Accessibility

Duke Gardens strives to welcome all visitors, and safety and accessibility are top priorities.

The Duke Gardens parking lot has dedicated accessible parking spots for visitors with mobility challenges and ADA tags. 

Pedestrian pathways leading to Duke Gardens through the Barnes Welcome Center and Gateway Gardens have been designed with accessibility in mind. More gently sloping, ADA-compliant grading and inclusive walkways with firm, stable and slip-resistant surfaces improve access for visitors of all abilities. Restrooms equipped with accessible features are located in the Barnes Welcome Center. 

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 mid-March to mid-November, for visitors that need mobility assistance.

Before entering the Gardens, please be sure to stop by the Barnes Welcome Center Visitor Lobby or our outdoor visitor kiosk in the Barnes Welcome Center courtyard 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, and we will continue to make the Gardens increasingly accessible and enjoyable for all visitors. 

To expand access to the Gardens for all visitors, we offer a mobility support trolley, which operates seasonally from mid-March to mid-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.

The Barnes Welcome Center at the main entrance to Duke Gardens features upgraded restroom amenities equipped with accessible features and accessed from the outdoor courtyard. The restrooms in the Barnes Welcome Center are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (March to October) and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (November to February). 

Labels of various plants and foliage are easily visible. There are shaded benches throughout the gardens, as well as drinking fountains outside the Terrace Gardens restrooms, in the Ruth Mary Meyer Japanese Garden and in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden.

Duke Gardens does not offer wheelchair rentals.

Questions about accessibility at Duke Gardens?

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