RMH of Durham
506 Alexander Avenue, Durham, NC 27705 | 919-286-9305
RMH follows the COVID guidelines of Duke Children’s Hospital. Currently, masks are not required inside the House, but some families choose to wear them because of their children’s health. There is a required daily wellness check for all families at the family services desk.
Notify us immediately if someone in your family has symptoms of COVID-19, or any virus. We’ll help you stay near your child while also keeping other House guests and their patients safe.
Please ask clinical staff or social-work case manager at the treating facility to submit a referral on our website: (include link here). The online referral form is password protected. Providers or case managers can call us at 919-286-9305 if they need the password. Duke social work can be reached at 919-681-4722.
Our family services team will review the referral and contact you via phone and/or email to confirm receipt of the referral and several pieces of information. We are not able to confirm a room for you until the day of arrival. A referral is not a guarantee of a room.
We are not able to reserve rooms prior to the date of arrival. We will confirm the referral and date of request with you, but we ask that you contact us the morning of your arrival to inquire about the availability of a room. Please call around 10:00 a.m. If we do not have a room available, we will assist you with a hotel referral.
Ronald McDonald House does not charge families to stay. Families may make a small donation if they wish, but it is not requested. Eligibility to stay is never based on a family’s ability to donate.
Our generous donors help cover the cost of meals and lodging – about $100 per night.
If applicable, our staff pursue lodging reimbursement from Medicaid, private insurance, and groups that support active-duty military families when a family qualifies for assistance.
No, but Duke Concierge Services is available to assist families served by Duke Children’s Hospital with referrals to local hotels. You can reach them from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday-Friday at 919-402-6668.
No. Your room will have fresh towels and bed linens when you check in. We do ask that you launder these linens yourself during your stay. Laundry facilities are on site, and detergent & dryer sheets are provided. At checkout, simply leave used linens on your beds.
Most rooms sleep 2-3 people, but rooms sleeping up to 6 people may be available on request. All rooms have access to a private bathroom, no-cost laundry facilities, and a shared kitchen.
We do not provide housekeeping during your stay. We ask that you keep the room clean during your stay. This includes basic cleaning of the room and bathroom, laundering your linens, and taking out your trash.
Yes. We can set up a crib or a cot in your room to accommodate your family members.
The House has a fully stocked pantry, and we are happy to provide snacks or easy to-go food for you during your stay. Dinner is served 7 nights a week.
Families are only able to have one room at Ronald McDonald House.
Check in with the front desk as we often have toiletries and other items you may have left at home to make your stay more comfortable.
We have breast pumps available to check out as well as deep freezer for breast milk storage.
You are welcome to come and go as you please. We ask families to call us if they plan to stay overnight at the hospital.
Some rooms have private microwaves. For those that don’t, there are microwaves available for your use 24/7 in our House kitchen on the main floor.
Yes, there is a shuttle that runs on a regular weekday schedule. Weekend shuttle runs to the hospital are limited. Schedules are available at the front desk, or you can download one below.
(PDF in English)
(PDF Espanol)
Staff are available at the front desk or in the family services office 24/7 to assist your family. You may also reach them by dialing 120 from your room phone.
Yes. We have two laundry rooms that are available for your use free of charge. Laundry detergent and dryer sheets are also provided at no cost.
Yes. There are grocery stores on nearby Ninth Street and Main Street. There’s a Dollar General close to RMH, and there is plenty of shopping within a short distance. The family services office can help you with details.
There is public transportation to help you reach destinations that are off campus or not within walking distance.
There are several common areas available for your use, including a playroom, a gaming room, meditation chapel, living room, a kitchen with dining room, and two laundry rooms.
There is one designated smoking area at the House – the smoking gazebo located along Alexander Avenue. Smoking is strictly prohibited in all other areas.
Alcohol, illegal drugs, and weapons/firearms are NOT permitted anywhere on RMH property. We have a zero-tolerance policy about these items.
Service dogs that meet the ADA definition of a service animal are welcomed. Please contact us at 919-286-9305 to discuss any questions.
