Hyatt Place/ St. Johns Town Center: $164
  • JAX Airport Transfer to Amelia Island: $195
  • Carnival Cruise Port Transfer to Jacksonville: $334

Is it cheaper to fly into Jacksonville or Dayton?

Prices for flights to both Dayton and Jacksonville 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
    Jacksonville $96
    Dayton $61

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.
    Jacksonville $20
    Dayton -

Tours and Activities in Jacksonville

For Jacksonville, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 20 Minutes Chocolate & Candy Factory Tour in Jacksonville: $6.00
  • Murray Hill Walking Mural Tour: $25
  • Downtown Fernandina Historical Walking Tour: $30
  • Jacksonville Ghosts and Ghouls Tour By US Ghost Adventures: $30
  • Amelia Island Area Kayak Rental on Lofton Creek with Adventures Up The Creek: $36
  • The Escape Game Epic 60-Minute Adventures: $41
  • 1-Hour Escape Room Adventure: $41
  • Self-Guided Kayaking: Real Florida Adventure: $45
  • Self Guided Family Friendly Kayak Rental Experience Old Florida : $48
  • Eight Flags Road Tour: $50
  • Guided Kayak Eco Tour: Real Florida Adventure: $55
  • Amelia Island Guided Kayak Tour of Lofton Creek : $60

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
    Jacksonville $20
    Dayton -

Sample the Local Flavors in Jacksonville

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

  • Jax Brewery Tour (Drinks Included): $135

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

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


Which is Bigger, Jacksonville or Dayton?

Jacksonville has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Dayton. When comparing the sizes of Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville or Dayton?

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 Jacksonville or Dayton in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Jacksonville as well as Dayton. Many visitors come to Jacksonville in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Jacksonville is around the same temperature as Dayton in the summer. The daily temperature in Jacksonville averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Dayton fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dayton. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Jacksonville this time of the year. In the summer, Jacksonville often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Dayton. Jacksonville gets 286 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 298 hours of full sun.

Jacksonville receives a lot of rain in the summer. Jacksonville usually gets more rain in July than Dayton. Jacksonville gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Jacksonville 82°F (28°C) 
    Dayton 78°F (26°C)

Should I visit Jacksonville or Dayton in the Autumn?

Both Dayton and Jacksonville are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Jacksonville for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Jacksonville is much warmer than Dayton. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Jacksonville in October average around 70°F (21°C), and Dayton averages at about 57°F (14°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Jacksonville. Jacksonville usually receives more sunshine than Dayton during autumn. Jacksonville gets 214 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 188 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Jacksonville usually receives more rain than Dayton. Jacksonville gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. June to November in Jacksonville is the hurricane season.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Jacksonville 70°F (21°C) 
    Dayton 57°F (14°C)

Should I visit Jacksonville or Dayton in the Winter?

Both Dayton and Jacksonville during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Jacksonville because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Dayton in the winter. In January, Jacksonville is generally much warmer than Dayton. Daily temperatures in Jacksonville average around 53°F (12°C), and Dayton fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).

In the winter, Jacksonville often gets more sunshine than Dayton. Jacksonville gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 129 hours of full sun.

Jacksonville usually gets more rain in January than Dayton. Jacksonville gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Jacksonville 53°F (12°C) 
    Dayton 30°F (-1°C)

Should I visit Jacksonville or Dayton in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Jacksonville and Dayton. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Jacksonville this time of year.

Jacksonville is much warmer than Dayton in the spring. The daily temperature in Jacksonville averages around 68°F (20°C) in April, and Dayton fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dayton this time of the year. In Jacksonville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Jacksonville usually receives more sunshine than Dayton during spring. Jacksonville gets 285 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 215 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Jacksonville usually receives less rain than Dayton. Jacksonville gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain each month for the spring. The hurricane season in Jacksonville is June to November.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Jacksonville 68°F (20°C) 
    Dayton 55°F (13°C)

Typical Weather for Dayton and Jacksonville

Jacksonville Dayton
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 53°F (12°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) 30°F (-1°C) 2.1 inches (54 mm)
Feb 56°F (13°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm) 33°F (1°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm)
Mar 62°F (17°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm) 44°F (7°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Apr 68°F (20°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm) 55°F (13°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm)
May 74°F (24°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm) 65°F (18°C) 4 inches (102 mm)
Jun 80°F (27°C) 5.7 inches (146 mm) 74°F (23°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm)
Jul 82°F (28°C) 5.4 inches (137 mm) 78°F (26°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm)
Aug 82°F (28°C) 7.8 inches (199 mm) 76°F (25°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)
Sep 79°F (26°C) 7.1 inches (180 mm) 69°F (21°C) 2.6 inches (65 mm)
Oct 70°F (21°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 57°F (14°C) 2.5 inches (64 mm)
Nov 62°F (17°C) 2.2 inches (55 mm) 47°F (8°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm)
Dec 56°F (13°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm) 35°F (2°C) 3 inches (75 mm)