North Carolina Museum of Art
Pair the collection galleries with outdoor art and walking trails in Raleigh’s Museum Park.
Explore North Carolina Museum of Art (opens the website in a new tab)
The destination · NC
Raleigh
Free museums, art along the trails and a capital city with room to breathe. Make time for Raleigh beyond the meeting.
Time well spent
Make time for Raleigh.
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
See seven floors of free exhibits downtown, including the Dueling Dinosaurs fossil.
Explore North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (opens the website in a new tab)Dorothea Dix Park
Walk 308 acres of open parkland with skyline views, a short walk from downtown. Entry is free.
Explore Dorothea Dix Park (opens the website in a new tab)Stay a little longer
Places to stay.
The Umstead Hotel and Spa
A lakeside hotel and spa in Cary, with an art collection and wooded grounds.
Explore the hotel (opens the website in a new tab)Heights House Hotel
A nine room, adults only hotel in an 1860 Italianate mansion in Boylan Heights, a short walk from downtown.
Explore the hotel (opens the website in a new tab)Find your airport
Where are you staying?
Pick a neighborhood to see the closest field and the drive.
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RDUClosest
Raleigh Durham International
The default, between Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, with a 10,000 foot runway that takes any aircraft. It wins for downtown Raleigh, North Hills, Cary, Research Triangle Park, Durham and Chapel Hill, and it is where customs clears an international return.
- Research Triangle Park10 to 15 min
- Cary15 to 20 min
- Downtown Durham15 to 20 min
- Downtown Raleigh20 to 25 min
- North Hills20 min
- Chapel Hill25 to 30 min
- Wake Forest30 to 35 min
- Clayton35 to 45 min
On the ground
Two FBOs on East International Drive, away from the airline terminals, both open around the clock. Customs clears an international arrival planeside at the FBO during daytime hours, with permission requested a business day ahead. Airline traffic shares the runways, so a departure can wait a few minutes for its turn.
TTAClosest
Raleigh Executive Jetport
The quiet executive field in Sanford, southwest of the city, with a 6,500 foot runway, the longest after RDU. It suits light, midsize and super midsize jets when you want a private terminal with no airline traffic, about 35 to 45 minutes from downtown Raleigh.
- Cary30 to 35 min
- Downtown Raleigh35 to 45 min
- Chapel Hill40 to 45 min
- Downtown Durham40 to 50 min
On the ground
One FBO, run by the airport, in a two story terminal with conference rooms. Rental cars can be brought to the ramp. There is no control tower, and staffed hours end in the evening, so a late arrival is arranged ahead for a fee.
JNXClosest
Johnston Regional
The southeast option, near Smithfield, with no airline traffic. It wins for Clayton and Smithfield on a turboprop, light or midsize jet; its runway is about 5,500 feet, so a midsize jet may need a lighter fuel load and larger jets go to RDU or Raleigh Exec.
- Clayton10 to 15 min
- Downtown Raleigh30 to 35 min
- North Hills30 to 40 min
- Cary40 to 45 min
On the ground
One FBO, run by the airport authority, with a courtesy car during business hours. The field is staffed from 8 am to 6 pm and there is no rental car counter, so we arrange the car ahead.
When to go
The season in Raleigh.
- Raleigh flies year round, and business travel to Research Triangle Park sets the base.
- The North Carolina State Fair runs for eleven days in mid October, and its closing weekend is the busiest.
- Commencement at NC State, UNC and Duke falls on one weekend in May, Mother's Day weekend, and hotels across the Triangle fill.
- College football Saturdays in the fall and Duke and UNC basketball in February and March bring big weekend crowds.
- The Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year at RDU, and Christmas through New Year and the spring breaks fill early too.
- In a peak week aircraft are booked early and prices sit in the upper half of the range.
Popular routes
Fly to Raleigh.Fly from Raleigh.
- 1 hr 10 min1 hr 5 min1 hr 5 min
- 1 hr 40 min1 hr 35 min1 hr 35 min
- 2 hr 25 min2 hr 20 min2 hr 15 min
Time in the air in calm conditions, rounded to five minutes. Your quote sets the schedule.
- 01
RDU covers nearly every trip. Downtown Raleigh, North Hills, Cary, Research Triangle Park, Durham and Chapel Hill are all within about 30 minutes.
- 02
Raleigh Exec in Sanford is the quiet choice, with a private terminal and the longest runway after RDU. Allow 35 to 45 minutes to downtown.
- 03
For Wake Forest and the north side, ask about Triangle North Executive (LHZ), about 20 to 25 minutes away. We quote it the same way.
- 04
Customs is at RDU. An international return clears planeside at the FBO during daytime hours, with permission requested a business day ahead.
- 05
Summer afternoons bring thunderstorms across central North Carolina. A morning departure usually beats them.
- 06
For Pinehurst, Moore County (SOP) is closer than any of the three. Ask and we quote it the same way.
Plan your flight
Fly to Raleigh.
Add where you are starting, a date and a headcount. Your starting prices arrive by email, and a pilot follows up as soon as the desk can review your request.
Fair questions
Raleigh questions.
Which Raleigh airport should I use?
RDU unless there is a reason not to. It is closest to downtown Raleigh, Cary, Research Triangle Park, Durham and Chapel Hill, and it has customs. Johnston Regional wins for Clayton and Smithfield, and Raleigh Exec in Sanford is the quiet executive field away from airline traffic. Tell us where you are going and we pick the field with you.
How much does a private jet to Raleigh cost?
Your emailed planning estimate shows the current range by aircraft category once you enter where you are starting and your dates. A longer leg or a larger cabin sits higher in the range, and peak weeks sit in the upper half. Your quote will be exact.
How far ahead should I book for Raleigh?
A few days is often enough for a normal week. For State Fair week in October, commencement weekend in May and the holiday weeks, two to three weeks gives you a wider choice of aircraft.
Is RDU close to Duke and UNC?
Yes. RDU is about 15 to 20 minutes from downtown Durham and 25 to 30 minutes from Chapel Hill, so it serves both campuses as well as Raleigh.