18 BEST Things to Do in Wrightsville Beach
Wrightsville Beach was our go-to beach back in college — the beach every UNCW student ends up at. We spent more afternoons after class, and full weekends, there than we can count. It’s only 20 minutes from downtown Wilmington, which is exactly why it became the default: close enough to get to between classes, far enough to actually feel like you’d left town.
It’s a smaller, calmer scene than Carolina Beach, with an upscale, laid-back energy of its own. Here’s what’s actually worth your time.
Things To Do in Wrightsville Beach
Enjoy the Wrightsville Beach Shoreline
No list of things to do here is complete without the beach itself — it’s consistently ranked among the best in the state, and it’s easy to see why: wide white sand, access points all over town, and lifeguards on duty most of the year.
Cameron always preferred surfing here over just lying out, though it’s not for everyone — the swells can be inconsistent. What we’ll both vouch for: when the Gulf Stream pushes in closer to the coast, the water goes clear and calm enough for genuinely great swimming, better than most of the NC coast gets credit for.
Learn to Surf
Wrightsville has a real, laid-back surf culture, with gentler, more consistent conditions than you’d expect. If you want to actually learn instead of flailing around solo, Sean’s Private Surf Instruction teaches all ages and skill levels, with safety front and center.
Go Paddleboarding
At Wrightsville SUP, you don’t need any experience — they’ll get you started with a lesson, or just rent you a board if you already know what you’re doing. They also rent kayaks, outriggers, and bikes if you want to explore the area a few different ways in one trip.
Get Fresh Seafood at Motts Channel Seafood
Local fishermen have been delivering their catch straight to the docks at Motts Channel Seafood for more than 30 years. It’s a proper market — oysters, clams, shrimp, whatever’s fresh that day — plus enough sides and extras to put together a full meal if you’re cooking back at the rental.
Explore Masonboro Island
The best thing about Masonboro is that it’s boat-access only, which keeps it remote and quiet. Once there, you’re inside the Masonboro Island Coastal Estuarine Reserve — over 5,000 acres of undeveloped beach, salt marsh, and tidal flats, great for birdwatching, shelling, or just getting away from everyone. Book an excursion with a tour company, or catch a water taxi with Wrightsville Beach Scenic Tours.
Take a Sunset Cruise
La Dee Dah is a wooden cruise boat built in 1906 and still running tours today. It only holds 6 people, so it’s an intimate way to see the water off Wrightsville at sunset rather than a big group booze cruise. Cruises start around $100/person, and booking closes at 2pm the day-of.
Stay at the Blockade Runner Resort
The Blockade Runner is the classic oceanfront pick in Wrightsville — private beach access, an outdoor pool, a fitness center, and a fine-dining restaurant on-site. It’s the kind of place where you can book a surf lesson or a beachside yoga class without leaving the property.
Write a Letter at the Wrightsville Beach Mailbox
This one’s a genuine local landmark: a mailbox at 303 W. Salisbury St where people sit on the bench and write down whatever they need to get off their chest, then drop it in the box. We haven’t done it ourselves, but if you’re the sentimental type traveling through, it’s a sweet, low-key stop.
Visit the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History
Housed in a restored early-1900s beach cottage, the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History covers over a century of the town’s story — vintage bathing suits, old postcards, artifacts from the area’s surf scene, and a model of the town as it looked in 1910. Worth an hour if you want context beyond the beach itself.
Bike Around Town
Wrightsville is genuinely bike-friendly, and cruising around is one of the better ways to see it without dealing with beach parking twice in one day. No bike? Rentals are easy to find around town, including Figure Island Bike Rentals.
Walk Johnnie Mercer’s Fishing Pier
Johnnie Mercer’s Pier dates back to the 1930s and is the only concrete pier in the state, stretching 1,200 feet out — the longest in the Cape Fear area. You don’t need a rod to enjoy it; plenty of people just walk it at sunset. There’s a grill and a bait and tackle shop on-site if you want to fish.
Escape to Airlie Gardens
One of our favorite easy outdoor days in the whole Wilmington area. Airlie Gardens is a 67-acre botanical garden with lakes, seasonal flowers, nature trails, and historic buildings — the Pollinator Garden in particular draws butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Buy tickets in advance; a tram is included.
Visit the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Just past Carolina Beach, the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher is a real research center, not a tourist trap. Watch for the albino alligator, baby sea turtles, and otters, and don’t skip the touch tanks if you’re traveling with kids.
Walk, Fish, or Dine at Crystal Pier
A wooden pier from the late 1930s, good for an evening stroll, a bit of fishing, or dinner at one of the restaurants right on it. Occasionally they’ll run events on the pier itself, including beachside yoga classes.
Have a Drink at Wrightsville Beach Brewery
One of the better breweries in the greater Wilmington area — a 20-barrel system, 40 taps, and a picturesque beer garden under live oaks. The Wilmywood Wit is the one to get if you want something that tastes like the coast: light, hoppy, floral, with a little citrus and spice.
Hang Out at Wrightsville Beach Park
If you need a break from the sand, Wrightsville Beach Park has basketball courts, sand volleyball, tennis courts, a softball field, an on-site arboretum, and a playground for anyone traveling with kids. Plenty of town events happen here over the summer too.
How to Get to Wrightsville Beach
Wrightsville Beach sits about 20 minutes from downtown Wilmington in southeastern North Carolina.
- By car: Take Highway 74/76 East from Wilmington and follow the signs to the Wrightsville Beach exit.
- By public transit: The Wave Transit Bus runs from Wilmington to Wrightsville Beach.
- By plane: Wilmington International Airport (ILM) is the closest, about 20–30 minutes away. If you’re staying more than a couple of days, we’d recommend renting a car so you can also get to Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and the rest of the coast.
Parking at Wrightsville Beach
Parking here is genuinely annoying, especially April through October and on weekends — almost everywhere requires payment. Paid parking runs March 1 through October 31, 9am–7pm daily, at $5/hour or $25/day. The Municipal Complex lot (Wrightsville Beach Park, Town Hall, the Museum, and the Visitor Center) gives you the first two hours free, but it fills up fast.
Some local businesses and restaurants have their own paid lots, and if you’re staying at a hotel or vacation rental on the island, you may have free parking included. Either way, get there early during peak season.
Where to Eat Near Wrightsville Beach
- Bluewater Waterfront Grill — Right on the Intracoastal Waterway, with a dock so you can pull up by boat. Go for the baby back ribs or the blackened mahi tacos, and catch their live music series in summer.
- Poe’s Tavern — Laid-back beer-and-burger spot with an Edgar Allan Poe theme running through the decor.
- KM 38 Baja Grill — Amazing fish tacos, full stop. Beachy, casual, and popular with the college crowd, but the food holds up regardless.
- Ceviche’s — Panamanian-inspired seafood right at the edge of Wrightsville, known for great ceviche and a killer margarita.
- Brasserie du Soleil — The elevated pick if you want to make a night of it. Start with the escargot, then the bouillabaisse or scallops for dinner. Reservations recommended.
- Drift Coffee & Kitchen — Local coffee chain with a location right on Wrightsville, in the old Causeway Café/Gulfstream spot. Good coffee, solid breakfast and brunch menu.
Where to Stay on Wrightsville Beach
- Blockade Runner Beach Resort — See above; the classic oceanfront pick.
- Holiday Inn Resort Wrightsville Beach — North end of the beach, mostly oceanfront rooms, outdoor pool, direct beach access.
- The Shell Island Resort
- Sandpeddler Inn and Suites
Things to Do in Wrightsville Beach Map
Plan For Your Trip
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