Wrightsville Beach, NC Directions & Parking
Wrightsville Beach is North Carolina's most accessible beach by car thanks to convenient access to highways, with an international airport nearby and a marina accessible by the Intracoastal Waterway. Our village-like island is easy to get to and easily navigable once you're here.
Wrightsville Beach is an active beach community, and bicycling is a great way to navigate the island. Bicycle rentals are available to visitors year-round and peddling our designated bicycle lanes and shareable roadways on the island is a delight.
Lane Closure: The outside east bound lane of the bridge on US 76 Causeway Dr. crossing Banks Channel onto the island will be closed for repairs through fall 2023.
Directions
Wrightsville Beach is located 8.5 miles from Wilmington, which is centrally located on the East Coast, midway between New York and Florida. The major east/west interstate artery I-40 leads to Wilmington, which is also served by U.S. highways 17, 74, 76, 117 and 421. Follow I-40 East to US-117 S/N College Road. Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and continue onto Eastwood Road. Cross the Heide Trask Drawbridge and enter Wrightsville Beach.
To and from Wilmington International Airport (ILM)
The Wilmington International Airport is located just 10 miles from Wrightsville Beach. Rental cars and taxis are available at the airport terminal. From the airport, take Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway eastbound until it turns into Eastwood Road. Follow Eastwood Road across the Heide Trask Drawbridge to Wrightsville Beach.
Map at a Glance
Named one of the South's best beaches, the island is known for its clean, spacious beach and picturesque setting. Strolling the village-like town offers scenic views from surf to sound.
Named one of the South's best beaches, the island is known for its clean, spacious beach and picturesque setting. Strolling the village-like town offers scenic views from surf to sound.
Parking
Once on the island, you will find the town has over 1,600 metered spaces available for public parking. Meters are enforced every day from March 1 to Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. with some enforced 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Wrightsville Beach also uses pay stations and offers pay-by-phone for your convenience at some public parking locations. There are 26 pay stations located on the island. If a valid handicapped placard or license plate is displayed in/on a vehicle parked in a marked handicapped space, no payment is required. A handicapped placard or plate does not enable free parking elsewhere.
Wrightsville Beach Parking Map
Click the small box icon in the upper left hand corner of the map to open the legend.
Wrightsville Beach parking fees help support projects and services that enhance the visitor experience including:
- Beach Nourishment
- Lifeguard Program geared to protect the many visitors to the beach
- Cleaning and maintenance of public facilities and trash collection and disposal
- Maintaining and caring of town’s parks and recreation areas
Find more information about parking locations, payment options, rates and more on the Town of Wrightsville Beach website.
