Overview
Cary is a town in the Research Triangle of North Carolina. It is primarily a fast-growing suburb of Raleigh, the state capital, but has developed some economic gravity of its own. Cary is known throughout the area for having a very high population of non-native residents. The name of the city is jokingly referred to as standing for Containment/Concentration Area for Relocated Yankees.
1 sights · 9 things to do · 6 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Cary
North Carolina Courage
The Courage were the 2018 champions of the National Women's Soccer League, the top level of the U.S. women's sport. They used to play as the Western New York Flash in Rochester. After the 2016 season, the owner of NCFC b…
Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Performance venue in Cary hosting a multitude of cultural events including Diwali and the Dragon Boat Festival.
Lake Crabtree County Park
Even though the park entrance is from the nearby town of Morrisville, significant portions of the park are in Cary. This wooded park has many small criss-crossing hiking and mountain-biking trails, and one 6-mile-long tr…
William B. Umstead Park
Though the main entrance to Umstead Park is in Raleigh, some trails start from Cary.
Cary Arts Center
The downtown hub of arts activity: performances, gallery, classes, events.
North Carolina FC
North Carolina FC, renamed from Carolina Railhawks after the 2016 season, are a second division (NASL) professional soccer team that plays in WakeMed Soccer Park, a 10,000-seat stadium that is part of a larger 150-acre m…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. Summer highs reach about 91°F; winter lows dip to about 32°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Sep and Jul. (climate data from nearby Research Triangle)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- RDU Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Raleigh/Durham — 7 mi away (major hub). Directions
- FAY Fayetteville Regional Airport - Grannis Field, Fayetteville — 55 mi away. Directions
Cary is approximately 9 miles (13 km) from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). RDU is served by all major U.S. airlines including Southwest, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. These and other airlines provide direct connections to most major hubs, including Atlanta, Washington-Dulles, Baltimore-Washington, Chicago (Midway and O'Hare), New York City (LaGuardia), Las Vegas, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Phoenix, and a limited number of international hubs, like London, Paris, and Toronto. Most other major cities in the U.S. are reachable after a single connecting flight.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Cary Arts Center, William B. Umstead Park, Lake Crabtree County Park
- Lunch Himalayan Nepali Cuisine
- Afternoon North Carolina FC, Fred G. Bond Metro Park
- Dinner Hot Breads Cafe
- Evening Bond Brothers Beer Company
Day 2
- Morning Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, Koka Booth Amphitheatre
- Lunch Sushi Thai
- Afternoon North Carolina Courage, MacGregor Downs Country Club
- Dinner Crosstown Pub & Grill
- Evening Fortnight Brewing Company
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By plane
Cary is approximately 9 miles (13 km) from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). RDU is served by all major U.S. airlines including Southwest, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. These and other airlines provide direct connections to most major hubs, including Atlanta, Washington-Dulles, Baltimore-Washington, Chicago (Midway and O'Hare), New York City (LaGuardia), Las Vegas, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Phoenix, and a limited number of international hubs, like London, Paris, and Toronto. Most other major cities in the U.S. are reachable after a single connecting flight.
By car
- Interstate 40 runs just north of Cary and goes to points west including Durham, Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Asheville. Two and a half hours east on I-40 is Wilmington and the North Carolina Beaches.
- Interstate 440 serves as the inner loop surrounding Raleigh.
- NC 540 is a toll road which passes through Western Cary, eventually becoming Interstate 540, Raleigh's outer beltway.
- US 1 runs through Cary on its way along the Eastern Seaboard.
- US 64 serves the south of Cary connecting Raleigh with Asheboro.
By train
Amtrak has 2 lines serving Cary. The Carolinian/Piedmont service starts in Charlotte with the Piedmont terminating in Raleigh and the Carolinian continuing towards New York City. The Silver Service stops in Cary on its way to Florida from New York. The train station is at 211 North Academy Street.
By bus
GoTriangle offers bus service from Raleigh and from the Regional Transit Center, with connections to Durham, Chapel Hill, and other towns in the Triangle.
Get around
The immediate downtown area can be walked but Cary is fairly spread out and is best traveled by car. If you are visiting the area there are several car rental locations nearby at RDU International Airport.
By bus
Cary's bus service is GoCary, and it is also served by the affiliated Research Triangle regional bus system GoTriangle. GoCary lines 1 and 2 are loop routes, while lines 3-6 terminate at the train station.
See
Do
Do North Carolina FC
North Carolina FC, renamed from Carolina Railhawks after the 2016 season, are a second division (NASL) professional soccer team that plays in WakeMed Soccer Park, a 10,000-seat stadium that is part of a larger 150-acre multi-use complex. The team plays from April through October and tickets start at $10.
Do North Carolina Courage
The Courage were the 2018 champions of the National Women's Soccer League, the top level of the U.S. women's sport. They used to play as the Western New York Flash in Rochester. After the 2016 season, the owner of NCFC bought the Flash and moved them to the Triangle, renaming the team in honor of a former women's pro soccer team in the area. The Courage share WakeMed Soccer Park with NCFC. The season and ticket prices are similar to those for NCFC.
Do Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve
Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve has three miles of trails on 150 acres along Swift Creek. The preserve has several plants and trees that are not common to the piedmont region of North Carolina along with bird and wildlife viewing opportunities and various nature programs throughout the year.
Golf
If golf is your thing, then check out the many public and private golf courses within Cary.
Buy
Eat
Eat Sushi Thai
Japanese and Thai cuisine. Most entrees between $10-20.
Eat Himalayan Nepali Cuisine
Eat Guasaca
Local chain for Venezuelan arepas. Vegetarian and vegan options available.
Drink
Cary doesn't have many traditional bars, but there are a few taverns and pubs scattered around the residential areas.
Drink Bond Brothers Beer Company
Local craft brewery in the heart of downtown Cary.
Drink Fortnight Brewing Company
Craft brewery with food trucks.
Coffee
- La Farm Bakery Two locations, one downtown, one along Cary Parkway. Bakery with an espresso bar as well as a French-American cafe menu.
Sleep
Nearby
Apex
City / town · 10 listings · 4 mi away
Raleigh
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Fuquay-Varina
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Durham
City / town · 53 listings · 16 mi away
Chapel Hill
City / town · 68 listings · 17 mi away
Wake Forest
City / town · 19 listings · 21 mi away
Pittsboro
City / town · 15 listings · 21 mi away
Hillsborough
City / town · 16 listings · 26 mi away
My experience
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