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 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Wilmington has to offer.
Where to Eat in Wilmington
If you’re looking for affordable options, The Little Dipper (138 South Front Street) and Circa 1922 (8 N. Front St.) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Butcher and Barrel by True Blue (110 Greenfield St 114) and Ceviche's (7210 Wrightsville Ave) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Wilmington.
When to visit Wilmington
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.
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. The shortest flight to Wilmington from the United Kingdom departs from London and takes around 12h 36m.
Train
The train station in Wilmington is called Wilmington, and is located 5 km from the city centre.
Car
Another option to get to Wilmington is to pick up a car hire from Charlotte, which is about 293 km from Wilmington. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Alamo, among others, in Charlotte.
Bus
FlixBus operates bus routes to Wilmington. From Washington, D.C., the bus ride to Wilmington takes 813 km and will cost you around £83. From Newark, the ticket costs about £132 for a journey of 1392 km. Wilmington’s bus station is located 4 km from the city centre.
Airlines serving Wilmington
Where to stay in Wilmington
Average rates range from around £194 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £170 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.
Where to stay in popular areas of Wilmington
Most booked hotels in Wilmington
Hiring a car in Wilmington
Hiring a car in Wilmington costs £57 per day, on average, or £171 if you want to hire it for 3 days. Alamo, Hertz and Enterprise Rent-A-Car 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 6816 Gordon Road, which is 8 km from the city centre.
It’s generally cheaper to hire your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 8% cheaper than airport locations in Wilmington.
Expect to pay £0.83 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 £9.93 and £13.24. The most frequently booked car type in Wilmington is Full-size (Chevrolet Tahoe or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate car hire (Hyundai Elantra or similar) is, on average, 49% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.
Best car hire deals in Wilmington
Full-size
5 adults, 2 Bags
£38/day
Intermediate
5 adults, 3 Bags
£38/day