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
Tours
Nature & Outdoor Activities
Museums
Other activities
Where to Eat in Wilmington
If you’re looking for affordable options, The Little Dipper (138 South Front Street) and Ceviche's (7210 Wrightsville Ave) are great picks.
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, Delta and Qatar Airways. The shortest domestic flight to Wilmington departs from Washington, D.C. and takes around 1h 26m.
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 Budget and Easirent, among others, in Charlotte.
Bus
You can travel by bus to Wilmington using FlixBus or Greyhound. 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 $184 and up for a 5-star experience.
Where to stay in popular areas of Wilmington
Most booked hotels in Wilmington
Renting a car in Wilmington
Renting a car in Wilmington costs $60 per day, on average, or $119 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz and Alamo are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Wilmington is the Thrifty branch at 1740 Airport Blvd, 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 $3.56 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 $42.70 and $56.93. 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 Luxury rental cars (Hyundai Genesis G80 or similar) are, on average, 85% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Best car rental deals in Wilmington
Intermediate SUV
5 Adults, 3 Bags
$33/day
Economy
2 Adults, 2 Bags
$37/day