Where to Stay

Pick the town first.

Wilmington itself doesn't have an ocean beach. The city sits on the Cape Fear River a short drive inland, and the coast people mean when they search for a Wilmington beach rental is really three separate towns. Wrightsville Beach is northeast of downtown, while Carolina Beach and Kure Beach sit to the south on Pleasure Island, and the two causeways run in opposite directions from the city. Picking the town comes before picking the property, because it shapes the rest of the trip.

Compare the actual property location as well as the town. A Wrightsville Beach hotel name doesn't establish that it's on the island, and even an island stay needs a check of the walking route to a public beach access. Carolina Beach has oceanfront hotels, boardwalk-area inns and rental cottages; choose the stretch that suits your plans. For Kure Beach, compare the particular house or condo's beach access and nearby services. A downtown Wilmington stay can suit a Riverwalk or restaurant trip, but check the address and plan separate transportation for a beach day.

The guides below work through all of it, from choosing between the three beach towns to deciding between a rental house, a hotel, a condo, or a B&B, and what a week here actually costs. Rates, pet policies, and even brand names on this coast change fast, so treat anything you read here as a starting point and confirm the current details with the property before you book.