5 Top Places to Stay in Wrightsville Beach, NC

With sand between your toes and the waves of the Atlantic Ocean hitting the shore, the beach town of Wrightsville Beach is calling you for an oceanside getaway from Raleigh. Wrightsville is a smallish town and doesn’t have an endless supply of hotels and resorts considering how popular it is, although Wilmington is only 10-minutes’ drive away.

We have done day trips from Raleigh to Wrightsville but parking can be horrendous so the benefit of having accommodation is it comes with parking! In this guide, we’ve hand-picked our top five places to stay in Wrightsville Beach in order from budget to high-end because we know that where you sleep can make or break a vacation. 

Best overall – Holiday Inn Resort Lumina on Wrightsville Beach by IHG

The Holiday Inn Resort Lumina is where we usually stay when we visit Wrightsville Beach because it has a nice quiet Northend beachside location, and every time we stay there, we get a consistently good experience.

One of our favorite spots at the Holiday Inn Lumina is by the lovely outdoor pool and terrace, where there is also a poolside bar, Surfside Beach Bar & Grille, and direct beach access. We also love waking up in our spacious hotel room and having a coffee on the balcony overlooking the ocean. Most rooms at the Holiday Inn come with a balcony with sea views, and since there are very few hotels in Wrightsville Beach, it really is a perk you can appreciate.

It also has an on-site restaurant, Solstice, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner – we only ate breakfast there, which was exceptional. We had a cooked-to-order omelet, and there was also a buffet. The lunch and dinner menu specializes in Southern cuisine, with an emphasis on fresh seafood. There’s a coffee shop onsite, a free local area shuttle and bike hire, a 24-hour gym, and an indoor pool in case you get caught with bad weather. See prices here.

Best budget place – Silver Gull Motel

For something cheap and cheerful, you can’t go wrong with the Silver Gull Motel, a two-star hotel with five-star views. It’s right next to Johnnie Mercer’s Fishing Pier, putting you within a 5-minute walk to the beach. Rooms are basic, but comfortable, and kitted out with everything you need. You get free wifi in your room, as well as A/C and a kitchen with basic cooking facilities. Most rooms have a balcony with seats to admire the sea views from. And there’s also free parking for guests to use. See prices and availability here.

Best affordable place for families – Hampton Inn and Suites

When you’re traveling as a family and you need somewhere affordable, a suite with a sofa bed and a kitchen so you can cook your own meals is usually the best option. The Hampton Inn and Suites is located away from the beach, nearer to the sound, which means a quieter and more peaceful stay. Although not located on the beach, it’s only a few minutes away, and the inn’s outdoor pool is just as inviting as the ocean. A complimentary breakfast buffet is served each day, which has a wide variety of options, and there’s also a small fitness facility (it’s basic, but who goes to the gym on vacation anyway?). See prices and availability here.

Best mid-range place – Shell Island Resort

For something a little bit more luxurious, the 3.5* Shell Island Resort is right on the edge of the beach and has a chilled, relaxed vibe. All guest rooms are individually styled in beach-themed decor and have a balcony with ocean views. Some rooms have seating areas and kitchenettes. On site, it has a beach volleyball court, an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, and a beach bar. There’s also an onsite restaurant, Shell Island Restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Shell Island Resort is also located near a very popular surfing spot. See prices and availability here.

Best high-end place – Trailborn Surf & Sound

We stayed at Trailborn Surf & Sound back before it was refurbished and known as Blockade Runner Resort and loved the location and easy walking distance to the main part of Wrightsville Beach. It’s located on the narrowest part of the barrier island, so you are within a stone’s throw of the beach and the intracoastal waterway.

Since we stayed there, it underwent a huge renovation and rebrand and became Trailborn in January 2025. Now, it’s a bold and vibrant boutique hotel with a fresh new look, blanketed in coastal decor, white brick accents, and Juliet balconies overlooking either the ocean or the sound.

This four-star hotel has three onsite restaurants, La Duna Paradiso, Bar Duna, and the seasonal Blockade Surf Bar, as well as a beachside pool, hot tub, sauna, and gym. They can also organise surfboard rentals and ferries over to Masonboro Island. See prices and availability here.