Skip to main content

Location & Infrastructure

Your Hub for Connections

Chapel Hill pairs personalized collaboration and research capacity with outsized access to the infrastructure that moves business forward.

We’re in the heart of the Research Triangle and home to UNC-Chapel Hill, a top public R1 institution. Our town is under 30 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, making for access to quick flights to client meetings a seamless process. We’re connected locally, too — with a fare-free Chapel Hill public transportation that increases access to our town’s well-educated workforce.

<30 Minute

Drive to Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Visit Chapel Hill
#4

Best-Performing, Most Cost-Effective Highways in the U.S. (North Carolina)

Reason Foundation
100%

Fare-Free Chapel Hill Transportation via Chapel Hill Transit

Town of Chapel Hill

Transportation Quick Links

Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Located just under 30 minutes from Chapel Hill, RDU offers close to 400 daily flights and non-stop service to 80+ domestic and international destinations.

Visit RDU International Airport

Chapel Hill Transit

Our fare-free transit system makes it easy and affordable to access nearby communities and hubs like Carrboro, Durham, and UNC Hospital.

Visit Chapel Hill Transit

Your Invitation to Greater Well-being

When you do business in Chapel Hill, you and your employees enjoy a gratifying quality of life from our top-ranked K-12 schools, vibrant neighborhoods, world-class healthcare, outdoor amenities, and cultural resources.

We’re in the Right Place

Connection That’s Easy for Businesses

Whether it’s your employees, clients, or prospects — it’s easy to get in and out of Chapel Hill. See why expanding companies choose our town for its central location, top-ranked highway infrastructure, and airport proximity.

North Carolina’s infrastructure is some of the best in the nation, ranked No. 4 in 2026 for its high-performing, cost effective highways. Pair that with Chapel Hill’s strategic, centralized location and proximity to the Triad and it means businesses are never far from where they need to be.

Interstate 40, a major east-west transcontinental highway, serves as the primary driver of interstate travel with direct connections to Charlotte, NC, Nashville, TN, and as far as the west coast. Meanwhile, local roadways keep traffic flowing smoothly throughout the Triangle — making it easier for employees to commute.

  • NC Highway 54 connects Chapel Hill to Carrboro in the west and Durham/Raleigh to the east.
  • NC 86 runs directly through town center and the UNC campus to Hillsborough, the county seat.
  • US 15-501 gets you to Duke University in Durham in about 20 minutes.

Tired of complicated business travel? Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) sits less than 30 minutes from Chapel Hill, giving you serious global reach without the hassle. They consistently rank within the Top Five Large Airports in North America according to J.D. Power, meaning shorter lines and less stress. And with 19 airlines, 400 daily flights, and non-stop service to over 80 domestic and international destinations, your client base has never been more within reach.

Need commercial shipping capabilities? RDU’s Fixed-Base Operators and cargo facilities support private aviation and freight transportation for the entire Research Triangle Region. More than 100,000 tons of cargo passed through RDU in 2024, averaging about 278 tons daily.

Sites & Incentives

Ready to see how your company fits into the Chapel Hill business community? Search sites, properties, and incentives for growing the local economy.

Sites & Incentives

New Businesses

Need help navigating a new opening or accessing financing? The Chapel Hill Economic Development team connects your business to the right resources.

Workforce & Demographics

Residents of Chapel Hill are among the most educated in the nation. Tap into an international workforce with diverse talent.

Find Talent
Our Team

Here to Help

Not sure where to find an incentive application or business permit? Need insight into our local industries? Contact us and we’ll connect you to the right people and resources.

David Putnam

Economic Development Director

Sarah Potter

Business Vitality Manager

Get in Touch

Connect with Chapel Hill Economic Development to ask questions, explore opportunities, and learn more about why this community is right for you.