3 days
Three Days in the Triangle
Two days in Raleigh and one exploring Durham and Chapel Hill — the Research Triangle in one trip.
Best for: Longer visits and road trippersBudget: $250–$500 per person
Day 1
Downtown Raleigh
- 9:00 AMFree
Capitol and free museums
Downtown
Start at Union Square and the museums on Bicentennial Plaza.
- 7:00 PM
Red Hat Amphitheater show or Glenwood South
Downtown
Live music or nightlife.
Day 2
West Raleigh outdoors
- 9:00 AMFree
Umstead State Park
Northwest Raleigh
Hike or bike the trails of a 5,000+ acre forest between Raleigh and RTP.
- 2:00 PMFree
NC Museum of Art
West Raleigh
Galleries and Museum Park.
Day 3
Durham & Chapel Hill
- 9:30 AMFree
Duke Gardens
Durham
Sarah P. Duke Gardens (about 30 minutes from downtown Raleigh).
Next: 20-minute drive
- 1:00 PM$$
Franklin Street
Chapel Hill
Lunch and a stroll by UNC’s campus.
Local tips
- •Allow extra time on I-40 at rush hour.
- •Umstead has no bike rental on site — bring or rent beforehand.