Getting around Wake Forest: roads, transit, airport, parking

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Sources: the Town of Wake Forest’s transportation and Go Wake Forest pages, GoTriangle, Raleigh-Durham International Airport and the town’s downtown parking map (PDF).

Wake Forest sits on U.S. 1, Capital Boulevard, north of Raleigh. Traffic and closures on state roads: dial 511 or check DriveNC.gov. For a ride in town, book Go Wake Forest at 984-342-2319; for Raleigh, the WRX express bus leaves from downtown.

Who to call

• Go Wake Forest rides: 984-342-2319, or the Go Wake Forest app
• GoTriangle (WRX, airport buses): 919-485-7433, trip planner
• State roads: 511, DriveNC.gov
• Town streets and signals: Wake Forest Public Works, 919-435-9570
• Police, non-emergency: 919-554-6150

Construction changes these routes every week; see our road construction and closures page before you go.

Main roads

• U.S. 1 (Capital Boulevard) runs north and south along the west side of town; it was moved west of town in 1952, the town’s history page says. The N.C. 98 Business exit leads to downtown. NCDOT plans to rebuild Capital Boulevard between I-540 in Raleigh and Purnell and Harris roads as a six-lane, controlled-access highway, with construction scheduled for 2031 and 2033, according to the town’s project page. It will not be a toll road.
• I-540 is the nearest interstate, reached by Capital Boulevard in Raleigh.
• U.S. 1A (South Main Street) runs through town.
• N.C. 98 and the N.C. 98 Bypass cross Wake Forest; N.C. 98 Business serves downtown.
• The railroad: the CSX S-Line runs through downtown. North Carolina and Virginia are buying the line between Raleigh and Petersburg, Virginia, to restore passenger rail, the town’s S-Line page says, and NCDOT is studying a Wake Forest mobility hub.

Go Wake Forest: rides on demand

Go Wake Forest is the town’s microtransit service, run by Via. It replaced the fixed-route Wake Forest Loop buses on Oct. 1, 2024, and picks riders up at their door anywhere in the town limits and part of Wakefield; check an address on the service area map.

• Book: the Go Wake Forest app (iPhone, Android) or 984-342-2319.
• Hours: 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday; 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, which began Oct. 4, 2026, with limited capacity.
• Fares: charged by trip mileage since Feb. 1, 2026; pay in the app, by phone or at Town Hall. Riders 65 and older, riders with a mobility-limiting disability and some low-income households can apply for reduced fares.
• Accessible: at least one wheelchair-accessible vehicle is always in service.
• Closed: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

WRX express bus to Raleigh

GoTriangle’s Wake Forest-Raleigh Express (WRX) runs from the Wake Forest Center for Active Aging, 235 E. Holding Ave., in downtown Wake Forest. Peak-hour trips in the morning and evening run direct to Raleigh Union Station’s bus station, 525 W. Hargett St., and off-peak buses run hourly between downtown Wake Forest and Triangle Town Center, according to the town’s Go Wake Forest page, which links the current WRX map and schedule (PDF). Commuter parking is available downtown. Use Go Wake Forest to get to the stop.

Getting to the airport

Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) is the nearest airport. By transit, GoTriangle Route 100 and the RDU Shuttle stop at both terminals, between Zones 2 and 3 at Terminal 1 and between Zones 6 and 7 at Terminal 2, the airport’s bus and rail page says. Connect from the WRX in Raleigh and plan the trip on GoTriangle’s trip planner. Amtrak trains leave from Raleigh; call 800-872-7245.

Bikes and greenways

The town’s free Bike-Walk-Run map of cycling and walking routes is online (PDF) and in print at Town Hall, according to its bicycles page. Greenways and trails: see our parks and trails guide.

Parking downtown

The town’s downtown parking map, dated July 13, 2026, marks:

Some lots that look public, such as the Renaissance Plaza lot, are private, the town’s event parking page warns. There is no downtown parking deck yet: voters approved $12.5 million in bonds for a public parking facility at 353 S. White St. on Nov. 8, 2022, the town’s bond page says.

Got a ticket? Pay or appeal within 10 business days, online, at the drop boxes at Town Hall and the Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St., or in person at Town Hall, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, according to the police department.

What this means for you

• Driving to Raleigh? Check 511 first; Capital Boulevard work is years away, but lane closures are not.
• No car? Book Go Wake Forest in the app and ride the WRX for longer trips.
• Downtown on a weekday: watch the 2-hour signs between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• New in town? Our moving to Wake Forest guide has the rest of the checklist.

Frequently asked questions

Does Wake Forest have a bus?

Wake Forest replaced its fixed-route Wake Forest Loop with Go Wake Forest, an on-demand microtransit service run by Via, on Oct. 1, 2024. Book in the Go Wake Forest app or at 984-342-2319. GoTriangle’s WRX express bus links downtown Wake Forest with Raleigh.

How much does Go Wake Forest cost?

Rides have been charged by trip mileage since Feb. 1, 2026. Discounts are available for riders 65 and older, riders with a mobility-limiting disability and some low-income households, after an eligibility application.

What are Go Wake Forest’s hours?

6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and, since Oct. 4, 2026, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

How do I get from Wake Forest to RDU airport by bus?

Take GoTriangle’s WRX express to Raleigh Union Station, then connect to GoTriangle Route 100 or the RDU Shuttle, which stop at both RDU terminals. Plan the trip on GoTriangle’s trip planner or call 919-485-7433.

Is downtown Wake Forest parking free?

The town’s downtown parking map shows free street parking and public lots, with 2-hour limits Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in marked areas, 30-minute spaces and full-day areas.