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

Should you visit Dayton or Roanoke?

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

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

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.

Roanoke

Roanoke is a charming city located in the western region of the U.S. state of Virginia. Sometimes called the "Star City of the South" or the "Magic City," Roanoke lies in the scenic Roanoke Valley with Mill Mountain as a local icon, topped with a lighted 100-foot star. The city itself is home to many museums and opportunities for shopping, dining, and entertainment.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.


Which place is cheaper, Roanoke or Dayton?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Dayton Prices
    USA Prices
    Roanoke Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Dayton $368
    Roanoke $199

The average daily cost (per person) in Dayton is $368, while the average daily cost in Roanoke is $199. 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 Roanoke in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dayton $250
    Roanoke $96
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dayton $500
    Roanoke $192
Compare Hotels in Dayton and Roanoke

Looking for a hotel in Dayton or Roanoke? 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 Roanoke


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 Roanoke Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dayton $25
    Roanoke $23

Is it cheaper to fly into Dayton or Roanoke?

Prices for flights to both Roanoke 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 $105
    Roanoke $83
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 Roanoke

For Roanoke, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Roanoke Ebike Food Tour: $150

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dayton -
    Roanoke $35

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
  • Daytona Beach: Paddle Pub Experience: $45

Tours and Activities in Roanoke

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Roanoke.

  • Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Self-Guided Audio Tour: $13
  • Blue Ridge Parkway Self-Guided Audio Tour Bundle: $24
  • Downtown Roanoke Food, History & Cultural Tour: $80
  • E-Bike Mural Tour of Roanoke: $88
  • 3-Hour E-Bike Sightseeing and Breweries Tour in Roanoke: $109
  • Mountain Bike Tour from The Roanoke Star: $139
  • Blue Ridge Mountain E Bike Tour: $155

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dayton -
    Roanoke $30

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: $50


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

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


Which is Bigger, Dayton or Roanoke?

Dayton has a larger population, and is about 75% larger than the population of Roanoke. When comparing the sizes of Dayton and Roanoke, 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 Roanoke?

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 Roanoke in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Dayton as well as Roanoke. Also, most visitors come to Roanoke for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Dayton is around the same temperature as Roanoke in the summer. The daily temperature in Dayton averages around 78°F (26°C) in July, and Roanoke fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Roanoke. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dayton this time of the year. In the summer, Dayton often gets more sunshine than Roanoke. Dayton gets 298 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Roanoke receives 273 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Roanoke. Dayton usually gets less rain in July than Roanoke. Dayton gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Roanoke receives 4.2 inches (106 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Dayton 78°F (26°C) 
    Roanoke 79°F (26°C)

Should I visit Dayton or Roanoke in the Autumn?

Both Roanoke and Dayton are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Roanoke because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Dayton is cooler than Roanoke. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Dayton in October average around 57°F (14°C), and Roanoke averages at about 60°F (16°C).

It's quite sunny in Roanoke. Dayton usually receives less sunshine than Roanoke during autumn. Dayton gets 188 hours of sunny skies, while Roanoke receives 210 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Dayton usually receives less rain than Roanoke. Dayton gets 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain, while Roanoke receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Dayton 57°F (14°C) 
    Roanoke 60°F (16°C)

Should I visit Dayton or Roanoke in the Winter?

Both Roanoke and Dayton during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Roanoke this time of year.

It's quite cold in Roanoke in the winter. The weather in Dayton can be very cold. In January, Dayton is generally much colder than Roanoke. Daily temperatures in Dayton average around 30°F (-1°C), and Roanoke fluctuates around 38°F (3°C).

In the winter, Dayton often gets less sunshine than Roanoke. Dayton gets 129 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Roanoke receives 165 hours of full sun.

Dayton usually gets less rain in January than Roanoke. Dayton gets 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain, while Roanoke receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Dayton 30°F (-1°C) 
    Roanoke 38°F (3°C)

Should I visit Dayton or Roanoke in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dayton and Roanoke.

Dayton is cooler than Roanoke in the spring. The daily temperature in Dayton averages around 55°F (13°C) in April, and Roanoke fluctuates around 59°F (15°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Roanoke this time of the year. In Dayton, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dayton usually receives less sunshine than Roanoke during spring. Dayton gets 215 hours of sunny skies, while Roanoke receives 246 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Dayton usually receives more rain than Roanoke. Dayton gets 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain, while Roanoke receives 3.1 inches (79 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Dayton 55°F (13°C) 
    Roanoke 59°F (15°C)

Typical Weather for Roanoke and Dayton

Dayton Roanoke
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 30°F (-1°C) 2.1 inches (54 mm) 38°F (3°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm)
Feb 33°F (1°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm) 41°F (5°C) 3 inches (77 mm)
Mar 44°F (7°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm) 50°F (10°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm)
Apr 55°F (13°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm) 59°F (15°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm)
May 65°F (18°C) 4 inches (102 mm) 68°F (20°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm)
Jun 74°F (23°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm) 75°F (24°C) 3.4 inches (88 mm)
Jul 78°F (26°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm) 79°F (26°C) 4.2 inches (106 mm)
Aug 76°F (25°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) 78°F (26°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)
Sep 69°F (21°C) 2.6 inches (65 mm) 72°F (22°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
Oct 57°F (14°C) 2.5 inches (64 mm) 60°F (16°C) 3.7 inches (94 mm)
Nov 47°F (8°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm) 51°F (11°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm)
Dec 35°F (2°C) 3 inches (75 mm) 42°F (5°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)