Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) serves North Carolina's Research Triangle region, including Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill—home to major universities and a thriving tech hub. Located between the three cities, it's conveniently positioned for accessing any part of the Triangle.

The airport has two terminals:

• Terminal 1: Southwest, Frontier, Silver Airways
• Terminal 2: American, Delta, United, JetBlue, and most other carriers

Terminals are connected by a free shuttle bus (5-10 minutes).

Key airlines: American (largest), Delta, Southwest, United, JetBlue, Frontier, Allegiant, and various carriers.

RDU is centrally located in the Triangle:

• To Downtown Raleigh: 15 miles, 20-30 minutes
• To Durham (downtown): 15 miles, 20-30 minutes
• To Chapel Hill: 20 miles, 25-40 minutes
• To Research Triangle Park: 8 miles, 15-20 minutes

Uber and Lyft operate at RDU with pickup on the lower level.

• To Raleigh downtown: $20-30
• To Durham downtown: $20-30
• To Chapel Hill: $30-45
• To Research Triangle Park: $15-20

Taxis available from the taxi stand:

• Similar prices to rideshare
• Flat rates available to some destinations

GoTriangle Bus

GoTriangle Route 100 connects to Raleigh and Durham:

• Route: RDU → Regional Transit Center → Raleigh or Durham
• Frequency: Every 30-60 minutes
• Journey time: 30-45 minutes
• Cost: $2.50
• Hours: Limited schedule; check gotriangle.org

To Raleigh: Transfer at Regional Transit Center to GoRaleigh buses To Durham: Transfer at Regional Transit Center or RTC to GoDurham

Note: Public transit in the Triangle is limited. Rideshare or rental car is more practical for most visitors.

Rental Cars

Highly recommended for exploring the Triangle region—the area is spread out.

Type	Daily Rate	Notes
Premier (covered)	$22/day	Terminal-adjacent garages
Daily (surface)	$14/day	Shuttle service
Economy	$9/day	Longer shuttle ride

Book online at rdu.com for discounts on longer stays.

Terminal 2 has the better dining options:

Terminal 2 (Post-Security):

• 42nd Street Oyster Bar: Local Raleigh seafood institution
• Only Burger: NC grass-fed beef burgers
• Tobacco Road Sports Café: Sports bar with local beers
• Jason's Deli: Fresh sandwiches and salads
• Starbucks, Dunkin'

Terminal 1:

• More limited options
• Grab-and-go, basic food court

Best bet: 42nd Street Oyster Bar for a proper pre-flight meal.

Network: RDU Free WiFi

• Cost: Free, unlimited
• Speed: Good
• No registration required

SIM cards available from:

• Tech stores in Terminal 2
• Purchase in Research Triangle area for more options

ATMs available in both terminals:

• Near baggage claim
• Post-security areas

Terminal 2:

• Local NC products: BBQ sauce, craft goods
• Hudson News
• Tech accessories
• Gift shops

Shopping is limited; focus on dining instead.

The Club RDU

• Location: Terminal 2
• Access: Priority Pass, Lounge Club, or ~$45 walk-in
• Amenities: Hot food, drinks, WiFi
• Hours: 05:00-21:00

American Admirals Club

• Location: Terminal 2
• Access: AA members, oneworld Emerald/Sapphire
• Amenities: Full AA lounge experience

Delta Sky Club

• Location: Terminal 2
• Access: Delta members, Delta premium cabin

Hotels near RDU are along the airport corridor. Most visitors stay in Raleigh, Durham, or Chapel Hill.

The Research Triangle is North Carolina's intellectual and cultural hub—three distinct cities united by universities and innovation:

The Three Cities (with travel time from airport):

Raleigh — 20-30 min

• State capital, museums, downtown revitalization
• Top spots: NC Museum of Art (free), NC Museum of Natural Sciences, downtown Fayetteville Street

Durham — 20-30 min

• Duke University, vibrant food scene, historic tobacco warehouses
• Top spots: Duke Chapel, American Tobacco Campus, Durham Bulls baseball

Chapel Hill — 30-40 min

• UNC flagship campus, college town atmosphere
• Top spots: Franklin Street, Morehead Planetarium, Carolina Basketball Museum

Research Triangle Park — 15-20 min

• Major corporate research campus (not a tourist destination, but explains why the airport is so busy)

Regional attractions:

• Duke University Chapel: Gothic masterpiece, open to visitors
• NC Museum of Art: Outstanding free museum with sculpture park
• Sarah P. Duke Gardens: 55 acres of landscaped gardens
• Historic Stagville: Largest plantation complex in NC, important history
• Jordan Lake: Recreation area, 30 minutes south

Food scene:

• Durham: Triangle's culinary hotspot—Mateo, M Kokko, Dame's Chicken & Waffles
• Raleigh: Growing downtown scene—Bida Manda, Brewery Bhavana
• Chapel Hill: College favorites—Mama Dip's, Lantern

NC BBQ: The Triangle sits between Eastern (vinegar-based) and Lexington (tomato-based) styles—try both.

Local tips:

• College sports: ACC basketball is religion here; Duke, UNC, and NC State rivalries are intense
• Craft beer: The Triangle has a thriving brewery scene
• Traffic: Generally manageable compared to major metros
• Research Triangle Park: Massive employer base explains airport business traffic
• Spring (March-May): Beautiful, but ACC Tournament and pollen season
• Fall (September-November): Best weather, football season
• Rent a car: The Triangle is spread out; public transit is limited
• Durham: Has transformed from industrial decline to culinary destination—don't skip it