Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Sarah P. Duke Gardens is a beloved 55-acre oasis on the campus of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, consistently ranked among the finest public gardens in the United States, and free to all. It's divided into distinct areas, including the formal Italianate Terraces cascading down to a lily pond, the Asiatic Arboretum with its Japanese-style garden and arched bridge, and a garden of native plants of the Southeast. Winding paths, ponds, woodlands, and seasonal blooms make it a year-round delight.

It's a peaceful place to stroll, picnic, and watch the seasons turn, spring brings tulips and cherry blossom, summer lush greenery, autumn warm colour. A favourite with students, families, and visitors alike, it's an easy, relaxing counterpoint to Durham's museums and the university's Gothic campus. Admission is free, though parking may be charged.

Don't miss

• The Italianate Terraces and lily pond
• The Asiatic Arboretum and Japanese-style garden
• A garden of native Southeastern plants
• Seasonal blooms, tulips, cherry blossom, autumn colour
• Free admission on Duke's campus

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Cheapest way inDurham’s Landmarks and Legends: A Self-Guided Audio Tour4.2★ · 38 travelers~1 hoursFree cancellationFrom$10 per personSee dates →Most bookedGuided Walking Tour of Durham & its Infamous Characters5★ · 266 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$15 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleColombo City Highlights by Tuk Tuk – All-Inclusive Adventure5★ · 167 travelers3–4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$33 per personSee dates →

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Know before you go

• Admission is free, though parking may cost.
• Spring tulips and cherry blossom are spectacular; autumn brings warm colour.
• Don't miss the Terraces and the Asiatic Arboretum's Japanese garden.
• Bring a picnic, it's a lovely place to linger.

A bit of history

The gardens were created in the 1930s, originally funded by Sarah P. Duke and later expanded with the Terraces designed by landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman. Over the decades they grew into the 55-acre, four-part botanical showcase Duke University maintains today, free and open to the public.