Raleigh-Durham International Airport Observation Park

Good place to wait for an arrival. They broadcast from the tower which is fun. The whole place needs a makeover. Bathrooms are gross but functional, displays are faded and or broken. I want to love it but it’s just rundown.

Went during the week and there were a few people out but not at all crowded. I appreciated the seats and bathrooms under the overlook. They have a small “runway” for kids to play on and jungle gym in sand. There is information about different types of planes that any plane enthusiast would enjoy. You can hear the controllers communicating to planes which is really nice. Perfect place to help build understanding for kids when loved ones have to travel away or simply a relaxing way to enjoy airplanes. If you’re going in the heat bring a fan and a hat- Not a ton of shade.

The airplane observation deck was such an incredible experience! The views were absolutely breathtaking, with a perfect spot to watch planes take off and land up close. It felt both exciting and relaxing, and the atmosphere was great for families, aviation fans, or anyone just looking for something unique to do. Everything was well-kept, safe, and easy to access. I could have stayed for hours just enjoying the sights and sounds. A truly unforgettable 5-star experience!

Great place to take kids and bigger kids to see planes take off and land. Very neat experience with a small area for kids to run like planes on a playground replica of the run way. Wish there was more air traffic in general, quite a wait in between planes on a Saturday afternoon. (The nearby cracker barrel however is direct flight path and they go directly over your head in the parking lot...also really cool!)

Have always loved plane watching since I was a kid, so always enjoy going to the Observation Deck at RDU. Grateful they finally have a cell lot for waiting to pickup passengers. This day, instead of waiting at the cell lot, I decided to wait at the Observation Deck for my friend's arrival, which I got to actually see. Have a good little play area for kids, as well as enjoy the air traffic control communications being played in the seating area. A nice place to unwind and watch some planes. Only downside is that the buildings do tend to partially block some of the landings and take offs.