It’s a bit of a weird spot if you aren't familiar with the layout of the Triangle. You’re driving down Harrison Avenue, just off I-40, and suddenly you hit this pocket of corporate parks and hotels that feels like the nerve center of North Carolina’s tech scene. Right there sits the Embassy Suites Harrison Oaks Blvd Cary NC.
Honestly? It isn't just another bed to sleep in.
Most people booking a stay here are doing it for one of three reasons: they have a meeting at SAS Institute, they’re catching a flight out of RDU, or they’re in town for a massive youth soccer tournament at the WakeMed Soccer Park. It's a workhorse of a hotel. It doesn't try to be a boutique art-deco experiment. It knows exactly what it is—a reliable, suite-heavy anchor for travelers who need space, breakfast, and a decent evening drink without leaving the property.
The Suite Layout Actually Matters Here
If you’ve ever been crammed into a standard king room with a laptop, a coffee maker, and three days' worth of business casual clothes, you know the "desk-next-to-bed" struggle. It’s claustrophobic.
The Embassy Suites Harrison Oaks Blvd Cary NC sticks to the classic brand promise of the two-room suite. You get a door. A real, solid door between the bedroom and the living area. This is a game-changer if you’re traveling with a partner who sleeps in or if you’re a "night owl" worker who doesn't want to stare at their pillows while answering emails at 11:00 PM.
There’s a small wet bar area, too. It’s got a microwave and a mini-fridge. While that sounds basic, consider the location. You’re in Cary. There are amazing restaurants nearby—like Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen just down the road—but sometimes you just want to bring back leftovers and eat in your sweatpants while watching the news. The extra square footage makes that feel less depressing than it would in a cramped studio room.
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That Atrium Vibe
Walk into the lobby and you get that signature Embassy Suites smell. It’s a mix of industrial cleaners, cooked bacon, and a hint of indoor pool chlorine. It’s nostalgic. The atrium is massive, filled with greenery and waterfalls that somehow manage to drown out the sound of the elevators.
This is where the "Social Hour" happens. Every evening, they do the manager's reception. It’s free drinks and snacks. You’ll see a weird mix of people there: tech consultants in Patagonia vests talking about "synergy," and families with kids who are just excited about the unlimited Shirley Temples. It’s the closest thing a corporate hotel has to a neighborhood pub.
Location: The Real Reason You’re Booking
Let’s be real. You aren’t staying on Harrison Oaks Blvd for the "scenic views." You’re staying there because of the proximity to the Research Triangle Park (RTP).
Cary is basically the suburb that ate the woods between Raleigh and Durham. From this specific hotel, you are:
- Less than 10 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).
- Directly adjacent to the SAS Institute world headquarters.
- A short hop from the MetLife Global Technology campus.
Traffic on I-40 can be a nightmare. Anyone who lives in the Triangle will tell you that the stretch of 40 near the Harrison Avenue exit is a notorious bottleneck during morning rush hour. Staying here gives you a "cheat code" to avoid that mess. You can basically roll out of bed and be at your meeting in five minutes.
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The Breakfast Situation
We have to talk about the omelet station.
The made-to-order breakfast is arguably the biggest selling point for the Embassy Suites Harrison Oaks Blvd Cary NC. It isn't a "grab a lukewarm muffin and a bruised apple" kind of situation. There is a human being standing behind a griddle who will put whatever you want into an omelet.
Pro tip: Get there early. Around 8:30 AM, the line starts to snake around the atrium, especially on weekends when the sports teams are in town. If you’re a business traveler, hit it at 6:30 AM. It’s quiet, the coffee is fresh, and you can actually hear yourself think.
Why the "Hills" of Cary Matter
The topography here is surprisingly rolling. If you look out the window of a higher-floor room facing west, you see nothing but a canopy of pine trees. It’s one of the things that makes Cary unique; despite being a massive suburb, they have strict zoning laws about trees. It feels like you’re staying in a forest that just happens to have high-speed fiber internet and a fitness center.
What People Get Wrong About This Hotel
A lot of travelers assume that because it’s an "Airport/Cary" hotel, it’s going to be loud.
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Actually, the Embassy Suites Harrison Oaks Blvd Cary NC is tucked far enough back from the main highway that you don't get that constant drone of tires on asphalt. It’s remarkably quiet at night.
Also, don't assume the "on-site restaurant" is your only option. While the Bistro in the lobby is fine for a quick burger, you are literally surrounded by some of the best food in the state.
- Academy Street: Head into downtown Cary (about 10 mins away).
- Kachin: Incredible Burmese food that most locals don't even know about yet.
- UMSTEAD State Park: If you have an hour between meetings, the entrance is right there. Go for a walk. It’s the best way to decompress from a day of PowerPoint presentations.
Navigating the Logistics
Parking is generally easy, which is a relief. Unlike downtown Raleigh or Durham where you’re paying $30 a day to squeeze into a parking deck designed in the 1970s, the lot here is sprawling.
If you are flying in, the hotel usually runs a shuttle. Check the schedule when you land. Sometimes it’s faster to just grab an Uber, but the shuttle is a nice cost-saver if you’re on a budget.
The Meeting Spaces
They have about 12,000 square feet of event space. This is why you’ll often see "Ballroom B" packed with people wearing lanyards. If you’re planning a small conference here, the catering is surprisingly decent. They do a Southern-style buffet that actually tastes like it was made in a kitchen, not a factory.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Stay
If you're heading to the Embassy Suites Harrison Oaks Blvd Cary NC, keep these points in mind to make the trip smoother:
- Ask for a high floor away from the elevators. The atrium design means sound travels up. If there’s a noisy group at the bar, you’ll hear it on the 3rd floor. The 7th or 8th floor is your sanctuary.
- Join the Hilton Honors program before you check in. Even the basic level gets you digital key access, which means you can skip the front desk entirely and go straight to your room with your phone.
- Don't ignore the Umstead State Park entrance. It’s less than two miles away. It is the single best place to run or walk in the entire Triangle area.
- Check the SAS schedule. If there is a major event at SAS, this hotel fills up months in advance. Plan accordingly if your dates are flexible.
- Use the back way. To avoid the Harrison Avenue traffic light, learn the side streets through the office parks to get toward Weston Parkway. It’ll save you ten minutes of frustration.
Staying here isn't about luxury in the "white gloves and gold leaf" sense. It’s about utility. It’s about having a place where you can work, eat, and sleep without the friction of a typical hotel stay. It's the "easy button" for anyone doing business in the Research Triangle.