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
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Sarah P. Duke Gardens and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
399 within 3 miles
Attractions
96 within 6 miles
See what travellers are saying
- happymommywith3South Plainfield, New Jersey154 contributionsPerfect way to enjoy a beautiful dayAbsolutely 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 2023Travelled with familyWritten 26 March 2023
- Don NRaleigh, North Carolina2,092 contributionsBeautiful GardensThis 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 2023Travelled soloWritten 5 April 2023
- Justin PRaleigh, North Carolina4,505 contributionsBeautiful Spring GardensWe 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 2023Written 6 April 2023
- Cheryl HVirginia Beach, Virginia15 contributionsGorgeous 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 2023Written 11 April 2023
- Deb CMilton, Delaware281 contributionsPretty gardensGot 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 halfVisited June 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 26 June 2023
- BLUEMOONTowson, Maryland18 contributionsA 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 2023Travelled soloWritten 27 August 2023
- Sandra DSan Diego, California24 contributionsBeautiful In Any SeasonThe 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 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 16 October 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
2,208 reviews
Excellent
1,845
Very good
318
Average
29
Poor
10
Terrible
6
dsg2keb1
9 contributions
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
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
Dec 2023 • Family
Beautiful and Mesmerizing
It’s winter still beautiful.
Perfect to spend a day and reenergized.
Reconnecting with our Mother Nature
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
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
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
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
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
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!!!!
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
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
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.
Traveler700542
Durham, NC1 contribution
When will you open the garden. I have a visitor in May and I would like you to visit that beautiful garden.
Do we have to pay to get in and If I do plan on having a picnic here am I allowed to bring in food?
franwhaley
Durham, NC3 contributions
You do not have to pay to get in. You go have to pay to park. And you can bring food. But the Garden is closed right now due to Covid-19. Check their website for updates.
Cuánto cuesta la entrada
DukeGardens
Durham, NC
Hola - la entrada cuesta nada, pero el estacionamento cuesta $2/hora. Que le tenga una buena experiencia!
Michael A
163 contributions
Is there a fee to get in ?
G0urmand101
Riverside, CT32 contributions
Yes, if you park in their lots there is an hourly fee. If not, I believe you can walk in or ride a bike without charge.
ReviewsBySL
NC11 contributions
Are there picnic tables or do we just need to bring a blanket to sit on if we want to have a picnic?
Pashmore2
Augusta, GA98 contributions
The Gardens were gorgeous when we went! The volunteers that worked at the little gift shop was so nice! Thanks
Vanessa A
5 contributions
Will plan to visit in March , spring break, will there be flowers in bloom already? Thanks...
Kathleen S
105 contributions
yes
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingSARAH P. DUKE GARDENS: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Sarah P. Duke Gardens
- Hotels near Sarah P. Duke Gardens:
- (0.16 mi) Ronald McDonald House of Durham
- (0.54 mi) Hilton Garden Inn Durham/University Medical Center
- (0.68 mi) The Lodge at Duke Medical Center
- (1.20 mi) Morehead Manor Bed and Breakfast
- (1.13 mi) Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club
- Restaurants near Sarah P. Duke Gardens:
- (0.25 mi) Nasher Museum Cafe
- (0.53 mi) Parizade
- (0.75 mi) JuJu Durham
- (0.72 mi) Burger Bach
- (0.79 mi) Vin Rouge
- Attractions near Sarah P. Duke Gardens:
- (0.17 mi) Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
- (0.50 mi) Duke University
- (0.51 mi) Duke University Chapel
- (0.71 mi) Bull City Escape
- (1.54 mi) Trolley Pub