Cary travel guide

Cary Tourism | Cary Guide

You're Going to Love Cary

With a population of 135,234, Cary is a must-see destination in North Carolina, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Cary deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Where to Eat in Cary

If you’re looking for affordable options, Dean's Kitchen + Bar (formally Dean's Seafood Grill & Bar) (1080 Darrington Dr) and Lugano Ristorante (1060 Darrington Dr) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Catalan Tapas Bar (4214 NW Cary Pkwy) and Saffron Indian Cuisine (2048 Kildaire Farm Rd) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Cary.

When to visit Cary

Cary in December
Estimated hotel price
$142
1 night at 3-star hotel
Cary in December
Estimated hotel price
$142
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Cary in July, when the average temperature is 78.8 °F, and the highest can go up to 87.8 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 32 °F, with an average temperature of 41 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in July, when precipitation is around 5.2″. In contrast, November is usually the driest month of the year in Cary, with an average rainfall of 3″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Cary

Plane

When flying to Cary, you’ll arrive at Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU), which is located 6 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Cary include American Airlines, Delta and WestJet. The shortest domestic flight to Cary departs from Fort Lauderdale and takes around 2h 05m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Cary. The train journey from Cary to Greensboro takes 1h 37m and costs around $13 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Charlotte, expect to pay about $28 for a 2h 51m trip. The train station in Cary is called Cary, and is located 0.2 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Cary is to pick up a car rental from Charlotte, which is about 122 miles from Cary. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Easirent, among others, in Charlotte.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Cary, including CoachRun, Tornado Bus and Greyhound. From Greensboro, the bus ride to Cary takes 90 miles and will cost you around $71. From Richmond, the ticket costs about $80 for a journey of 160 miles.

Plane

When flying to Cary, you’ll arrive at Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU), which is located 6 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Cary include American Airlines, Delta and WestJet. The shortest domestic flight to Cary departs from Fort Lauderdale and takes around 2h 05m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Cary. The train journey from Cary to Greensboro takes 1h 37m and costs around $13 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Charlotte, expect to pay about $28 for a 2h 51m trip. The train station in Cary is called Cary, and is located 0.2 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Cary is to pick up a car rental from Charlotte, which is about 122 miles from Cary. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Easirent, among others, in Charlotte.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Cary, including CoachRun, Tornado Bus and Greyhound. From Greensboro, the bus ride to Cary takes 90 miles and will cost you around $71. From Richmond, the ticket costs about $80 for a journey of 160 miles.

Airlines serving Cary

Lufthansa
Good (4,676 reviews)
KLM
Good (845 reviews)
SWISS
Good (950 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,623 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,257 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,582 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (488 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,601 reviews)
Air France
Good (979 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,109 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,434 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,984 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,996 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (228 reviews)
Finnair
Good (856 reviews)
LOT
Good (677 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (932 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,169 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (837 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (412 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Cary

From 5-star hotels such as the The Umstead Hotel and Spa to great affordable options like the Hilton Garden Inn Raleigh-Cary, Cary offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $173 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $463 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include TownePlace Suites by Marriott Raleigh Cary/Weston Parkway and Best Western PLUS Cary Inn - NC State.

Where to stay in popular areas of Cary

Most booked hotels in Cary

Hyatt House Raleigh / RDU / Brier Creek
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 1410 reviews)
$152+
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Raleigh - Cary
4 stars
Excellent (8.8, 206 reviews)
$143+
Hyatt Place Raleigh/Cary
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1166 reviews)
$131+
Hilton Garden Inn Raleigh-Cary
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 184 reviews)
$140+
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson RaleighDurham Air
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 1622 reviews)
$120+
Ramada by Wyndham Raleigh
2 stars
Excellent (8.1, 1470 reviews)
$75+

Renting a car in Cary

Renting a car in Cary costs $60 per day, on average, or $120 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Cary (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Cary is Full-size (Ford Transit or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Toyota Corolla or similar) are, on average, 40% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Cary costs $60 per day, on average, or $120 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Cary (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Cary is Full-size (Ford Transit or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Toyota Corolla or similar) are, on average, 40% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.