Route 100 gets you from RDU to Amtrak for about $3–5
Amtrak Raleigh Union Station via GoTriangle 100 is the rock-bottom-cost way to link RDU Terminals 1 or 2 with intercity trains, but it runs on transit time, not airline time. Expect roughly 45–75 minutes door to door, including the airport bus, a stop at GoRaleigh Station, and either a 10–15 minute walk or short hop to Union Station.
GoTriangle Route 100 boards outside both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 and costs $2.25 one-way as of 2026. Buses generally run every 30 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays, with no Sunday service at all, so a missed departure can add a full half hour to your connection.
Route 100 drops you at or near GoRaleigh Station, about 0.5 miles from Raleigh Union Station. You can walk it in around 10–15 minutes, or take a local bus that usually runs every 15–30 minutes on weekdays; those downtown hops add roughly $1.25–$2.25 to your total fare.
Count your full RDU → Amtrak cost as about $2–5 depending on whether you walk or take that extra local bus. Some riders skip the bus transfer and spend $7–10 on a rideshare from GoRaleigh Station to Union Station to cut hassle while still paying far less than an airport–downtown taxi.
One regular on r/raleigh described this link as “totally possible” but not plug-and-play, and that’s accurate. You have to watch the Route 100 schedule, the local bus times around GoRaleigh Station, and your Amtrak departure; many riders build in at least one full bus headway (30 minutes) as a buffer.
Another traveler mentioned arriving in Raleigh the night before an early-morning Carolinian because they didn’t trust the first Route 100 to line up with their train. That’s the right mindset for any Amtrak before about 9:00 a.m. or after about 9:00 p.m., when Route 100 hours and frequencies start to pinch.
Step-by-step: RDU to Raleigh Union Station on Route 100
- 1. Exit your terminal and find Route 100. From Terminal 1 or 2, follow signs to public buses; look specifically for GoTriangle Route 100 toward Raleigh, which typically runs every 30 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays.
- 2. Pay your $2.25 fare onboard. Have small bills or a contactless option ready; the current adult one-way on Route 100 is $2.25, and drivers do not make change.
- 3. Ride to GoRaleigh Station. Stay on Route 100 until the downtown stop at or near GoRaleigh Station; the bus portion usually takes about 30–40 minutes depending on traffic on I‑40 and Western Boulevard.
- 4. Decide walk vs. transfer. From GoRaleigh Station you can walk roughly 0.5 miles (about 10–15 minutes) to Raleigh Union Station, or board a local bus toward the Warehouse District, adding about $1.25–$2.25 to your cost.
- 5. Walk into Union Station for Amtrak check-in. Allow 5–10 minutes inside Raleigh Union Station to find your platform for the Carolinian, Piedmont, or other trains; doors usually close a few minutes before scheduled departure.
Tip: If your Amtrak is time-critical, build in at least one extra Route 100 headway (30 minutes) or plan to grab a $7–10 rideshare from GoRaleigh Station so a missed local bus doesn’t cost you your train.