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. Consider staying at least one whole day in Wilmington to see all of its attractions.

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

Wilmington in January
Estimated hotel price
$187
1 night at 3-star hotel
Wilmington in January
Estimated hotel price
$187
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.

Train

The train station in Wilmington is called Wilmington, and is located 5 km from the city centre.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Wilmington using Greyhound or FlixBus. Wilmington’s bus station is located 4 km from the city centre.

Plane

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

Train

The train station in Wilmington is called Wilmington, and is located 5 km from the city centre.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Wilmington using Greyhound or FlixBus. Wilmington’s bus station is located 4 km from the city centre.

Airlines serving Wilmington

KLM
Good (1,372 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,104 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,954 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,896 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,468 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,844 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,590 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,415 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,693 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,222 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (10,366 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,312 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,910 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (3,268 reviews)
Spirit Airlines
Good (8,059 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,807 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,105 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,719 reviews)
Sun Country Air
Good (335 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (653 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Wilmington

Average rates range from around $370 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $337 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hampton Inn Wilmington Downtown and Wingate by Wyndham Wilmington. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Wilmington, with prices from $112 to $4,121 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Wilmington are about 16% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Wilmington

Most booked hotels in Wilmington

Best Western Plus Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$195+
Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$299+
Hotel Ballast Wilmington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
4 stars
Good (7.6, Good reviews)
$243+
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson,Wilmington, NC
3 stars
Good (6.6, Good reviews)
$180+
Baymont by Wyndham Wilmington
2 stars
Okay (4.2, Okay reviews)
$114+

Hiring a car in Wilmington

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

Expect to pay $1.56 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 $18.61 and $24.82. Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Wilmington, while also 54% cheaper than other types, on average.

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

Expect to pay $1.56 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 $18.61 and $24.82. Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Wilmington, while also 54% cheaper than other types, on average.

Wilmington Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Wilmington city guide for the best Wilmington travel tips. To help you organise your Wilmington trip ideas, this Wilmington visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.