GoRaleigh buses cost $1.25 and are free for riders 65 and older and 18 and under. Downtown meters are $1.50 an hour on weekdays. RDU is served by GoTriangle.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts come from GoRaleigh, GoTriangle, RDU Airport, the City of Raleigh parking office and NCDOT. For this week’s closures, see our road construction guide.

The interstates and numbered highways in Raleigh belong to NCDOT; city streets, parking and GoRaleigh buses belong to the City of Raleigh; the regional GoTriangle buses connect Raleigh with Durham, Chapel Hill and RDU Airport.

Who to call

  • GoRaleigh trip planning: 919-485-7433 (485-RIDE); trip planner
  • Raleigh Parking office: 919-996-3996, raleighparking@raleighnc.gov; Dillon Building, 310 W. Martin St., 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays
  • Road conditions: dial 511 or DriveNC.gov
  • City streets and potholes: 919-996-3030

Main roads

  • Interstates: I-40, I-440 (the Cliff Benson Beltline) and I-540.
  • U.S. and state routes: Wade Avenue, U.S. 1, U.S. 64, U.S. 70, U.S. 264, U.S. 401 and N.C. 54, which is Hillsborough Street near the fairgrounds, according to the N.C. State Fair’s directions.
  • Wade Avenue links I-40 and the Beltline with the State Fairgrounds, Carter-Finley Stadium area: I-40 Exit 289 and I-440 Exit 4-B, according to the N.C. State Fair’s directions.
  • Other exits the state names: I-40 Exit 290 for N.C. 54/Chapel Hill Road, Exit 293 for I-440, and Exit 297 for Lake Wheeler Road and the State Farmers Market; from U.S. 64/264, Exit 419 to I-440.

NCDOT’s Division 5, 919-220-4600, maintains the state roads. Weekly work zones are in our road construction guide.

Buses: GoRaleigh and GoTriangle

GoRaleigh runs the city bus system from GoRaleigh Station downtown. Ten routes form its high-frequency network, with buses about every 15 minutes: Route 1 (Capital Boulevard), 2 (Falls of Neuse), 5 (Biltmore Hills), 6 (Glenwood), 7 (South Saunders), 9 (Hillsborough), 11 (Avent Ferry), 15 (WakeMed), 19 (MLK Sunnybrook) and 21 (Caraleigh). The R-Line is a free downtown circulator.

Fares, from GoRaleigh’s fares page:

Rider Single ride
Adult $1.25
Discount (disability, Medicare card) $0.60
Seniors 65 and older Free
Youth 13 to 18 (with Youth GoPass) and children 12 and under Free
Adults 19 to 64 on Medicaid or SNAP, or with household income under $35,000 (TAP card) Free
GoRaleigh Access paratransit trip $2.50

Pay with the Umo app, an Umo card or exact cash on the bus. Fare capping means a GoPass user stops paying once they hit the cap for the period.

GoTriangle runs regional routes; plan trips on the GoTriangle site.

Getting to RDU Airport

Raleigh-Durham International Airport is served by GoTriangle Route 100 and the RDU Shuttle, with stops at Terminal 1 between Zones 2 and 3 and at Terminal 2 between Zones 6 and 7, according to RDU.

  • Route 100: direct bus between downtown Raleigh and RDU, Monday through Saturday after 6:30 p.m. and all day Sunday, GoTriangle says.
  • RDU Shuttle: from the Regional Transit Center to the airport, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
  • Taxis and ride-hailing apps pick up at designated areas at both terminals.

Parking downtown

From the city’s pay for parking page:

Area Meters enforced Rate
Downtown central business district, Fayetteville Street, Glenwood South 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday $1.50 an hour
Hillsborough Street corridor 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday $1.50 an hour
  • Meters have 30-minute, one-hour and two-hour limits and are not enforced on city holidays.
  • Pay with the Passport parking app.
  • Two hours free in five city decks on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. City decks include the Blount Street deck, 314 Blount St.; Wilmington Street Station, 117 S. Wilmington St.; Performing Arts, 128 W. South St.; and Cabarrus, 436 S. Salisbury St.
  • Free parking is offered to people attending City Council, board and commission meetings.

Bikes and greenways

Raleigh’s greenway system has more than 100 miles of trails, open dawn to dusk; the Neuse River Trail alone runs 27.5 miles. Maps and trail lengths are in our parks and trails guide.

What this means for you

  • Seniors and anyone 18 or younger ride GoRaleigh free.
  • Downtown meters are enforced only on weekdays: until 6 p.m., or 8 p.m. on Hillsborough Street. Check the posted signs.
  • Flying out on a weekday morning? Take the RDU Shuttle from the Regional Transit Center.

More: moving to Raleigh and who to call at City Hall.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a GoRaleigh bus ride?

A single ride is $1.25. Seniors 65 and older and youth 18 and under ride free, and adults who qualify for Medicaid, SNAP or a low household income can ride free with a TAP card.

How do I get from downtown Raleigh to RDU airport by bus?

GoTriangle Route 100 runs between downtown Raleigh and RDU Monday through Saturday after 6:30 p.m. and all day Sunday. At other times, ride to the Regional Transit Center and take the RDU Shuttle, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

When do you have to pay for parking in downtown Raleigh?

On-street meters are enforced Monday through Friday, except city holidays: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. downtown, on Fayetteville Street and in Glenwood South, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Hillsborough Street. The rate is $1.50 an hour.

Is there free parking in downtown Raleigh?

Five city decks offer the first two hours free on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., and the city offers free parking for people attending City Council and board meetings.

Is the R-Line bus free?

Yes. GoRaleigh lists the R-Line as its free downtown circulator.