Yes, you can smoke at Dayton International Airport (DAY) in two specific designated outdoor smoking areas — one before security and one after. The entire campus has been tobacco-free since January 1, 2019, so the terminal interior is completely smoke-free and smoking is allowed only at those two marked spots.
How Dayton Airport Is Laid Out
DAY is a compact single-terminal airport with two adjoining concourses, A and B, sharing one central ticketing hall and one security checkpoint. Concourse A handles the larger carriers — American Airlines and Delta — across roughly a dozen gates, while Concourse B is used mainly by Allegiant Air. Both concourses connect inside the secure area, so once you have cleared TSA you can walk between A and B in a few minutes without re-screening. Baggage claim sits below the ticketing level, with Concourse A’s claim on the east end and Concourse B’s on the west.
Because the airport is small, the two designated smoking areas are the only places tobacco is permitted anywhere on airport property, including parking lots, garages, sidewalks, and vehicles.
Designated Smoking Areas
DAY restricts smoking to two signed, dedicated locations:
- Pre-security (landside): outside near the entrance of the Cargo Road employee parking lot. Use this spot if you are being dropped off, picked up, or have not yet gone through the checkpoint.
- Post-security (airside): outdoors near the Field Maintenance Building — the only option for passengers who have already cleared security and want to smoke without leaving the secure area.
The terminal interior is entirely smoke-free, with no smoking room or lounge anywhere inside either concourse. The campus has been tobacco-free since January 1, 2019, which is why smoking is confined to these two marked areas rather than a general curbside allowance near the entrance doors.
After Security
Unlike most US airports, DAY does give passengers a post-security choice: the designated outdoor area near the Field Maintenance Building, reachable from the secure side. If you cannot find it or it is closed, your only alternative is to exit through the checkpoint, use the pre-security Cargo Road area, and re-clear TSA to return to your gate. Lines at DAY are usually short, but budget extra time during peak departure banks.
E-Cigarettes and Vaping
Vaping and e-cigarettes are treated exactly the same as tobacco under Dayton’s tobacco-free campus policy. There is no vaping inside the terminal or anywhere on campus outside the two designated areas — use the same pre-security or post-security spots you would use for a cigarette.
Summary
| Area | Smoking Allowed | Location Details |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal interior (Concourses A & B) | No | Smoke-free, no indoor lounge |
| Curbside / general campus | No | Tobacco-free campus since Jan 2019 |
| Cargo Road lot entrance (pre-security) | Yes | One of two designated areas, landside |
| Field Maintenance Building (post-security) | Yes | Only airside smoking option |
| Vaping / e-cigarettes | Designated areas only | Same rule as cigarettes |
For USA airport smoking rules, state vape rules, lighter rules at TSA, and other federal/state info, see our USA smoking guide.