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 6 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 Charlotte, which is about 182 miles from Wilmington. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Budget, among others, in Charlotte.

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 Charlotte, which is about 182 miles from Wilmington. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Budget, among others, in Charlotte.

Airports near Wilmington

MYRMyrtle Beach Intl
ILMWilmington New Hanover County
FAYFayetteville

Airlines serving Wilmington

KLM
Good (1,525 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,028 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,397 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,409 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,595 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,778 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,731 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,807 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,129 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,401 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,468 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,982 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (2,913 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,918 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,218 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,492 reviews)
Sun Country Air
Good (333 reviews)
Porter Airlines
Excellent (440 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (689 reviews)
American Airlines
Good (11,648 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Wilmington

Average rates range from around $348 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $378 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 $31 to $1,498 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Wilmington are about 25% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Wilmington

Most booked hotels in Wilmington

See all
Best Western Plus Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$211+
View
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, Excellent reviews)
$206+
View
Courtyard by Marriott Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$199+
View
Hotel Ballast Wilmington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
4 stars
Good (7.2, Good reviews)
$276+
View
Baymont by Wyndham Wilmington
2 stars
Okay (4.6, Okay reviews)
$136+
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 4 miles from the city centre.

Expect to pay $2.17 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 $25.95 and $34.60. The most frequently booked car type in Wilmington is Compact (Chevrolet Equinox or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size car hire (Toyota Camry or similar) is, on average, 59% 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 4 miles from the city centre.

Expect to pay $2.17 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 $25.95 and $34.60. The most frequently booked car type in Wilmington is Compact (Chevrolet Equinox or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size car hire (Toyota Camry or similar) is, on average, 59% 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