Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
5
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
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  • happymommywith3
    South Plainfield, New Jersey154 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Perfect way to enjoy a beautiful day
    Absolutely gorgeous and well maintained. What’s even better, it’s FREE! We went on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. It was crowded and parked in the overflow lot. Parking only cost $2 per hour. We also took a detour and visited Duke chapel. Amazing!
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 26 March 2023
  • Don N
    Raleigh, North Carolina2,092 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Gardens
    This is a must see in Durham especially in the spring but also all months other than winter. And it's free other than a $2 hour charge for parking. This is a very large garden so out your comfortable walking shoes on. The terrace area is the most popular. Right now there are several thousand tulips blooming. But the Asiatic Arboretum is good with a lot of Japanese inspired sculptures and small buildings. There is a large pond and several other ponds throughout with some small waterfalls There is a visitor center with a small gift shop and restrooms. A must see!
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 5 April 2023
  • Justin P
    Raleigh, North Carolina4,505 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Spring Gardens
    We took our dog for a walk at Duke Gardens in early April. Dogs are allowed before 10, so we got there when they opened at 8. There are several miles of paved paths throughout the gardens as well as beautiful bridges, terraces and arbors. The tulips in the terrace garden were in peak bloom and absolutely gorgeous. I also really loved the Japanese red arch bridge. The gardens are free to enjoy, but parking is $2 per hour. Definitely a must-visit in Durham, especially in spring.
    Visited April 2023
    Written 6 April 2023
  • Cheryl H
    Virginia Beach, Virginia15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Gorgeous gardens!
    My daughter and I went the Duke Gardens last Sunday. The views are breathtaking when looking at the lakes, trees, and plants. I was so pleased that the plants and trees are labeled. I love to know the names of all flora. Be prepared for a lot of walking if you want to see all of it. The pathways are made so you can circle back if you need to shorten your walk. There were terraces of the most beautiful tulips in full bloom. It is free to go to the gardens. The parking was $2 per hour. Well worth the cost to see the beauty.
    Visited April 2023
    Written 11 April 2023
  • Deb C
    Milton, Delaware281 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Pretty gardens
    Got here early on a Saturday. Cute little gift shop and welcome center The gardens provided a nice walk around the lake. Along the way were restrooms and trash receptacles which was a nice touch Whole journey took us about an hour and a half
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 26 June 2023
  • BLUEMOON
    Towson, Maryland18 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A beautiful treasure!
    My visit to this garden was exhilarating! Early August was rather hot but the canopy of trees and paths and sotting spaces in every area was refreshing. The gardens were looking extremely well maintained and were so very beautiful!!! One can meander for hours enjoying the main display beds, the ponds, the trails, the Japanese garden area and the Children’s discovery space. Loved my visit!!!!
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 27 August 2023
  • Sandra D
    San Diego, California24 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful In Any Season
    The gardens are extensive but manageable on a two hour visit. The paths are well maintained and easy to walk in your tennis shoes. The native garden is clearly beautiful in all seasons since we were there in the fall and even though the flowering plants were at a minimum we enjoyed the shrubs, the moss on the ponds, the winterberry holly and much more. Don’t miss the Japanese garden. There is also a easy exit from the garden to visit the Duke Chapel.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 16 October 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles2,208 reviews
Excellent
1,845
Very good
318
Average
29
Poor
10
Terrible
6

dsg2keb1
9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
Beautiful grounds with lots of trail options. We visited in the winter but it was still worth the visit. We will definitely return in the spring/summer.
Written 31 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

FactotumDellaCitta
London, UK3,878 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Couples
These are lovely gardens with a large variety of plants from different parts of the globe. The gardens are well worth a visit.
Written 27 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

OlgaM714
Miami, FL168 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Family
Beautiful and Mesmerizing
It’s winter still beautiful.
Perfect to spend a day and reenergized.
Reconnecting with our Mother Nature
Written 26 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Psychdeb2
Worcester, MA57 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
While the gardens may be beautiful, they are not handicapped accessible. I walk with a three-leg walker into which I place my portable oxygen concentrator (POC) because it is heavy. Very little of the gardens are paved, and the pebbles are not easily pushed over. I was told that there is a jeep tour several times a week but the cost is $60.00. By all means, visit these lovely gardens but not if you use a walker.
Written 23 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robin L
Noblesville, IN43 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Solo
Absolutely beautiful environment! I visited on a Monday morning and had no difficulty finding a parking space. The volunteers were very helpful and informative. The plants, flowers, water, and grounds were amazing.
Written 16 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sandra D
San Diego, CA24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
The gardens are extensive but manageable on a two hour visit. The paths are well maintained and easy to walk in your tennis shoes. The native garden is clearly beautiful in all seasons since we were there in the fall and even though the flowering plants were at a minimum we enjoyed the shrubs, the moss on the ponds, the winterberry holly and much more. Don’t miss the Japanese garden. There is also a easy exit from the garden to visit the Duke Chapel.
Written 16 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alex M
20 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Solo
It's a nice enough place, but nothing out of the ordinary that can't be seen elsewhere like at Golden Gate Park or other places that justify a $2.00/hour parking. highway robbery. And it's not like the parking lot is that full. And you can't really park somewhere else, no street parking nearby at all. And the speed bumps are horrible too. Better use of time and money somewhere else.
Written 27 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BLUEMOON
Towson, MD18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Solo
My visit to this garden was exhilarating! Early August was rather hot but the canopy of trees and paths and sotting spaces in every area was refreshing. The gardens were looking extremely well maintained and were so very beautiful!!!

One can meander for hours enjoying the main display beds, the ponds, the trails, the Japanese garden area and the Children’s discovery space. Loved my visit!!!!
Written 27 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

teknoge3k
Rocky Mount, VA1,573 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023
This was a nice garden to walk through on the Duke campus. It was well maintained and shaded most of the way. We enjoyed killing an hour here and would go back.
Written 24 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stephen K
Winter Park, FL4,326 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Family
Wow, loved this place and its massive. The Asian garden takes up about a quarter of the park & we wandered around just that area and we were there for about hour and a half.
Written 11 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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SARAH P. DUKE GARDENS: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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