Dayton is an outdoors powerhouse, a peaceful East Tennessee mecca ripe with water recreation and adventures in nature. One of the state’s premier fishing areas, Rhea County boasts access to some of the best bass fishing in the South. Bordering Chickamauga Lake, Watts Bar Lake and the Tennessee River, Dayton hosts fishing events throughout the year, including several national competitions.
But the area’s heritage extends beyond the outdoors. Dayton is home to Bryan College, a private Christian liberal arts college founded in 1930. Walking distance from downtown Dayton, the 128-acre hilltop institution named for William Jennings Bryan adds a small but vibrant student population to the local mix. Rhea County also brings in its share of car enthusiasts thanks to Mountain View Raceway up in Spring City. The 1/4-mile dirt track has events from March through October featuring high-horsepower rippers that throw mud and adrenaline at anything—or anyone—in their tracks.
With an abundance of trails and waterfalls, fishing and birding unfurling throughout the region, every season offers a different reason to visit Rhea County. No matter when you’re planning a trip, here’s how to spend a weekend in Dayton, Tennessee.
Day 1 in Dayton, Tennessee
Historically, Dayton is recognized as the site of a major legal battle centered on the teaching of evolution in schools. In more modern times, it’s become a favorite weekend getaway among travelers drawn to the world-class fishing, well-preserved buildings along Main Street and events on the downtown square. One of Dayton’s most popular annual gatherings, the Tennessee Strawberry Festival has been going strong in May since 1947, with parades, music, crafts and, of course, produce galore.
Learn about the Scopes Trial
A weekend in Dayton should begin at the Rhea County Courthouse, a Romanesque Revival-Italian villa-style courthouse constructed in 1891 that was most famously home to the “Scopes Monkey Trial.” This century-old landmark legal case tried John T. Scopes for teaching evolution in a public school in a challenge to the Butler Act, which was established earlier that year. The 1925 trial attracted widespread attention and pitted lawyers Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan—both of whom became nationally known for the case—against each other.
The second-level room courtroom of the building played center stage for the trial and is open to the public; the free museum in the basement is equally worthy of a visit. Not only does it showcase video and pictorial exhibits of the trial itself, but it also houses relics and history that date even further back in time, telling the story of Rhea County’s place in the Civil War as well as documenting the Cherokee people who once called it home. The courthouse, which is currently undergoing needed repairs, was restored and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977.
To learn more about the original inhabitants who were driven from the area on what is now the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, spend some time on the other side of the river in Blythe Ferry at Cherokee Removal Memorial Park, a self-reflective monument that honors those who died on the road to Oklahoma. A county over, Vonore is home to the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum for travelers looking for the full picture of the Indigenous peoples who inhabited these lands for millennia before Europeans arrived.
Go for a hike
The 2,259-acre Laurel-Snow State Natural Area has some of the best hiking in East Tennessee. Part of the Cumberland Trail, a long-distance hiking trail that runs through the eastern division of the state, the soaring ridges and deep gorges along the Cumberland Plateau make this natural area one of the best places for climbing in the South and is great for birdwatching and seeing native wildflowers in the spring. The area’s mix of forest and wetlands also make this “pocket wilderness” prime territory for spotting wildlife year-round.
The moderately challenging Laurel Falls Trail is just shy of five miles out and back, rewarding those who make it to the turn-around with sweeping scenes of the 80-foot Laurel Falls, Snow Falls and a series of cascades. More seasoned backcountry hikers often gravitate to the point-to-point section of the Cumberland Trail connecting Graysville Mountain RMA to Laurel-Snow, which offers ample opportunities for camping along the way.
Up near Spring City, Piney Falls is a forested natural area that draws hikers and naturalists who flock to its 818-acre shaded canopy of tulip poplar, hemlock, buckeye and basswood trees. Little Piney Creek flows through the area, then tumbles 80 feet over the Upper Piney Falls into a pool below. The Lower Piney Falls drops another 40 feet. The hike to reach the waterfalls is just under two miles and can be completed as a loop or an out and back for those who want to skip the steeper section requiring use of a hiking cable and ropes.
For families traveling with small kids, the Dayton area has two large playgrounds—Pendergrass Park right downtown, complete with a splash pad, and Kristopher’s Kingdom in Graysville—that are open in warmer months. If you want a sunset vista in Dayton before calling it a day, Fort Bluff is one of the prettiest overlooks in the county.
Day 2 in Dayton, Tennessee
You easily could spend a full day in Dayton out on the water, fishing, kayaking or looking for native birds. In the northern part of Rhea County, Spring City has a city park adjacent to the lake, several boat ramps and a few marinas, as well as the Spring City Train Depot, also a Civil War Trail Marker, making the area a good launch point for a day on the lake.
Get out on the water at Lake Chickamauga and Watts Bar Lake
With 784 miles of shoreline, Chickamauga Reservoir was created as part of the larger 1930s and 1940s Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) project, implemented to tame the wild rivers of this region and generate hydroelectric power for the surrounding cities and industry. Much of this energy was consumed during the war effort in nearby Oak Ridge, which produced the atomic bomb to end WWII among other things. The Chickamauga Dam and the downstream Watts Bar Dam not only accomplished these goals but also spawned a major recreational environment, with over 75,000 acres of water surface available between the two lakes.
Dayton has carved out a name for itself as a bass fishing hotspot, especially on Lake Chickamauga, which is part of the Tennessee River system and was named after the Native Americans who broke away from the Cherokee Nation in the 1700s. Professional and amateur anglers alike travel here for tournaments—Fish Dayton alone hosts around 30 events annually—and serious fishing trips throughout the year. For those not exclusively chasing trophy bass, the area is filled with crappie, catfish and bluegill in addition to being a thriving destination for jet skiers, wake surf boarders and other watersports activities. Those traveling with their own boat can launch from several public ramps throughout the area.
Go birdwatching for eagles, ospreys and more
Throughout the waters of Watts Bar and Lake Chickamauga, you’ll see native bird species of all kinds. Keep your eyes peeled, specifically, for ospreys, great blue herons and bald eagles along the lakeshore. In winter months, around 20,000 sandhill cranes migrate to the 6,000-acre Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge and surrounding Hiwassee River area for safe roosting and available food sources. The Sandhill Crane Festival each January is a prime opportunity to see them.
Where to stay in Dayton
Dayton has a handful of chain hotels like the Best Western, Holiday Inn Express and Sleep Inn & Suites. Many visitors opt for a cabin like Lake Chickamauga Rentals or to stay at one of the area marinas like Blue Water Resort, which also has an RV campground. Blue Water Resort’s RV sites have full hookups—including 30- and 50-amp electric, water, sewer, cable TV and WiFi—and many feature lakefront views. The property is also equipped with a laundry room, bathhouse and swimming pool.
Spring City Resort and Marina is another waterfront perch ideal for those who plan to spend their time in Rhea County on the water. Not only does it have cabins and RV sites—as well as Nick’s Lakeside Grill, which dishes out tacos, burgers and paninis—but also on-site boat rentals. For tent campers, Rhea Springs Campground just north of Spring City is located on Watts Bar Reservoir and has a fishing pier, a large picnic area with grills and plenty of space to spread out. The campground does not accept reservations, so campsites are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Where to eat in Dayton
One of Dayton’s best restaurants, Screen Door Kitchen, began in Soddy Daisy more than a decade ago, eventually relocating to a historic Victorian in Rhea County. Gabriel and Eva Camp, the husband-and-wife team behind the restaurant, infuse their global cuisine with Lowcountry ingredients inspired by their years spent in South Carolina. The result is a robust menu of burgers, salads, sandwiches, and specialty entrees like fried chicken and waffles available for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, plus Sunday brunch. The desserts like the peanut butter pie and spiced carrot cake, all of which are made in house, are not to be missed.
For a more casual bite, Dayton’s brewery is open seven days a week. Its name inspired by the Scopes Trial, Monkey Town Brewing Company’s playful branding spills over into the names of its beers (e.g. Evolutionary Theory, Hefelumps & Woozles, Over-Worked CPA) and has built a community hub in the heart of Dayton. Flights are available at the brewery, which also serves wine and cocktails and a wide variety of food from house-smoked ribs to fried catfish tacos. Monkey Town Brewing has been such a hit, in fact, that there are now outposts in Chattanooga and Loudon, too.
Other casual restaurants in Dayton include 1st Avenue Pizza, Books and Treats; Carrabelle’s, a popular happy hour spot that also has live music on weekends; and Scoopy’s, a sandwich shop and ice cream parlor. Downtown Dayton has many coffee shops like Harmony House Coffee Company and Drip Kitchen and Coffee, while Glory Coffee’s food truck is parked in front of Spring City’s Grand Hotel daily.
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