Why visit Dayton
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 4 parks and trails, 12 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Liberty Theatre, Dodge Quarantine Cabin, Flour Mill Park and Pietrzycki City Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 26°F.
Weather in Dayton
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Dayton
Dayton is a city in and the county seat of Columbia County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,448 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Dayton, Washington (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks3
Dodge Quarantine Cabin
Monument and historic site
War’s end in August of 1898, common practice was to quarantine returning soldiers for 30 days as a precaution against diseases,...
Parks, trails and playgrounds4
Restaurants and cafes12
My Dad's Place
Restaurant · Italian, Pizza, Burger, Pasta, Wings
127 East Main Street, Dayton
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
History
Dayton was founded in the 1860s. A town site plat was filed by Jesse N. and Elizabeth Day on November 23, 1871. The city was officially incorporated on November 10, 1881, and was named for Jesse Day.
Dayton has the oldest train depot in Washington state, dating from 1881, and the oldest continuously used courthouse, operating since 1887. The historic community of Baileysburg was situated about one mile southeast of Dayton, at the junction of North Touchet and South Touchet Roads.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the town underwent a $3 million restoration program, repairing the historic depot and historic courthouse, adding pedestrian amenities to Main Street, and creating a National Historic District.
From the History section of Dayton, Washington on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Churches and places of worship6
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Latter-Day Saints · 0.6 mi
1114 South 3rd Street, Dayton
Shopping5
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries6
Healthcare3
Map of Dayton
49 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 26°F | 2.1 in | 6.3 in |
| Feb | 46°F | 28°F | 1.7 in | 1.9 in |
| Mar | 54°F | 33°F | 2.2 in | 1.0 in |
| Apr | 61°F | 38°F | 1.9 in | 0.1 in |
| May | 70°F | 44°F | 1.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 77°F | 50°F | 1.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 55°F | 0.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 87°F | 54°F | 0.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 77°F | 47°F | 0.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 38°F | 1.5 in | 0.1 in |
| Nov | 49°F | 31°F | 2.4 in | 1.2 in |
| Dec | 41°F | 26°F | 2.3 in | 5.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Dayton 1 Wsw Hcn (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Columbia County has had 10 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2021-04-08: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2020-04-23: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-03-22: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2017-04-21: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides (Flood)
- 2009-03-02: Severe Winter Storm And Record And Near Record Snow (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Walla Walla Regional Airport (ALW) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 21 miles away.
- Waitsburg 9 mi west, about 14 min by car
- Walla Walla 24 mi southwest, about 39 min by car
- Milton-Freewater 33 mi southwest, about 53 min by car
- Asotin 45 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Lewiston 47 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Connell 47 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Pullman 48 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Burbank 49 mi west, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Moscow 54 mi northeast, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Pasco 55 mi west, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Historic Courthouse Dayton Washington, Williamborg, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.