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PAO to RDU: distance & flight time
Palo Alto (Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County) → Raleigh-durham (Raleigh Durham International Airport)
2,382 mi
3,834 km · 2,070 nm
5h 8m
estimated nonstop flight time
+3h
time difference · heading east
See live PAO→RDU fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
2,382 miles nonstop takes roughly 5h 8m gate to gate, flying east. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 3-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- PAO — Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County · Palo Alto, United States
- RDU — Raleigh Durham International Airport · Raleigh-durham, United States
Distances are great-circle ("as the crow flies") — the same basis airlines use for frequent-flyer miles.
Alternate airports can cut this fare
Flying from or into a nearby airport is the #1 trick our agents use to beat online prices. Call and we'll compare every combination on one call.
Near PAO
- SFO · San Francisco International Airport18 mi away
- NUQ · Moffett Federal Airfield5 mi away
- SQL · San Carlos Airport8 mi away
- SJC · Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport12 mi away
Near RDU
- POB · Pope Field50 mi away
- RWI · Rocky Mount Wilson Regional Airport50 mi away
- FBG · Simmons Army Air Field52 mi away
- SOP · Moore County Airport56 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is PAO from RDU?
The flight distance from Palo Alto (PAO) to Raleigh-durham (RDU) is 2,382 miles (3,834 km, 2,070 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from PAO to RDU?
A nonstop flight takes about 5h 8m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
Are there nonstop flights from PAO to RDU?
Nonstop service on PAO–RDU depends on the season and the day of week. Run the fare search on this page with the nonstop filter applied to see current direct options; when there is no nonstop, a single connection through a carrier hub adds roughly 2–4 hours to the 5h 8m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between Palo Alto and Raleigh-durham?
Raleigh-durham is 3 hours ahead of Palo Alto.
What is the cheapest way to fly from PAO to RDU?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on PAO–RDU that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some PAO to RDU fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain PAO–RDU tickets below the price airlines permit us to publish online, so those fares can only be quoted over the phone. Call the travel desk and an agent will check phone-only inventory for your dates.