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Major city · United States

DaytonDayton, Washington

Dayton is a half-day stop on the Palouse loop: see the historic depot and courthouse, then drive on. One night only if you want a quiet base for Palouse Falls or Bluewood skiing.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Dayton is the county seat of Columbia County and a National Historic District with a preserved 1881 depot, a Romanesque courthouse and a walkable Main Street. It sits on US-12 between Walla Walla and Lewiston. Most travellers use it as a lunch-and-stretch stop on a Palouse road trip, or as a quiet overnight for Palouse Falls (30 min north) or Bluewood ski area (21 mi southeast).

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Sep (warm, dry); Dec–Feb for skiing
avoid Nov (grey, wet)
Airports
ALW · GEG
Nights
1

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Dayton: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Dayton911 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Columbia County Sheriff (non-emergency)509-382-2512

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Dayton, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$3–5
  • Sit-down mealDinner entrée$15–30
  • Street or quick mealLunch sandwich$10–15
  • BeerBeer (pint)$5–7
  • Budget bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$90
  • Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$130
  • High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$180

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$80 · Mid US$150 · High US$250

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Dayton Historic Depot (oldest surviving train depot in Washington state)Columbia County Courthouse (Romanesque Revival)Palouse Falls State ParkBluewood ski resort
Airports
ALW Walla Walla Regional Airport (about 30 min drive west on US-12; limited flights from Seattle) · GEG Spokane International Airport (about 1 h 45 min drive north; main regional gateway)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Best

    5°C (41°F)

  2. Feb

    Best

    8°C (46°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    13°C (55°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    18°C (64°F)

  5. May

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    32°C (90°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    18°C (64°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    10°C (50°F)

  12. Dec

    Best

    5°C (41°F)

Best: May–Sep, Dec–Feb. Avoid: Nov. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (32°C (90°F)), coolest Jan (−2°C (28°F) low), wettest Dec (13 rain days), driest Jul (3). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Dayton: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

5°C (41°F)

−2°C (28°F)

12 rd

Feb

8°C (46°F)

−1°C (30°F)

10 rd

Mar

13°C (55°F)

2°C (36°F)

11 rd

Apr

18°C (64°F)

5°C (41°F)

9 rd

May

23°C (73°F)

9°C (48°F)

8 rd

Jun

27°C (81°F)

12°C (54°F)

6 rd

Jul

32°C (90°F)

15°C (59°F)

3 rd

Aug

31°C (88°F)

14°C (57°F)

3 rd

Sep

26°C (79°F)

10°C (50°F)

5 rd

Oct

18°C (64°F)

5°C (41°F)

8 rd

Nov

10°C (50°F)

1°C (34°F)

12 rd

Dec

5°C (41°F)

−2°C (28°F)

13 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Dayton is walkable downtown. A car is essential for Palouse Falls, Bluewood and the wider Palouse region. US-12 is the main road.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Palouse Falls State Park

go

Door to door: About 1 h round-trip from Dayton

Drive north on US-12 then Palouse Falls Road, about 30 min

200-ft waterfall; viewpoint a short walk from parking. Discover Pass required.

Walla Walla

go

Door to door: About 1 h round-trip

Drive west on US-12, about 30 min

Wine tasting, Whitman College campus, and the historic downtown.

Bluewood Ski Area

go

Door to door: About 1 h round-trip

Drive southeast on US-12 then Forest Road, about 30 min

Winter only; check snow and road conditions. 21 mi from Dayton.

Lewiston, Idaho

caution

Door to door: About 1.5 h round-trip

Drive east on US-12, about 45 min

Larger town with riverfront; not a must-see unless continuing to Idaho.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown Dayton

Historic inns and B&Bs on Main Street; walk to depot and restaurants.

US-12 corridor

Motels near the highway; convenient for a one-night stop.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$80–120 excl. bed
Mid
$120–200 excl. bed
High
$200+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel double room1 × 1 night × US$130US$130
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$150US$300
Discover Pass (one day)2 × US$10 · Required for Palouse Falls and state parksUS$20
Gas for Palouse loop (approx 100 mi)1 × US$15US$15
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$47
Trip total≈ US$256 per person per day, bed includedUS$512

2026 estimate in USD; flights and rental car excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–5
Lunch sandwich$10–15
Dinner entrée$15–30
Beer (pint)$5–7
Gas (per gallon)$3.50–4.50 (check)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Dayton is a very safe small town. The main risks are winter driving on US-12 (ice, snow) and summer heat at Palouse Falls (no shade).
  • Palouse Falls requires a Discover Pass ($10/day or $30/year); buy at the park or online.
  • Bluewood ski area is open only in winter; check snow conditions before driving.
  • Dayton has no public transport; taxis or rideshares are not reliable — bring your own car.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Columbia County Sheriff (non-emergency)
509-382-2512

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

DaytonDayton, Washington

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Columbia County Sheriff (non-emergency)509-382-2512

Embassy

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Walla Walla (ALW) → Dayton, taxi: about $40–60, 30 min (check)
  • Spokane (GEG) → Dayton, rental car: about $50–80/day, 1 h 45 min

Say or show

  • Hello — Hello (hello)
  • Thank you — Thank you (thank you)
  • How much is it? — How much is it? (how much is it)
  • Where is the restroom? — Where is the restroom? (where is the restroom)

English is the only language needed in Dayton.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Dayton. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep (warm, dry); Dec–Feb for skiing · avoid Nov (grey, wet) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Place pages with verified hours and fees for Dayton Historic Depot, Palouse Falls, Bluewood.
  2. Eat pages with last orders and seasonal closures.
  3. Golden and hostile arrival fixtures for ALW and GEG.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources

Ask about Dayton

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