I love this place. It is right by NC State, but allows you to escape to a much more peaceful setting. It is fun to walk through, take pictures, and even have a little picnic. I definitely recommend you check this place out.

Its hidden gem and must visit place in spring. Visited in April 1st week and there are beautiful flowers. You will finish the park just like that looking around. Parking is small inside but there is long road side parking. I tried to capture most of pictures.

We love this arboretum! They really pack so many beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers in a relatively small botanical garden. There are so many little trails through the gardens that you can really find some peace and quiet no matter how busy it is. It is well organized with a Japanese garden, a desert garden, and local favorites. There are also some nice fields to picnic or toss a ball around.

A little slice of nature located in the middle of Raleigh. This is a great place to walk around, explore nature, take pictures, or have a picnic. The arboretum is also hosting several online activities (like home plant propagation) that are super informative.

I totally loved this place. For those who love nature, this arbotetum is the perfect spot. Here you will find a lot of American plants, but also many foreign nature that will blow you away. My favorite thing was all the flowers that I was able to watch in September, in fall. I cant imagine how beautiful this place will be on spring. I highly recommend this place if you like to be surrounded by nature. Also this place is free, and perfect for kids.

Lived here 11 1/2 years and wish we would have visited a lot sooner. This place is a well maintained outdoor botanical garden attached to major university. Neat specimens of local and a lot of Asian plants. Also it is free to the public with street parking.

Great arboretum - 10 acres of different areas to visit. Open 7 days a week . May was a great time to visit due to many plants and trees were blooming. Free parking (if you can find a spot) in the busy area around Raleigh. They were setting up tents for a party in the large grassy area near the perennial border, a great spot. There was a water fall, but I wish they had a formal fountain. But I’m picky.There are FREE guided tours Sundays 2PM March-October!!

Spring! Beautiful flowers have bloomed. Notice anything missing? Its ALARMING!The JC Raulston arboretum makes every effort to protect the environment. The have bee gardens and beeskeeps. Even so after touring the gardens for 3 hours I counted 7 honey bees, 13 bumblebees, saw 2 white butterflies, 1 lizard. The decline in the insect population is very scary!Beautiful gardens, childrens garden, education center, pond areas, Events, membership and volunteer opportunities. Wheelchair accessible. Free parking. Plant sales. No dogs. Personal events like weddings can be booked. Check website for events and more information.

This place is a real surprise. They call themselves an arboretum but theyre really a garden. They have many different areas addressing different collections of plants... Both flowers and trees... Including a long perennial bed and flower beds.The Rock planters were a real surprise.All in all an enjoyable two hours.

A fabulous, free (donations freely accepted, and worth it!) oasis in the middle of Raleigh. What a wonderful place to come and spend a few hours any time of year. While we visited in November and not many plants were blooming, the gardens were still wonderful and there were plenty of people taking in the sights. I imagine in the spring it is breathtaking. There were many lovely paths and walkways taking visitors through many different themed areas: a Japanese garden, rose garden, white garden, etc. They even had giant pumpkins on our visit! I cant wait to come back and visit again.

Beautiful place to wander around admiring and/or discovering all of the different species of plants and trees. Ample on-street parking near the front gate if lot is full.

Really beautiful gardens to explore. So many different plants to look at! This was in September so some things were not blooming but I can imagine at different times of the year it would look totally different. It will take you and hour or two to go through. I really enjoyed visiting these gardens and will definitely go back.

We had a few hours to fill in our day before we had to catch our flight home from RDU. Since we love visiting botanical gardens, and had visited the North Carolina Botanical Gardens on this trip, we decided to visit this arboretum because of its proximity to RDU. This place is absolutely beautiful. the various gardens remind me a little bit of the much larger Huntington Gardens out on the West coast in that they have gardens organized somewhat by climate zones, plant type, and gardening style. As a gardener myself, I especially enjoyed their teaching gardens over near the yurt. I always enjoy seeing how other gardeners gardens are setup and the different methods they use when growing vegetables. I think we were able to experience almost every garden on the property, except for the White Garden, Model Gardens and the Perennial Border. It was an enjoyably peaceful way to spend a few hours before our hectic trip back home.

Went to their Moonlight in the Garden program in early November where they light up the gardens with multicolored lights. Nice, low-key date night. Also lots of families with young children - kids liked it, too. Garden staff set up UV chalkboards with fluorescent chalk - big hit for everyone. They had a live band, multiple food trucks, and free marshmallows to roast. Very well organized and didnt skimp - set-up resembled an outdoor evening wedding with tents, gas fire pits, and stand-alone heaters. Staff were very helpful and friendly. Order tickets early - they sell out fast.

Wonderful place! I have visited a couple times and I always discover something new. I love how well maintained this place is and the wide variety of plants and landscapes. I would recommend this place for families, groups or couples. Also, it is a great spot for photography and events.

Excellent stop to walk and enjoy the beauty. Were visiting for the weekend and enjoyed the opportunity to get out into nature. The visit was free and the helpful volunteer at the Visitors Center gave us a map with a tour of what was in bloom at the time of our visit.

A true Raleigh treasure! Beautiful gardens that are well maintained with tons of walking paths. We love using the arboretum for photo sessions because of the natural beauty and variety of backdrops.

My first time here and wow! My family and I were here for a good three hours and we still didnt see everything. Beautiful scenery, lovely trees and plants. If you are visiting the Raleigh, North Carolina area, the arboretum is a must visit. Bring the family!

Excellent arboretum with lots of shade. Parking lot is small, may have to park on the street (adds 1 minute of walking). Will definitely go again.

Another beautiful garden arboretum we visit on our anniversary! So peaceful and quiet, this garden is free, and it is open daily. Great to explore unique plants, oil trees and flowers.

The best place for a stroll by yourself or with family. We love to bring out of town guests to explore the grounds, year round too! Everything is so well kept. Parking can be an issue during high volume times, just pay attention to street parking so you dont end up in a ticketed area. Beautiful spot for family pictures to prom to event rentals!

Any time of year, any day of the week, the JC Raulston Arboretum is a perfect escape. Gorgeous grounds brimming with thousands of beautiful flowers, plants, shrubs, trees, and even vegetables. Good for the young and old but the ground is not paved everywhere so expect anyone who struggles with agility and sure footing to need support or stay on the main walk area. Take the little ones to the butterfly garden and look for eggs and caterpillars in the fennel, carrot and parsley! Wear sneakers and bring a water bottle. There are restrooms and water fountains if needed.

I just moved here from Charleston SC. My daughter and her husband came to visit and we were driving around checking things out and stumbled on this place. I’m so glad we did it’s absolutely beautiful! I could sit there for hours. I couldn’t believe it was free to get in! There was a donation box, but I didn’t have cash. I’ll definitely return with my bf and hook the cash box up so please bring cash if you go and support this beautiful garden.

Absolutely gorgeous, peaceful and educational. Love taking my elderly mom, and my family to this beautiful place.

Went walking through the arboretum with my boyfriend so i could learn which plants thrived here before i move from the Northeast. It was decently sized and there were many points of interest. Places to sit and picnic on a bench. There were even plants that you could purchase, in cash, on the honor system. We bought 2 pineapple lilies. Admission is free.

I had an amazing time going to the Moonlight Garden Event this evening! Wow as my fist expeince venturing the NC garden for NC University, I will definitely come again to see what it is like in the day time. So pretty, and the guides were informational and friendly. Now I have ideas to light up my home!!! So much fun tonight.

JC Raulston Arboretum is an awesome place to stroll & enjoy nature. Its a really peaceful spot with benches to stop & sit awhile. Its also a nice spot to bring a casual picnic.

Really lovely experience. Beautiful and tranquil gardens with lots of flowers and multiple varieties of trees and shrubs. The people working there are really kind and helpful too. And its free! Wow!

Went here for the Moonlight In The Garden event. Me and my girlfriend always enjoy the unique selection of plants growing in the vicinity. The zen garden here is also a favorite of mine. Its definitely worth the price!

Great exhibit and staff was very friendly. Flowers are well maintained. Rose bush is very beautiful.

So beautiful. Would research to see the best time to see the most blooms.

Very nice place. If you love flowers of all kind, this place is a great destination for you

Beautiful place......Im definitely going to revisit once everything is blooming out more.

Beautiful place to visit! Even in the winter months you will find beautiful Camellias and other winter foilage! I nice place to relax.

One of three wonderful resources for gardeners in the Triangle. We wandered through experimental gardens, native plants, and unique specimens from around the world. The gardens are open every day and are free of charge. A visitor’s center has volunteers who are happy to answer questions.If you enjoy this Arboretum, make sure to visit Duke Gardens in Durham and the NC Botanical Gardens in Chapel Hill.

It was a special “Moonlight” event. Despite the bad weather it was fun walking the gardens via luminaries. Toasting marshmallows and an occasional hot cider. A good selection of food trucks and bluegrass music.

It was beautiful at the end of summer. Its beautiful now at the beginning of spring. I cant wait to see how it looks mid spring, and mid fall.

Most beautiful experience ever, will plan on going back several more times. The atmosphere is peaceful, tranquil, and breathtaking.

Stunning plants and foliage, even in late November! Plus, its free!

Great place to relax and get back to nature!

Very beautiful botanical garden. Great walkways and a very nice collection of plants. I go and visit the garden almost every time I am in the Raleigh area. The plantings change according to the seasons. There is always something new to discover. The children like the egg hunt at Easter time.

Had a very nice visit. Lots of ground to cover and plants to see. Admission was free and parking was very convenient.

Science at its best! A wonderful display of native and imported plants. Truly brings to life Thomas Jeffersons quote, As for the soil of the Carolinas it seems that anything you put into it wil grow. Kind guides and knowledgeable staff.The JC Raulston Arboretum is a great place to conduct science.  They have a wide variety of plants and objects to study.  They have large facilities for meetings and conferences.  The architecture at the place is well done and interesting.  I like the trails and the way the exhibits and plants are laid out.  They provide details on what can be planted in the local area even if it is not native - that is - they provide common sense information on how to plant the plants so that they will not only survive but will grow and thrive as well.I was pleasantly surprised by the number of pollinators I saw when I visited.  I also enjoyed the variety and beauty of the butterflies and moths in the place.  I was able to get some very nice photos during my visit.  The signage is well designed and holding up well.  They take care to keep the signs properly standing.  The cooperation between the scientists, docents and volunteers is a model to be replicated in other ventures - whether they are arboretums or other public attractions and educational operations.

We met up with a friend here for the first time with our children from ages 2-10 and we all had an absolute blast! Great times and even better memories! Only forewarning Id offer to parents with young children is to be cautious near the rear of the main building as they have a bunch of cacti and other sharp/pointy plants. The majority of the park is of little concern in comparison. We will certainly be returning again very soon.

Had so much fun at one of their night viewing parties! They were so polight and even offered free hot apple cider!

Great place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. Very close to Cary, Durham and Morrisville. Photography enthusiasts should visit. Great for pics. Great setting.

Moonlight in the Garden was well worth the cold lol. Beautiful scenery, food trucks, marshmallows on the fire pits, and hot cider.

The J. C. Ralston Arboretum is a wonderful respite from the city and an excellent collection of specimen plants, font miss the conifer garden, the white garden, and the educational yurt!

Beautiful gardens to explore. Lots to see. Great for friends and family or just a leisurely walk.

This was an amazing experience for my children and a great opportunity to learn about various plants while taking a relaxing walk

We went to moonlight in the gardens. It wa a nicely done and very pretty. The gardens are small but fun!

Heres the thing: there is not a lot of color or blooming going on at this time of year but there is plenty of life in the arboretum every day. There is room for kids to run and explore, young couples to huddle in quiet corners, and everyone to spend quality time checking out all kinds of plants from all over the world that also thrive in our environment...and all of this on a holiday. We had a great time!

Beautiful place. Been here ones before. Iam from Michigan. And I ask my daughter if we could go back today. I still have to see the rest of the garden. But love what I did see. Friendly staff and bathroom vary clean.Easy to find too.

Feilds out back checking to make sure plant material heat and cold tolerance and drought tolerance. Some lovely specimens. Many walk ways and a whole lot of f beautiful trees and shrubs.

Wonderful variety of plants, trees, shrubs, all connected with winding footpaths. Easy parking too. A photographers ideal site for photos with beautiful backgrounds.

Beautiful collection.

I love coming here! There are always new plants to see and new things to learn. They give regular tours (for free!), have a small bookstore, sometimes have plants for sale, have great walking trails and benches scattered throughout.

Small but very nicely designed. I really enjoyed the architectural details they put throughout the garden to add interest even into the winter months. Even this early in the season there was plenty of flowering trees and shrubs and old petals. This is definitely a place Ill come back to over and over.

Decent place to walk among the plants and trees.

I wish this place was open! I always enjoy walking the grounds

Beautiful, well-maintained, and the only thing bad is that we didnt have time to walk all the way around through the park in the trails. We will come back when we have more time - it was worth the visit!

So wonderful cant believe how tucked away and secluded you feel when you are here.If you need a break from people or from the city or from being trapped in your car or office you should check this place out. You will feel at peace walking around the paths.I really think this is a little piece of heaven. Its so wonderful. I do recomend going when it isnt crowded so you can just enjoy the beauty of the plants.Definitely on my top 10 of things to do in Raligh.

Beautiful, extensive botanical garden. Pets not allowed but youll see squirrels and lots of birds. Many scenic spots for photos. Nice, long walk to see everything. Beautiful flowers and plants all year round. Lovely place.

Of all the wonderful arboretums in the triangle area this one is my favorite. The staff are kind the flowers are beautiful and its just such a relaxing place to spend a few hours. I go often in the spring and summer just to sit and read.

A perfect place to relax near Raleigh downtown and NCSU. It was so wonderful even in winter.

Absolutely massive space with a very diverse set of plant life. Takes quite a long time to explore and the best part is that its completely free and open during the holidays 365 days a year. Mostly self-guided tours but the place is a little difficult to navigate since the trails are not well marked and many trails are unpaved. The rose garden even contains a bee farm and should not be missed.

Beautiful Arboretum on approximately 10 acres. Lots of private shady benches to take nature in.

Fred was with us and nature is cool!

I had my wedding there. It was beautiful. The staff was very helpful and accomodating.

This place is great. Lots of different areas. Ive only been in the winter so far, but even when there isnt too much in terms of flowers it is still a great place to wander around. Peaceful and fun.

I love how this place has improved so much over the last 8 years that I have been around it. It keeps on getting better and better, and more interesting events. I hope they can do better with communicating those events to the public but other than that, it’s a great place to visit!

Was very beautiful and I’m dying to visit after covid is over!!!

One of the most beautiful garden on Triangle area!

This place is so amazing! I cant believe this gem is a little over a mile away from my house!

Great place for a photo shoot.

Beautiful place I was amazed at the flowers even though it was spring, 35 degrees at night loaded with flowers? Magnolias were in bloom as well water falls in the entry great place for peace and photos

I cant wait to see it in the spring

This is such a beautiful place to visit. You can go anytime of the year and find several beautiful sceneries. The plants are amazing and finding critters is always a plus! Ive gone and spent 10 minutes here and other times hours. Its a great place to take a minute and enjoy the small things in life, and life itself. If youre not sure if you should go, you definitely should! Its free, beautiful, and refreshing!!

Perfect day for the Arboretum! Spring is in bloom. I took a walk with my wife of 36 years, and found a far corner that we had not explored before. We took some pictures of bedding plants that we will try and find for our own flower gardens.Occasionally I have found Anne Clapp of the Weekend Gardener at the Arboretum pruning the amazing roses, but alas, no Anne this time. I always have some gardening questions, and she is very personable and obliging to answer my question, even though she must get that a lot.My youngest son was married there 2 years ago, and it was a beautiful backdrop to a wonderful day. We also rented the meeting rooms for the reception, and a grand time was had by all.Thanks JC Raulston Arboretum!

Please open ! I know it’s hard to staff but so many of us need open spaces during this time!

Beautiful arboretum! Nice walking paths and a lovely variety of flowers and all sorts of unique plants and trees.

If there is nobody to see and smell the flowers do they still exist?

It’s a wonderful stop to enjoy botanicals. I’ve been to better ones however they likely have a higher revenue plan.

Beautiful. Plenty of quiet places to sit and take in the scenery.

Went to the Arboretum after a visit to a business location in North Raleigh. Got there at 5:30pm and walked for an hour. Used the available map and enjoyed the many areas of the arboretum. It is well maintained has a lovely Japanese garden and is well cared for. Tons of butterflies and bunnies- unexpected surprise. I did come across what I assumed were volunteer gardeners who were friendly and made small chit chat. Beautiful end to the day. Make a donation - they will make good use of it.

Very Nice place to go for a walk and relax!

A great place, lots of plants and trees from different environments are showcased, and the overall walk through experience is great. I would highly recommend for school or family trips.

Visiting this location was a fun diversion from my daily life. I visited with a friend who knew a lot about plants and was able to learn more about the plants and their purpose in the arboretum.Unfortunately, there were many plants that were mislabeled. I only know this because my friend is educated in plant knowledge. For the person that is visiting that does not have an educated arborist friend they will be lost and not know that certain plants are not the ones that they are labelled as.Overall, it is a very fun place to go and children will like it. It would be kind of fun if they had fruit bearing trees for people to pick however they do not.

Such a peaceful and beautiful place. First time visiting in early spring. Cant wait to go back again.

They did great job for our wedding!!! Perfect place for wedding!!!

Great place to go and take beautiful pictures with the family.

Its a lovely place to sit and be. My favorite spots are the Japanese garden and the white garden too. So nice, so quiet.

Beautiful grounds! We did our wedding first look and photos here. Couldn’t have asked for anything better. There were many spots with enough privacy for the first look etc.

Beautiful garden atmosphere with lots of friendly people, families, and folks taking pictures. If you go on certain Saturdays you can even climb a tree with Piedmont Tree Climbing!

Beautiful and peaceful gardens. Spend an hour or an afternoon. Either would calm you and lower your blood pressure. A nice gift to the people by NC State.

Best arboretum I have seen, every plant labelled and perfect. Such a beautiful place to enjoy a walk and absorb the love of nature

Gorgeous place to visit breathtaking during moonlight in the garden.

Beautiful little arboretum. Its serene and peaceful here, with plenty of benches and seating for relaxing and enjoying the trees, flowers, and plants. There are plenty of trails and a large open green space in the middle, along with a very small welcome center and a large education center. Great for children! Parking is free and there is usually plenty of street parking in front of the arboretum.

Very beautiful! Great for pictures! Can’t take your fur babies though. Definitely recommend this Arboretum!

It was a very nice to take a stroll through and take photographs. The parking lot could be bigger to allow more visitors. There needs to be more maintenance in some areas. The rear restroom needs more TLC and a water fountain. It is free for admission so with that in mind it’s a fairly decedent location. It is a great location for photography. Access to water needs to be revamped especially during summer temperatures. I think a pond with a fountain would be beneficial. The Japanese garden is kinda on the sad side compared many others.