Which place is cheaper, Dayton or Nags Head?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Nags Head or Dayton?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nags Head or Dayton? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Nags Head or Dayton?
Nags Head
Nags Head is a popular tourist destination in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The town, with a population of almost 3,000, has many nice beaches and is also where you'll find Jockey's Ridge, which has the tallest active sand dune system in the eastern United States. It's also the most visited park within the North Carolina park system.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.
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Nags Head Prices
USA PricesDayton Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNags Head $179Dayton $368
The average daily cost (per person) in Nags Head is $179, while the average daily cost in Dayton is $368. 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 Nags Head and Dayton in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNags Head $80Dayton $250
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNags Head $160Dayton $500
Compare Hotels in Nags Head and Dayton
Looking for a hotel in Nags Head 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.
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: Nags Head Hotel Prices and Dayton Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nags Head $40Dayton $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Nags Head or Dayton?
Prices for flights to both Dayton and Nags Head 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
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Food Meals for one dayNags Head $71Dayton $105
Typical Food Prices in Dayton
Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:
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Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)$17
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Indian Food Dinner (for 2)$34
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nags Head $14Dayton -
Tours and Activities in Nags Head
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Nags Head.
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $15
- Wright Brothers Carolina Dunes Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $15
- Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Outer Banks: $17
- Outer Banks Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $25
- OBX Ghost Tours- The Original Ghost Tour of the Outer Banks: $25
- OBX Ghost Tours: Lighthouse Wraiths & Dune Shadows: $26
- Kitty Hawk Maritime Forest Kayak Tour: $49
- Nags Head Kayak Tour: $55
- Alligator River Kayak Adventure: $59
- Cape Hatteras Kayak Adventure in Rodanthe: $59
- Stand Up Paddleboard Adventure on the Outer Banks : $65
- 2-hour Outer Banks Wild Horse Tour by 4WD Truck: $65
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNags Head $12Dayton -
Sample the Local Flavors in Nags Head
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nags Head:
- Wine Tasting And Boat Ride: $109
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 Nags Head and Dayton, we can see that Dayton is more expensive. And not only is Nags Head much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nags Head would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nags Head 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 Nags Head.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nags Head Expensive? and Is Dayton Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nags Head or Dayton?
Dayton has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Nags Head. When comparing the sizes of Nags Head 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 Nags Head 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 Nags Head or Dayton in the Summer?
Both Dayton and Nags Head during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Nags Head for the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Nags Head is generally around the same temperature as Dayton. Daily temperatures in Nags Head average around 78°F (26°C), and Dayton fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).
In Dayton, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Nags Head. In the summer, Nags Head often gets less sunshine than Dayton. Nags Head gets 274 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 298 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Nags Head. Nags Head usually gets more rain in July than Dayton. Nags Head gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNags Head 78°F (26°C)Dayton 78°F (26°C)
Should I visit Nags Head or Dayton in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Nags Head and Dayton.
Nags Head is a little warmer than Dayton in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nags Head averages around 62°F (16°C) in October, and Dayton fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
In Nags Head, it's very sunny this time of the year. Nags Head usually receives more sunshine than Dayton during autumn. Nags Head gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 188 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Nags Head usually receives more rain than Dayton. Nags Head gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNags Head 62°F (16°C)Dayton 57°F (14°C)
Should I visit Nags Head or Dayton in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Nags Head as well as Dayton. Most visitors come to Nags Head for the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Dayton can be very cold. Nags Head can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Nags Head is much warmer than Dayton. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nags Head in January average around 41°F (5°C), and Dayton averages at about 30°F (-1°C).
In the winter, Nags Head often gets more sunshine than Dayton. Nags Head gets 147 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 129 hours of full sun.
Nags Head receives a lot of rain in the winter. Nags Head usually gets more rain in January than Dayton. Nags Head gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNags Head 41°F (5°C)Dayton 30°F (-1°C)
Should I visit Nags Head or Dayton in the Spring?
Both Dayton and Nags Head are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In April, Nags Head is generally a little warmer than Dayton. Daily temperatures in Nags Head average around 59°F (15°C), and Dayton fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).
It's quite sunny in Dayton. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Nags Head. Nags Head usually receives more sunshine than Dayton during spring. Nags Head gets 262 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 215 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Nags Head usually receives less rain than Dayton. Nags Head gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNags Head 59°F (15°C)Dayton 55°F (13°C)
Typical Weather for Dayton and Nags Head
| Nags Head | Dayton | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 41°F (5°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
| Feb | 42°F (6°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| Mar | 50°F (10°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Apr | 59°F (15°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| May | 67°F (19°C) | 4.6 inches (117 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) |
| Jun | 74°F (23°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Jul | 78°F (26°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 78°F (26°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Aug | 78°F (25°C) | 5 inches (127 mm) | 76°F (25°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Sep | 72°F (22°C) | 4.7 inches (119 mm) | 69°F (21°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |
| Oct | 62°F (16°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) |
| Dec | 45°F (7°C) | 3.4 inches (85 mm) | 35°F (2°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.