Apparently I was in the ugly Terminal. It was fine. They had newer things like those seats you can charge with but none of them were plugged in or even near any plugs. Expensive but plain airport prices I guess
Laura Bracco
Feb 21, 2026
4
Shuttle bus needed to get to Rental Cars. Ample seating, with charger outlets at gates. Not too many food places, especially in morning. Very fast security check-in.
Lonnie Perry
Feb 20, 2026
5
I had an outstanding experience at Raleigh‑Durham International Airport. Flying out of Terminal 2 after a business trip was smooth, relaxing, and surprisingly enjoyable. The entire environment felt calm and well‑organized, which made the travel day much easier.
RDU offers an impressive variety of shops and restaurants in both terminals. Whether you want a full meal, a quick snack, or something to browse while waiting for your flight, there’s no shortage of options. Terminal 2 in particular has a great mix of local favorites and national brands, giving travelers plenty of choices without ever feeling crowded or overwhelming.
The people here truly make the difference. TSA agents were kind and efficient, airport staff were friendly and attentive, and the airline team handled everything with professionalism and a welcoming attitude. It’s clear that customer service is a priority at RDU.
Clean facilities, great amenities, and genuinely helpful staff make RDU a fantastic place to travel through.
Dani
Jan 5, 2026
4
Raleigh and Durham were great places to visit. They host UNC, a top public University and Hospital, where my son works, as well as a gorgeous country club in the trees 🌳 Hope Valley Country Club, in Durham, where my DIL works. We stopped at Frankie's of Raleigh which had so much to do! We did the minigolf, gorgeous scenery, waterfalls, and themed buildings. They also had minicarts, some ride attractions and tons of ticket earning games. Lots to do in Raleigh (we were here for a short visit), very friendly people, great BBQ (thank you The Original Q Shack), and some nutty drivers 🤪 to keep things lively. My only complaint would be the bumps and lumps in the road. I think I lost a kidney on one of them 😁 will be back to do more on a warmer week!
Lin Den
Dec 20, 2025
5
No special pass — just your ticket: You only need your airline ticket to access gates, shops and services once through security — no extra airport pass is required.
• Terminal layout & directory: RDU’s public site lists clear Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 maps, gate info, and an online terminal directory to plan where to go for check-in, bag claim, and amenities.
• Parking options for every budget: On-airport ParkRDU choices include Premier, Central (covered garage), Express and Economy (shuttle service); many lots offer online booking and frequent shuttles.
• Ground transport & access: Taxis, ride-share, rental cars, regional shuttles and buses serve RDU; curbside pick-ups/drop-offs are managed at lower levels of both terminals.
• Shops, dining & amenities: The Shops of RDU and dining pages show a mix of local concepts and national brands, free Wi-Fi, power outlets and traveler services across both terminals.
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What to keep in mind
• Security wait times vary — usually short but check first: Most passengers see under-30-minute TSA waits, but peak periods can be longer; TSA PreCheck is available. Real-time checks are recommended.
• Major construction & growth plans: RDU is executing a multi-billion-dollar expansion (runway, Terminal 2 work, parking upgrades) to double capacity — expect construction zones, traffic pattern changes and periodic disruption through the coming years. Plan extra time during travel.
• Book parking & timed services early: Popular lots and short-term parking can fill on busy travel dates — online reservations help guarantee spots and save time.
• Monitor flights & local traffic: Regional weather, national tech outages, or system issues can cause delays—check your airline and RDU flight status before leaving. Recent incidents show occasional widespread disruptions.
• Good for business & connections: With easy highway access, solid ground transport links, and ample food/retail, RDU works well for both quick business trips and family travel — just allow buffer time in peak seasons.
Dawn K
Dec 12, 2025
3
RDU is a great, smaller airport. It’s easy to navigate, they offer online booking for parking which is convenient for getting in & out quickly. There are good food & drink options, as well as shopping. The only reason this is not 5 stars is the ground crew staffing issues if you’re arriving after 10pm.
Anytime I arrive at RDU on a late flight I am stuck at the gate, on the plane, feeling like a prisoner. My last three evening flights I sat at the gate a minimum of an hour waiting to be freed. The issue is not enough staff at night. Those working can only operate so many jetways and unload so many planes at once. I’m sure it’s not good times for the ground crew either. If RDU could fix their staffing issues at night, this would be a 5 star review.
Amber
Oct 31, 2025
5
This lounge awesome. United flight. Having united familiarities as well. With much love. I love this area... sunshine water blue sky. Layout of land phoenominal.
Blue ridge mountains and city of Boone a must see. The beaches as well. Paddle boarding the lakes. Fly with sarah bass from triangle north flight school. Shes amazing. At 22 shes celebrating her 5th yr since solo flight... im happy to say i get to continue furthering.progress over technology/zoom/FaceTime from oregon..
Raleigh art gallery. Free to all. gets fully changed every 5 years some items exchanged sooner... very big inside and outside palace that surrenders the soul to intricacies of human nature mother nature combined... with forgiveness and enthusiasm in all lord remembered... transported to 4 countries in a couple.hours. left there with accompolished culture...and some churh members as well.. all giving mai muchmess to family.outings... outdoor walk through awesome 👌 the shepherds there dressed for the Halloween occoasion...
Mind Set On Travel
Oct 22, 2025
5
Flying out of RDU today from Terminal 2. What a cool terminal. One long terminal having both C and D gates. The woodwork and architecture are very beautiful. Tons of shops to choose from, food area’s and bars to visit while waiting for your plane to board.
Jennifer Haney
Sep 6, 2025
3
Very nice people and absolutely great parking. They make it so simple. The staff, including the police are friendly, knowledgeable, and very helpful. The only problem is that most surfaces are filthy. I have been here since 2:30 pm on the second floor. It is now 8 pm, and even though I've seen many people pushing carts with cleaning supplies and changing trash liners, NOT ONE of them has cleaned and surface at all. Most seats and the bathrooms are so gross with mess and filth on them. I am shocked that with all the people constantly coming through here, the RDU staff is clearly not interested in keeping this place clean. Wow, what a shame, because the building is really pretty and modern. I just wish they would clean it. I could have taken many more photos of the nasty filth, but I really don't want to. It is making me feel sick.
Kevin Werner
Aug 26, 2025
4
A pleasant smaller airport. Everything goes a little slower here. So...be on time. Everyone is laid back. There are not of options in the terminals for food and such. More problematic is that charging options are limited, at best. There are no areas to work. So if you want to catch up on work, you will need to work in one of the couple of restaurants or put your laptop on your lap.
Miss Twenty
Aug 17, 2025
5
The check in process at the checkpoint was seemless. The employees were kind, professional and patient. The facility is fairly modern, clean and in good repair. Overall it a good experience at RDU.
Kevin Werner
Aug 2, 2025
4
A pleasant smaller airport. Everything goes a little slower here. So...be on time. Everyone is laid back. There are not of options in the terminals for food and such. More problematic is that charging options are limited, at best. There are no areas to work. Either, so if you want to catch up on work. You will need to work in one of the couple of restaurants or put your laptop on your lap.
Ivan Nekrasov
Jul 25, 2025
5
Clean, spacious and modern airport. Highly recommend :) . This is my first time staying in Raleigh and I love it already. I have only driven through or had layovers here before.
Flying back to Nashville is also super easy. Security was super quick
Bryce Bolton
Jul 23, 2025
5
My mom went in the wrong security line twice. Not because it's not clearly labeled, but because she had no idea what she was doing. It's a good medium-size airport that's easy to get through and has all the accomodations you could want.
Greg Scott
May 11, 2025
4
As far as airports go, it was pretty decent. Everyone will have a different airport experience based on delays, crowds, parking, wait times, and dozens of other factors.
My experience was good. Place was clean, fairly modern, boarding was close to main terminal, so I didn't have to drag my carry-on items through endless corridors like other major airports. Security was fast, and somewhat friendly. Food was wickedly expensive, and the rent-a-car terminal are located pretty far (10 min shuttle) from the airport. If you have a choice, definitely select RDU over Charlotte. The overall experience is drastically better, more efficient, and you won't feel like you just ran a marathon getting to your plane.
