GoApex Route 1 is free and runs every 30 minutes; GoCary and GoTriangle link Apex to Cary, Raleigh and RTP. Downtown parking limits 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts come from the Town of Apex transit and parking pages, GoTriangle, NC Quick Pass and RDU. This page is updated each season.

Four major roads serve Apex: US 1, US 64, NC 55 and the Triangle Expressway (NC 540). A free town bus and three regional bus routes connect the town to Cary, Raleigh and Research Triangle Park.

Who to call

  • GoApex and regional transit questions: Katie Schwing, senior transit planner, 919-249-1043, email
  • Real-time bus tracking and trip planning: the GoCary app (GoApex is Route GA1) or gocarylive.org
  • Paratransit reservations (GoCary Door to Door): 919-481-2020, option 3
  • Live traffic on state roads: DriveNC.gov
  • Road work this week: our road construction page

Main roads

  • US 1 has interchanges at NC 55, Ten Ten Road and New Hill Holleman Road, all named in NCDOT’s project list for Apex.
  • US 64 has at-grade intersections at Laura Duncan Road and Lake Pine Drive that NCDOT plans to replace with interchanges.
  • NC 55 is Williams Street through town.
  • NC 540, the Triangle Expressway, starts at the NC 55 Bypass in Apex and is a toll road. NC Quick Pass lists it, with Toll NC 885, as a 36.81-mile, six-lane tolled highway in the Raleigh area linking Wake and Durham counties. Pay with an NC Quick Pass account, which the agency says saves 50% on North Carolina tolls, or by invoice; the toll calculator prices a trip.
  • Apex Peakway is the town’s loop road around downtown. Its last gap, a bridge over South Salem Street and the CSX tracks, was preparing for final paving in early October.

Big state projects coming include a superstreet at NC 55 and Technology Drive, NC 55 widening and new interchanges on US 64 at Laura Duncan Road and Lake Pine Drive; dates are on our road construction page.

Buses

Route Operator Where it goes When
GoApex Route 1 Town of Apex, run by GoCary Around Apex; free Every 30 minutes 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., hourly to 10 p.m., Mon.-Sat.; hourly 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sun.
GoCary Route 9 GoCary Downtown Apex, Dorcas Square, downtown Cary Same pattern as Route 1
GoTriangle Route 305 GoTriangle Holly Springs, downtown Apex, WakeMed Cary, NC State Centennial Campus, Raleigh Union Station Hourly, about 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sun.
GoTriangle Route 311 GoTriangle Holly Springs, NC 55 (Williams Street) in Apex, RTP, Regional Transit Center About hourly, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays

The schedules are from the town’s regional routes page, updated for GoTriangle’s Aug. 2, 2026, service changes. Through December 2026, GoApex Route 1 runs a southbound detour downtown for the Salem Streetscape work. You can bring a bike on Route 1. Riders with disabilities who cannot use the fixed route can apply for GoCary Door to Door service within three-quarters of a mile of GoApex and GoCary routes.

Getting to RDU

Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) serves the region. By car, the Triangle Expressway toll road is one route. By bus, take GoTriangle Route 311 (weekdays) to the Regional Transit Center, then the GoTriangle RDU Shuttle, which runs Monday to Saturday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. RDU lists all of its ground transportation options.

Bikes and trails

Apex maintains more than 22 miles of greenway, and the American Tobacco Trail runs more than 22 miles from Apex to Durham. The town’s Bike Apex plan and bicycle and pedestrian map (PDF) show existing and planned routes. See our parks and trails guide.

Parking downtown

The town set new time limits on Jan. 2, 2025. Most apply 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday:

Where Limit
North Salem Street, Saunders Street to Chatham Street 2 hours
South Salem Street, Chatham Street to south of Moore Street 3 hours
East and West Chatham Street, Saunders Street 3 hours
Seaboard Lot; Saunders Lot spaces next to businesses 3 hours
Depot Lot 2 hours
Marked spaces on North Salem Street and in the Seaboard, Saunders and Depot lots 15 minutes

Overstaying can bring a civil penalty, paid at Town Hall, 73 Hunter St. By state law, vehicles with an accessible parking placard are not bound by the time limits. The Apex Parking app (iPhone, Android) shows open spaces in four lots, and the downtown parking map lists every lot and its limits. The Depot lot closes on Saturday mornings for the farmers market.

Frequently asked questions

Is the GoApex bus free?

Yes. GoApex Route 1 is free. It runs every 30 minutes from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and hourly from 7 to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and hourly from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Can I take a bus from Apex to Raleigh?

Yes. GoTriangle Route 305 runs hourly between Holly Springs, downtown Apex, WakeMed Cary, NC State’s Centennial Campus and Raleigh Union Station, seven days a week.

How do I get from Apex to RDU airport by bus?

Take GoTriangle Route 311 on weekdays from Apex’s NC 55 corridor to the Regional Transit Center in RTP, then the GoTriangle RDU Shuttle, which runs Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Is NC 540 a toll road in Apex?

Yes. The Triangle Expressway, Toll NC 540 and Toll NC 885, is a tolled highway. Tolls are paid with an NC Quick Pass or by invoice.

How long can I park in downtown Apex?

Since Jan. 2, 2025, most downtown spaces have two- or three-hour limits, enforced 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Vehicles with an accessible placard are exempt from time limits.