Getting Around Fayetteville: Transportation & Parking

Fayetteville is very much a drive-first city. You can visit without a car, but most visitors find that having their own vehicle makes it far easier to move between Fort Liberty, downtown, shopping corridors, and outdoor attractions.

This guide explains your main options: driving, local transit, ride-shares, and where to park—especially downtown and around Segra Stadium and major events.

Arriving by air

Fayetteville Regional Airport (FAY)

• Located about 10 minutes from downtown
• Serves regional flights that typically connect through larger hubs
• On-site rental car counters are the most convenient option for visitors who plan to explore beyond downtown

Taxis and ride-share services also operate at the airport, but availability can vary by time of day, so renting a car is often the safest choice if you have a busy itinerary.

Raleigh–Durham International Airport (RDU)

RDU, about 75 miles north, offers many more nonstop flight options. Some visitors fly into RDU, rent a car there, and drive to Fayetteville via I‑40 and I‑95 or US‑401.

Driving in Fayetteville

Highways and main corridors

Key routes include:

• I‑95: Major interstate east of town for north–south traffic
• I‑295: Bypass that connects I‑95 to Fort Liberty and western Fayetteville
• All American Freeway: Main link between Fort Liberty and the Skibo Road/commercial corridor
• Skibo Road / US‑401: Primary retail spine with malls, big-box stores, and many hotels and restaurants

Traffic is generally manageable compared to larger metros, but gate traffic near Fort Liberty can back up during rush hours and shift changes.

Public transit (FAST buses)

The Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST) operates fixed-route bus service across the city.

• Standard adult fares are low, with options for day passes and discounts for certain riders
• Routes are designed primarily for residents commuting to work, school, and shopping

For visitors, FAST can be useful if:

• You are staying along a major corridor already served by a line
• Your plans focus on a small number of destinations

However, service frequency and route patterns generally do not support efficient “attraction hopping” between places like ASOM, the Botanical Garden, and Skibo Road in a single day. Most tourists will still prefer to rely on a car or ride-share.

Ride-shares and taxis

Uber, Lyft, and local taxi companies operate throughout Fayetteville, but:

• Wait times can increase late at night or in outlying areas
• Early-morning airport rides sometimes require pre-scheduling

If you plan to use ride-shares heavily, budget extra time during evenings, after ballgames, or after large events when demand spikes.

Parking in downtown Fayetteville

Parking downtown is a mix of:

• On-street metered spaces
• City-owned decks and surface lots
• Private lots attached to specific buildings or churches

Typical patterns:

• Weekday-daytime: on-street parking is time-limited and may require payment depending on the block
• Evenings and weekends: on-street parking and many city lots are often free outside of special events

Always check posted signs for current rules, as enforcement hours can change by block and over time.

Event and game-day parking

Segra Stadium and events

For baseball games and major events at Segra Stadium and in the Cool Spring Downtown District:

• Expect special event rates in city-owned decks and lots
• Plan to arrive early for prime spots, especially on nights with fireworks or popular promotions
• Consider parking a few blocks away and walking in, which can be faster than circling near the park

Festivals (Dogwood, International Folk Festival, etc.)

Large festivals close streets and convert downtown into pedestrian-only zones. During these times:

• Use city decks and peripheral lots and plan to walk
• Follow detour signs and police directions around temporary closures

Getting to attractions and Fort Liberty

Because attractions are spread across the metro area:

• ASOM and NC Veterans Park: Easily reached from downtown parking decks or nearby on-street spaces
• Cape Fear Botanical Garden: Short drive from downtown along Eastern Boulevard; on-site parking is typically free
• Cape Fear River Trail / Clark Park / Lake Rim / Carvers Creek: All offer their own lots; start early on nice weekends when spaces fill quickly

Fort Liberty access is controlled by gate procedures and identification requirements; always check current base entry rules before planning a visit onto post.

Safety and driving tips

Fayetteville’s main visitor districts are heavily patrolled and well lit, especially during events.

• Use common sense: lock your car, avoid leaving valuables in view, and park in well-lit areas at night
• Pay attention to posted speeds on All American Freeway, I‑295, and around base gates
• During heavy rain or summer storms, be prepared for brief periods of reduced visibility on open stretches

Summary

For most visitors, the best strategy is:

• Rent a car if you plan to see more than downtown and one or two nearby attractions
• Use FAST buses only when your lodging and destinations line up well with existing routes
• Treat ride-shares as a supplement rather than your sole mode of transportation
• Take advantage of free or low-cost downtown parking during evenings and weekends, and arrive early for games and festivals

With a bit of planning, getting around Fayetteville is straightforward—and the payoff is easy access to everything from military museums and historical sites to breweries, gardens, and river trails.

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Last updated: 2025-11-22