Where is Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA?

Written and fact-checked by | Reviewed by WhereIG Editorial Team | Last updated: August 14, 2026, 18:45 ET

Where is Wake Forest Located? - Wake Forest is a city located in the Wake, Franklin County of North Carolina, United States. Wake Forest lies between 33.1284047 Degrees North latitudes and 107.2528069 Degrees West longitudes.

Location Map of Wake Forest, North Carolina

Where is Wake Forest, North Carolina

Wake Forest Map, North Carolina, USA

Where is Wake Forest?: The Google Map showing the location of Wake Forest in the U.S. state of North Carolina.

Where is Wake Forest Located?

Wake Forest is a city located in theWake County, Franklin County of North Carolina, United States. Wake Forest lies between 33.1284047 Degrees North latitudes and 107.2528069 Degrees West longitudes. According to 2020 U.S.census, the population of Wake Forest city is 47601 people and the city has a total area of 17.63 sq mi. The city has numerous parks and recreational facilities.

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Wake Forest, North Carolina Quick Facts

AttributeDetails
CityWake Forest
CountyWake County and Franklin County
StateNorth Carolina
State CapitalRaleigh
US RegionSouthern United States
Latitude35.9799° N
Longitude78.5097° W
ElevationApproximately 400 ft (122 m)
Land Area17.3 sq mi
Water Area0.1 sq mi
Total Area17.4 sq mi
Population (2020 Census)47,601
Population DensityApproximately 2,750 per sq mi
ZIP Codes27587, 27588
Area Code919
Time Zone StandardEastern Standard Time (EST), UTC−5
Time Zone DaylightEastern Daylight Time (EDT), UTC−4
CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code37-70540
Community TypeTown

Transportation and Connectivity in Wake Forest, North Carolina

TransportationDetails
Nearest AirportRaleigh-Durham International Airport
IATA CodeRDU
Regional AirportRaleigh-Durham International Airport
Major HighwaysUS Route 1, US Route 1A, North Carolina Highway 98, NC Highway 50
Rail ServiceNo passenger rail station in Wake Forest; Amtrak service available in Raleigh
Bus ServiceGoRaleigh regional transit connections available nearby
Local ConnectivityConvenient access to Raleigh, Durham, Research Triangle Park, and northern Wake County
  • US Route 1 — Major north-south highway connecting Wake Forest with Raleigh and northern North Carolina communities.
  • North Carolina Highway 98 — Important east-west route serving Wake Forest and surrounding areas.
  • US Route 1A — Historic route connecting downtown Wake Forest with nearby communities.

Top Places to Visit in Wake Forest, North Carolina

Landmark NameType
Historic Downtown Wake ForestHistoric District
Wake Forest Historical MuseumHistory Museum
Joyner ParkPublic Park
Falls Lake State Recreation AreaState Recreation Area
Wake Forest Renaissance CentreCultural Center
Art After Hours GalleryArt Gallery
Holding ParkCommunity Park
H.L. Miller ParkRecreation Park
Flaherty Park Community CenterRecreation Facility
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (Raleigh)Museum

Driving Distances from Wake Forest, North Carolina to Nearby Cities

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
RaleighNorth Carolina18 mi30 minutes
DurhamNorth Carolina35 mi45 minutes
Chapel HillNorth Carolina45 mi1 hour
CaryNorth Carolina30 mi45 minutes
Rocky MountNorth Carolina55 mi1 hour
GreensboroNorth Carolina90 mi1 hour 30 minutes
FayettevilleNorth Carolina95 mi1 hour 45 minutes
CharlotteNorth Carolina170 mi2 hours 45 minutes
RichmondVirginia150 mi2 hours 30 minutes
WilmingtonNorth Carolina150 mi2 hours 45 minutes

Colleges and Universities Near Wake Forest, North Carolina

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
Wake Technical Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeAssociate degrees, workforce training, technology, healthcare, and applied programs
North Carolina State UniversityPublicUniversityEngineering, agriculture, sciences, business, and research programs
William Peace UniversityPrivateUniversityLiberal arts, business, education, and professional programs
Meredith CollegePrivateCollegeLiberal arts, education, business, and sciences
Wake Forest UniversityPrivateUniversityLaw, medicine, business, arts, sciences, and research

Waterbodies Near Wake Forest, North Carolina

Falls Lake, Smith Creek, Richland Creek, Neuse River tributaries, and nearby lakes and streams provide opportunities for boating, fishing, kayaking, hiking, and outdoor recreation.

Golf Courses and Stadiums Near Wake Forest

Golf Courses: Heritage Golf Club, Wakefield Plantation Golf Club, Paschal Golf Club, and nearby Raleigh-area golf facilities. Stadiums and sports facilities include Trentini Stadium, Wake Forest-Rolesville High School athletic facilities, and nearby Raleigh sports venues.

Key Landmarks and Places to Visit in Wake Forest, North Carolina

Landmark NameType
Historic Downtown Wake ForestHistoric District
Wake Forest Historical MuseumHistory Museum
Joyner ParkPublic Park
Wake Forest Renaissance CentreCultural Center
Falls Lake State Recreation AreaState Recreation Area
Holding ParkCommunity Park
Flaherty Park Community CenterRecreation Facility
Art After Hours GalleryArt Gallery
North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesMuseum
Historic Wake Forest College Campus AreaHistoric Site

Wake Forest, North Carolina — Key Historical Facts

  • The Wake Forest area was originally inhabited by Native American groups before European settlement expanded into the region.
  • The town was named after Wake County and the forested land that surrounded the early settlement.
  • Wake Forest College was founded in 1834 and became a major educational institution that shaped the town’s early growth.
  • The original Wake Forest College campus helped establish the community as an important center for education in North Carolina.
  • In 1946, Wake Forest College moved to Winston-Salem, but the town continued to grow as a residential and business community.
  • The arrival of rail transportation in the 19th century supported trade, agriculture, and local development.
  • Historic Downtown Wake Forest preserves buildings and landmarks connected to the town’s educational and commercial history.
  • Today, Wake Forest is known for its historic character, parks, growing neighborhoods, nearby Falls Lake, and connection to the Raleigh metropolitan area.

References

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