Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Wilmington travel guide

Wilmington Tourism | Wilmington Guide

You're Going to Love Wilmington

With a population of 70,851, Wilmington is the largest city in Delaware, United States by the number of inhabitants. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Wilmington has to offer.

Where to Eat in Wilmington

If you’re looking for affordable options, River Rock Kitchen-Westin Wilmington (818 Shipyard Drive) and Bardea Food & Drink (620 North Market Street) are great picks.

When to visit Wilmington

Wilmington in August
Estimated hotel price
$148
1 night at 3-star hotel
Wilmington in August
Estimated hotel price
$148
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Wilmington in July, when the average temperature is 77 °F, and the highest can go up to 86 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 24.8 °F, with an average temperature of 32 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in July, when precipitation is around 4.3″. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Wilmington, with an average rainfall of 2.9″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Wilmington

Plane

When flying to Wilmington, you’ll arrive at Greater Wilmington (ILG), which is located 6 miles from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Wilmington departs from Fort Lauderdale and takes around 2h 39m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Wilmington, followed by Acela. The train journey from Wilmington to New York takes 0h 57m and costs around $11 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Washington, D.C., expect to pay about $28 for a 1h 51m trip. The train station in Wilmington is called Wilmington, and is located 0.7 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Wilmington is to pick up a car rental from New York, which is about 108 miles from Wilmington. You’ll find branches of Turo and Drive Tri-State, among others, in New York.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Wilmington, including OurBus, Bus and American Airlines. From New York, the bus ride to Wilmington takes 89 miles and will cost you around $17. From Washington, D.C., the ticket costs about $50 for a journey of 180 miles.

Plane

When flying to Wilmington, you’ll arrive at Greater Wilmington (ILG), which is located 6 miles from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Wilmington departs from Fort Lauderdale and takes around 2h 39m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Wilmington, followed by Acela. The train journey from Wilmington to New York takes 0h 57m and costs around $11 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Washington, D.C., expect to pay about $28 for a 1h 51m trip. The train station in Wilmington is called Wilmington, and is located 0.7 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Wilmington is to pick up a car rental from New York, which is about 108 miles from Wilmington. You’ll find branches of Turo and Drive Tri-State, among others, in New York.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Wilmington, including OurBus, Bus and American Airlines. From New York, the bus ride to Wilmington takes 89 miles and will cost you around $17. From Washington, D.C., the ticket costs about $50 for a journey of 180 miles.

Airports near Wilmington

PHLPhiladelphia
BWIBaltimore/Washington
ACYAtlantic City

Airlines serving Wilmington

KLM
Good (1,430 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,613 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,562 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,010 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,079 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,804 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,040 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,678 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,430 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,064 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,502 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,500 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (875 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,329 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,592 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,084 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,334 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,143 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,411 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,402 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Wilmington

Where to stay in Wilmington

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Days Inn by Wyndham Wilmington/Brandywine and Holiday Inn Express Wilmington North - Brandywine By IHG.

Where to stay in popular areas of Wilmington

Most booked hotels in Wilmington

See all
Brandywine River Hotel
2 stars
Excellent (8.7, 936 reviews)
$119+
View
Sheraton Suites Wilmington Downtown
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 760 reviews)
$116+
View
Hotel du Pont
4 stars
Excellent (8.1, 236 reviews)
$193+
View
DoubleTree by Hilton Wilmington
4 stars
Good (7.6, 624 reviews)
$111+
View
Super 8 by Wyndham Pennsville/Wilmington
2 stars
Good (7.3, 1157 reviews)
$54+
View
Super 8 by Wyndham New Castle
2 stars
Good (7, 215 reviews)
$67+
View

Renting a car in Wilmington

Renting a car in Wilmington costs $42 per day, on average, or $127 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 31% cheaper than airport locations in Wilmington.

Expect to pay $3.41 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 $40.88 and $54.51. The most frequently booked car type in Wilmington is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Chevrolet Cruze or similar) are, on average, 81% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Wilmington costs $42 per day, on average, or $127 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 31% cheaper than airport locations in Wilmington.

Expect to pay $3.41 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 $40.88 and $54.51. The most frequently booked car type in Wilmington is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Chevrolet Cruze or similar) are, on average, 81% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Wilmington

Intermediate SUV

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$42/day

Intermediate SUV
Find car rentals in Wilmington