Dayton

Dayton is the birthplace of aviation: the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, lived here and perfected their design for the first practical aircraft. It is also home to one of the few multi-site National Parks in the U.S., the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park. There are several things to do and see in the city and its suburbs. == Understand == Dayton is known as the Gem City. It is a city of about 141,000 (2016) in the Miami - Scioto basins in Ohio. It is the center of the Dayton-Springfield-Sidney metro area with a population of 1,075,000 (2016). === Climate === Dayton has a humid continental climate, which means, like the rest of Ohio, that it sees four very distinct seasons. Winter being situated in the Midwest, winters are cold. Snowfall isn't particularly excessive; but it can at times fall at a rate that will cause havoc with traffic. Spring often cool, with cold and mild days sprinkled throughout the period. Storms during this period may produce tornadoes. Summer characteristically hot and humid. While the thermometer may read one number in the summer, it will often feel hotter due to humidity. Autumn Autumn in Dayton and Southwest Ohio is usually cool, but an extension of summer-like days into this season is possible. Storms seem to increase during this season too, which, due to the fluctuation of temperatures can produce extremely dangerous storms with the potential of producing tornadoes late into the year. === Tourist information === Destination Dayton, toll-free: +1-800-221-8235. (updated Jul 2025) == Get in == === By plane === 1 James M. Cox Dayton International Airport (DAY IATA), 3600 Terminal Dr (Vandalia), ☏ +1 937-454-8200. James M. Cox Dayton International Airport (DAY, KDAY) is in the northern part of the metropolitan area. Nonstop service is available from Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Minneapolis, Newark, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. (IAD and DCA). Dayton is the nation's number one 90-minute air market, meaning the city can be reached in 90 minutes or less by 55 percent of the population. A surprising and very nice feature is free Wi-Fi, which can be accessed under the name of "public" in the airport. Before August 2013, there was no public bus service going to the airport, which made Dayton International Airport the second-busiest airport in the continental United States without a public transportation option. Today, the local busing authority, the RTA, offers service three times daily on Route 43. Cabs from the downtown area to the airport cost at least $30. (updated May 2018) === By car === Interstates 70 and 75, major cross-country routes, meet just north of Dayton near the airport, making Dayton easily accessible by car from almost anywhere in the region. I-75 runs from north to south through downtown Dayton. Dayton is less than one hour from Cincinnati and about two and a half hours from Toledo on this road. I-70 runs east to west across the northern part of the Dayton area. To the west, Indianapolis is about two hours away; to the east, Columbus is about one hour away. I-675 is an eastern interstate by-pass for Dayton that connects with I-70 at the north end and I-75 at the south end. U.S. 35 is another important expressway, providing access primarily from places to the east and southeast. The road has been improved to a limited-access freeway as far east as Chillicothe, making Charleston, West Virginia 4 hours away to the south and east. === By bus === Greyhound operates a few long-distance buses to Dayton. The bus station is far out in the suburbs with limited local bus connections. 2 Dayton Trotwood bus station, 5136 Salem Avenue, ☏ +1 937-837-6251, toll-free: +1-800-231-2222. Ticket office and station open 7:30AM-11PM daily. (updated Dec 2025) == Get around == Travel in the region is easy by car and you can move from the urban city to the rural county in minutes. The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority operates bus routes (including electric trolley bus service) within Montgomery County. Getting on the bus is no longer as easy as putting $2 in the slot; before boarding, you must either install their app on your phone or go to a transit center to buy a reusable card. == See == 1 Miami Valley Trails (Bicycle and Shared Use Paths), 111 E Monument Ave. Ohio's Miami Valley area offers an outstanding system of trails and bikeways for residents and visitors. Over 300 mi (480 km) of trails stretch across ten counties surrounding the Dayton and Springfield region. The Little Miami Scenic Trail is the most popular, but only the beginning of the fun. (updated Jul 2019) === Aviation === 2 Wright Patterson Air Force Base, ☏ +1 937-257-1111. Wright Patt is a significant part of the local economy with some 23,000 employees and a reason behind most tourism, boasting the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force and the Huffman Prairie Flying Field where the Wright Brothers perfected their flying skills in 1904-05. (updated Jul 2019) 3 National Museum of the U. S. Air Force, 1100 Spaatz St (follow any highway to Col Glenn Highway, right on Col Glenn to Wright Bros Pkwy, turn right on WB Pkwy to Springfield St, turn right on Springfield to museum entrance; access through Gate 28B), ☏ +1 937-258-1218, fax: +1 937-258-3816. 9AM-5PM daily, closed fourth Th of Nov, 25 Dec, and 1 Jan. The world's largest military aviation museum with over 300 aircraft on display from the earliest days of aviation to modern prototypes. It is well maintained and interesting even for non aviation buffs. Highlights include the B-2 (stealth) bomber, one of the bombers that dropped the atomic bombs in Japan in WWII, several former Air Force One Presidential aircraft, and Mercury and Apollo space capsules. Free. (updated Jul 2019) 4 Huffman Prairie Flying Field & Interpretive Center, 2380 Memorial Rd (Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Huffman Prairie Flying Field: Access through Gate 16A), ☏ +1 937-425-0008, fax: +1 937-425-0011, daav_info@nps.gov. Interpretive Center 8:30AM–5PM daily, Huffman Prairie Flying Field Su-Tu Th-Sa 8AM–6PM. Huffman Prairie is closed on Wednesdays. Huffman Prairie and the Interpretive Center are closed on major holidays. The museum is on an Air Force base and therefore may be subject to unannounced and immediate closures. Huffman Prairie is part of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park which also includes the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center, the Wright Cycle Company building, the Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center, the Paul Laurence Dunbar State Memorial and Carillon Historical Park, which houses the original 1905 Wright Flyer III. (updated Jul 2019) === Museums & galleries === 5 Wright Cycle Company Complex, 22 S Williams St, ☏ +1 937-225-7705, fax: +1 937-225-7706, daav_info@nps.gov. 8:30AM–5PM, closed 4th Th of Nov, 25 Dec, and 1 Jan. The Wright Cycle Company complex consists of two adjoining buildings: the Hoover Block, also known as the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center and Aviation Trail Visitor Center and Museum, along with the Wright Cycle Company building. The Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center is the main visitor center for the park, and occupies the restored Hoover Block building. In 1892, the Wrights opened a bicycle repair shop in addition to their printing business. From 1895 until 1897, both businesses were located at 22 S Williams St, “known as the Wright Cycle Company,” the fourth of five locations for their bicycle business. Free. (updated Jul 2019) 6 Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, ☏ +1 937-223-5277, info@daytonartinstitute.org. 10AM-4PM daily, Th F until 8PM. General admission free. Admission to some special exhibitions may require a fee. 7 Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, 2600 Deweese Pkwy, ☏ +1 937-275-7431. A children's museum of science with numerous exhibits. (updated Jul 2019) 8 Carillon Park, 1000 Carillon Blvd, ☏ +1 937-293-2841, fax: +1 937-293-5798. M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM, closed on 4th Th of Nov, 24-25 Dec, 31 Dec-1 Jan. Carillon Park is an outside historical museum containing original historic homes that have been moved there. It is sort of like Greenfield Village in Michigan, but smaller. It contains artifacts from NCR, the Wright Brothers, and more. $8, Children (3-17) $5, Seniors $7, Members and children (Under 3)free. (updated Jul 2019) 9 Dayton International Peace Museum, 208 W Monument Ave (SW corner of Monument Ave and Wilkinson St), ☏ +1 937-227-3223. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1PM-5PM, closed on major holidays and on days with severe weather. A museum devoted to the continuous efforts of achieving world peace. It also honours the peace accords in 1995 that ended the three-year war in Bosnia. Free, but donations greatly appreciated. (updated Jul 2019) 10 SunWatch, 2301 W River Rd, ☏ +1 937-268-8199. Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. An interpretive Indian village and archeological park. $5, children/seniors $3. (updated Jul 2019) === Historic sights === 11 Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 217 West Fourth St. Historic church completed in 1895. (updated Nov 2021) 12 St. Mary's Catholic Church, 543 Xenia Ave. Grand church completed in 1909. (updated Nov 2021) == Do == === Performing arts === 1 Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, 109 N Main St (Performance Place at the Schuster Center), ☏ +1 937-228-3630, fax: +1 937-449-5068, Info@DaytonPhilharmonic.com. Tickets sales are managed by Ticket Center Stage. 2 Dayton Ballet, ☏ +1 937-228-3630, fax: +1 937-449-5068. The Ballet performs at two locations so be sure to call and find out where the performance will be held. Tickets sales are managed by Ticket Center Stage. 3 Human Race Theatre Company, 126 N Main St (the Loft Theatre), ☏ +1 937-228-3630, fax: +1 937-449-5068. (updated Jul 2019) === Festivals === 4 Dayton Air Show, 3800 Wright Dr, Vandalia, ☏ +1 937-898-5901, fax: +1 937-898-5121, info@daytonairshow.com. Greek Festival, The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 500 Belmonte Park N (Next to the Dayton Art Institute), ☏ +1 937-224-0601, info@daytongreekfestival.com. (updated Jul 2019) Dayton Celtic Festival, 111 E. Monument Avenue. Saturate your senses in the sights, sounds, and tastes of our Celtic heritage. Discover the magic that keeps people returning to Dayton’s Celtic Festival year after year. Come and experience the rich traditions that we Celtic folk hold dear to our hearts. $0 Admission. (updated Jun 2023) === Sports and recreation === 5 Dayton Dragons, 220 N Patterson Blvd (Day Air Ballpark), ☏ +1 937-228-2287, fax: +1 937-228-2284, dragons@daytondragons.com. Box office hour M-F 10AM-5PM (until 9PM on game days), Sa Su noon-4PM (closed on non game days). The Minor League Baseball Dayton Dragons are a Cincinnati Reds farm team that plays in a beautiful stadium downtown and abuts the new Riverfront development. Catch the laser light show during the summer months. The team's home park is Day Air Ballpark in Dayton, formerly known as Fifth Third Field. 6 Dayton Flyers, 1801 Edwin C. Moses Blvd, ☏ +1 937-229-4433, fax: +1 937-229-5239, flyerstickets@udayton.edu. Sports teams of the University of Dayton, competing in NCAA Division I in seven men's and 10 women's sports. Most teams play in the Atlantic 10 Conference, while the football team plays in the Pioneer Football League, a football-only conference in the second-level Division I FCS that does not allow its members to award scholarships (all of that league's members award scholarships in other sports). The most notable team is in men's basketball, a frequent NCAA tournament participant. Most athletic facilities are on campus, most notably UD Arena (basketball), which hosts the "First Four" round of the immensely popular NCAA men's basketball tournament. The football team plays off-campus at Welcome Stadium, owned by the local (K–12) school district. 7 Wright State Raiders. Sports teams of Wright State University, in nearby Fairborn (though with a Dayton mailing address), competing in NCAA Division I in seven men's and nine women's sports in the Horizon League. Unlike UD, Wright State does not have a football team; without that sport, the hot-button sport on campus is typically men's basketball. Like UD, most of WSU's athletic facilities are on campus, with the most notable being the Nutter Center (basketball). (updated Jul 2019) The Riverscape is beautifully landscaped and hosts cultural events weekly during the summer. During the winter, there is an outdoor ice rink set up with skate rental available. The Bikeway runs through downtown Dayton, following the river and offers a nice recreational activity for the family. == Learn == 1 University of Dayton (UD), 300 College Park, ☏ +1 937-229-1000, info@udayton.edu. (updated Mar 2019) 2 Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy, ☏ +1 937-775-3333. (updated Mar 2019) 3 Sinclair Community College, 444 W Third St, toll-free: +1 800-315-3000. (updated Mar 2019) 4 Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), 2950 Hobson Way. On Wright-Pattseron Air Force Base, this is the Air Force's main technical school for graduate degrees, offering Masters and Ph.D. courses in fields ranging from Logistics and Program Management to Aeronautical Engineering and Physics. == Buy == 1 Dayton Mall, 2700 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd (near the I-75/I-675 interchange in Miami Township), ☏ +1 937-433-9834. 2 Mall at Fairfield Commons (Fairfield Commons Mall), 2727 Fairfield Commons, Beavercreek, ☏ +1 937-427-4300. 3 The Greene, 51 Plum St, Beavercreek (turn west from exit 10 off of I-675), ☏ +1 937-490-4900. An up-scale dining and shopping facility. The outdoor lifestyle center has stores and restaurants ranging from Sephora and Coldwater Creek, to the Cheesecake Factory and Bd's Mongolian Grill. (updated Jul 2019) 4 Oregon District (in downtown Dayton). Features bars, clubs, restaurants, and specialty shops. (updated Jul 2019) 5 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St., ☏ +1 937-228 2088, marketinfo@metroparks.org. Public market open year round, with live entertainment and an outdoor farmers' market on weekends (seasonal, in the summer) and frequent public programs and events. (updated Jul 2025) == Eat == 1 The Chop House, 7727 Washington Village Drive, ☏ +1 937-291-1661. Steakhouse 2 House of Thai, 3230 Seajay Dr, Beavercreek (across street from Beaver Valley Mall and Lofino), ☏ +1 937-429-2236. M-F 11AM-3PM, dinner M-Th 5PM-9PM, F 5PM-9:30PM, Sa noon-9:30PM, Su 11AM-9:30PM. Excellent and most authentic Thai restaurant in the Fairborn - Xenia - Beavercreek area. Traditional Pad Thai, curry dishes and lot of Thai specialties. Sushi is also available. Lunch $8, dinner $10-15. (updated Jul 2019) 3 Marion's Piazza, 3443 N Dixie Dr, ☏ +1 937-277-6553. This unique and delicious style of pizza, intensely popular with the locals, has been a part of Dayton traditions for over 40 years, and is a must try for anyone visiting the area. The Dayton tradition for pizza is to cut it into a multitude of small square pieces. Décor is not much more than a typical fast food restaurant and you have to line up twice, once for food and once for drinks. (updated Jul 2019) 4 Milano's, 1834 Brown St, ☏ +1 937-222-7072. A popular restaurant on Brown Street immediately to the West of the UD campus featuring pizza and baked subs. Mixed crowd during the day, becomes a college bar after 9. Also frequented by more affluent suburban families and professionals. Newly renovated interior features sleek, "modern" design while still being fairly warm in atmosphere. (updated Jul 2019) 5 The Pine Club, 1926 Brown St, ☏ +1 937-228-7463. M-Th 4–10PM, F Sa 4:30–11:00PM. An excellent steakhouse located just off of the campus of the University of Dayton, this is one of the area's most renowned restaurants. The menu is famously almost unchanged since its founding in 1947, with a list of large steaks plus a few dishes that were common in the mid-1900s but are unusual now, like sardines on rye, and liver and onions, but with no chicken or vegetarian dishes. This old-school restaurant only accepts cash and personal checks. It does not take reservations – even George H. W. Bush, when he was Vice President of the United States, was refused a reservation. $80–100 for steaks, $40 for hamburgers. (updated May 2026) 6 Thai 9, 11 Brown St, ☏ +1 937-222-3227. M-F 11:30AM-2:30PM, Su-Th 5PM-9:30PM, F Sa 5PM-10PM. A trendy Thai restaurant on the West end of the Oregon District featuring traditional Thai specialties and sushi. Free parking. 7 Tacqueria Mixteca, 1609 East 3rd Street (due east of downtown), ☏ +1 937-258-2654. Urban hole-in-the-wall with authentic Mexican food and good guacamole. (updated Jul 2019) 8 Little Saigon, 1718 Woodman Drive (Kettering), ☏ +1 937-258-8010. Tasty, inexpensive Vietnamese food with a huge menu, especially in terms of vegetarian options with a variety of meat alternatives. Agnes Eats, 416 E 3rd St, ☏ +1 937-252-45410. Caribbean food like fish and oxtail. 9 Coco's Bistro, 250 Warren Street, ☏ +1 937-228-2626. M-Th 11:30AM-9PM, F 11:30-10PM, Sa 5-10PM; closed Sunday. Coco's sets the high standard for Dayton area restaurants. It's a great place for a business lunch, drinks at the friendly (but small) bar, or for a nice dinner with a date or friends. Lunch $10, dinner $20-30. (updated Jul 2019) 10 Butter Cafe, 1106 Brown St, ☏ +1 937-985-9917. 7AM-3PM. They serve organic and free range food. == Drink == 1 Canal Street Arcade and Deli, 308 E First St, ☏ +1 937-220-9333. Interesting place with drinks and reuben sandwiches and arcade games that are free to play. 2 Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave (Oregon District), ☏ +1 937-224-7822, info@dubpub.com. Serves traditional Irish food with some flair and claims to be the #1 seller of Irish whiskey in Ohio. (updated Jul 2019) 3 The Fieldhouse, 1126 Brown St, ☏ +1 937-461-2111. A classic college bar popular with University of Dayton. Specialty is the Fishbowl, a large concoction of assorted liquors in many flavors for sharing. Collectible pint glass refill specials on Thursday nights feature catchy slogans. 4 Flanagan's, 101 E Stewart, ☏ +1 937-228-5776. 11AM-2:30AM. A UD bar with a more mature atmosphere frequented by students, alumni, and locals. Well known for their St. Patrick's Day party. 5 South Park Tavern (SPT), 1301 Wayne Ave, ☏ +1 937-586-9526. A friendly neighborhood bar & pizza place (serving Pizza Factory pizzas & calzones). The staff of SPT have been expanding their service over the past year to include a large bar featuring 18 taps, many craft beers & micro-brews, a great outdoor patio space, and live music. A popular location for Historic South Park neighbors to gather on the weekends. (updated Jul 2019) 6 The Trolley Stop, 530 E Fifth St, ☏ +1 937-461-1101. Also on the far eastern end of the Oregon District. A relaxed bar featuring live local music most days of the week, with a comfortable patio outdoors and a party house available for rental. (updated Jul 2019) 7 The Century Bar, A Bourbon House, 18 S. Jefferson St (2 blocks north of the Convention Center), ☏ +1 937-694-1086. This classic but casual downtown after-dinner nightspot features 60+ bourbon whiskeys (think Kentucky), complemented by a variety of American and Canadian whiskeys. The expert bar staff will educate even the most timid palate and enlighten connoisseurs. Draft and bottle beers round out the choices to make you feel at home with the 1862 back bar. == Sleep == === Budget === 1 Comfort Inn & Suites, 9305 N Main St, ☏ +1 937-836-9400. Heated indoor pool and continental breakfast included. (updated Jul 2019) 2 Super 8 Miamisburg/Dayton South, 155 Monarch Ln, Miamisburg (Exit #44 off I-75), ☏ +1 937-247-4375. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Clean, quiet, comfortable new beds and a free continental breakfast. === Mid-range === 3 Red Lion Inn & Suites Dayton Airport, 6960 Miller Ln, ☏ +1 937-898-1120, fax: +1 937-898-0727. Outdoor pool, breakfast buffet type of thing. 4 Hawthorn Suites Dayton North, 7070 Poe Ave, ☏ +1 937-898-7764, fax: +1 937-890-5891. 5 SpringHill Suites Dayton South/Miamisburg, 417 N Springboro Pike, ☏ +1 937-432-9277, fax: +1 937-432-9366. === Splurge === 6 Dayton Marriott, 1414 S Patterson Blvd, ☏ +1 937-223-1000, toll-free: +1 800-450-8625, fax: +1 937-223-7853. 7 Drury Inn, 6616 Miller Ln (Butler Township), ☏ +1 937-454-5200. 8 The Golden Lamb Inn, 27 S Broadway St, ☏ +1 513 932-5065. Ohio's oldest operating hotel. (updated Apr 2016) == Connect == 5 Dayton Metro Library, 215 E Third St, ☏ +1 937-463-2665. (updated Dec 2018) 6 Post Office. (updated Mar 2019) == Go next == Caesar Creek State Park, northeast corner of Warren County, I-71 exit 45, Route 73 west, southeast of Dayton. 285 campsites, electrical hook-ups. The campground offers showers, flush toilets, pet camping, horseman's camp with 30 sites, two camper cabins, one cedar cabin, 2,830 acres (1,150 hectares) lake, unlimited horsepower, boating, water skiing, five launch ramps, 43 mi (69 km) of hiking trails, 31 mi (50 km) of bridle trail, horsemen's camp, 5 mi (8.0 km) mountain bike trail, 3.5 mi (5.6 km) novice trail, hunting, fishing, picnic areas, tables, grills, drinking water, nine picnic shelters, day lodge, a meeting room, kitchen, outdoor tables, grills, 1,300 ft (400 m) beach, concession area, changing booths, nature center, naturalist programs year round, pioneer village with 15 historic buildings depicting life in early 1800s. Playground equipment, basketball court, games and sports equipment. Cute shops abound within walking distance in historic Centerville, a nearby suburb of Dayton. It also has the largest collection of historic stone houses in the US. Visit nearby college town Oxford, home of Public Ivy Miami University, about 45 minutes southwest. The nearby community of Yellow Springs is highly recommended, offering a unique and eclectic downtown shopping experience and great outdoor recreation. Both Cincinnati and Columbus are roughly an hour from Dayton. Approximately 45 minutes south on State Route 48 is Lebanon which is a rich historic town and also home to the Fort Ancient Archaeological dig, one of the largest Native American historical sites in the United States.