Located in Wake County, North Carolina, Raleigh–Durham International Airport (RDU) sits surrounded by Raleigh, Cary, and Morrisville. Covering 5,000 acres as the state's second-largest airport, RDU serves Raleigh, Durham, and the broader Research Triangle region. It functions as an operating base for Breeze Airways and Endeavor Air, as well as a focus city for Delta Air Lines, connecting travellers to dozens of domestic and international destinations.
You will navigate RDU through two separate terminal facilities housing 45 total gates. Because there is no airside connection between buildings, you can transfer between terminals by riding a shuttle bus or using the moving walkway through the covered parking decks. Terminal 1 manages nine gates, while Terminal 2 houses 36 gates across Concourses C and D, handling all non-precleared international arrivals.
01 Terminals & concourses
Terminal 1 features nine gates numbered A1 through A9. It hosts several low-cost and domestic airlines including Southwest, Breeze, and Alaska.
Terminal 2 houses 36 gates across Concourses C and D, processing all non-precleared international arrivals. It hosts major domestic, international, and legacy carriers alongside multiple airport lounges.
Airport map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the whole airport — terminals, concourses, access roads and the parking garages. Zoom in for gate-level detail.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official gate/terminal maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Which terminal does my airline use?
Airlines are grouped by alliance and region. Always confirm the concourse printed on your boarding pass — assignments can change seasonally.
Show all airlines by terminal ›
Grouped by terminal — check the concourse on your boarding pass before you fly; assignments can change seasonally.
Lost, delayed or damaged baggage at RDU
If your checked bag doesn't turn up on the belt, act before you leave the baggage-claim area — that's where every airline keeps its Baggage Service Office.
- Go to your airline's Baggage Service Office in the baggage-claim hall of your arrival terminal.
- File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and get your file reference (WorldTracer) number. Keep your bag-tag receipt and boarding pass.
- Track it online using that reference on your airline's baggage-tracking page — most bags are located within 24–48 hours.
- Claim your essentials. On delayed bags airlines reimburse reasonable interim purchases (toiletries, clothing) — keep receipts. International trips are covered by the Montreal Convention.
- If it's truly lost (generally after 21 days) or damaged, file the claim at the same office — damage must be reported before you leave the airport.
Left something in the terminal (not a checked bag)? That's handled by the airport Lost & Found. Items left at a TSA security checkpoint are held by the TSA, not the airline.
03 Getting to & from RDU
These are the ground-transport options connecting the airport with the city. Fares and schedules change — check the operator before you travel.
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Shuttle bus | Provides landside transfers between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. |
| Moving walkway | Transports passengers between terminals through covered parking decks. |
04 Lounges & amenities
Terminal 2 hosts an American Airlines Admirals Club, Delta Air Lines Sky Club, United Club, and a USO lounge, with a Pepsi lounge under construction.
