Duke Gardens strives to welcome all visitors.
Accessibility During Construction
The Garden Gateway is a transformational expansion and renovation project that will greatly enhance accessibility at Duke Gardens. Construction is now underway and expected to be finished in Spring 2026.
During the construction period, the grounds of Duke Gardens are open, but the main entrance at 420 Anderson Street is closed and there is no access to the Doris Duke Center and the Gardens’ parking lots.
Visitors may enter the Gardens through a temporary pedestrian entrance at 2000 Lewis St., and public parking is available on weekends in the nearby Duke University H lot, located on Anderson Street and Yearby Avenue.
Accommodation Assistance
If you are an individual with a disability and require accommodations in order to access the temporary entrance, please contact the Duke Access and Accommodation Services (DAAS) Office as soon as possible to request a parking place close to the temporary entrance. DAAS can be contacted by phone (919-668-1267) or email (DAAS@duke.edu). You can also submit a request online using the button below. We encourage visitors try to contact DAAS at least 24 hours in advance and during standard business hours in order to better ensure that accommodations can be put in place for your visit.
Garden Access
Duke Gardens is located in a ravine and was designed, for the most part, decades ago, so there are many changes in slope throughout the gardens. Some path slope changes exceed the 5 percent standard set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Some areas have steps, and some paths with loose gravel may be difficult for people who use wheelchairs. Duke Gardens does not provide mobility assistance devices for visitor use, but we do operate a mobility support trolley seasonally, from 1 March to 16 November, for visitors that need mobility assistance.
Before entering the Gardens, please be sure to stop by our visitor kiosk for a map that shows the most accessible routes among the Gardens’ 5 miles of allées, walks and pathways. We have improved our accessibility considerably in the last few years, including the entry allée, and we will continue to make the Gardens increasingly accessible and enjoyable for all visitors.
Labels of various plants and foliage are easily visible. There are shaded benches throughout the gardens, as well as drinking fountains at the Fish Pool, in the Ruth Mary Meyer Japanese Garden and in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden. Duke Gardens does not offer wheelchair rentals.
Restrooms equipped with accessible features are located next to the Lewis St. pedestrian entrance.
Mobility Support Trolley
To expand access to the Gardens for all visitors, we offer a mobility support trolley, which operates seasonally from 1 March to 16 November. During the season, the trolley runs daily, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,* for those requiring assistance.The trolley is a six-seat electric golf cart equipped with seat belts and hand rails for safety, driven by one of our friendly Gardens Ambassadors. This free, volunteer-led accessibility service runs on a set route throughout the Gardens, with stops along the way for visitors to embark and disembark the trolley as desired. Importantly, visitors must be able to get themselves on and off the trolley independently.
*Subject to volunteer availability and weather conditions.
Questions about accessibility at Duke Gardens?
Please contact us at 919-684-3698 or gardens@duke.edu.