Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) is a large airport serving the Research Triangle area in North Carolina (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill).
It is not a hub for any of the major US carriers. Still, it handles both domestic and international flights and is a gateway for many airlines to hubs across the U.S. and a few overseas destinations.
RDU served over 15 million passengers in 2024, ranking among the top 35 airports in the US. It is the second-busiest airport in North Carolina, after Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).
Major Airlines - Delta Air Lines, American Airlines
Although not a hub airport, Raleigh-Durham serves flights by most of the major US carriers.
The airport is a focus city for Delta Air Lines, which is also the airline flying the most passengers at RDU. Delta operates over 1200 flights per month to more than 25 destinations.
American Airlines comes in close second place, capturing around 20% of the market. It operates around 1500 monthly flights to 15 destinations.
Southwest Airlines and United Airlines make up the top 4, with around 15% and 10% of the market share, respectively.
RDU receives several low-cost carriers, too. The airport is an operating base for Avelo Airlines. Other budget airlines with a significant presence at RDU include Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and Spirit Airlines.
The foreign airlines that offer direct flights from their hubs in North America and Europe to Raleigh are WestJet, Air Canada, Aeromexico, Air France, Lufthansa, and Icelandair.
You can find an exhaustive list of all airlines at RDU here.
Terminal Layout and Gates of RDU
There are 2 terminals at RDU.
Terminal 1 has 9 gates (A1-A9) and a simpler layout. It handles mainly domestic flights by low-cost carriers, plus Southwest and Alaska.
Terminal 2 has two concourses (Concourse C and Concourse D), totaling 36 gates.
Concourse C: To the right of the Security Checkpoint. It includes Gates C1, C3, C7-C12, C14-C18, C20-C25.
Concourse D: To the left of the Security Checkpoint with Gates D1, D3, D5, D6, and D8-D20.
Terminal 2 handles all international flights, all foreign airlines, and all US legacy carriers (except for Alaska Airlines).
The terminals are not connected airside, meaning that to move between them (after security), you cannot just walk through. You can use a landside shuttle or the covered walkway through the parking/walkways.
Connecting Flights and Transit at Raleigh-Durham Airport
For connections between terminals (if you arrive in one and depart from the other), you must go landside. Use the shuttle bus or walk via the connector through the parking garages or the covered walkway. This means you need to go through Security again.
For international arrivals (non-pre-cleared), Customs and Immigration are processed in Terminal 2, via Gates C21, C23, C24, and C25. If you’re proceeding on a domestic flight, you need to retrieve and re-check your luggage, even if you’re flying with the same airline.
The minimum connection times at RDU are as follows:
Domestic to domestic: 25 minutes
Domestic to international: 35 minutes
International to domestic: 85 minutes
International to international: 85 minutes.
Longer layovers may allow you enough time to check out some of the best things to do in Raleigh.
Wi-Fi at the airport
Free WiFi is available throughout both terminals. The SSID is “RDU Free WiFi”. The connection lasts up to 48 hours, so it’s effectively uninterrupted.
Many gate and seating areas have power outlets (110V) and USB ports. Some are under-table surfaces or built into seats.
Most of the lounges and many of the restaurants also offer Wi-Fi to paying customers.
Dining Options at RDU
Both terminals have plenty of food and drink options, though Terminal 2, being the International one, has more variety.
Examples include:
Durham-based Beyú Caffé in T1 and in T2.
La Farm Bakery in T2, near Gate D1.
Bobby’s Burgers by Chef and TV personality Bobby Flay is one of the newest dining options at Raleigh-Durham Airport.
Guy’s Pizza Joint in T2, near Gate D9.
Half Moon Empanadas in T2, near Gate C3.
Whisky River: a bar mixing everything North Carolina stands for with the Old West, plus a menu including pulled pork, burgers, and Dale Jr’s signature barbecue sauce. Find it in T2, near Gate D14.
There are also Starbucks outlets outside Security in both terminals.
Lounges at Raleigh-Durham Airport
All 4 lounges at RDU are within Terminal 2. These include 3 airline-specific lounges by the largest airlines at the airport and 1 lounge for the active military:
American Airlines Admirals Club: Located across from Gate C3. Open daily from 4:30 AM to 8 PM. Apart from premium AA fliers, you can also purchase a day pass for $79.
Delta Sky Club: Right next to the Admirals Club, opposite Gate C3, too. Open from 4 AM to 7:45 PM every day. Only eligible members and Delta passengers may enter.
United Club: Located across from gates D1 and D3. Open between 5 AM and 7:30 PM every day, and welcomes all passengers for a fee of $59 for a day pass.
USO lounge: In the public area, before Security, near Ticketing. Eligible to enter are active military members and their families. Open 24/7.
Transport to and from the airport
Public transport at RDU comes in the form of the GoTriangle Route 100 bus. It connects the airport with the Regional Transit Center just west of the airport. Take the bus between zones 2 and 3 of Terminal 1 or between zones 6 and 7 of Terminal 2.
The airport does not have a train station, so to proceed on rails, you need to go to Raleigh first.
You can also catch Greyhound intercity buses in both Raleigh and Durham.
Taxis are another popular option and are available at both terminals. The fare to downtown Raleigh is approximately 30-35 USD, about the same as getting to Durham.
Rideshare services (Uber, Lyft, and Wingz) also operate with designated pickup areas. Prices are generally a little cheaper than regular taxis.
Many of the local hotels in the Research Triangle region offer complimentary shuttles. For destinations outside the city center core, consider a private shuttle.
Alternatively, you can rent a car from one of the easily recognizable companies located within the rental car center. To reach it from the terminals, take advantage of the free shuttle.
Parking at RDU
There are several parking options at Raleigh-Durham Airport.
The ParkRDU Central Lot is the garage that most people would use. It is situated directly between the two terminals, with an underground tunnel connecting it to T1. Parking here costs $5.25 per hour or $21 per day.
On the ground level of the Central Lot is the ParkRDU Premier. Parking there costs $8 per hour or $32 per day, but gives you the quickest access to the terminals.
On the budget side, the ParkRDU Economy 3 and 4 are a little bit further away from the terminals but connected via free shuttle buses with a frequency of every 20 minutes. The parking fee is $3 per hour or $12 per day.
Lastly, the ParkRDU Express lot is located northeast of the airport. It is also connected via a shuttle. The parking rates are $4.25 per hour or $17 per day.
There is also a cell phone waiting lot for those picking up arriving passengers. It is located at 1000 Trade Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560, a mere 3-minute drive from the terminals.
Hotels near RDU Airport
There is no hotel physically inside the terminals, nor on airport property, with the closest hotels being around 1.5 miles away.
The Hilton Garden Inn Raleigh-Durham Airport is a viable option for layover stays or before early flights. This 3-star hotel is the closest you can stay to the terminals and offers a complimentary shuttle.
An upscale alternative is the Hyatt Place Raleigh Durham Airport, located 1.7 miles from the airport.
Many other hotels are in the same area as the Hyatt, including Cambria Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Raleigh-Durham Airport NC, and Tru by Hilton Raleigh Durham Airport.
To see more information about RDU airport hotels, click here.
Raleigh/Durham, NC, USA
