by Lauren Kruchten | Aug 11, 2025 | Buzz, July/August 2025
Make summer travels through RDU a breeze with these tips and tricks.
’Tis the season for summer travel! Whether you’re flocking to a family vacay or escaping to a sunny retreat, you’re gonna wanna make sure you’re equipped with the most up-to-date stress-reducing hacks for traveling through RDU Airport. Here’s to safe—and happy—travels!
Park It
Perhaps the most stressful part of flying through RDU takes place before you even get into the airport. Yep, we’re talking parking. Though RDU is small compared to other airports, there never seems to be enough parking for travelers. To head off some of the stress that comes with pulling up on a full RDU Central deck, you can reserve your spot online before you get to the airport via ParkRDU’s online pre-booking option. Choose your date, time and location—only caveat is you have to book at least 24 hours in advance. And don’t sleep on the ParkRDU Express lot, which added nearly 1,000 parking spaces for travelers—not to mention it offers luggage assistance at your car and shuttles to the terminals running at all hours of the day (!). If you can, bypass parking stress entirely by opting for a rideshare service or taxi.
Don’t Delay
Flight cancellations and delays are surging this summer. While some instances are inevitable, ward off the worry by booking the earliest flight of the day to help avoid delays, as many are caused by aircrafts arriving late from their previous destination. So, maybe that 4am flight is worth it.
Direct Is Best
If you have the option to fly direct—do it. Layovers have the potential to result in a The Terminal situation if your second flight is delayed or if your first flight arrives after the second plane has already taken off. And no one wants to be stuck sleeping in an airport. Another pro tip: Choose an airline that offers multiple flights a day so that if you do need to rebook you have more (timely!) options.
by Heidi Reid | Aug 7, 2024 | 2024, Buzz, July 2024/August 2024
Save the stress for once you’re inside the airport with these parking tips.
POV: You allowed yourself just enough time to scrape through security and *barely* catch your flight—only to arrive at RDU Airport to full parking decks. If only your yesterday self had you covered…
Enter ParkRDU. Though parking is perhaps the most stressful part of flying—causing anxiety before you even step into the airport—RDU offers a pre-booking option online for flyers to reserve a spot ahead of time. Read: No more spontaneously backtracking to a remote lot and bussing in (hey, missed flight!).
So in the interest of sanity and no missed connections, here’s how to book… so you can use that spare time to stock up on plane goodies before you head to your gate. Trust us, your tomorrow self will thank you.
Where?
ParkRDU Central, Economy, Premier and Express decks
When?
Book your parking as soon as you book your flight—it can sell out and you have to book at least 24 hours in advance anyway. But don’t stress about the commitment—RDU allows changes to be made up to ParkRDU reservations up to 24 hours in advance without penalty.
What should I bring?
When booking online, print out your QR code just in case—it will save you from being that person and having to press the call button and hold up the line if there’s a technological difficulty. And, upon your return to Raleigh, the nonstop (!) process will read your license plate as you fly out of the lot in your own separate lane.
Why?
The new parking guidance system in the terminal deck allows ParkRDU Premier and Central customers to forgo circling the lot and easily find an empty space thanks to electronic wayfinding. And, ICYMI, the ParkRDU Express lot added nearly 1,000 parking spaces for travelers—NTM it offers luggage assistance at your car and shuttles to the terminals running at all hours of the day, ideal for overpackers and large families alike. Bon voyage!
