Parking & Transportation

Students boarding a bus.

Parking Permits for Cars

Students with cars must obtain a parking permit from the Duke Parking and Transportation Services Office located at  302 Science Drive, on the ground level of the Science Drive Parking Garage. Open Mon. - Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Enter the garage from the Thomas Center driveway off Science Drive; pull a ticket to enter. To avoid a parking fee, ask a customer service representative for a validation ticket to use when leaving the garage. 919-684-PARK (7275). See the Duke Parking web site for permit options. Students' parking permit fees are billed to their bursar account.

Students living at Central Campus Apartments may only purchase "Central" permits.  Students residing off campus may purchase "Blue Zone" permits or permits for commuter lots based on availability.  Parking permits are valid only in their designated zones from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Information on valid parking outside these hours is available at the Duke Parking web site.

Buses, Vans, Bicycles, and Rent-A-Car Services

Duke Transportation 919-684-2218 operates free buses for students and staff seven days a week between the hours of 7:15 a.m. (8:30 a.m. on weekends) and 9:00 p.m. during the summer. Summer routes include stops on West Campus, in Central Campus, along Campus Drive, and on East Campus. Duke's GPS transit system, TransLoc, allows real-time location data for Duke buses. Duke community members and visitors can use a computer or mobile device to track buses at any of the 113 bus stops on and around campus. Visit the Transloc site to see the buses in real time or download the application.

Duke Vans 919/ 684-2020 operates door-to-door van service from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily on campus when and where bus service does not operate, and to certain off-campus locations. Service maps for Duke Transit and Duke Vans are available at Duke Vans. Transit schedules for summer 2017 will be available after May 1, 2017.

Bicycling at Duke is an ideal way to get around, whether it's for exercise or transportation, and Duke makes it easy and convenient for students, faculty and staff to park safely and close to buildings. Visit Bicycling at Duke for bicycling information and resources. 

The Bull City Connector is a fare-free route from Duke University to the Golden Belt artistic hub, including Ninth Street and downtown Durham. The bus runs every 17 minutes! Monday-Friday, 6:30am-9pm, and Saturday, 10am-9pm.  the Bull City Connector is an easy way for students, faculty, and staff to explore downtown Durham for dining and entertainment pleasure. 

The GoPass allows all Duke students and eligible faculty and staff to take unlimited rides on  GoDurham, GoTriangle, and GoRaleigh. The GoPass is free to students. Eligible faculty, staff, visiting scholars, emeriti, temporary employees, and contract employees pay $25/year. 

Enterprise CarShare is a membership-based car-sharing program on campus for people who are looking for an alternative method of transportation that lowers the cost and reduces the hassles of traditional transportation. It provides Duke students, faculty, and staff with a convenient and eco-friendly way to get around—whether to run errands, travel to meetings, or to take a road trip. Enterprise CarShare rates range from $9 to $11 an hour or $66 to $72 per day, depending on the vehicle. After the first 200 miles, the cost is 45 cents per mile. For terms and conditions, and to join Enterprise CarShare, visit the Enterprise CarShare website.