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. 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 December
Estimated hotel price
$199
1 night at 3-star hotel
Wilmington in December
Estimated hotel price
$199
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. From Raleigh, the bus ride to Wilmington takes 298 km and will cost you around $109. From Atlanta, the ticket costs about $260 for a journey of 1304 km. 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. From Raleigh, the bus ride to Wilmington takes 298 km and will cost you around $109. From Atlanta, the ticket costs about $260 for a journey of 1304 km. Wilmington’s bus station is located 4 km from the city centre.

Airports near Wilmington

MYRMyrtle Beach Intl
ILMWilmington New Hanover County
FAYFayetteville

Airlines serving Wilmington

KLM
Good (1,406 reviews)
Delta
Good (7,994 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,482 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,029 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,997 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,481 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,658 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,371 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,543 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,201 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,333 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,907 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (3,124 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,871 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,153 reviews)
Spirit Airlines
Good (8,113 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,678 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (670 reviews)
Sun Country Air
Good (335 reviews)
Air New Zealand
Excellent (519 reviews)
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Where to stay in Wilmington

Average rates range from around $337 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $313 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 $92 to $2,394 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Wilmington are about 4% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Wilmington

Most booked hotels in Wilmington

See all
Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$254+
View
Best Western Plus Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$178+
View
Courtyard by Marriott Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, Excellent reviews)
$151+
View
Hotel Ballast Wilmington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
4 stars
Good (7.4, Good reviews)
$227+
View
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson,Wilmington, NC
3 stars
Good (6.5, Good reviews)
$158+
View
Baymont by Wyndham Wilmington
2 stars
Okay (4.2, Okay reviews)
$95+
View

Hiring a car in Wilmington

Hertz, Enterprise Rent-A-Car 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 $18.70 and $24.93. The most frequently booked car type in Wilmington is Compact (Toyota Corolla or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Standard car hire (Nissan Murano or similar) is, on average, 57% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Hertz, Enterprise Rent-A-Car 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 $18.70 and $24.93. The most frequently booked car type in Wilmington is Compact (Toyota Corolla or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Standard car hire (Nissan Murano or similar) is, on average, 57% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Car hire agencies in Wilmington

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Hertz

Hertz

Avis

Avis
Find car hire in Wilmington

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.