Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson to Raleigh-Durham International
355 miles great-circle distance, typically flown in 1h 07m with 7 airlines operating direct service from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) to Raleigh-Durham International (RDU). Cheapest fares are usually in January (around $79 return), with peak prices in August (around $237). Departures on a Tuesday tend to undercut weekend prices on this corridor.
Flying from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson is the world's busiest airport by passenger count and Delta's main hub, with five domestic concourses and a separate international concourse all linked by an underground people mover. MARTA's Red and Gold lines run from the airport's own station directly into downtown Atlanta in around 20 minutes for $2.50 — one of the cheapest big-city airport transfers in the country. Fares from ATL are competitive on virtually every route Delta serves; ULCC carriers Spirit and Frontier add discount capacity on the heaviest leisure corridors.
Arriving in Raleigh-Durham
Raleigh-Durham International serves the Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) and is 12 miles from each. There is no rail; GoRaleigh bus 100 reaches downtown Raleigh in 45 minutes for $1.25, GoTriangle bus 805 reaches downtown Durham. Fares to RDU peak around Duke and UNC graduations (May) and major basketball games (February–March); January and August are the cheapest.
Who flies ATL to RDU?
| Airline | IATA | Flight time | Cabin |
| Delta Air Lines | DL | 1h 07m | Economy |
| Southwest Airlines | WN | 1h 07m | Economy |
| Spirit Airlines | NK | 1h 07m | Economy |
| Frontier Airlines | F9 | 1h 07m | Economy |
| American Airlines | AA | 1h 07m | Economy |
| United Airlines | UA | 1h 07m | Economy |
| JetBlue Airways | B6 | 1h 07m | Economy |
7 carriers fly direct on this corridor. Frequencies vary by season — summer and winter holiday peaks see additional flights.
Best time to fly ATL→RDU
Synthesised from 12-month price aggregates. Cheapest months in green, peak in red.
Estimated baseline. Prices update on a 30-day cadence as Travelpayouts data refreshes. Cheapest day-of-week typically Tuesday.
Atlanta to Raleigh-Durham FAQs
Direct flights from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) to Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) take approximately 1h 07m for the 355-mile journey, plus 30–60 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Total airport-to-airport time depends on cruise winds and air-traffic queueing on approach.
January is typically the cheapest month on this route, with one-way fares from $79. August is the peak — expect prices 2–3× higher. Book 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares; last-minute prices on this corridor rise sharply inside two weeks of departure.
7 carriers operate direct service from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) to Raleigh-Durham International (RDU): Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, American Airlines and 2 more. Frequencies vary by season and carrier — Delta Air Lines typically operates the highest weekly count on this corridor.
No — United States is domestic travel for US citizens. A US passport is not required for the 50 states, DC or US territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands), though Real ID-compliant ID is required at TSA from May 2025.
Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) is the primary international airport for Raleigh-Durham. Allow 30–60 minutes for the ground transfer by train, express bus, taxi or rideshare depending on traffic and time of day. See the airport's official website for current train and shuttle timetables.