Directions and Other Visitor Information

Location

Map of Chapel Hill

This map shows Sitterson Hall, parking locations, major streets in Chapel Hill, and the location of several area hotels. Please widen your window to see the full map (it it would be less readable if we reduced it to fit the standard page width).

Getting to the Area

By Air:

The Triangle area is served by Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). American Airlines provides direct daily international flights to RDU from London's Gatwick Airport. Other airlines, including Air Canada, Continental, Delta, Midway, Northwest, Metrojet, Trans World, United, and US Airways, provide service to cities within North America, with connections to cities abroad.

• Airlines Serving Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Getting from the airport to Chapel Hill:

The Triangle Transit Authority (919-549-9999) runs shuttles from the airport terminals (the middle of the transportation island in front of terminal A, or the far right of the pickup area at the arrivals level of terminal C) to its bus center from roughly 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and to 5 p.m. on Saturday (no service on Sunday.) Fare is $1.50, with free transfer to area buses. The 403 or 413 reach Chapel Hill, and stop directly in front of Sitterson Hall, opposite the Carolina Inn.

Some of the larger area hotels have their own shuttle services. Taxis are available outside each terminal, near the baggage claim. R&G Airport Shuttle is based at RDU and delivers passengers to area businesses and universities for approximately $20 (800-840-2RDU). Some of our faculty use a shuttle service, LTD, (919-840-1836), which charges approximately $25 one way and $40 return for the ride between the airport and Chapel Hill. Calling ahead is recommended. Most of the major car rental companies have offices at RDU. There is currently no rail transportation between the airport and the surrounding communities. For more information on transportation, check RDU's website.

• Additional information on taxis, shuttles, and car rental

By Rail: For train travelers, there are Amtrak stations in Raleigh and Durham. Call 1-800-USA-RAIL for information and reservations.

By Car: Drivers may reach the Research Triangle area on interstates 40 or 85. More detailed driving directions to Sitterson Hall follow:

From the North

• Take Interstate 95 South to Petersburg, Va., then take Interstate 85 South to Durham, N.C.
• Take Exit 174-B (a left exit) onto Highway 15-501 South. There will be a sign for Chapel Hill at the exit. Continue on this highway for several miles.
• You will cross over Interstate 40 and almost immediately you will enter Chapel Hill. Highway 15-501 South will fork shortly after this; take the left fork to stay on Highway 15-501 South and continue until you reach Highway 54 West. (the sign says UNC-Chapel Hill). Take this exit.
• When you reach the bottom of the exit ramp you will be on Highway 54 West (which at this point is also called South Road). Continue on this road through three stoplights. At the fourth stoplight (South Columbia Street, a one way street), turn right. Sitterson Hall is the second building on the right.
• Parking in the lots adjacent to Sitterson is by permit only. To reach the closest visitor parking lot, the Swain lot, continue driving past Sitterson Hall, then turn right at the next light onto Cameron Avenue. Pass Swain Hall on your left then turn left into the parking lot immediately after it and pull up to the parking attendant's hut (next to the parking lot gates).

From the West

• Take Interstate 85 North through Greensboro and Burlington, then take Interstate 40 East. Exit from the highway at Exit 266.
• Turn right at the top of the exit ramp. You will be on Highway 86 South and you will stay on this road for 4.2 miles. The name of the road will change -- from N.C. 86, to Airport Road, to Columbia Street -- but there will be route signs saying "86" all the way.
• You will drive through a major intersection for Franklin Street, Chapel Hill's main street which marks the border between UNC's north campus and the town.
• After passing through this intersection, you will pass through one set of lights for a pedestrian crossing, then at the next set of lights (Cameron Avenue), the road you are on (at this point called Columbia Street) becomes a one-way street and you can only turn left or right. Sitterson Hall is on the one-way section of Columbia Street very close to this intersection, but parking in the lots adjacent to the building is by permit only.
• To reach the closest visitor parking lot, the Swain lot, turn left at the light onto Cameron Avenue. Pass Swain Hall on your left then turn left into the parking lot immediately after it and pull up to the parking attendant's hut (next to the parking lot gates).

From the East and RDU Airport

• From the East, take Interstate 40 West traveling toward Chapel Hill. From RDU Airport, follow signs to Interstate 40 West.
• Stay on Interstate 40 West for 12 miles, and get off at Exit 273-A, Highway 54 West toward Chapel Hill (2nd ramp; pass under the bridge first).
• Follow Highway 54 West for approximately 4.5 miles. The road will be renamed a couple of times but keep going on the same road until you reach the stoplight at South Columbia Street (in the center of campus). At South Columbia Street (a one way street at this point), turn right. Sitterson Hall is the third building on the right.
• Parking in the lots adjacent to Sitterson is by permit only. To reach the closest visitor parking lot, the Swain lot, continue driving past Sitterson Hall, then turn right at the next light onto Cameron Avenue. Pass Swain Hall on your left then turn left into the parking lot immediately after it and pull up to the parking attendant's hut (next to the parking lot gates).

Visitor Parking

Visitor parking is available at several university parking lots. The closest lot to Sitterson Hall is the Swain lot. It can be reached from Cameron Avenue and is just a short walk from our building. For more information see the UNC Department of Public Safety's page. The parking lot attendants have campus maps and can direct you to Sitterson Hall.

If the Swain lot is full, ask the parking lot attendant to direct you to the nearest parking lot with available space. There are also several municipal pay parking lots a few blocks away from Sitterson Hall on Rosemary Street in downtown Chapel Hill. See the map below for lot locations.

If you are visiting a member of the department on official business, the department will validate your parking ticket from any of the university visitor parking lots. Please ask your host, or see the attendant at the front desk in Sitterson Hall.

The UNC Department of Public Safety's page provides more information about transportation and parking on campus, special event parking, alternatives to driving, and other relevant information.

Chapel Hill Transportation

Bus Services

The town of Chapel Hill has a number of bus routes that serve the town and campus, including transportation to "Park and Ride" lots. All buses within Chapel Hill are free of charge. The Blue Line bus runs between Chapel Hill and Durham with stops at UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University. TheUNC Department of Public Safety's page provides more information about bus service (select "Transit & Parking", then "Chapel Hill Transit Web Site").

• Information on Taxis, Shuttles, and Car Rental

Local Hotels

Follow the link above for a list of local hotels.

Our Address

Department of Computer Science
Sitterson Hall, South Columbia Street
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3175 USA

Phone: (919) 962-1700
FAX: (919) 962-1799
Internet mail: info@cs.unc.edu

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