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6+ Hours at Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Maeve Power
Spend your 6+ hour layover exploring the city or the surrounding area instead of sitting in the terminal. Check out these options for a long layover at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Spend your 6+ hour layover exploring the city or the surrounding area instead of sitting in the terminal. Check out these options for a long layover at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Head downtown

If you have a long layover at RDU, take advantage of your downtime and head in to explore the city center. Raleigh-Durham airport is located between the cities of Raleigh and Durham, either of which is a great place to spend a few hours. Durham is located 14 miles north-west of the airport and Raleigh is located 15.4 miles south-west of the airport. Both Raleigh and Durham make up part of the ‘Research Triangle,’ an area in North Carolina known for its technology companies and scholarly institutions. Spend your day exploring the beautiful university grounds, museums and public gardens when you visit either city on your layover.For more details on exciting things to do in Raleigh, visit the Lonely Planet Guide to Raleigh.For more details on exciting things to do in Durham, visit the Lonely Planet Guide to Durham.

Avoid downtown

If you don’t feel like spending your layover in the city, visit the many parks surrounding Raleigh-Durham Airport. Check out the 3-6 Hours at Raleigh-Durham article for information and directions to amazing parks located within a few miles of the airport. If you want to go further afield, head north to Falls Lake State Recreation Area. This state park features lots of trails through the forest, surrounding a 12,410-acre Falls Lake. It is the perfect spot for a hike during your airport layover. Located 15.4 miles from the airport, the quickest and easiest way to get there is by taxi. The park is open daily from 08:00 – 21:00.

Transport Options

Bus: The GoTriangle Route 100 bus service runs between the airport and the Triangle Transit Regional Transit Center. From there you can get connections to the surrounding cities. At Terminal 1, you can pick up the GoTriangle service between Zone 2/3. At Terminal 2, you can pick up GoTriangle service at Zone 6/7.Taxi: Taxis are available outside Terminal 1, near Baggage Claim 3 and on the lower level, outside of Terminal 1 near Baggage Claim 1.

Overnight Layover?

If you have an overnight layover and want to get some sleep, there are several hotel options available within a few miles of the airport. The Fairfield Inn & Suites Raleigh-Durham Airport/Brier Creek, the Cambria Hotel & Suites Raleigh-Durham Airport and the Hyatt Place Raleigh Durham Airport are all located less that 2 miles from the airport and provide guests with free shuttle service.There are no hotel or sleep options available in the terminal or on airport grounds at RDU.

Luggage Storage

As with most airports in the US, there are no luggage storage facilities available at Raleigh-Durham Airport. If you have a layover at RDU and want to store your luggage, try these options: Ask at the airport information desk for recommendations on nearby luggage storage facilities.  If you are heading downtown, check for luggage storage lockers at bus and train terminals.Use Google to find a luggage storage service. There are lots of apps and websites that offer luggage storage options in large cities across the US.
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