Interstate highways and transportation systems make getting to the Raleigh area easy with such a wide variety of choices. You can come by plane, train or automobile. In fact, more than half of the United States population lives within a day’s drive or an hour’s flight from Raleigh.
Arriving by air
Raleigh-Durham International Airport : www.rdu.com
Raleigh is home to one of America’s favorite’s airports. It’s called the Raleigh-Durham International Airport . Many flights originate in Raleigh, and it’s one of the East Coat’s main hub, with many passengers changing flights here.
From the airport, it’s only a 15-minute drive to downtown. Taking a cab from the airport to downtown normally costs about $30. There are also limousine companies and shuttle services that will provide transportation to the downtown area as well as nearby hotels and neighborhoods.
Shuttle Services Convenient shuttle services from the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to main locations in the city area are available. The airport’s courtesy shuttle buses offer free rides to passengers from terminals to Park & Ride lots. The service is available till 1:00 am everyday and is quick and reliable.
Taxi Service Taxi Service at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) airport is managed by the airport authority. You can call (919) 840-7277 for instant bookings. Special taxis/vans for handicaps are also available on request. Taxi booth for terminal 1 is located on the curb near Southwest Airlines. The booth for Terminal 2 is located on the curb on the terminal’s lower level. Rates are metered – $3.50 Drop Charge, $0.65 for each additional 1/3th, $0.50 for each piece of luggage over 3, $4.45 for first mile, and $1.95 each additional mile.
Car Rental The Raleigh car rental center is located at the end of baggage claim area, right next to the exit section. If you are arriving in the city; follow the car rental signboards after collecting you baggage. The departing passengers are required to return the vehicle to the car rental center. Please contact your car rental company for off-site car pickups.
Some other useful rental car web sites:
- http://www.expedia.com/daily/cars/Raleigh-car-rental.asp
- http://www.cars.com/for-sale/searchresults.action?stkTyp=U&mkId=&mdId=&zc=27609&rd=10&&sf1Nm=price&sf1Dir=ASC&sf2Nm=miles&sf2Dir=ASC&aff=ltbing&searchSource=SEM_SEARCH&KNC=ltsembing&mkwid=veSNFMxs_pcrid_4542239031_pmt_b_pkw_USED%20CARS%20IN%20RALEIGH&pse=bing
- http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0LEVwqapZ9TTyMAROxXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzY25xb3E1BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDOQRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1NNRTUzOF8x/RV=2/RE=1403000347/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.americacarrental.com%2fcar-rental-usa%2fcar-rental-raleigh-airport.htm/RK=0/RS=adJwCVGjW_0P8tUvieqFeSbKBOg-
Getting around the town
A good option when visiting a new city is to take a tour. Tobacco Road Tours, the Triangle only daily motorized professionally guided tour services company is just this option.
- The Raleigh Tours are run on Monday – Wednesday – Friday.
- The Durham Tours run on Tuesday & Thursday’s. Tours start at 1:00PM for 2.5 hours until 3:30PM. If you have a group of six or more, please contact Tobacco Road Tours.
Bus System – In the Raleigh, North Carolina area, one of the best ways to get around is via the bus. They have a great bus system known as Capital Area Transit. With Capital Area Transit, you can on a number of different buses that go all over the city and the surrounding area. In addition to the regular buses, you can also get on the R Line bus that transports people to the downtown area. One of these buses comes to its stop around every 10 minutes, so it is easy to find a bus to take you to where the action is.
Taxi – Another good way to get around the city is with a taxi. One of the nice things about getting a taxi in Raleigh is that you do not have to wait on a specific scheduled bus to arrive or go to a certain bus stop. You can get a taxi to come where you are, and drop you off anywhere inside the city. This makes it a lot more convenient than having to wait at a bus stop or walk from a specific drop-off point.
Car Services – An alternative to getting a taxi is a car service. With a car service, you can get picked up by a driver and taken anywhere you need to go. The cars and the services provided are a little bit better than what you can expect from a taxi. You will probably have to pay a little bit more for a car service, but it can provide you with some extra perks.
Trolley – Besides taxis, shuttles, limos, and the public bus system, Raleigh also offers two types of trolley rides.
- The first is called the “Showtime Trolley,” which is on an every 15-20 minute schedule on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The rides are free and are available from 5:30 p.m. through 11:30 p.m.
- The second trolley ride is called the “ Historic Raleigh Trolley Tour.” This trolley runs on Saturdays from March through December, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This ride provides a tour of the downtown Raleigh area. Tickets must be purchased for rides on this trolley, and more information is available on the Mordecai Historic Park’s website.
The Trolley system has become one of the unique features of Raleigh. The city offers free trolley rides for anyone who wants to take one. The trolley system only runs during the evening, on Thursday through Saturday. This makes it an ideal option for enjoying a night out in the downtown area. It really gives you a glimpse of old-world transportation, while taking in the beauty of the city at the same time.
Segway – If you are visiting Raleigh, one of the more unique ways to get around is on a segway. Many travelers rent segways as a way to travel around the city instead of walking. They are very comfortable to ride on, and they can go faster than what you would go while walking. These are great if you plan on checking out some of the sites near downtown.
Getting Around Downtown
Getting around downtown is now easier than ever with various modes of eco-friendly transportation such as the:
- Raleigh Rickshaw Company – http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/go/raleigh-rickshaw-co
- Triangle Glides – http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/go/triangle-glides
- R-LINE— downtown Raleigh’s free circulator bus service – http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/get-around/r-line
Experience the R-LINE, an eco-friendly approach to urban transportation. This FREE circulator service features hybrid electric buses that will connect you to restaurants, retail, entertainment venues, museums, hotels, and parking facilities in downtown Raleigh.
Buses run approximately every 15 minutes so whether you’re a resident, employee or visitor, it’s a great new way to get around downtown. The next time you’re taking in downtown Raleigh, be sure to take the R-LINE.
Hours of Operation:
Mon-Wed (7 am-11 pm)
Thurs-Sat (7 am-2:15 am)
Sun (1 pm-8 pm)
