Best Hotels in Raleigh Durham NC 2023
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Greetings, Internet Stranger, and welcome to the best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC
Are you looking to take a trip to Durham and now you need to find a hotel? It can be so hard to know what the best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC are. However, I’m sure you’ll have a great trip once you find the right accommodation.
Durham is a delightful city with Duke University, amazing food, and great museums and cultural attractions. But now the only problem is finding the best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC. Fortunately I’ve got you covered. Follow me!
Stella’s Top 3 Picks: Best Hotels in Raleigh Durham NC
#1 TOP PICK

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
COMFORT INN
✔️ Complimentary breakfast
✔️Great location
#2 PICK

UNIVERSITY INN
✔️Right near Duke!
✔️ Surprisingly affordable
#3 PICK

ALL OTHER DURHAM HOTELS
✔️ Find your favorite!
✔️ Get the best deals
I’ve put together a selection of some of the best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC. We’ve got something for every budget. Whether you’re looking to splurge on luxury or scrimp and save, I’ve got something here for you.
Once you have decided which of the best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC you want to try, you’ll need to find some things to do! I’ve got a perfect 24 hours in Durham itinerary right here! If you want to add on another day in Durham, I have an addition itinerary right here. They’ll make planning your trip to Durham ever so much easier!
Best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC
Price Range: Under Approximately 150 Dollars a Night

1) Comfort Inn University Durham–Chapel Hill
The Comfort Inn University Durham–Chapel Hill is the most affordable hotel that I recommend out of all the best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC. It’s about 6 miles from the city of Durham, which is really nothing if you have a car. And as I said, I found Uber to be widely available and easy to get when I was in Durham. After all, all those college students need a safe driver when they’ve been partying too hard!
This Comfort Inn has a lot of amenities. If you’ve stayed at a lot of Comfort Inns, which I have because I’ve traveled in all 50 states, you know the drill. They’ve got a solid complimentary breakfast spread, fast and free wifi, and a large outdoor swimming pool, if you want to relax after an exhausting day of seeing the sights in Durham.
When you book your room, you can get a cheaper deal with a non-refundable price, or you can pay a little more and have the option to cancel later for free if your plans change. Totally up to you!
If that sounds appealing to you, you can go ahead and book a room at this hotel.
Check rates and availability by clicking here!

2) University Inn Duke
So University Inn Duke is another one of the best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC if you’re looking for something that is still affordable. It is right next to Duke University Medical Center, as well as the Regional VA Hospital.
If you’re looking to do anything at Duke, whether it’s visit a loved one, take in one of Duke’s top-notch sports teams (save the angry emails, UNC fans, you know it’s true), or just stroll around Duke Gardens, this is a perfect location for you.
There aren’t one billion amenities, but there is free wifi, private parking, and a 24-7 front desk, all of which are good things for a hotel to have.
If Duke University is where you’d like to hang your hat near, just go ahead and check out this place.
Check rates and availability of this hotel!
Stella’s Top 3 Picks: Best Hotels in Raleigh Durham NC
#1 TOP PICK

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
COMFORT INN
✔️ Complimentary breakfast
✔️Great location
#2 PICK

UNIVERSITY INN
✔️Right near Duke!
✔️ Surprisingly affordable
#3 PICK

ALL OTHER DURHAM HOTELS
✔️ Find your favorite!
✔️ Get the best deals

3) Hyatt Place Durham Southpoint
Hyatt Place Durham Southpoint is another one of the best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC. However, it is seven miles away from Durham itself, so again, just think about whether or not this will be too much for you. If you have a car, it definitely won’t be, and Hyatt Place has free parking, so that should make things easier for you. It’s also near Chapel Hill, which is lovely, if you feel like driving there.
There are the usual amenities at this Hyatt Place, like wifi and a fitness center, but it also has a bar on the premises. That’s great, since it’s not in Durham proper, so you’ll have somewhere to go if you want to unwind and have a little fun at the end of the evening. There’s also a grocery store within walking distance if you’d rather just prepare something in your hotel room.
You can go ahead and check out this hotel in more detail by heading to the booking page.
Check rates and availability right here.

4) SpringHill Suites Durham Chapel Hill
So you might be noticing a theme here, and that theme is that the affordable hotels tend to be somewhere in between Durham and Chapel Hill. Again, I think that makes for a most convenient location. After all, Durham is part of the Research Triangle of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, so why not pick a hotel where you can explore all three cities easily? And this hotel has free parking, so it will be easy to have a car.
SpringHill Suites features lovely and spacious rooms. Whenever I stay in a SpringHill Suites as a solo traveler, I always feel like a princess with so much room to sprawl out. You even get your own kitchenette in your room.
The hotel itself also has a swimming pool, a fitness center, and a whirlpool where you can relax your muscles after a strenuous workout. (I have never even once done a strenuous workout while traveling, and I don’t intend to start now, but if you want to, I salute you.)
You can go ahead and reserve your spot at this hotel.
Check rates and availability by heading this way.

5) Holiday Inn Express Durham
OK, now I’m going to get you to a little more of the main part of Durham. The Holiday Inn Express is just three miles away from Duke, so it’s closer than the hotels that are more in between Durham and Chapel Hill. It has free parking, and it also has a free shuttle to the Duke University Medical Center, so your transportation needs are all covered that way.
In terms of amenities, it has a continental breakfast included every morning, so you won’t have to worry about finding somewhere to eat. You can even make your own pancakes, if that excites you. There’s also wifi, an outdoor swimming pool, and basically everything you’d expect at a nice Holiday Inn. The hotel is also pet friendly, if you are traveling with your furry babies.
You can go ahead and learn more about this hotel.
Check rates and availability by heading this way.
Best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC
Price Range: Over Approximately 150 Dollars a Night

6) SpringHill Suites by Marriott Durham City View
Ok, so this is definitely one of the best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC if you’re looking for a hotel for a city break with your friends or a little romantic getaway or a fun solo trip. It has a great central location, but it’s also just a short drive from Duke University. And whether or not you have a car, the hotel provides free bikes for getting around.
If you’re interested in the amenities, they have buffet or American breakfast included. There’s also a fitness center, free wifi, express check-in and check-out, which I personally always find convenient when it’s available, and parking.
I know this is the first hotel I’ve put in the “Over 150 a night” range, but it’s really very close in price to the hotels in between Durham and Chapel Hill. So if it’s important to you to be in Durham itself, and you don’t want to break the bank, this is a really good choice.
If you want to reserve your spot at this hotel, just click on this link.
Check rates and availability right here.

7) Hilton Garden Inn Durham–University Medical Center
So it seems like a lot of people visit Durham to go to Duke University Medical Center. And if that’s the case for you, I really hope that these reviews are helpful to you. However, even if you want to stay in the Duke University area for some other reason, I think the Hilton Garden Inn Durham could be an excellent choice.
As with the other Duke University Medical Center Hotels, this hotel is right within striking distance of all the attractions of Duke University. That means that it isn’t in downtown Durham, but it’s just a quick drive away.
In terms of amenities, it has an outdoor swimming pool, free parking, and free wifi. There’s also a business center and a fitness center, and they can transport you around the area, as long as your destination is within five miles. Basically, if you’ve stayed at a Hilton Garden Inn before, you know what to expect.
If you think the Hilton Garden Inn could be one of the best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC for you, just go ahead and book your room.
Check rates and availability right here.

8) Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club
So, the Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club is definitely the right place to go if you want a bit more of a splurge when you’re looking for the best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC. It has an eighteen hole golf course and all, if that’s your jam. However, it’s not insanely expensive or anything. They don’t have a Ritz-Carlton in Durham, last time I checked.
As you can probably guess by the name, the Washington Duke Inn is on the Duke University campus. If there’s a major Duke event going on, like Homecoming or graduation or the annual Running of the Blue Devils, I would strongly suggest making reservations here far in advance.
There’s a whole bunch of amenities at the Washington Duke Inn, including three restaurants. The Fairview Dining Room is the fancy pants place, and the Bull Durham Bar is more casual. I mean, maybe you’ll see some of the Durham Bulls players hanging out there when you go. Anything is possible.
They’ve also got the other typical hotel amenities like a fitness center, a hot tub, a swimming pool, and free wifi and parking.
If the Washington Duke Inn looks like the place for you, you can go ahead and make your reservation.
Check rates and availability right here.

9) The Durham Hotel
So, the name The Durham Hotel might sound like this is THE hotel. The one hotel. Simply the only hotel you can stay at when you’re looking for the best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC. And while I wouldn’t say that this is necessarily the case, The Durham is a very classy joint, and I definitely recommend staying here.
The Durham Hotel is located right in Downtown Durham, so if you have come to town to see the Durham Bulls, eat at some of the great restaurants, or take in a show at the famous Carolina Theater, this is definitely a great choice. If you are a non-driver like I am, you really can’t do better in terms of central location.
If it’s amenities you are looking for, The Durham has free wifi, a fitness center, and a restaurant. But my favorite part of The Durham is the rooftop bar. Is Durham wall to wall skyscrapers like Chicago or New York City? Not exactly. But there are still great views, and the weather in Durham is often perfect for a cocktail at sunset.
If all of this sounds appealing to you, you can go ahead and reserve a room at this hotel just by following along.
Check rates and availability right here.
Stella’s Top 3 Picks: Best Hotels in Raleigh Durham NC
#1 TOP PICK

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
COMFORT INN
✔️ Complimentary breakfast
✔️Great location
#2 PICK

UNIVERSITY INN
✔️Right near Duke!
✔️ Surprisingly affordable
#3 PICK

ALL OTHER DURHAM HOTELS
✔️ Find your favorite!
✔️ Get the best deals

10) Aloft Durham Downtown
Aloft Durham Downtown is, as you can probably tell from the name, also in downtown Durham. That means when you stay here, you can go on a walking tour of historic downtown Durham, visit the Museum of Durham History, eat ice cream at the Parlour, and so much more.
Aloft is a solid chain of hotels, and you can count on having good amenities when you stay here. There’s a 24 hour front desk, free wifi, a fitness center, and a solid restaurant. Plus, it’s right next door to the Durham Bulls stadium, so if you’re looking to catch a baseball game and see a Susan Sarandon impersonator, this is the right spot.
There’s breakfast and parking available at the hotel too, though it’s for an extra fee. It’s also pet friendly, for those of you traveling with man’s best friend.
If all of this intrigues you, you can check out Aloft by following this link which I have provided over here.
Check rates and availability right here!

11) Durham Marriott City Center
Our final hotel of this list of the best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC is the Durham Marriott City Center. This is another hotel with a great location right in the center of things. You will be just a short distance away from the shops and restaurants at Brightleaf, which is a must visit when you are in Durham.
There’s a restaurant on-site, though breakfast is an additional charge, as well as a fitness center. Wifi is free, and of course there is private parking available as well. You can get coffee for free with the coffee maker in your rooms, but there is also free coffee available in the lobby. The staff is one of the best in Durham, so if you need anything, just ask and they’ll be happy to help out.
If all of that appeals to you, just go ahead and get more information about the rooms by going to the website.
Check rates and availability right here.
And I hope that this list of the best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC was of assistance to you!

Best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC
How to Get There?
By Car: If you know how to drive, and you’re comfortable driving around North Carolina roads, you are certainly more than welcome to take a car to the best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC. In fact, the attractions in Durham are rather spread out. Downtown Durham is not within walking distance from Duke University, for example. So I think having a car would be helpful.
However, I don’t know how to drive at all, so I just got around Durham using Uber and forcing my friend who lives in town to give me rides. So I’m not an expert on the parking situation or how expensive it can get.
By Plane: Durham shares an airport with Raleigh, North Carolina. It’s pretty easy to remember because it’s called the Raleigh-Durham International airport. North Carolina has another airport in Charlotte, but the one in Raleigh-Durham is much closer. ( I recommend using a search engine like Expedia to search for the best prices on flights.)
By Bus or Train: You can definitely get to Durham by train or bus, and I’ve done both. I’ve gone to Durham by Amtrak from Washington DC, and it’s a pretty smooth ride. You can check out the Amtrak schedules here.
If you want the cheapest ride, you can always take Megabus. I’ve gone to Durham from Richmond, Virginia by Megabus, and it was easy and punctual and very cheap. Just keep in mind that Megabus definitely might be delayed.
I hope this guide helped you find the best hotels in Raleigh Durham NC! If not, you can explore tons of other hotels in Durham by clicking here! This search engine will show you the perfect choices for your taste and budget. And I hope to run into you at a Durham Bulls game some day!
Stella’s Top 3 Picks: Best Hotels in Raleigh Durham NC
#1 TOP PICK

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
COMFORT INN
✔️ Complimentary breakfast
✔️Great location
#2 PICK

UNIVERSITY INN
✔️Right near Duke!
✔️ Surprisingly affordable
#3 PICK

ALL OTHER DURHAM HOTELS
✔️ Find your favorite!
✔️ Get the best deals
You can also try a day with the best things to do in Downtown Durham. Check out the most unique things to do in Durham NC. Experience 24 hours in Charleston. Why not try a one day in Charleston itinerary? Go for the best tours in Charleston South Carolina.
