Northeast Dayton - Dayton, OH Area Guide

Dayton’s outer northeast area was first settled in the mid-1800s. However, it didn’t experience its first population boom until the mid-20th century when people began migrating away from Dayton into its suburbs. Development and growth continued at a steady pace throughout the late-20th century, and eventually Huber Heights became the third-largest Dayton suburb. The area houses several museums, including the National Museum of the United States Air Force and the Vandalia-Butler Historical Society. Residents also enjoy live theater performances by the Vandalia Youth Theater Company. Numerous annual events take place in the area, including the Dayton Air Show in Vandalia and the Fourth of July fireworks display at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Huber Heights and Vandalia have numerous restaurant options, including fast food establishments, chain restaurants, cafes and restaurants that serve international cuisine. You won’t find one main restaurant area, but the majority of the restaurants in Huber Heights sit near the Brandt Pike and Chambersburg Road intersection, and Little York Road houses most of Vandalia’s restaurants. Visit Iyara Thai in the Huber Centre Shopping Center on Chambersburg Road for large portions of Thai food at affordable prices. From the outside, the restaurant looks like a typical strip-mall eatery, but the decor inside creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Regular customers recommend the pad Thai, green curry, homemade crab rangoon and tangerine chicken. Don’t be afraid to order spicy curry. While good, the restaurant’s medium-spiced curry tastes more mild than medium. Also, keep in mind the restaurant closes for a few hours between lunch and dinner. The Heights Cafe on Chambersburg Road serves a variety of sandwiches and salads, but the cafe’s coffee and breakfast food steal the show. Choose from dishes such as the massive, fluffy caramel apple pancakes, Jules’ peach and praline pancakes or French toast topped with fresh blueberries and whipped cream. Regardless of which entree you choose, order a side of hand-cut home fries. Located on Little York Road in Vandalia, Little York Tavern & Pizza serves the best pizza in north Dayton. Cooked in a gas-fired stone-hearth oven, the thin-crust pizza comes topped with mountains of fresh ingredients. The laid-back atmosphere, full bar and outdoor seating area attract large lunch and after-work crowds, but the tavern also gets a decent night-time crowd. It features a live DJ on the weekends, live music on Mondays and Wednesdays and trivia on Thursdays. Dayton’s outer northeast portion has an eclectic mix of biker bars and laid-back neighborhood dive bars. Bikers hang out at the Villa Tavern on Rip Rap Road. They corral their motorcycles in the tavern’s outdoor hogpen, which also doubles as a space for outdoor entertainment. For a laid-back atmosphere, visit Bootleggers Tavern on Taylorsville Road, Cactus John’s Saloon on Nebraska Avenue and Brownie’s Tavern on Powell Road.

The majority of Vandalia and Huber Heights residents rely on their own vehicles for transportation. Ample free parking provided by area businesses and direct access to interstates 70 and 75 as well as State Route 4 make it the easiest option. People who don’t drive mainly ride the bus. The Greater Dayton RTA’s bus lines run through both Vandalia and Huber Heights on a regular schedule. You can’t hail a cab in the outer northeast portion of Dayton and Uber doesn’t service the area, but several cab companies schedule pickups by phone. Walking and bike riding doesn't serve as a standard mode of transportation in Outer Northeast Dayton. Even though the cities have sidewalks, it doesn't have dedicated bus lanes and traffic gets extremely congested at times. Also, the area covers such a large amount of land that it makes walking and riding bikes difficult.

Huber Heights and Vandalia have several family-friendly parks to enjoy. Helke Park, located on the corner of Randler Avenue and West Alkaline Springs Road in Vandalia, features a play structure designed specifically for younger children as well as a playground for school-age kids. In Huber Heights, Cottonwood Park on Fishburg Road and Community Park on Chambersburg Road have nice playgrounds. Also, Thomas Cloud Park on Brandt Pike has a free-to-the-public splash pad for the little ones. Sit, Stay, N’ Play Dog Park on Brandt Pike in Huber Heights opens daily from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., making it easy for residents to exercise their dogs before or after work. The dog park has two separate indoor dog parks to keep the large and small dogs separate. If you prefer to walk you dog outdoors, several parks have walking trails, including Belle Plain Park on Belle Plain Drive and Rip Rap Park on Rip Rap Road. Just make sure you keep your dog on his leash. Several area parks appeal to exercise enthusiasts. Shullgate Park on Shull Road features a half-mile walking trail, baseball fields and an open field for football or soccer. Alternatively, visit Cottonwood Park to play basketball or sand volleyball. Eichelberger Amphitheater holds the annual Marigold Festival in September. During the warmer months, the amphitheater features community movie nights and live music. Also, Thomas Cloud Park hosts car shows and concerts during the summer.

The cost of living in Outer Northeast Dayton averages between 7 and 9 percent higher than the median cost of living in Dayton. Expect to pay around $479 per month to rent a one-bedroom apartment in the area. A beer at one of the local pubs costs between $3 and $5, and one-way bus fare costs $1.75. Commuters appreciate the area’s lower gas prices, which typically sit around 9 percent lower than the national average.

You'll find a wide variety of stores in the Outer Northeast section of Dayton, especially near Interstate 75, Brandt Pike, and Chambersburg Road. From clothing boutiques to thrift stores and beyond, you'll have plenty of shopping destinations when you move to your Dayton apartment. Kokopelli Gift House on Little York Road specializes in Native American-themed gifts. Explore the shop's extensive collection of dreamcatchers, beautifully colored beaded jewelry, and home decor. The area houses several grocery stores, including Kroger, Walmart, ALDI, and GFS Marketplace. For basic necessities in between large grocery trips, visit United Dairy Farmers on Taylorsville Road or Ameristop on Troy Pike. Nutra Foods on Chambersburg Pike specializes in health foods, vitamins, and supplements, and Wise Choice British Foods, Gifts & Candies sells a variety of tea, cheese, baked goods, and biscuits. For fresh produce and baked goods during the summer months, visit the Heights Farmers Market on Chambersburg Road.