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Nothing cleaner nearby

Raleigh is breathing 3.3 cigarettes a week

10.5
PM2.5 µg/m³
54
AQI
5.1
Cleanest in reach · µg/m³
Look farther for cleaner air

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Search covers Canada and the United States.

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

You may already have the cleanest nearby air.No meaningfully cleaner place has a verified road route within 3 hours. Widen the range or show worse air for context.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
Raleigh Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
Durham
Cel-shaded illustration of Durham
#1DurhamPM2.5 10.1~35 min drive

North Carolina· PM2.5 10.1 µg/m³

A major North Carolina city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 10.1 µg/m³ here vs 10.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 10.1/22 × 7 = 3.2 here; 10.5/22 × 7 = 3.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
4% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Greensboro
Cel-shaded illustration of Greensboro
#2GreensboroPM2.5 14.3~1 h 40 min drive

North Carolina· PM2.5 14.3 µg/m³

A major North Carolina city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 14.3 µg/m³ here vs 10.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 14.3/22 × 7 = 4.5 here; 10.5/22 × 7 = 3.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Raleigh

36% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Fayetteville
Cel-shaded illustration of Fayetteville
#3FayettevillePM2.5 17Checking road route

North Carolina· PM2.5 17 µg/m³

North Carolina community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 17 µg/m³ here vs 10.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 17/22 × 7 = 5.4 here; 10.5/22 × 7 = 3.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Raleigh

62% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Knightdale
Cel-shaded illustration of Knightdale
#4KnightdaleParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.3 cigs/wk

North Carolina

North Carolina community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Morrisville
Cel-shaded illustration of Morrisville
#5MorrisvilleParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.3 cigs/wk

North Carolina

North Carolina community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Apex
Cel-shaded illustration of Apex
#6ApexParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.3 cigs/wk

North Carolina

North Carolina community with a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Clayton
Cel-shaded illustration of Clayton
#7ClaytonParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.3 cigs/wk

North Carolina

North Carolina community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Holly Springs
Cel-shaded illustration of Holly Springs
#8Holly SpringsParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.3 cigs/wk

North Carolina

North Carolina community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Rolesville
Cel-shaded illustration of Rolesville
#9RolesvilleParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.3 cigs/wk

North Carolina

North Carolina community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Scotts Mill
Cel-shaded illustration of Scotts Mill
#10Scotts MillParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.3 cigs/wk

North Carolina

North Carolina community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Green Level
Cel-shaded illustration of Green Level
#11Green LevelParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.3 cigs/wk

North Carolina

North Carolina community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Wendell
Cel-shaded illustration of Wendell
#12WendellParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.3 cigs/wk

North Carolina

North Carolina community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Wilmington
Cel-shaded illustration of Wilmington
#13WilmingtonPM2.5 8.4~2 h 30 min drivesaves 0.7 cigs/wk

North Carolina· PM2.5 8.4 µg/m³

Atlantic riverfront city with beach access and coastal lodging southeast of Raleigh.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 8.4 µg/m³ here vs 10.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 8.4/22 × 7 = 2.7 here; 10.5/22 × 7 = 3.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

2.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Raleigh right now

20% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Winston-Salem
Cel-shaded illustration of Winston-Salem
#14Winston-SalemPM2.5 18.6~2 h 5 min drive

North Carolina· PM2.5 18.6 µg/m³

A major North Carolina city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 18.6 µg/m³ here vs 10.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 18.6/22 × 7 = 5.9 here; 10.5/22 × 7 = 3.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Raleigh

77% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Stokesdale
Cel-shaded illustration of Stokesdale
#15StokesdaleParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.3 cigs/wk

North Carolina

North Carolina community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Pembroke
Cel-shaded illustration of Pembroke
#16PembrokeParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.3 cigs/wk

North Carolina

North Carolina community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Still smoky
Maxton
Cel-shaded illustration of Maxton
#17MaxtonParticle data unavailableChecking road routesaves 3.3 cigs/wk

North Carolina

North Carolina community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Chincoteague
Cel-shaded illustration of Chincoteague
#18ChincoteaguePM2.5 5.1~6 h 10 min drivesaves 1.7 cigs/wk

Virginia· PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³

Barrier-island town beside Assateague's wild beaches on Virginia's Eastern Shore, wrapped by bay and ocean air with plentiful lodging.

51% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 5.1 µg/m³ here vs 10.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 5.1/22 × 7 = 1.6 here; 10.5/22 × 7 = 3.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Raleigh right now

51% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Nags Head
Cel-shaded illustration of Nags Head
#19Nags HeadPM2.5 5.5~3 h 55 min drivesaves 1.6 cigs/wk

North Carolina· PM2.5 5.5 µg/m³

Outer Banks beach town on the barrier islands, exposed to constant Atlantic wind, with cottages and hotels along the shore.

48% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 5.5 µg/m³ here vs 10.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 5.5/22 × 7 = 1.8 here; 10.5/22 × 7 = 3.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Raleigh right now

48% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Kill Devil Hills
Cel-shaded illustration of Kill Devil Hills
#20Kill Devil HillsPM2.5 5.5~4 h 10 min drivesaves 1.6 cigs/wk

North Carolina· PM2.5 5.5 µg/m³

Outer Banks beach town on a narrow Atlantic barrier island, swept by open-ocean wind, with oceanfront rentals and hotels.

48% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 5.5 µg/m³ here vs 10.5 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 5.5/22 × 7 = 1.8 here; 10.5/22 × 7 = 3.3 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Raleigh right now

48% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Jul 27, 8:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is modelled for this town — no monitoring station is close enough for a live AQHI.

HotelsRentalsDirections
Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Observed Jul 27, 7:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Jul 27, 8:27 p.m. EDT · 53 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

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What this means · Raleigh

Phew.

3.3cigarettes

per week, if this air holds

Act two · The scale

Where today lands

From a crisp horizon to smoke you can taste — here’s your reading on it.

10.5 µg/m³
CrispSome smokeHeavy smoke

Act three · The ladder

What each rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · The fine print

The receipts

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 10.5 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 10.5/22 × 7 = 3.3 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →