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Welcome to Sarah P. Duke Gardens!

We’re thrilled to share 55 acres of beautiful gardens in the heart of Duke University with you and more than 600,000 people who visit us annually.

Since its dedication in 1939, Duke Gardens has developed dramatically and beautifully. It now features four distinct areas: the original Terraces and their immediate surroundings, known as the Historic Gardens; the H.L. Blomquist Garden of Native Plants, a representation of the flora of the Southeastern United States; the W.L. Culberson Asiatic Arboretum, devoted to plants of eastern Asia; and the Doris Duke Center Gardens, including the new Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden.

There are five miles of allées, walks, and pathways throughout the gardens. We hope you enjoy your visit! 

Hours

Outdoor Spaces

8 a.m. to dusk, 365 days a year

including the restrooms in the Terrace Gardens and Culberson Asiatic Arboretum.

Visitor Center

9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 7 days a week

including the information desk and restrooms in the Doris Duke Center. Closed on university holidays.

Terrace Café

11 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.; noon-4 p.m. Sun.

Closed from mid-November to early spring and on university holidays. Learn more.

Dogs Permitted

Before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m. daily

Learn more about our dog walking policies.

Getting Here

There are many ways to get to Duke Gardens, whether on foot or via car, bike or rideshare. Our GPS address is 420 Anderson St., Durham, N.C., 27705.

Parking is limited, so we urge you to consider alternatives.

Admission & Parking

Admission is free thanks to the generosity of our members and donors. Duke University Parking & Transportation charges $2 per hour for campus parking at Duke Gardens from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.

Parking is limited and often fills to capacity before 10 a.m. on beautiful days. Please see our Parking at Duke Gardens page for information about parking locations, including overflow lots, and payment options using the PayByPhone app. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How does parking work?

Can I bring my dog?

Should groups register in advance?

A family with a small baby poses for a photo on a stone bridge.

Can I take photos?

Are the Gardens accessible?

Do you offer tours?

We are happy to provide you with a Gardens map and visitor guide when you arrive. You may also view our map online and download a PDF.

Online Map ›

Make the most of your visit by discovering our gardens, exploring season plant highlights and enjoying self-guided activities.

Learn More ›

Group Gatherings

Duke Gardens is a wonderful place to gather. We have specific registration processes for many groups, including school groups, college and university groups, community groups, and groups gathering for private events, weddings and photography sessions. Click on the links to learn more.

All other groups are welcome to visit while following our group visitation policies.

Gardens Etiquette

To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for you and all visitors, please respect the Gardens’ policies and guidelines.

Duke Gardens strives to make all visitors feel welcome. Visit our accessibility page to learn more about choices visitors can make to enjoy the Gardens experience.

Learn More ›

Membership is the best way to experience all that Duke Gardens has to offer and provides essential support to funding the Gardens.

Join Today ›

Welcome to Sarah P. Duke Gardens!

We’re thrilled to share 55 acres of beautiful gardens in the heart of Duke University with you and more than 600,000 visitors who visit us annually.

There are many ways to get to Duke Gardens, whether on foot or via car, bike or rideshare. Our GPS address is 420 Anderson St., Durham, N.C., 27705. MAP 

Hours

Outdoor Spaces

8 a.m. to dusk, 365 days a year

including the restrooms in the Terrace Gardens and Culberson Asiatic Arboretum.

Visitor Center

9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 7 days a week

including the information desk and restrooms in the Doris Duke Center. Closed on university holidays.

Terrace Café

11 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.; noon-4 p.m. Sun.

Closed from mid-November to early spring and on university holidays. Learn more.

Dogs Permitted

Before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m. daily

Learn more about our dog walking policies.

Plan Your Visit

A metal pergola surrounded by brightly colored potted plants and trees.

Directions

A stone path leading to a wooden bench in an open woodland.

Parking

Café & Shop

Azaleas in bloom around an open courtyard with a stone sculpture of a dogwood flower at the center.

Gardens Map

A sea of purple Japanese roof irises

Gardens Overview

Pink water lilies rise above a pond covered with lilypads

What's Beautiful This Season

Bright pink coneflowers in front of a stone wall.

Enrich Your Visit

A large terraced garden with a pergola at the top, cherub fountains in the middle, and a golf cart with people in it at the bottom.

Tours

Shrubs with white clusters of flowers and other white flowers with a wooden pergola structure in the background

Upcoming Events & Programs

Metal pergola in the Terrace Gardens in the spring

Membership & Donations

A wooden boardwalk with large green ferns to the right and a small tree to the left

Learning Opportunities

A group of children and accompanying adults pause on a stone bridge in the Woodland Garden

K-12 School Programs

A woman wearing a "Duke" shirt sits on a stone wall in the Terrace Garden holding a book, while another woman dressed in Duke blue looks on.

College & University Visits

A gravel path surrounded by flowers on both sides.

Accessibility

A couple sits together in a wooden pavilion; an example of the formal portraiture covered by Duke Gardens' photography policies.

Photography & Videography

Blooming yellow flag iris with ferns in the background.

Gardens Policies

Questions about your visit?

Please contact us at 919-684-3698 or gardens@duke.edu.