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. We recommend you stay at least 2 days in order to fully appreciate everything Wilmington has to offer.
What to do in Wilmington
Top activities & attractions in Wilmington
Where to Eat in Wilmington
If you’re looking for affordable options, The Little Dipper (138 South Front Street) and Circa 1922 (8 N. Front St.) are great picks.
Most popular restaurants in Wilmington
When to visit Wilmington
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″.
How to Get to Wilmington
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, JetBlue and Delta. The shortest domestic flight to Wilmington departs from Tampa and takes around 1h 40m.
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 Hertz, among others, in Charlotte.
Bus
Wilmington’s bus station is located 2 miles from the city center.
Airlines serving Wilmington
Where to stay in Wilmington
Average rates range from around $215 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $224 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Howard Johnson by Wyndham Wilmington and Tru by Hilton Wilmington.
Where to stay in popular areas of Wilmington
Most booked hotels in Wilmington
Renting a car in Wilmington
Renting a car in Wilmington costs $66 per day, on average, or $132 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo and Hertz 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 6816 Gordon Road, which is 5 miles from the city center.
It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 2% cheaper than airport locations in Wilmington.
Expect to pay $3.82 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 $45.88 and $61.17. 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 (Honda CR-V or similar) are, on average, 68% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.