Flying from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to Nairobi: what you need to know
Nairobi is seven hours ahead of Durham, where Raleigh-Durham International Airport is located. Nairobi observes the UTC+3 timezone.
Allow plenty of time to make your RDU to Nairobi flight. As a rule of thumb, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Heading away during a peak period like school or public holidays? Expect longer queues at check-in and security. To play it safe, arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours ahead of domestic departures.
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to break up your journey and maybe even tick off a new city. When searching for plane tickets from RDU to Nairobi, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Popular options include:
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
RDU is about 16 kilometres from central Durham. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take 20 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the journey time to be around 1 hour 10 minutes.
Want a relaxed start to your holiday? Stay near RDU. Whether you've booked an early flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Nairobi or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels have you covered:
Raleigh-Durham International Airport maintains a solid on-time record, so you're less likely to experience disruptions. Departures from RDU land on schedule 80.09% of the time.
How to find the cheapest flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to Nairobi
324 € is the cheapest price we've found for a one-way Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Nairobi flight. A return plane ticket right now is 673 €. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares may change.
Booking early is often the key to locking in a cheap flight from RDU to Nairobi. Prices tend to rise as demand increases, so the nearer your departure date, the more you'll likely pay.
If you're flexible with your travel dates, try using the 'Whole month' tool. It'll show you the cheapest price across each month when looking for your Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Nairobi ticket.
Picking up a cheap flight from RDU to Nairobi is easy with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic notifications and we'll get in touch when a deal gets even better.
Find an affordable flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Nairobi with the help of our filters. Select your preferred times, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Airports in Nairobi
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) is around 14 kilometres from the centre of Nairobi. If you're grabbing a cab or a ride-share, the drive will take roughly 20 minutes.
Travelling by public transport takes about 1 hour 10 minutes.
The last thing you need is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Nairobi. Reserve one of these accommodation options near NBO instead:
Go where the road takes you with a Jomo Kenyatta International Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Auto-Union, Green Motion or Hertz and find adventure across Nairobi and beyond.
Get the best deal by reserving your vehicle from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport about three weeks ahead of your flight from RDU to Nairobi.
Wilson Airport (WIL)
Once your flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Nairobi has touched down, you can make your way to the city centre in about 15 minutes by car. Central Nairobi is roughly 3 kilometres from Wilson Airport (WIL).
Travelling by public transport will take about 45 minutes.
Hang up the 'Do not disturb' sign and relax at a hotel close to WIL. Here are a few options where you can check in after your RDU to Nairobi flight:
Why waste time waiting for public transport? A Wilson Airport rental car lets you get moving right away. Put on your favourite playlist and hit the road with a set of wheels from Auto-Union or Unicorn rent a car.
Lock in the vehicle you want, not just whatever's left, by booking your ride from WIL before your arrival. You'll also avoid last-minute price surges, especially during busy airport times.
Best time to go to Nairobi
Before locking in your flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Nairobi, consider which time of year works best for you. High season in Nairobi offers a lively atmosphere and plenty of things to do, while the low season brings cheaper hotel deals and fewer crowds.
The warmest month in Nairobi is March, with temperatures ranging between 14ºC (57ºF) and 30ºC (86ºF). Book your Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Nairobi plane ticket then if you enjoy this type of weather.
If you like cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from RDU to Nairobi in July when temperatures average between 12ºC (54ºF) and 24ºC (75ºF).
More about Nairobi
Once you've booked your flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Nairobi, choose a hotel that puts you where you want to be. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Nairobi:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be hard to work out where to begin. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Nairobi National Park and Westlands Maasai Market D at the roof top are leading attractions which should feature on any good Nairobi itinerary.
Explore more of Kenya
Mombasa is just one of the many cities in Kenya waiting to be discovered once you've taken in the sights of Nairobi. Around 434 kilometres away to the south-east, its best attractions include Fort Jesus, Haller Park and Old Town of Mombasa.
If you're interested in discovering another well-known destination in Kenya, consider Nakuru, about 145 kilometres north-west of Nairobi. ARTHUR GARDENS (WEDDING/EVENT GROUNDS), Upper Hill estate and Muhia's Conservation Forest are the start of reasons to visit.
