If you’re looking for a laid-back beach escape with great food and soft sand, Wrightsville Beach deserves a spot on your list. Located not far from downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, it’s easy to pair with a broader coastal getaway. My husband and I visited during Memorial Day weekend as part of our trip to Wilmington, NC, and we liked it so much we went two days in a row.
Whether you’re making it a dedicated beach weekend or folding it into a longer itinerary, this guide covers everything you need to know: where to park, what to eat, how to spend your time, and a few tips to make the most of it. For more trip inspiration up and down the East Coast, check out Lily Travel.
Getting to Wrightsville Beach
It typically took us about 20 minutes to get to Wrightsville Beach from where we were staying in downtown Wilmington, and that was with holiday weekend traffic. The Wrightsville Beach area is very walkable once you’re there and most visitors park and explore on foot.
Parking Tips
⚠️ Heads up on parking: This is one of the trickiest parts of a Wrightsville Beach visit. Street parking and public lots fill up fast, especially on weekends and holidays.
- Arrive early. If you get there by 9 a.m., you’ll have your pick of spots — but they go quickly after that.
- Arriving late? Consider taking an Uber or Lyft from Wilmington and skipping the parking stress entirely.
- Metered parking is available near the beach, so bring quarters or download the ParkMobile app.
- Choose an Airbnb that’s walking distance to the beach if you decide to stay in the Wrightsville Beach area directly. I’d also suggest choosing an Airbnb that comes with parking since that is a hassle in this area.
Use the town resources to find the best place to park. They even have real-time maps that show you how full certain parking lots are in the area. We found it to be incredibly helpful and a great resource. Use this official Wrightsville Beach Parking Guide.
Things to Do at Wrightsville Beach
Hit the Beach
The draw to Wrightsville Beach is simple: beautiful, wide stretches of soft sand and warm Atlantic water. Compared to New England beaches, the water temperature is noticeably warmer and more welcoming for swimming. Arrive early and stake out your spot — even during busy holiday weekends, the beach is spread out enough that it doesn’t feel overwhelming if you get there before the crowds.
This beach is popular for surfers! When we visited on Memorial Day weekend, we had red flags. This means that the waves are big and the current is strong. Surfers made the most of this and it was really fun to watch them catching waves. If you’re a surfer, you’ll be thrilled.
That being said, for swimmers, you really need to be careful. The lifeguards were actually really busy and we saw them helping swimmers at least 3 times – real rescues – as some swimmers underestimated the powerful waves and current.
I didn’t go in the water our first day at the beach beyond my knees, as the waves were bigger than I wanted to take on. I did go in the water our second day there and had a great swim with no issues, but the current was still strong and the waves were still on the bigger side, so if you’re not a strong swimmer, keep this in mind.
Suggestions for a successful beach day:
- Bring a cooler bag – we brought snacks and drinks and spent most of the day here on our second beach day and at least half a day here on our first day. We were super comfortable, and while we did take a mid-day break to grab some lunch at a nearby restaurant, we were well-stocked enough to just stay the full day without leaving.
- Pack sunscreen – I get sunburned easily, so I feel like I am constantly lathering up on sunscreen, especially if I get in the water. Even though this beach isn’t as hot as those close to the equator, don’t underestimate the sun!
- Rent or buy a Shibumi Shade – We noticed that at Wrightsville Beach, beachgoers only used Shibumi Shades rather than regular beach umbrellas and tents. This made complete sense after we saw how windy this beach gets – it would easily dislodge a beach umbrella or tent and blow it away into other beachgoers, so it’s a safety thing as much as a comfort thing.
Bring beach games – we saw lots of families and college students playing beach games since this beach is flat and the sand is soft – it’s really perfect for that. We saw Spikeball, as well as the usual football or soccer ball. On a less windy day, you could have a great game of Kan-Jam or frisbee.
Water Sports & Rentals
The area around Wrightsville Beach is known for watersports, with calm sound-side water on one side of the island and open ocean with larger waves on the other. Paddleboarding, kayaking, and surfing rentals are available from several local outfitters. If you’re there for a full weekend, renting a board for a morning session is well worth it.
Popular water sport spots near Wrightsville Beach:
- Shell Island — a protected area at the northern tip of the island, accessible by foot or paddleboard
Wrightsville Beach Park — a public park with boat ramp access and picnic areas
Walk the Loop
The Wrightsville Beach Walking Loop is a popular paved loop that runs around the barrier island. It’s great for morning runs, casual strolls, or biking. It’s a nice way to see the island, stretch your legs, and take in the coastal scenery beyond just the main beach strip. We walked a section of this loop and really enjoyed it. We frequently saw runners and dog-walkers enjoying a morning stroll here.
Explore the Island
Wrightsville Beach has a charming, casual strip of shops, restaurants, and surf shacks. It’s small enough that you can wander the whole thing on foot in an afternoon. Pick up a souvenir, grab an ice cream cone, or just soak up the beach town atmosphere.
Where to Eat at Wrightsville Beach
Tower 7
Tower 7 is the ideal beach lunch spot during a long beach day because it’s casual, delicious, and right near the water. This is where my husband and I had lunch when we visited Wrightsville Beach and it had come recommended by a friend of ours who had gone during her visit to the area.
I had the Ahi tuna tacos and we split a street corn appetizer, and my husband went for the chicken burrito. We washed it all down with a margarita before heading back to the sand. The vibe is relaxed and the food is fresh and it’s exactly what you want after a morning at the beach.
King Neptune Restaurant
A Wrightsville Beach institution, King Neptune has been serving up classic beach fare like burgers, sandwiches, and fresh fish for decades. If you want a casual meal with local character, this is the spot.
Bluewater Waterfront Grill
Bluewater Waterfront Grill sits right on the Intracoastal Waterway and delivers some of the best views you’ll find at any restaurant in Wrightsville Beach. The menu leans into fresh, local seafood that moves with the seasons — think NC-caught fish prepared with real care. It’s a great pick for a proper dinner with panoramic water views, and they also host live music if you get lucky with the timing.
Flying Machine Oyster Bar
Flying Machine Oyster Bar is one of the most exciting spots on the island. Brought to you by the team behind Flying Machine Brewing Company, it serves coastal-inspired cuisine with real ambition — local oysters (raw, baked, or fried), seared Sichuan tuna, blue crab pasta, and rotating daily specials. Pair your meal with one of their craft cocktails or a fresh-poured local beer from the brewery. It’s a standout on the Wrightsville Beach dining scene.
The Half
The Half is a beloved local sandwich and beverage shop with two locations — one in downtown Wilmington and one right on Wrightsville Avenue, making it a convenient stop before or after a beach day. It offers creative, quality sandwiches with local flavor, rotating craft beers on tap, and a laid-back atmosphere that regulars keep coming back for. It’s the kind of casual spot that earns a loyal following for good reason.
Where to Stay for a Wrightsville Beach Weekend
Stay on the Island
Wilmington has tons of great hotel options, but if you’re really visiting the area mostly for beach outings, I’d recommend staying on the Wrightsville Beach barrier island. Ideally, find a place that’s walking distance to the beach because parking is a hassle.
Airbnb & VRBO
There are vacation rental options directly on Wrightsville Beach through Airbnb and VRBO and these are great if you want to wake up steps from the sand. Availability is limited and prices reflect the location, so book well in advance for summer weekends.
Hotels
Even if you don’t stay in a bougie hotel, I would not consider any of the hotels in the Wrightsville Beach area to be particularly affordable. This beach is a popular destination for a reason, so you’ll have to budget accordingly. That being said, I didn’t find Wrightsville Beach to be outrageously expensive either, at least compared to popular beach towns on Cape Cod or Martha’s Vineyard, for example.
A couple of the most convenient hotels in Wrightsville Beach are:
Trailborn Surf & Sound: a 4-star luxury beach resort with beautiful rooms, stunning views and convenient beach access
Holiday Inn Resort Lumina: offers on-site parking and beach-front views, as well as a complimentary local shuttle
Final Thoughts on Wrightsville Beach
At Wrightsville Beach, the sand is gorgeous, the water is warm, and the food scene — both on the island and in nearby Wilmington — is excellent. Plan around the parking situation, arrive early, and you’ll have a weekend that’s hard to beat.
For a full breakdown of everything to see, eat, and do in the area, check out my complete Wilmington travel guide!
