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

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 8 days in order to fully appreciate everything Wilmington has to offer.

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Where to Eat in Wilmington

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

When to visit Wilmington

Wilmington in January
Estimated hotel price
$191
1 night at 3-star hotel
Wilmington in January
Estimated hotel price
$191
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Wilmington in July, when the average temperature is 27 °C, and the highest can go up to 32 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 2 °C, with an average temperature of 8 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in September, when precipitation is around 198 mm. In contrast, April is usually the driest month of the year in Wilmington, with an average rainfall of 71 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Wilmington

Plane

When flying to Wilmington, you’ll arrive at Wilmington New Hanover County (ILM), which is located 7 km from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Wilmington is to pick up a car hire from Raleigh, which is about 187 km from Wilmington. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Dollar, among others, in Raleigh.

Plane

When flying to Wilmington, you’ll arrive at Wilmington New Hanover County (ILM), which is located 7 km from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Wilmington is to pick up a car hire from Raleigh, which is about 187 km from Wilmington. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Dollar, among others, in Raleigh.

Airports near Wilmington

MYRMyrtle Beach Intl
ILMWilmington New Hanover County
FAYFayetteville

Airlines serving Wilmington

KLM
Good (1,577 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,228 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,463 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,591 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,650 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,731 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,230 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,984 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,652 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,535 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,431 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (3,032 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,949 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,463 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,984 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (2,598 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,218 reviews)
GOL
Good (1,304 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (694 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (12,087 reviews)
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Where to stay in Wilmington

Average rates range from around $314 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $376 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Holiday Inn Express & Suites Wilmington-University Ctr By IHG and Sleep Inn Wilmington near University. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Wilmington, with prices from $31 to $2,744 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Wilmington are about 11% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Wilmington

Most booked hotels in Wilmington

See all
Wingate by Wyndham Wilmington
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, Excellent reviews)
$175+
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Best Western Plus Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
$178+
View
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$157+
View
Hotel Ballast Wilmington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
4 stars
Good (7.4, Good reviews)
$271+
View
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson,Wilmington, NC
3 stars
Good (6.1, Good reviews)
$158+
View

Hiring a car in Wilmington

Alamo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Wilmington is the Alamo branch at 1740 Airport Blvd, which is 7 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay $2.09 per litre in Wilmington (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $24.97 and $33.29. The most frequently booked car type in Wilmington is Full-size (Ford Explorer or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Kia K4 or similar) is, on average, 65% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Alamo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Wilmington is the Alamo branch at 1740 Airport Blvd, which is 7 km from the city centre.

Expect to pay $2.09 per litre in Wilmington (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $24.97 and $33.29. The most frequently booked car type in Wilmington is Full-size (Ford Explorer or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Kia K4 or similar) is, on average, 65% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Car hire agencies in Wilmington

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Avis

Avis

Budget

Budget
Find car hire in Wilmington