Durham Hotels and Accommodation

(Durham, North Carolina - NC, USA)

Durham offers a selection of hotels, which are at their most expensive between May through September, when accommodation is in demand. Much of the lodging in the city is very much centered around the vast Duke University, with some nearby hotels being grouped on Fulton Street, which is just off the Durham Freeway US-147 and on the northerly side of the university campus.

Hotels close the university are well-placed if you are planning to sightsee in Durham, being near to the famous Sarah P. Duke Gardens and the Duke Chapel, as well as being handy for the university's Cameron Indoor Stadium (basketball arena) and Wallace Wade Stadium (mainly used for American football).

Of note, the demand for accommodation noticeably increases during the city's most popular events. These reliably include the Durham Blues Festival each September, and also the Duke University Jazz Festival, which is spread over the fall and winter months.

Where to Stay

Where to stay in Durham depends on both your travel intentions and available budget. Downtown Durham is the heart of city life and many hotels are clustered here, close to Franklin Street, the focal point of this district. Near to bars, restaurant and attractions, centrally located hotels are understandably amongst the most popular.

Many hotels are also situated around Brightleaf Square, a revamped historic area of Durham, rich in heritage; and within the West Point district, where accommodation with views of the Eno River is to be expected.

Further hotels can be found on the outskirts of Durham, in nearby North Carolina towns and cities as follows:

• Cary (19 miles / 31 km)
• Chapel Hill (12 miles / 19 km)
• Garner (31 miles / 50 km)
• Morrisville (12 miles / 19 km)
• Raleigh (28 miles / 45 km)
• Research Triangle Park (7 miles / 11 km)
• Wake Forest (22 miles / 35 km)

The cheapest motels and inns in Durham line the Interstate I-85, to the north of the city's downtown district. Other popular budget hotels in Durham are concentrated along the Chapel Hill Boulevard, Guess Road, Hillandale Road, the North Carolina Highways US-54 and US-55, the Residence Inn Boulevard and the Westpark Drive. Particularly cheap is the Budgetel Inn and Suites on Hillsborough Road, which is actually just 1 mile / 1.5 km from the Duke University and offers basic one-star lodging. Similarly priced is the two-star Homestead Studio Suites on the North Carolina Highway US-55, on the southerly outskirts and just a short drive from the Research Triangle Park.

Mid-range hotels in Durham can be found grouped along Campus Walk Avenue, the Meredith Drive, the Meridian Parkway, New Page Road, Slater Road and the Snowcrest Trail. Some of the biggest names offering mid-range accommodation include Clarion, Courtyard, DoubleTree, Hawthorn and Millennium. Highly recommended is the three-star Hilton Durham Hotel on Hillsborough Road, which is next to the university and a few blocks away from the Kings Plaza Shopping Center.

Many other affordable hotels are close to the Raleigh / Durham International Airport (RDU), which stands around 10 miles / 16 km to the southeast of the city and alongside the William B. Umstead State Park. The closest include the Comfort Suites on Page Road, the Hilton Raleigh-Durham Airport Hotel on Old Page Road, the Holiday Inn Express Suites on the South Miami Boulevard, and the Homewood Suites by Hilton on the Central Park Drive, all of which lie within a 3-mile / 5-km radius.

For luxury accommodation in Durham, several hotels stand out from the crowd and offer really quite affordable four-star lodging. The Washington Duke Inn on the Cameron Boulevard lies within the campus of the Duke University and alongside the renowned Duke University Golf Course. In downtown Durham, look out for the Marriott Convention Center Hotel on Foster Street, which is near to the Performing Arts Center, the City Hall Plaza and the Athletic Park. On Guardian Drive and within the Research Triangle Park area is another four-star Marriott Hotel, just off the Dan K. Moore Freeway.