Downtown Wilmington
Riverwalk, restaurants, and historic blocks.
Find the right
slice of coast.
Choose between downtown's riverfront and three ocean beach towns. Start with the outings you want, then check the location, access and travel needed for your day.
Wrightsville Beach
Ocean beaches, waterfront dining, and the central Loop.
Carolina Beach
Boardwalk nostalgia and laid-back coast.
Kure Beach
Fishing pier, oceanfront park, and Fort Fisher outings.
How they compare
Four towns,
one coast.
Downtown Wilmington sits on the Cape Fear River. Wrightsville Beach lies east of the city; Carolina Beach and Kure Beach are south on Pleasure Island. An ocean view, a river view and a room near a beach town can mean different routes to the places you want to visit.
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| Destination | Plan a day around | Check before choosing |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Wilmington | Riverwalk, historic streets, museums and restaurants. | Downtown is on the Cape Fear River. An ocean beach visit needs a separate trip; check the parking or transport for both stops. |
| Wrightsville Beach | Atlantic beach access, pier visits and the central walking Loop. | Choose an exact beach access and property location. A mainland address does not establish a walk to the ocean. |
| Carolina Beach | Boardwalk outings, the lake and Carolina Beach State Park. | The boardwalk, state park and ocean accesses are separate destinations. Choose the stops and their travel arrangements together. |
| Kure Beach | Fishing pier, Ocean Front Park and Fort Fisher outings. | Check the exact Fort Fisher attraction. The aquarium closure and the historic site or recreation area have different visitor notices. |
Town names do not guarantee a quiet bedroom, calm swimming water, an available parking space or a fixed drive time. Compare the exact property or access point, the dates and the route your group will use.