Biking the American Tobacco Trail from Durham to Cary: An Epic Day Out

Looking to break free from the car-centric city of Raleigh and get out into nature? Then what better way to enjoy a car-free adventure in the Triangle region of North Carolina than bike riding along the iconic American Tobacco Trail.

This scenic cycle route includes coffee, wine, and a whole lot of beautiful scenery. And this recreational rail-trail is now one of our favorite day trips from Raleigh because it combines our love of nature, exercise, wine tasting and history!

When you’re ready to go biking along the American Tobacco Trail, complete with a train ride, vineyard visit, and greenway bonus loop for good measure, here’s how to do it.

About the American Tobacco Trail

The American Tobacco Trail (ATT) is a 22.6-mile long multi-use recreation trail that extends across the Research Triangle area, spanning through City of Durham; Durham County, western Wake County, northeast Chatham County, the towns of Cary and Apex; and passes through the Lake Jordan where it ends.

The trail, built on an abandoned railroad corridor, was originally built for the American Tobacco Company to transport their goods in the 1970s – hence the name. When the company moved and a new railroad was built, the Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Inc created the rail-trail project in 1989 and transformed the small railroad into a multi-use trail for runners, horseback riders, bicyclists, and dog walkers alike.

It started opening in phases, with the first phase opening in 2000, and gradually being completed in 2014. It starts in New Hill and ends at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Although the route is 22 miles, only the 11.4 miles of trails in Durham County is paved. The Wake County portion of the American Tobacco Trail is gravel, and the multi-use section in Chatham County, is both paved and gravel.

How to cycle the American Tobacco Trail from Raleigh

There are two trailheads for the recreational trail; one is at Ragan Rd in rural New Hill, and the other trailhead is on the corner of Morehead Avenue and Blackwell streets, next to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. You can see the trail map here:

Below is each step on how to ride the American Tobacco Trail from Durham to New Hill, with recommendations for stops along the way, plus how to get back to Cary and then Raleigh.

Hop on the train to Durham (with your bike!)

We kicked things off by catching the Amtrak train from Cary to Durham, though you can also hop on it in Raleigh. What makes this such a great option is the bike storage carriage — yep, there’s a special section for bikes and the guards will help load them for you. Just make sure to note your bike reservation when purchasing your ticket to ensure your wheels have a spot. Good news – it doesn’t cost any extra!

The ride is short and scenic, and you roll into Durham ready to roll out. Train tickets at the time of publication (May 2025) are $7 one way. And the journey takes about 18 minutes. As it’s Amtrak, there won’t be frequently running trains which means getting a well-timed train is difficult. Book train here.

We only had a 6:42am departure option or a 10:12am (there are also two afternoon trains). We opted for the early time (to catch that worm) and decided to linger a little longer in Durham over coffee and breakfast.

We knew we wanted to stop by Cloer Family Vineyards in Apex along the route, and they didn’t open until 12pm – so we were in no rush to reach the end of the American Tobacco Trail.

Fuel up at Press

Before hitting the trail, we popped into Press Coffee + Crepes in downtown Durham — just a couple blocks from the Durham train station and right near the start of the trail at the American Tobacco Campus. This place is cozy, stylish, and most importantly, serves excellent coffee and delicious breakfast crepes (sweet or savory depending on your vibe).

Excellent coffee + crepes

Highly recommend fueling up here – you’ll need it. If you need a recommendation our regular order is the BLT Morning crepe on a buckwheat shell, the Steak & Eggs crepe, and either a latte or flat white. And we think they do some of the best coffee in the Triangle – it’s our favorite coffee in Raleigh.

Enter the American Tobacco Trail

Once you’re ready to ride, just cycle past the Durham Bulls Stadium and the American Tobacco Campus, and under the overpass, on the right will be a small pitching practice field and the start of the trail. You can find the official trailhead here. On our bike ride of the American Tobacco Trail, we tackled the main 18-mile stretch south from Durham to New Hill, and it was glorious.  

Since the whole trail is built on an old railroad bed, the trail is quite flat and mostly paved, making for a smooth and scenic ride through wooded corridors, open farmland, and shaded green tunnels. While the trail does not run alongside any creeks, you will cross over several along the way. They’re not that prevalent though, but pretty when you see one!

What’s great about this Triangle greenway trail (and well most of the ones we have) you are never too far away from civilization should you need it – no great coffee shops along the way, though, besides PRESS in Durham.

For the first few miles of this trail, you will be cycling through the outskirts of Durham and its neighborhoods with a few busy road crossings with pedestrian traffic lights. You’ll even get to cycle over the I-40.

We did consider stopping for coffee at Bean Traders (recommended by a few people on our Facebook page), located in a small shopping center near Southpoint Mall, but it was only 30 minutes from our PRESS starting point and we were already quite coffee full, so kept on riding.

Well sign posted

On some of the quieter road crossings, be sure to hit the cyclist crossing buttons, which will flash the lights warning incoming motorists that a biker (or walker) is crossing. There are plenty of signposts showing you which way to go at a couple of big intersection crossings.

There was only one confusing crossing with no signs at Renaissance Pkwy where a greenway trail went left and right and left veering straight. You’d come to a stop pretty quick on either end, but the right way is left with a quick veer straight! After about the first 40-minutes you get past Durham and then it’s just straight trail and easy to follow.

Along the trail, you’ll find several restrooms and water-filling stations, benches to sit on and have a picnic on, which makes planning rest stops easy and hydration a breeze. It is a multi-use trail so watch out for other bikers, hikers, joggers, and horse riders. It was quite busy – but not peace disturbing – for most of the trail, which surprised me, but gave us plenty of people to say a cheery hi to or have conversations with.

New Hope Church Road rest station

We thoroughly enjoyed chatting for some time with three biker friends at the New Hope Church Road rest station (great restroom and water stations here with plenty of space to rest).

Enter the adventure section of the trail

The last few miles of the trail shift from pavement to packed dirt, and honestly, we loved it. It gave the ride a slightly more adventurous, off-the-beaten-path feel. As we had a few days of rain beforehand, the ground was a little soft in parts but still very manageable.

The surroundings got a little wilder, a little quieter—perfect for easing into the relaxing finish ahead. This was my favorite part of the trail as it felt like you were more in the woods and disconnected from real life chaos. We stopped at the Wimberly Road Crossing parking lot, which is just a few miles from the final end at New Hill.

Sip and savor at Cloer Family Vineyards

Just a short detour off the trail’s southern end sits a true hidden gem: Cloer Family Vineyards in Apex. How could you not incorporate a rare, local vineyard on such an epic bike trail? In case you haven’t heard of it, Cloer is a legit from grapes to glass local winery!

We parked the bikes and made our way to their terraced gardens, where horses grazed nearby and birds serenaded us into deeper calm. It was the perfect spot to kick off our shoes and relax with a glass of NC wine (yes, even some dry options!) and a plate of cheese.

You’re also welcome to bring your own picnic or enjoy a tasting flight, which we have done on a previous visit. Between the scenery and the wine, this was a highlight of the day. While it’s not to the standards of Australian or Tuscany wine, I find the very drinkable and would have had a second had we not still had some serious riding left to do!

Remember, if you want to incorporate Cloer Family Vineyards into this Triangle bike ride, it is only opened Fridays from 12-5 and Saturdays from 11-5. Alternatively, not far along the White Oak Greenway is Bottle Shop Theory, which is a tap room you can chillax in!

NOTE: We made the mistake of biking from the Wimberly Road exit to Cloer Family Vineyards, which meant cycling up the steep Wimberly Rd hill – not what we needed after 18 miles of biking. We’re going to save you the same trauma (and we’ve mapped it for you below). Come off a little bit before that exit at Green Level Rd. From there bike west to Wimberly Road, then south to Castleberry Road which is where you’ll find Cloer. A shorter and easier approach! By all means cycle down Wimberly Road to get back on the trail if you are going to do the final cycle back to Cary along the White Oak Greenway trail like we did.

Back to Cary via White Oak Creek Greenway

From the vineyard, we weren’t quite ready to call it quits — so we added a bonus leg to our adventure. Instead of backtracking or arranging a pick-up, we continued by biking the White Oak Creek Greenway toward Cary.

This stretch is about 7 miles and winds through boardwalks over marshlands, shaded forest, past neighborhoods, and even a few fun murals along the way. It’s a fairly easy ride, slightly downhill, since you’re heading east, but after 20+ miles our legs were definitely feeling it. It’s a really pretty greenway trail and worth doing just on its own (out and back) or even hiking parts of it!

The White Oak Creek Greenway trail ends (or starts) at Bond Park, just a short ride from our house, but you could also continue another 10 minutes to the Cary train station and then catch the train back to Raleigh if you’re returning that way.

Total Ride: 28 Miles of Triangle Awesomeness

All up, we biked 28-miles and loved every minute. From morning coffee to afternoon wine, scenic trails to horse-filled vineyards, it was an epic day out and an amazing reminder of how many hidden adventures are waiting right here in the Triangle.

If you’re up for a challenge, looking to shake up your weekend plans, or just want a unique way to explore the region—bike the American Tobacco Trail. Bonus points if you reward yourself with cheese and wine at the end.

NOTE: We’re both reasonablly fit, exercising every day, but not cycling a lot. We’re not amateurs, but this was the longest bike ride we’ve done. It’s an easy trail to ride, but the length of it can be tiring. I was not exhausted at the end of it, but my quads were very crampy by the end, and I only just made it back home before they gave in. Be sure to judge for yourself, what your fitness level is capable of and adjust as necessary.

Tips for bike riding the American Tobacco Trail

• Book your Amtrak ticket in advance and add the bike add-on.
• Start early to make the most of your day (and beat the summer heat).
• Bring sunscreen, snacks, and plenty of water.
• Download the map for both the ATT and White Oak Creek Greenway ahead of time, as signal can cut out in the most rural section of trail. Although both trails are quite clearly signposted. There was one section approaching near Southoint Mall as the trail went over a road that was not clearly signposted, but you’ll find it soon enough.
• Hunting is allowed, in season, on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jordan Lake Game Lands managed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. These areas are posted and have 4-foot-high fencing which separates trail users from hunting areas.
• If you’re not up for the full return ride back to Cary, arrange a pick-up at New Hill or consider biking back to Durham (though that’s a full-day feat and longer than if you biked to Cary).
• Take your trash with you.

Map: American Tobacco Trail to White Oak Greenway Trail

Now you have read our route, you can use the map below to start plotting out your own route and planning stops. Click the top right frame button to open up a larger version of the map -> click the menu on the left-hand side -> click the three button menu on the right -> click copy map and then you can make any adjustments you like!

Love this kind of adventure? That’s what we do best! We’re always out discovering fun, unique ways to explore the Raleigh region—so you don’t have to spend hours planning or wondering if it’s worth it. With years of experience as full-time travel bloggers, we know how to turn an ordinary day into an epic one. Follow us on social (Instagram | Facebook) and join our email newsletter (form below) so you never miss a chance to explore your own backyard in new and exciting ways!

FAQs about The American Tobacco Trail

Here are a few more awesome bike trails in the Raleigh area and surrounds that you may love:

• Biking the Art to Heart Trail in Raleigh
• Best bike trails and bike clubs in Raleigh
• Ebike tour: Brews, Burgers, & Greenway