Coker Arboretum

Chapel Hill, United States

4.5

Open now

13 reviews

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Telephone:
+1 919-962-0522
Website:
www.ncbg.unc.edu
Address:
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill CB 3375, Totten Center, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.2 miJ/JN
0.3 miEZ2857
0.3 miJ/JN/D
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Good for Kids
Yes

Today

Today 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Open now
Local time (Chapel Hill) 10:13 Tuesday, 24 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

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13 reviews of Coker Arboretum

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Place rating: 3
Nashville, TN
A historic, but very small little garden in the heart of UNC’s campus. Not a ton to look at, but there are some benches to stop at, and it’s a very peaceful, secluded section of the campus! I wouldn’t go out of your way to check it out, but if you’re walking by… Also, we were there in late fall/​winter, and so I can’t speak for it in the spring — maybe it’s gorgeous then!
Place rating: 5
Chapel Hill, NC
There are some great reading spots here. My favorite is a bench by a babbling brook surrounded by trees. My only complaint is that sometimes there’s an old man who walks around and whistles. Like, the only thing worse than whistling is humming. No one wants to listen to that!
Place rating: 3
New York, NY
Came upon this spot mistakenly when walking around UNC and we were unimpressed, even compared to the Swarthmore Arboretum (let the private/​public comments begin).
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I love walking through this garden. It’s especially lovely in spring but is worth a visit at any time of year. On a recent visit I enjoyed the wisteria and the Chinese Beautybush tree, which I’ve never seen anywhere else before. There are a few benches and also some grassy areas where you can lay on a blanket or have a picnic. The atmosphere is very serene and lush! Good spot for macro photography too. I came on a Sunday and had no problem parking on Raleigh St.
Place rating: 5
Chapel Hill, NC
The UNC Arboretum is a great place to get away. I have been in the arboretum during all four seasons and it is outstanding for photos. Last year, when it snowed, there were some amazing photo opportunities. The spring and fall offer some unique colors as the arboretum is always full of flowers and trees that are changing colors.
If you are in Chapel Hill and you want to enjoy a quick walk through a garden atmosphere I would strong suggest the Arboretum. It is important to note that it is not that large so do not think you are going to spend multiple hours at this location.
Place rating: 3
Washington, DC
Coker Arboretum is a nice little corner of the UNC campus. But it’s pretty small! I’d planned to spend a few hours exploring (like at the NC State Arboretum) but it only took me a few minutes to walk through the whole arboretum. There were a variety of trees and criss-​crossing paths interspersed with grassy green areas. There were a good number of benches scattered throughout, but no tables. I think I may have to return in the spring to get the full effect because not much was in bloom!
Place rating: 5
Chapel Hill, NC
SO. MANY. TREES.
The Arboretum is beautiful. It has lots of trees and flowers and other nature thingies, and you can walk through it and experience nature. Then, after you do that, you too can go onto the internet and write a review about it. SCIENCE!
Place rating: 5
Chapel Hill, NC
Spring is sprung, the grass is ris’…
I may have grown up in New York, but the South does some things better than anywhere else. Spring is one of them. Ergo, the best time to visit Coker is in the spring. Right now, almost everything is in bloom – the wisteria has another couple weeks yet, but you’ve got daffodils, some early tulips and azaleas, redbud trees, white and pink dogwoods (sometimes on the same tree!), jessamine, camellias, spirea, primroses, columbine, and even lilacs, which I rarely find down here.
So go now, before the dreaded yellow pollen starts in earnest!
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
(Take a seat on the bench under the cherry tree by the wooden walkway in spring when the petals are falling.)
Place rating: 5
Chapel Hill, NC
The Aboretum is a great retreat from all the stress and activity of UNC’s main campus. While the main Botanical Gardens off 15 – 501 have a large collection of carnivorous plants, the focus here seems to be on deciduous trees and shrubs, along with a ton of different flowers. There’s a pretty little archway leading into the gardens, which are partially obscured from Raleigh St. by dense foliage. I think this natural barrier is one of the reasons that the Arboretum is so quiet and peaceful. I really wish that it were a little bigger, but with campus construction closing in I can’t imagine that there are any plans for expansion. I would also recommend visiting sometime between dawn and dusk, because it definitely gets a little creepy at night.
Place rating: 5
Chapel Hill, NC
The requisite area of trees in the heart of a sea of brick that’s compulsory for all big universities in this area of the country. What’s wrong with you, you don’t like trees?
The Arboretum does a credible job of simulating bucolic wilderness in the middle of this teeming hub of academia. Come and relax in a number of simple English country ways (sweater vests not included). The area is a bit smaller than you would hope but it’s rarely crowded at all so you probably won’t even notice.
Social responsibility time: The Arboretum does have a reputation, however well earned, of being a haven for muggers and other unsavory types at night. I’m not advocating a culture of fear, but be aware that it has happened in the past.
Place rating: 5
Dallas, TX
This is such a tranquil garden– great for a stroll or you can pitch a spot on the grass with your sweety for a picnic. Its just before you get to the Psychology building if you’re coming from Raleigh Rd. or just after if you’re coming from the main campus area. Its quite, scenic and you could probably take a nap if the mosquitoes don’t eat you alive– get some Off and you’ll be just fine. Its a great spot to read or relax with a non-​chatty friend that isn’t uncomfortable with a little quite– and some talking here and there.
Place rating: 5
Chapel Hill, NC
The Coker Arboretum is a wonderful pocket of peaceful serenity. This beautiful garden is tucked amongst the already scenic University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus at the corner of Raleigh Road and Cameron Street.
Named for a UNC professor, Coker Arboretum is an outstanding place to curl up with a book, spread out for a nice weekend picnic or walk off a busy day.
The arboretum’s self ascribed motto is «A quiet haven in the heart o a beautiful campus.» I couldn’t have put it better myself.