Click to go to Google Maps satellite view
This airport is located midway between Raleigh and Durham in North Carolina and has an Observation Park, built in 1997, that is located within good viewing distance of runway 5L/23R on the west side of the airport. This park is free and has a covered two-story tower with Air Traffic Control frequencies on a speaker, picnic tables, kids play area and is safe and easily accessible. You’ll only be able to see traffic on one of RDU’s two runways from here, and photography would be better in the early part of the day since you face north and west. Also, your view of the south end of this runway may be blocked by trees.
There isn’t a lot of traffic to watch here. There’ll be a lot of regional jets plus 737s and A320s. Overall, its a well-planned and nice looking Observation Park but not a very active place.
Click for photos from the Observation Park