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 5 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
$186
1 night at 3-star hotel
Wilmington in January
Estimated hotel price
$186
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 4 miles from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Wilmington is to pick up a car hire from Raleigh, which is about 116 miles from Wilmington. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Hertz, among others, in Raleigh.

Plane

When flying to Wilmington, you’ll arrive at Wilmington New Hanover County (ILM), which is located 4 miles from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Wilmington is to pick up a car hire from Raleigh, which is about 116 miles from Wilmington. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Hertz, among others, in Raleigh.

Airports near Wilmington

MYRMyrtle Beach Intl
ILMWilmington New Hanover County
FAYFayetteville

Airlines serving Wilmington

KLM
Good (1,559 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,160 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,474 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,508 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,644 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,739 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,112 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,951 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,478 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,505 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,426 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (3,038 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,811 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,980 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,470 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (2,692 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,221 reviews)
GOL
Good (1,275 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (694 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (11,940 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Wilmington

Average rates range from around $323 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $296 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hampton Inn Wilmington Downtown and Holiday Inn Express & Suites Wilmington-University Ctr By IHG. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Wilmington, with prices from $31 to $2,670 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Wilmington are about 6% 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)
$182+
View
Tru by Hilton Wilmington
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
$196+
View
Best Western Plus Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
$194+
View
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$177+
View
Courtyard by Marriott Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$184+
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 Budget branch at 1740 Airport Boulevard, which is 4 miles from the city centre.

Expect to pay $1.99 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 $23.88 and $31.84. 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 Compact car hire (Jeep Renegade or similar) is, on average, 57% 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 Budget branch at 1740 Airport Boulevard, which is 4 miles from the city centre.

Expect to pay $1.99 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 $23.88 and $31.84. 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 Compact car hire (Jeep Renegade 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

Avis

Avis

Budget

Budget
Find car hire in Wilmington