Terminal 1 hosts 5 airlines across 9 gates. You'll find 7 dining options, 5 shops here.
Most Southwest flights at RDU leave from Terminal 1’s 9 gates
Terminal 1 at RDU is the compact side of the airport, with just 9 gates in a straight line and almost all of them used by Southwest. Alaska Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Breeze Airways, and Sun Country Airlines also run from here, but day to day it feels like a Southwest house terminal. The upside: you can walk from security to the farthest gate in under 5 minutes.
Security in T1 usually moves faster than Terminal 2, but the 5–7 a.m. Southwest bank can still jam things up. Regulars on r/raleigh say they clear security and reach a gate in under 20 minutes at off-peak times. CLEAR runs here for both standard and PreCheck lines, and flyers say it helps during the early morning rush when several departures stack together.
The layout is simple: one security checkpoint, then a single concourse that runs past gates and a central cluster of food near the middle. Sit near the far end of the concourse if you want it quieter; Google reviewers point out that the noise drops off the farther you get from the restaurant zone by roughly gates A4–A6. Seating can vanish fast when three or four Southwest departures board at once, so grab a chair when you see one.
Food is limited compared with T2, and Yelp reviews call that out a lot. Puro Gusto near gate A6 covers basic Italian-style coffee, sandwiches, and pastries, while Raleigh Beer Garden by A4 pours local draft beer for pre-flight time-killing. CharGrill handles burger duty, and Smashed Waffles serves waffle sandwiches and sweet waffle plates that actually match the “Smashed” name.
For breakfast or caffeine, you’re mostly looking at Dunkin’ and Caribou Coffee, both on the concourse side past security. Dunkin’ lines spike before the 6–7 a.m. departures, and people report 15-minute waits there while Caribou stays a bit calmer. WRAL NewsCafé fills the gap with made-to-order breakfast items and basic sandwiches during the day, but reviews say late-evening food choices can shrink to whatever’s left in the case.
No lounges operate in Terminal 1, so there’s nowhere to flash a Priority Pass or airline card. Flyers with long layovers and separate tickets sometimes walk over to Terminal 2 landside, grab better food there, then come back through T1 security an hour before boarding. Build at least 30–40 minutes for that round-trip, including re-clearing security in Terminal 1.
Shopping is lean but covers basics: The District by Root & Branch sells local-style gifts and small-batch snacks; Natalie’s Candy Jar handles the candy-by-the-scoop crowd; Five Points News & Gift plus Hudson stock magazines, chargers, and neck pillows. The WRAL Travel Store in the terminal adds more newsstand-style merch and last-minute travel items if you forgot something at home.
Watch out for a few pain points. Multiple Skytrax reviews call TSA staff in Terminal 1 “rude” or “condescending,” so build a patience buffer alongside your time buffer. Power outlets near the central seating go fast, but Yelp reviewers say you’ll find open plugs along the windows toward the far gates if you walk a couple of minutes. One practical move: if you’re on Southwest in the 5–7 a.m. wave, be at security by 4:30–4:45 a.m. and grab coffee before you head to the quieter seats at the end of the concourse.