Date night does not have to mean $150 at a fancy restaurant. My husband and I have been doing budget date nights in the Triangle for years, and honestly, some of our best memories cost less than a pizza. Here are our favorite under-$50 date nights.Cost: $10-12 for two coffees Cost: $0-6 for vehicle access Cost: $15-20 Cost: $0 Cost: $8-15 Trophy Brewing (Raleigh) — Wednesday trivia
Ponysaurus Brewing (Durham) — Check schedule
Steel String Brewery (Carrboro) — Weekly trivia
Cost: $15-25 for drinks Cost: $15-30 for drinks Cost: $10-20 for food Cost: $5-15 for your picnic supplies Cost: $0-10 for snacks Bida Manda (222 S Blount St, Raleigh) — Outstanding Laotian food, BYOB
Mateo Bar de Tapas (109 W Chapel Hill St, Durham) — Tapas and BYOB
Buy a $10-15 bottle of wine at Total Wine and save $30+ compared to restaurant wine prices.
Cost: $35-50 total for dinner + your own bottle Goodnight's Comedy Club (861 W Morgan St, Raleigh) — Shows start around $15-20/person. Skip the dinner package and eat before.
Mettlesome (Durham) — Improv shows around $10-15/person.
Cost: $30-40 for two tickets Raleigh Brewing Company — Free tours on Saturdays
Fullsteam Brewery (Durham) — Great food trucks and $5 pints on certain nights
Cost: $25-40 Cost: $16-30 for rentals Cost: $20-30 for tastings + bring a picnic Pick-your-own apples at Hillcrest Farm (free entry, pay per bag ~$10-15) + hot cider
Corn maze at various Triangle farms ($8-12/person)
Fall foliage hike at Umstead (free) + hot chocolate Holiday light driving tour — map a route of the best neighborhood displays (free)
Ice skating at Fenton ($15/person including rentals)
Cozy pub night at a Triangle Irish pub for $20 in drinks Duke Gardens walk (free) + Parker and Otis lunch ($20 for two)
JC Raulston Arboretum evening stroll (free)
Raleigh flea market browsing + coffee Free outdoor concert + picnic at any of the summer series
Night swim at Jordan Lake (free at walk-in areas)
Downtown Durham ice cream walk — compare scoops at multiple shops ($10-15) Book a sitter through a co-op — trade babysitting with another family, cost: $0.
Go on off-nights — Tuesday and Wednesday specials are cheaper than weekends.
Happy hour is your friend — most Triangle restaurants have 4-6pm specials.
Pack snacks — eat dinner at home and go out just for the experience.
Check Goldstar and Groupon — discounted tickets to Triangle shows and events pop up regularly. [How to Do Date Night in the Triangle (Babysitter + Dinner Guide)](/guides/date-night-guide-triangle-babysitter-dinner)
[Where to Host a Kids' Birthday Party Under $200 in the Triangle](/guides/kids-birthday-party-under-200-triangle)
[Free and Low-Cost Family Resources in the Triangle](/guides/free-low-cost-family-resources-triangle-nc)
[How to Do a Fun Family Day for Under $10 in the Triangle](/guides/fun-family-day-under-10-triangle)
[Cheap Birthday Party Ideas in the Triangle (Under $100)](/guides/cheap-birthday-party-ideas-triangle-under-100)
Under $20 Date Nights
Free Museum + Coffee
Visit the NC Museum of Art (free) and then grab coffees at the museum cafe or nearby Jubala Coffee on Hillsborough Street. The outdoor art park is gorgeous at sunset.Sunset at Jordan Lake
Pack a blanket and snacks from home, drive to Ebenezer Church Recreation Area at Jordan Lake, and watch the sunset over the water. Free if you have an annual NC Parks pass ($70/year for unlimited access, but free at walk-in spots).Durham Food Hall Happy Hour
Durham Food Hall (530 Foster St) has multiple restaurants with happy hour specials. Share two small plates and two drinks for well under $20.First Friday Art Walk (Raleigh)
Free gallery openings downtown on the first Friday of each month. Wander through galleries, enjoy free wine and snacks at many stops, and soak in Raleigh's creative side.Greenway Bike Ride + Ice Cream
Rent bikes from one of the Raleigh Citrix Cycle stations or bring your own, ride the Neuse River Greenway, and stop for ice cream at Two Roosters on Person Street.$20-35 Date Nights
Trivia Night
Triangle bars and breweries host free trivia almost every night of the week. Grab a couple of beers and test your knowledge.Boxcar Bar + Arcade (Raleigh or Durham)
Boxcar Bar + Arcade has locations in downtown Raleigh (330 W Davie St) and Durham. All vintage arcade games are free to play — you just pay for drinks.Carrboro Farmers Market + Brunch
Saturday morning at the Carrboro Farmers Market (301 W Main St) is a date in itself. Sample free tastings, pick up fresh pastries, then sit on the Town Commons.Koka Booth Amphitheatre Free Concerts
Pack a picnic and enjoy free live music at Koka Booth Amphitheatre (8003 Regency Pkwy, Cary) during their summer concert series. Lawn seating for [free events](/free) costs nothing.Movie Under the Stars
Free outdoor movies run all summer in Cary (Movies by Moonlight), Raleigh (Movies in the Park), and Chapel Hill (Screen on the Green). Bring a blanket and snacks.$35-50 Date Nights
Dinner at a BYOB Restaurant
Several Triangle restaurants are BYOB with no corkage fee:Comedy Show
Brewery Tour + Food Truck
The Triangle has over 80 breweries. Most offer free tours and cheap tasting flights ($6-10). Pair it with a food truck parked outside.Sunset Kayaking at Lake Wheeler
Lake Wheeler Park (6404 Lake Wheeler Rd, Raleigh) rents kayaks and canoes for about $5-8/hour per person. Go at 6pm in summer for a sunset paddle.Wine Tasting at Chatham Hill Winery
Chatham Hill Winery (4161 Old US 421, Siler City) offers tastings for about $10/person. Only 30 minutes from the Triangle and a beautiful country drive.Seasonal Date Night Ideas
Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Pro Tips for Budget Date Nights
Keeping date night alive does not require a big budget. It requires creativity and knowing your Triangle options. We have both.
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date nightbudgetcheapraleighdurhamchapel hillunder $50couples