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
$146
1 night at 3-star hotel
Wilmington in August
Estimated hotel price
$146
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 $18 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Washington, D.C., expect to pay about $11 for a 2h 06m 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, FlixBus and Peter Pan Bus Lines. From New York, the bus ride to Wilmington takes 90 miles and will cost you around $33. From Scranton, the ticket costs about $499 for a journey of 140 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 $18 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Washington, D.C., expect to pay about $11 for a 2h 06m 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, FlixBus and Peter Pan Bus Lines. From New York, the bus ride to Wilmington takes 90 miles and will cost you around $33. From Scranton, the ticket costs about $499 for a journey of 140 miles.

Airports near Wilmington

PHLPhiladelphia
BWIBaltimore/Washington
ACYAtlantic City

Airlines serving Wilmington

KLM
Good (1,444 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,758 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,706 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,130 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,210 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,864 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,100 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,219 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,728 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,528 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,491 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (896 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,676 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,668 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,174 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,378 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,356 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,153 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (381 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,819 reviews)
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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
Staybridge Suites Wilmington Downtown By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (9.1, 503 reviews)
$126+
View
Hyatt Place Wilmington Riverfront
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 502 reviews)
$154+
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Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Wilmington New Castle
2 stars
Excellent (8.6, 421 reviews)
$106+
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Courtyard by Marriott New Castle
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 89 reviews)
$115+
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Sheraton Suites Wilmington Downtown
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 763 reviews)
$112+
View
DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Wilmington - Legal District
4 stars
Good (6.8, 943 reviews)
$108+
View

Renting a car in Wilmington

Renting a car in Wilmington costs $50 per day, on average, or $150 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 7% cheaper than airport locations in Wilmington.

Expect to pay $3.14 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 $37.70 and $50.27. 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 Full-size rental cars (Toyota Camry or similar) are, on average, 66% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Wilmington costs $50 per day, on average, or $150 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 7% cheaper than airport locations in Wilmington.

Expect to pay $3.14 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 $37.70 and $50.27. 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 Full-size rental cars (Toyota Camry or similar) are, on average, 66% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Wilmington

Full-size

5 Adults, 2 Bags

$24/day

Full-size
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