As Raleigh grows, so does the local transportation system. There are many resources available to those living in Raleigh, and also to those who are just in town for a few days. This article will provide you with all of the information you need to know about transportation in Raleigh. Whether you have recently moved here after a divorce, or will only be visiting to attend a court hearing, this is your one-stop shop for all things transportation.
Travel by Flight
If you are have recently divorced, and chosen Raleigh as your new home, you will find that RDU airport is an excellent resource for your travel needs. Because of the number of large businesses located in Research Triangle Park and the surrounding areas, there are many flights that come and go from RDU every day. Whether you plan to travel frequently for business or you only plan to use the airport occasionally for vacations, you will enjoy the convenience of direct flights to 40 different cities.
If you are simply flying here to attend court, or exercise visitation of your children after a divorce, you will also enjoy RDU’s conveniences.
The airport is just off of Interstate 40 and I-540, Raleigh’s outer beltline. It is centrally located and only a short drive from Raleigh, Durham, Research Triangle Park, Morrisville, Cary, and other suburbs of Raleigh.
RDU supports flights from the following carriers and their regional partners:
AirTran
Air Canada
American Airlines
Delta
Frontier
JetBlue
Southwest Airlines
United
U.S. Airways
While Terminal 1 is currently mostly closed and undergoing extensive renovations, AirTran and Southwest Airlines are still operating out of this terminal.
Terminal 2 services the rest of the airlines, and is quite impressive. It is new, has a unique design, is nicely laid out, and contains Raleigh favorites like 42nd Street Oyster Bar and Carolina Ale House.
There is a parking deck located directly between the two terminals offering hourly and daily parking, and there are also park-and-ride lots for those looking for long-term parking. The website above can provide maps to parking as well as other information about the airport.
Transportation from the airport is easy. Taxi dispatchers are located outside both terminals and hotel shuttles are available if you are staying in one of fifty area hotels. Rental car kiosks are located near baggage claim and provide rentals from the following companies: Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty. Additionally, the RDU website provides and extensive list of transportation services that provide private cars and limos, and you can also utilize Greyhound busses, or the regional Triangle Transit Bus.
Make sure you figure out your airport transportation in advance. While taxis are plentiful, you will need to make sure your hotel offers a shuttle if you chose that route, or you might need to check the bus schedules to ensure they are running when you need them.
Travel by Train
The train can be an excellent resource for many people, including those recently divorced who have children. If your children are living in another part of the state, for instance in Charlotte or Greensboro, you can hop on the train and make it to a soccer game or piano recital with ease. Rather than spending hours driving to your destination, you can actually get work done en route to the recital.
Many types of people are finding travel by train to be more and more appealing in Raleigh. Whether you travel for business, are simply traveling to exercise visitation rights, or want to take your kids on a fun adventure to another city, the train can be a great way to travel.
The train may be especially attractive to those who are traveling to Raleigh to attend a court hearing. If your divorce proceedings are being held in the Wake County Court house, the train is very convenient. You will get off just a few blocks away from the courthouse. If you chose to fly, you must arrange transportation from the airport, and if you drive you must find and pay for parking, so the train may be an excellent alternative.
Raleigh’s Amtrak station is located downtown, on Cabarrus Street. Plans are in motion to build a new station, as well as increase the number of trains, but for now train riders can hop on and off near Downtown Raleigh’s Warehouse District. The station is a short walk to several downtown hotels, and Hertz and Enterprise offer rental cars at this station.
Amtrak Trains have varying amenities; some have sleeping quarters, wireless Internet, and separate dining cars. While it is less practical to take the train when traveling a long distance, it is an easy way to commute from Charlotte, Greensboro, or other North Carolina cities. For example, a round trip ticket from Raleigh to Charlotte costs roughly $50, and is about a three-hour ride each way. Rather than spend that money on gas and spend that time driving, you could spend that money on train fare and spend that three hours working, reading, surfing the internet, or even just relaxing.
Travel by Bus
Greyhound (intercity bus carrier)
Triangle Transit Authority (regional bus carrier)
R-Line (downtown circulator)
If you are traveling here from another city, or even out of state, traveling by Greyhound bus may be a viable option for you. The bus tends to be less expensive than air travel, although it takes longer and you will stop at various bus stations on your route. The Greyhound website (listed above) can provide information about bus station locations, prices, and how long you can expect your commute to take. The Greyhound station in Raleigh is located downtown, on Jones Street.
The Greyhound station is only a short walk to the Wake County Court House, so this could be a very convenient way travel if you only plan on being in town to appear in court for divorce related proceedings.
The Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) runs the regional bus in Raleigh. The buses, which cost about $2 per ride, offer free wireless Internet, are climate controlled, and have easy-to-use bike racks. TTA buses can take you all over Raleigh, to the airport, to the fairgrounds, and even to Chapel Hill. Consult the TTA website for maps and schedules, or other information. Also, while the bus schedules are not posted at many bus stops, TTA offers a service where you can get an update on the arrival time of your bus by text message. Look for a sign at your bus stop with text alert information.
Lastly, Raleigh offers a free downtown circulator bus called the R-Line. They are eco-friendly hybrid buses that stop at 20 different locations in the downtown area. The Godowntownraleigh website above provides a list of bus stops, and even has a real-time map which can tell you exactly where each bus is, and how long it will be before they arrive at your stop. The buses hit each station every 10 to 15 minutes; so don’t fret if you just missed one!
Rental Car
Raleigh has many rental car locations for the major companies, such as Hertz, Enterprise, Alamo and Budget among others. They are located all over the city so your best bet is to visit the company of your choice and view a list of locations and plan accordingly.
Additionally, Raleigh has zipcar, which is membership based car-sharing company. If you are a member, you can log on to their website and reserve a car by the hour, or by the day. While it is very popular in larger metropolitan areas, it recently became available to Raleigh commuters. If you are staying in a hotel downtown, you can easily pick up a zipcar from their Glenwood Avenue location and use it for as long or as little as you like.
Taxis and Car Services
Unlike New York City, you can’t step outside and hail a cab on the street in Raleigh. There are several taxi companies that service the Raleigh area, you just need to call and arrange your taxi in advance. Green Taxi and Cardinal Cab are the two most popular cab companies.
If you are looking for a private car, White Horse is a great option. They provide large SUVs, passenger vans, and town cars, and can transport you anywhere in Raleigh, or even to other cities and towns in North Carolina. The owners and drivers are all local, will know their way around, and can offer tips or suggestions on what to do, where to eat, and other local attractions.
Useful phone numbers:
Taxi Taxi: (919) 333 – 3333
Cardinal Cab: (919) 828 – 3228
White Horse Transportation: (919) 782 – 5893
Purchasing a Car
If you have recently relocated to Raleigh, and downtown living isn’t for you, you may find yourself in need of purchasing a car. Whether you are looking for that post-divorce shiny new luxury car, or something more practical that accommodates car seats, Raleigh has plenty of resources for purchasing cars. Capital Boulevard is lined with dealerships, everything from Maserati, Lexus, and BMW to Honda, Toyota, and Chevrolet can be found on this road. Cary Autopark offers another cluster of dealerships selling all types of cars.
If you are looking for a used car, Carmax on Glenwood Avenue might be a great place to look as they offer a huge inventory. Also, many people find that buying a used car from Craigslist can be very convenient and hassle-free. Whatever your vehicle needs may be, chances are you can find it in the Raleigh area.
Special Tips for Those Traveling to Attend Court
There are many reasons you might find yourself needing to travel to appear in the Wake County Courthouse. Perhaps your divorce proceedings are being held in Wake County, or maybe you are appearing as a witness in someone else’s divorce proceedings. You could simply be attending the hearing to provide emotional support for a friend or loved one. Whatever the reason, we want you to know that it is easy to arrange this type of travel.
First, should you need to stay overnight, there are several hotels that are located within walking distance to the courthouse:
This hotel is in the heart of downtown, located on Fayetteville Street. It is the newest of the downtown hotels and provides amenities such as a fitness center, indoor pool, and a Starbucks in the lobby.
Distance to courthouse: .2 miles (3 minute walk)
The Sheraton is also downtown, and only a short walk to the courthouse. It offers on-site transportation, has an indoor pool, fitness center, and a business center.
Distance to courthouse: .1 miles (3 minute walk)
This 20-story hotel offers free wireless Internet, free parking, and complimentary weekday newspapers. There is a restaurant on the 20th floor that is open for Breakfast and Dinner and provides spectacular views of the city.
Distance to courthouse: .6 miles (12 minute walk)
The Days Inn is also located downtown, on Dawson Street. It is older, but also much more cost friendly than the luxury hotels in the heart of downtown.
Distance to courthouse: .7 miles (14 minute walk)
Transportation is easy for those staying downtown. First, you most likely won’t need transportation to the courthouse because the hotels are within walking distance. If you do need transportation, the hotels can arrange for taxi or car service, but you can also make use of the R-Line (free downtown circulator discussed previously).
If you need to get to the airport from your downtown hotel, ask the front desk if they provide an airport shuttle. If not, you might consider taking the bus from Edenton Street; it only costs $2 and is roughly a 30 or 40 minute ride.
The train station and bus stations are only a short walk to each of these hotels as well. You could easily travel by bus or train to the city, walk to your hotel, and walk to court.
Lastly, should you need to rent a car while staying downtown for your court date, there is an Enterprise rental car location that can be found downtown, on McDowell Street. However, thanks to the many transportation resources in Raleigh, it is totally feasible to get to and around Raleigh without the use of a car.
