mat54

Dayton or a bit north will be about the halfway point of an overnight drive from Asheville NC to Ontario Canada (east of Detroit). Any thoughts on where to spend the night? Somewhere in a pleasant area with a decent hotel and a choice of a few restaurants nearby?

Scotia

If you are driving along the I-75 there are lots of hotels at most exits around Dayton area. Next to these hotels are usually several restaurants from which to choose. The Hampton Inns, Fairfield Inns, or Holiday Inn Express are some of the choices.

Gretchen

You can find places all the way up I75 very easily. From Asheville to Dayton is about a pretty easy 6-7 hour drive to give you an idea. Maybe you'd like to go further. Toledo is another 2 hours for a large town, but there is plenty all the way along, as I said.
Be sure to take the I640 belt around Knoxville. And I prefer just going straight through Cincinnati on 75, instead of the "beltway". It is a LONG way around.
If you want to go just north of Dayton to Tipp City (15 miles), there are motels right on the high way. Then there are some nice little restaurants in town--just literally a few blocks from the Interstate. The hotel could tell you where. It's a cute little town--great antiquing.

cd

If you want to spend some time while in Dayton the Air Force Museum is amazing: http://maps.google.com/maps/place?rl...68844775799102

maj

Travelling north on I75 at exit 59 (right south of the I70 interchange) there are hotels and every restaurant you can think of. We stayed at the Fairfield Inn.