Travel

By Air

Those traveling by air will fly into the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), which is about 15 miles from Duke University. There are numerous shuttle services to take you to and from the airport—you can consult a full list on the RDU website, but here are two good options:

RDU Airport

Image credit: Suzie Tremmel

Skylink Shuttle 919-233-3952. The rate is $26 each way for one traveler and $35 for two. A 5% discount is available for online booking.

Charlene's Safe Ride 919-744-4444. The rate is $40 each way and a 15% discount is available for online booking.

It is recommended that you book at least 24-48 hours in advance for these and other shuttles that serve RDU.

There are two terminals at RDU—most of you will be flying into Terminal 2. Both Skylink Shuttle and Charlene's Safe Ride will pick you up in Zone 15, which is right outside of the Bag Claim area for Terminal 2.

If you are flying Southwest, you will fly into Terminal 1 and can pick up these shuttles in Zone 4, which is adjacent to the Bag Claim area for this terminal.

RDU Airport Taxi Service is the official taxi for RDU and picks up passengers outside the Bag Claim area for both terminals. The fare is typically $30.80. You can make a reservation by contacting RDU Taxi, Inc. at (919) 840-7277.

Rental cars are available at RDU through a variety of companies. Shuttle service to the rental car offices at RDU is available outside the Bag Claim area at both terminals.

By Car to the Hotel

From RDU International Airport:

  1. Merge onto I-40 West.
  2. Take exit 279B for Durham/NC 147 North.
  3. Take exit 14 for Duke University/Swift Avenue.
  4. Take a right on Swift Avenue.
  5. Take a left on West Main Street, at the stoplight.
  6. Continue for two blocks. The hotel will be on your right.

From I-85 North, heading South:

  1. Take exit 174 for Hillandale Road, heading south.
  2. Continue on Hillandale to Hillsborough Road and take a left.
  3. Take a right on 15th Street, at the stoplight. The turn is right when Hillsborough Road bends a corner. Locopops will be on your left and Grey Stone Church will be on your right.
  4. Take the next left, on West Main Street.
  5. Continue two blocks. The hotel will be on your left.

From I-85 South, heading North:

  1. Take exit 172 for NC 147 South.
  2. Continue for two miles and take exit 14 for Duke University/Swift Avenue.
  3. Take a left on Swift Avenue.
  4. Take a left on West Main Street, at the stoplight.
  5. Continue for two blocks. The hotel will be on your right.

From I-40, heading either direction:

  1. Take exit 279B for Durham/NC 147 North.
  2. Take exit 14 for Duke University/Swift Avenue.
  3. Take a right on Swift Avenue.
  4. Take a left on West Main Street, at the stoplight.
  5. Continue for two blocks. The hotel will be on your right.

By Car to the Bryan Center Deck on West Campus

From I-40 Heading West, and RDU International Airport:

  1. Take exit 279B for Durham/NC 147 North
  2. Take exit 13 for Chapel Hill St.
  3. Take a right on W. Chapel Hill St.
  4. Continue straight as Chapel Hill St. becomes Duke University Rd.
  5. Continue past campus main gate to Towerview Rd.
  6. Take a right onto Towerview and continue through traffic circle to Science Drive. (Note: traffic may be slow on Towerview due to pedestrians and construction.)
  7. Take a right onto Science Drive.
  8. Turn right into Bryan Center parking lot, and immediately make a right into main level of parking garage.

From I-85, heading south:

  1. After exit 174B (Hillandale Road), keep right to stay on US 15/501S. Follow signs for US 70BUS/Hillsborough Rd/Chapel Hill.
  2. Take exit 108C-B-A for NC 147S/Durham Freeway/Moreene Rd.
  3. Use the middle lane to keep left at the fork, continue on exits 108A-108B and follow signs for NC 147S/Durham Freeway/Moreene Rd.
  4. Use the middle lane to keep left at the fork, continue toward Moreene Rd.
  5. Keep right to continue on exit 108A, follow signs for Moreene Rd.
  6. Turn left onto Moreene Rd.
  7. Continue straight onto Towerview Rd.
  8. Turn left onto Science Drive.
  9. Turn right into Bryan Center lot, and immediately make a right into main level of parking garage.

From I-85, heading north:

  1. Take exit 172 for NC 147 South.
  2. Continue onto 147S toward Durham/Research Triangle Park/Downtown.
  3. Take exit 16B for US 15-501S toward Chapel Hill.
  4. Keep right to continue on Exit 108A, follow signs for Moreene Rd.
  5. Turn left onto Moreene Rd. Continue straight onto Towerview Rd.
  6. Turn left onto Science Dr.
  7. Turn right into Bryan Center lot, and immediately make a right into main level of parking garage.

From I-40, heading east:

  1. Take exit 270 and turn left onto Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd/US 15-501 North.
  2. Shortly after intersection with Garrett Rd., keep right to continue on US 15-501N (signs for Durham/Downtown/I-85).
  3. Take exit 107 for NC 751 (Cameron Blvd.) toward Duke University/West Campus.
  4. Take a right onto NC 751 (Cameron Blvd.).
  5. Take a left on Erwin Rd.
  6. Turn right on Towerview Dr.
  7. Make a left onto Science Drive.
  8. Turn right into Bryan Center lot, and immediately make a right into main level of parking garage.

Bus Transportation from RDU

There is also a bus that picks up passengers at the airport right outside of Terminal 2. This is the 100 bus, which will take you to the Regional Transit Center in Raleigh. You would transfer to the 700 bus which takes you to the Durham station, then transfer to a #11 Durham bus and get off the bus near 9th St. or at the intersection of Hillsborough Rd. and Carolina Ave. It is then about a 10 minute walk to the hotel. Depending on when you can catch the transfers, this option takes about an hour, but is quite economical. You can purchase a Regional Day Pass for $4.50 either on the bus or online. More information may be found at the Go Triangle and Go Durham websites.