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Transportation

Home Living Housing Graduate & Professional Housing Off-Campus Housing around Durham, NC Transportation

Transportation

It is possible to get around Duke and Durham by walking, cycling, public transportation, or driving. Many students come to Durham with a car and are grateful for it, and many students come without a car and can get by.

However, the transportation infrastructure in Durham, North Carolina and the surrounding area was designed for car travel. There is a public transportation system, but many students find it less convenient than the transportation systems they are used to in their home cities, states, or countries. The pedestrian and cycling infrastructure is also not as strong because of the emphasis on car travel.

Resources to learn about traveling around Durham and to Duke:

  • Duke: Duke has a free bus system for all members of the Duke community. If you ARE NOT bringing a car to Durham, we strongly recommend living on a Duke bus line.
  • Go Durham & GoTriangle: Duke students are eligible for a free bus pass for the Durham bus system, Go Durham, and the regional bus system, Go Triangle.
    • Students most often use GoDurham buses for transportation to area grocery stores and shopping centers and to downtown Durham to socialize.
    • The GoDurham bus lines closest to campus are the 6 and 11/11B.
    • GoTriangle bus 400 goes to Chapel Hill, and services apartments along 15-501/Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd.
  • Duke Vans: Duke Vans provides free transportation from campus to students' homes when Duke Buses aren't running.
    • Duke Vans operate within a 2.5 mile radius of campus. If you won't have a car in Durham, we recommend living within the Duke Vans zone.
This map shows apartment complexes that are on a duke bus line or a durham bus line that goes to duke
  • In order to park on campus, you must apply for a student parking pass. Find more about the application to park on campus here.
  • Some apartment complexes require you to purchase a parking pass. Additionally, some neighborhoods require a neighborhood parking pass to park on the street. Check with your property management for parking information.
  • Duke offers many carpooling options to reduce the cost of parking on/driving to campus.
  • Duke offers incentives for bike commuters, including three free parking passes per month, and has a number of resources for cyclists on the Parking & Transportation website.
  • Be sure to register your bike upon arrival to Durham.
  • Durham has many bike shops relatively close to campus including the Bike Co-Op, Durham Cycles, and Bullseye Bicycle.
  • There is also a bike advocacy organization, Bike Durham, and many weekly group rides, including one that leaves from Duke Chapel!