Wilmington Travel Guide

Wilmington Tourism | Wilmington Guide

You're Going to Love Wilmington

With a population of 106 476, Wilmington is a must-see destination in North Carolina, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Wilmington deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Activities & attractions in Wilmington

If you’re looking for affordable options, Tarantelli’s (102 S 2nd St) and Seabird (1 S Front St) are great picks.

Wilmington in December

Estimated hotel price

$107

1 night at 3-star hotel

$107

1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Wilmington in July, when the average temperature is 80.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 89.6 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 35.6 °F, with an average temperature of 46.4 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in September, when precipitation is around 7.8″. In contrast, April is usually the driest month of the year in Wilmington, with an average rainfall of 2.8″.

Temperatures

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Plane

When flying to Wilmington, you’ll arrive at Wilmington New Hanover County (ILM), which is located 4 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Wilmington include American Airlines, Qatar Airways and Delta. The shortest domestic flight to Wilmington departs from Washington, D.C. and takes around 1h 28m.

Train

The train station in Wilmington is called Wilmington, and is located 3 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Wilmington is to pick up a car rental from Charlotte, which is about 182 miles from Wilmington. You’ll find branches of Easirent and Economy Rent a Car, among others, in Charlotte.

Bus

FlixBus operates bus routes to Wilmington. Wilmington’s bus station is located 2 miles from the city center.

Plane

Train

The train station in Wilmington is called Wilmington, and is located 3 miles from the city center.

Car

Bus

FlixBus operates bus routes to Wilmington. Wilmington’s bus station is located 2 miles from the city center.

Airports near Wilmington

MYRMyrtle Beach Intl

ILMWilmington New Hanover County

FAYFayetteville

Airlines serving Wilmington

Good (1,432 reviews)

Good (8,007 reviews)

Good (7,571 reviews)

Good (4,091 reviews)

Good (9,094 reviews)

Good (3,679 reviews)

Good (1,504 reviews)

Good (10,519 reviews)

Scandinavian Airlines

Good (1,606 reviews)

Finnair

Good (1,335 reviews)

Alaska Airlines

Excellent (11,441 reviews)

Good (2,897 reviews)

Okay (3,083 reviews)

Good (1,889 reviews)

Excellent (1,184 reviews)

Good (8,182 reviews)

Good (1,642 reviews)

Good (675 reviews)

Good (333 reviews)

Good (11,052 reviews)

Find flights to Wilmington

Where to stay in Wilmington

Average rates range from around $167 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $114 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hampton Inn Wilmington Downtown and Wingate by Wyndham Wilmington. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Wilmington, with prices from $49 to $1,420 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Wilmington are about 6% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Wilmington by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Wilmington

Most booked hotels in Wilmington

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Sandpeddler Inn & Suites

2 stars

Excellent (9.2, 409 reviews)

$131+

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Holiday Inn Resort Lumina on Wrightsville Beach by IHG

3 stars

Excellent (9, 1094 reviews)

$111+

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Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront

3 stars

Excellent (8.6, 1004 reviews)

$133+

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Best Western Plus Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach

3 stars

Excellent (8.4, 1086 reviews)

$85+

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Courtyard by Marriott Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach

3 stars

Excellent (8.2, 485 reviews)

$81+

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Shell Island Resort - All Oceanfront Suites

3 stars

Good (7.9, 2169 reviews)

$113+

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Renting a car in Wilmington costs $51 per day, on average, or $102 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Hertz, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Alamo are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Wilmington is the Budget branch at 1740 Airport Boulevard, which is 4 miles from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 4% cheaper than airport locations in Wilmington.

Expect to pay $3.33 per gallon in Wilmington (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $39.97 and $53.30. The most frequently booked car type in Wilmington is Full-size (GMC Yukon or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Ford Fiesta or similar) are, on average, 67% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 4% cheaper than airport locations in Wilmington.

Best car rental deals in Wilmington

Supplier choice

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$29/day

Economy

2 Adults, 2 Bags

$29/day

Find car rentals in Wilmington

Wilmington Tourism | Wilmington Guide

You're Going to Love Wilmington

Activities & attractions in Wilmington

Tours

Nature & Outdoor Activities

Food, Drinks, & Nightlife

Other activities

Where to Eat in Wilmington

When to visit Wilmington

How to Get to Wilmington

Plane

Train

Car

Bus

Plane

Train

Car

Bus

Airports near Wilmington

Airlines serving Wilmington

Where to stay in Wilmington

Where to stay in popular areas of Wilmington

Most booked hotels in Wilmington

Renting a car in Wilmington

Best car rental deals in Wilmington