Sarah P. Duke Gardens
420 Anderson Street
Durham, NC 27708
Map/Directions
The Sarah P. Duke Gardens were first opened in 1939 on 55 acres, designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman (1869-1950), a pioneer in American landscape design. Considered Shipman’s greatest work and a national architectural treasure, Duke Gardens continues to thrive long after many of Shipman’s 650 other gardens have disappeared. Duke Performances’ Music in the Gardens concerts are held every summer on a stage on the lawn, and often feature local indie rock bands and musicians from a range of American vernacular traditions. Accessed via the Doris Duke Center, the lawn can hold up to 700 people. Visitors are encouraged to bring picnics, picnic blankets, and lawn chairs; food and beverages are also available for sale. Pets are not permitted. This is a fully accessible venue with indoor washrooms.
Directions
- FROM CHAPEL HILL VIA HWY 15-501
- Take 15-501 North towards Durham.
- Merge right onto 15-501 Bypass.
- Exit for Duke Univ./ 751 (Cameron Blvd) & turn right onto 751.
- Proceed on Hwy. 751 to third stop light, then turn left onto Duke University Road.
- Follow Duke University Road to second stop light, then turn left onto Anderson Street.
- After first intersection, main entrance is 150 yards on left (half-circle drive with stone walls).
- FROM RALEIGH, CARY AND POINTS EAST
- Take U.S. 70 West to merge with I-85 South.
- Exit for Hillandale Road & turn left onto Hillandale Road.
- Hillandale Road will merge with Fulton Street at the Hwy 147 overpass.
- Proceed on Fulton Street to the Erwin Road intersection.
- Turn left on Erwin Road.
- Proceed to second stop light, turn right onto Anderson Street. The entrance is about one-half mile on the right (half-circle drive with stone walls).
- FROM GREENSBORO, BURLINGTON AND POINTS WEST
- Take I-85 North to Durham.
- Exit onto Hillandale Road, turn right at the top of exit ramp onto Hillandale Road.
- Continue on Hillandale, which will merge with Fulton Street at the Hwy 147 overpass.
- Proceed on Fulton Street to the Erwin Road intersection.
- Turn left on Erwin Road.
- Proceed to second stop light, turn right onto Anderson Street. The entrance is about one-half mile on the right (half-circle drive with stone walls).
- FROM POINTS NORTH VIA I-85
- Take I-85 South to Durham.
- Exit for Hillandale Road & turn left onto Hillandale Road.
- Continue on Hillandale, which will merge with Fulton Street at the Hwy 147 overpass.
- Proceed on Fulton Street to the Erwin Road intersection.
- Turn left on Erwin Road.
- Proceed to second stop light, turn right onto Anderson Street. The entrance is about one-half mile on the right (half-circle drive with stone walls).
- PARKING
- For Duke Gardens, there are lots adjacent to the Doris Duke Center at the Anderson Street entrance. There is an hourly charge before 5 p.m. Parking is free after 5 p.m.
- Duke Gardens Lot (Public)
- Campus Drive Lots (Permit / Duke Comm. 5pm-7am)
- Central Campus (Permit)
- Development Lot (Permit) DN Lot (Permit)
- ACCESSIBILITY
- Accessible parking available adjacent to building.
- Accessible entrance on grade level with automatic door opener.
- Accessible men’s and women’s restrooms available.