Bus to Durham

Durham sits in the Piedmont of North Carolina, paired with Chapel Hill and Raleigh as the third corner of the Research Triangle. It's a working tobacco town that has rebuilt itself around Duke University, the Research Triangle Park, the American Tobacco Campus and a downtown food scene that draws comparisons to bigger Southern cities. The bus to Durham drops you in the centre of the city at the Durham terminal on West Pettigrew Street, with the American Tobacco Campus, the Carolina Theatre, Duke East Campus and the Durham Performing Arts Center all reachable on foot or by short rideshare. People come for the Duke campus and the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, for the Nasher Museum of Art and the Cameron Indoor Stadium, for the food at restaurants like Lucky's Delicatessen and Mateo, for the Durham Performing Arts Center and Durham Bulls baseball at the historic Durham Athletic Park, and for the slower, more independent character that distinguishes Durham from the larger Triangle metro. A Durham bus ticket lands you a short walk from the American Tobacco Campus.

Greyhound stops in Durham

Durham has one Greyhound stop: the Durham terminal at 515 West Pettigrew Street, in the centre of downtown — buses board on Williard Street on the upper level side of the terminal. As a full terminal it has indoor seating, restrooms and the basic shelter you'd expect, and shares the building with Amtrak's Carolinian and Piedmont services. Plan to arrive in good time so you can find your platform and get checked in.

The location puts you within walking distance of the American Tobacco Campus, the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, the Carolina Theatre and the central downtown blocks. Duke University's East Campus is a short rideshare or walk north. As a working terminal the station has a typical pace of activity through the day.

If you're being met, the surrounding streets are familiar territory for rideshare drivers and there's space inside the building if the weather isn't cooperating. Have your ticket ready on your phone or printed for boarding.

Getting around Durham after your bus to Durham arrives

Durham's central downtown is more walkable than the Triangle metro footprint suggests. From the Pettigrew Street terminal, the American Tobacco Campus, the central downtown blocks, the Durham Performing Arts Center and the Durham Bulls Athletic Park are all within a comfortable walk. The Bull City Connector — a free downtown shuttle — runs through the central blocks and connects downtown to Duke East Campus.

The GoDurham network — Durham's local bus service — runs city buses across the metro, with useful routes connecting downtown to Duke, the South Square mall and the Northgate area. GoTriangle runs regional bus connections to Chapel Hill, Raleigh and the Research Triangle Park. Service runs through the day on weekdays and lighter on weekends. Rideshare runs reliably across the metro and is the realistic option for evening trips and for the further attractions like the Eno River State Park.

For Duke West Campus, Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Sarah P. Duke Gardens and the Nasher Museum, rideshare or the Bull City Connector are the practical options. For the wider region — Eno River State Park, Falls Lake to the north, the Research Triangle Park or onward to Raleigh and Chapel Hill — a rental car or rideshare works depending on the destination. Cycling is also viable on the American Tobacco Trail, the long rail-trail running south from Durham to Apex and Raleigh.

Top things to do in Durham

• The American Tobacco Campus, the converted 19th-century Lucky Strike tobacco factory complex in the central downtown, with restaurants, offices, the Durham Performing Arts Center and the long water feature running through the central plaza.
• The Sarah P. Duke Gardens on the Duke West Campus, the 55-acre garden complex with the Asiatic Arboretum, the Doris Duke Center, formal terraces and miles of walking paths. Free entry, open year-round.
• The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke, on the Duke East Campus edge, with strong holdings in African, Latin American, contemporary American and ancient American art. Plan a couple of hours; free admission for Duke staff and students, paid for the public.
• The Duke Chapel on Duke West Campus, the 210-foot Gothic Revival chapel completed in 1935, with stained glass, a working organ and Sunday services. Free entry; central to the campus walk.
• Cameron Indoor Stadium on Duke West Campus, the historic 1940 home of Duke basketball — even on non-game days, the lobby and the gallery exhibits give a sense of the program's history. Game-day tickets are notoriously hard to come by.
• The Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC), on the central downtown side of the American Tobacco Campus, with touring Broadway shows, concerts and comedy. A major regional performing-arts venue.
• The Carolina Theatre, the restored 1926 movie palace on Morgan Street, with classic film screenings, live performances and the long-running Full Frame Documentary Film Festival each spring.
• The Museum of Life and Science on Murray Avenue, with strong outdoor exhibits — the Hideaway Woods treehouse complex, the Dinosaur Trail and the Forest Floor habitat — plus indoor science galleries.
• The 21c Museum Hotel Durham, in the restored Hill Building, with a free contemporary art museum on the lower floors that's open to the public.
• Durham Central Park, the central downtown park east of American Tobacco, with the Durham Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings (April through November) and a covered pavilion.
• The Eno River State Park, on the north side of the city, with miles of hiking trails along the Eno River, swimming holes in the warmer months and a strong run of weekend events.
• Bennett Place, the historic site west of Durham where Confederate General Joseph Johnston surrendered to Union General William Tecumseh Sherman in April 1865, ending the war in the Carolinas. Restored farmhouse and interpreted exhibits.
• The Durham Bulls Athletic Park, the home of the Triple-A Durham Bulls baseball team, with the iconic snorting bull above left field and a working roster of regular summer games.
• Brightleaf Square, the converted tobacco-warehouse complex on West Main Street, with restaurants, shops and a steady weekend life.

Neighbourhoods to explore in Durham

Downtown is the centre of gravity, with the American Tobacco Campus, the central restaurants, DPAC and the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The Durham Central Park area, just east of downtown, has the Saturday morning farmers market and the Geer Street area with restaurants and bars. Brightleaf Square along West Main Street has the converted tobacco warehouses with restaurants, the long-running Vagabond Sausage and the Brightleaf Square shopping cluster.

The Duke campus runs west of downtown — East Campus first (the older 1925 Georgian core) and West Campus further out (the Gothic Revival expansion). The Old North Durham and Trinity Park neighbourhoods between downtown and East Campus have the older residential streetscape and a small commercial spine on Ninth Street with restaurants, the long-running Regulator Bookshop and a steady neighbourhood feel. South Durham along NC-751 runs out toward the Research Triangle Park.

Food and drink in Durham

Durham's food scene has matured fast over the past fifteen years and now runs through serious modern American, Italian, Mexican, North Carolina barbecue and a strong run of celebrity-chef rooms in central downtown and Brightleaf Square. North Carolina barbecue — particularly the Eastern North Carolina vinegar-and-pepper tradition — is real and good, with The Pit, Picnic and the long-running classics. Mateo and Saint James Seafood are among the higher-profile rooms.

The Durham Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings is the central weekly food event, with North Carolina farmers, bakers, food makers and a steady community of regulars. The brewery scene has grown around Fullsteam, Bull Durham, Ponysaurus and others — concentrated downtown and in the surrounding industrial blocks. Coffee culture is strong, with Joe Van Gogh, Cocoa Cinnamon and Counter Culture (the Durham-headquartered roaster). Krispy Kreme — the doughnut chain — was founded in nearby Winston-Salem and the Durham downtown location is a small institution.

Best time to visit Durham

Spring and autumn are the windows. From late March through May the dogwoods and azaleas come in across Duke and the surrounding neighbourhoods, the Sarah P. Duke Gardens are at their most photogenic, and the temperature sits in a pleasant range for walking. October and November bring the Carolina fall — colour through Eno River State Park and Duke Forest, comfortable walking weather and the Duke and Durham Bulls fall sports calendar.

Summer is warm and humid, with afternoons regularly in the 80s and into the 90s. The Sarah P. Duke Gardens and the Eno River keep their appeal — early-morning walks before the heat are worth the effort — and the air-conditioned indoor venues come into their own. Plan walking and outdoor sightseeing for early morning, lean into the air-conditioned restaurants and museums in the afternoon, and respect the late-day thunderstorms when they roll in.

Winter is mild by Northern standards but real. Daytime temperatures sit in the 40s and 50s through January and February, with occasional cold snaps and the rare snow event. The Duke campus stays in full pace through the academic year, the Nasher Museum and the Carolina Theatre continue their schedules, and the central downtown restaurants stay full pace. Spring is variable but bright; March brings the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival to the Carolina Theatre and the first wildflowers along the American Tobacco Trail.

Where do you want Durham to take you? If it's the Duke campus, plan a long morning at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens followed by a Duke Chapel walk-through and the Nasher Museum. If it's the food, line up a Saturday morning farmers market followed by lunch at Mateo or Saint James and dinner somewhere on Geer Street. If it's the slow downtown rhythm, walk the American Tobacco Campus and Brightleaf Square and let the rest of the day open up. Use the search bar on this page to check schedules and book bus tickets to Durham when your dates are firm.

Planning Your Greyhound Bus Trip to Durham?

You're in the right place! Get all the details you need to arrange your bus journey to Durham! You can board the Greyhound at Durham. You can easily find the location of the stop(s) on the map available on this page. Traveling to or departing from Durham can cost you as little as $9.98. If you're on the hunt for a cheap ticket to Durham, remember to book early. Traveling on weekdays or during non-peak hours can also lead you to some of the most budget-friendly fares available! With 20 destinations linked to Durham, Greyhound provides you with multiple options for planning your bus trip.

Why travel to Durham with Greyhound

When you choose Greyhound, you're promised a comfy seat and free Wi-Fi throughout your journey. Stay connected and entertained while we safely drive you to your destination! Enjoy a comfy bus trip to Durham with our onboard facilities like free Wi-Fi and power outlets. Choose your favorite seat while booking and travel with peace of mind rest easy knowing your ticket covers one carry-on and one checked bag.

How to book your bus ticket to Durham

Booking a ticket with Greyhound is a breeze: on this website or on the free Greyhound App, you can complete your booking in a few clicks. When purchasing your ticket to Durham online, you can choose between different secured online payment methods, such as credit and debit cards. Alternatively, you can pay in cash at a sales point.