When the heat of Raleigh gets too much, thankfully it’s just a 2-hour drive to North Carolina’s most accessible beach, Wrightsville Beach – a quaint seaside town with endless opportunities for adventures. It boasts a pristine sandy beach and crystal clear waters, but apart from sunbathing and swimming, there are many other things to do in Wrightsville Beach to keep you busy on a day trip from Raleigh.
Ever since we moved to Raleigh permanently, we’ve regularly taken a Raleigh to Wrightsville Beach Road trip – it’s one of our favorite getaways. Considering we grew up in Australia by the beach, we know a good beach town when we see one, and Wrightsville Beach ticks all of our boxes – it has a clean beach, a relaxed vibe, lots of cozy coffee shops, great restaurants, and is within easy access of our home in Raleigh.
If you’re thinking of spending a day at Wrightsville Beach, here is a one day itinerary from Raleigh with suggestions on where to get good coffee, eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, where to park, and more!
How far is Wrightsville Beach from Raleigh?
Raleigh to Wrightsville Beach has an average drive time of 2-hours (132 miles) straight down I-40.
If you’re wondering what is the closest beach to Raleigh NC, it is Wrightsville. It’s also one of the closest beaches to Wilmington (12-miles from downtown), which is another cool destination worth checking out. In my opinion, there’s not much to see between Raleigh and Wrightsville Beach, so we like to drive straight through, stopping only for a bathroom break.
The best route to take is straight down the I-40 E. You don’t have to leave the highway; it takes you straight off the Raleigh beltline and into Wrightsville Beach. You can’t get any easier than that! If you’re not planning to drive from Raleigh, and have more than a day at your disposal, you can also fly into Wrightsville Beach. The nearest airport is Wilmington (ILM) Airport, and from here it’s a short 7.8 mile drive to Wrightsville Beach.
I wouldn’t recommend this though, as there are no direct flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), and with changes, it will take over 5 hours. Plus there’s getting to the airport, waiting time at the airport, and getting to your hotel, which adds another level of inconvenience.
How to spend a day at Wrightsville Beach
Stop 1: Watch an ocean Sunrise
If you’re a real early bird, the sunrises in Wrightsville NC are spectacular. Just go anywhere along the beachfront, or even walk out on Crystal Pier or Johnnie Mercers Pier and then you’re right near our fave coffee spot (see down below). We’ve seen plenty of sunrises here during extended overnight stays in Wrightsville (our favorite place to stay is Holiday Inn Resort Lumina Wrightsville Beach).
But on a day trip and leaving from Raleigh in the morning, I know it means getting up super early – just imagine how quiet the drive would be, and how easy it is to get a parking spot. Wrightsville is super tough for parking on weekends in the warmer months, so getting up early to grab a space is another reason to catch a sunrise. More on that down below.
Stop 2: Have Coffee at SUNdays Cafe
On a day trip from Raleigh, we like to leave no later than 7am which gets us there by 9am to make the most of our time, and we head straight to our favorite coffee spot in Wrightsville, SUNdays Cafe. Located above South End Surf Shop and opposite the Oceanic Restaurant at Crystal Pier, SUNdays reminds us so much of Australia.
It’s a cool laid-back cafe with surfing vibes and memorabilia, locals chatting to one another, and okay coffee, some of the best coffee in Wrightsville Beach we found. This is a real community spot with comfy couches, some bar stools, and bigger communal tables.
They have a full espresso bar, our kids love their shakes, they have smoothies, acai bowls, and muffins. And, if you come back later on, they also serve draft beer and wine. So, if you’re ok with coffee and an acai bowl for breakfast, you can get it all here, otherwise follow our breakfast advice down below! One you’ve had your coffee, walk across the street and walk out on Crystal Pier for a lovely view of the beachfront and horizon. Other coffee shops in Wrightsville include Adapt Kitchen & Juice Bar (our pick for breakfast) and The Workshop.
Stop 3: Have Breakfast at Adapt Kitchen & Juice Bar
If you’re looking for a healthy start to the day, head to Adapt Kitchen and Juice Bar who serve up the best breakfast in Wrightsville Beach for the health conscious! Locally owned and located inside the famous Robert’s Grocery, here you will find the tastiest, most colorful and nutritiously dense breakfast bowls ever. We’ve had plenty of smoothie type bowls on our travels, but these are up there with the best. We also highly recommend their Eh Brah!vo Smash (smashed avocado on toast with feta and sunflower seeds).
Also on the menu is Adaptogenic Superfood Smoothies, Artisan-style Toasts, Signature Poke Bowls, Organic Wellness Shots, Organic Fresh Juices, Organic Teas & Health Elixirs, Organic Coffee & Espresso Drinks, and baked goods. It’s a small place and not really a cafe you can sit down in and eat – there’s four beach chairs and a window high top so you might get lucky. But the food is top notch. The coffee is good, but we still prefer SUNdays.
Other options for breakfast include the before mentioned Workshop who serve toasts, sandwiches, smoothies and signature coffees. Or the popular Sweet n Savory Cafe (we haven’t been here yet).
Stop 4: Go for a morning kayak or stand up paddle board
One of our favorite things to do in Wrightsville Beach NC is go kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding on the Intracoastal Waterway. The crystal blue waters are just so beautiful, calming and inviting. Morning time is usually the best time for this as it’s typically less windy, and you avoid the main rush at the beach and the challenging parking situation.
People tend to start leaving the beach after lunch meaning it’s easier to park, and it’s the hottest part of the day for a swim and in the afternoons we just want to relax with beach time, and our kids are usually too tired to go paddling. But, I’ll leave this up to you whether you go paddling or have beach time in the morning or vice versa! Either way, don’t just visit Wrightsville to experience ocean activities, as we think the Intracoastal Waterway is magical and what makes Wrightsville extra special.
You can self kayak or paddle board the many different channels of the waterways. However, we took a guided kayaking tour through the salt marshes with Wrightsville SUP, who also do paddle boarding, and it was fantastic! Having a knowledgeable local guide allows you to learn more about the waterways and the delicate and diverse ecosystem.
Plus a guide knows the best channels to explore and how to navigate them and took us to spots we never would have found ourselves and pointed out the abundance of oysters, osprey and other birds flying overhead.
It was a windy day so we decided to kayak instead of paddle board, but on our next visit we hope to go paddle boarding. You can also rent kayaks and paddleboards from WrightsvilleSup if you want to go out on your own. And they also offer lessons and other fun things like SUP yoga, nighttime paddles, and outrigger canoes. You can also rent a stand-up paddle board or kayak from Trailborn Surf & Sound (formerly Blockade Runner Beach Resort), and we paddled in the sound in front of the resort when staying there, which was fantastic.
Stop 5: Have lunch at Tower 7 Baja Mexican Grill
Now that you’ve had some gentle exercise, it’s time to dig into some delicious lunch before you hit the beach for the afternoon! One of the most recommended places to eat in Wrightsville Beach by the locals and our online community is Tower 7 Baja Mexican Grill. And we agree that it’s one of the best restaurants in Wrightsville Beach, especially if you love Mexican!
Located just over the S Banks Channel Bridge as you come into Wrightsville, this place is named after a lifeguard tower, Tower 7, on the Pacific Coast that became a hidden local favorite surf break. We recommend a serving of guacamole (delicious), some fish tacos, and a frozen margarita! Our veggie tostada was delicious too.
They have a large menu of options to choose from including all the traditional dishes such as Burritos, Fajitas, Ensaladas, Quesadillas, Enchiladas and Tacos – and of course daily specials. Plus a family style menu and great kids menu! Tower 7 makes for the perfect complement to sunny beach days in Wrightsville. Oh, and if you need any last minute beach gear before you hit the sand, pop over the street to Wings Beachwear. Here’s a few lunch alternatives…
OR: Eat at Shark Bar and Kitchen
If you’re not a fan of Mexican food, we also enjoyed eating lunch at Shark Bar and Kitchen, a converted dive bar that’s now a nicely renovated two-story restaurant and bar. This is a casual dining experience and they serve up locally and sustainably sourced seafood, meats and produce, as well as burgers, sandwiches and salads. And you’re located right near Johnny Mercer’s Pier (see below), but no beach views!
Stop 6: Have beach time at Crystal Pier or Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier
Ok, the main reason you’re probably doing a Raleigh to Wrightsville Beach drive is for some actual beach experience! Now it’s time to spend the whole afternoon on the beach! Two miles of beautiful beachfront separates Crystal Pier at the South End and Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier at the northern end of the beach.
We’ve hung out at both ends, but let me give you a quick rundown about each option. If carting all your stuff onto the beach and finding parking areas wasn’t so challenging, you could split your time. But with limited time I’d say choose one end or the other, or somewhere in the middle.
Crystal Pier
Stretching 475 feet into the Atlantic Ocean, Crystal Pier is a free walking or fishing pier (no cost to walk on like Johnny Mercers). It’s the only wooden pier in Wrightsville Beach, originally built in 1939 and restored in 2013. Oceanic Restaurant on the pier is known for its spectacular ocean views and one of the few restaurants in Wrightsville Beach situated on the Atlantic Ocean.
It offers dining and a large section of covered outdoor dining (popular for semi-casual lunches with a heavy focus on seafood), and live music (6-9 p.m. every Wednesday and 7-10 p.m. every Friday April-October). We love Oceanic for its views, casual beach ambiance, and great food. We took my parents there for lunch when they visited from Australia, and my dad can’t stop talking about how special “that place” was.
HOT TIP: You’ll get seated more quickly if you arrive at noon for an early lunch or before 6 p.m. for an early dinner. On Sundays their brunch starts at 10 a.m., be an early bird. And there’s the Pier Bar about half way out on the pier – a perfect place for evening sunset drinks!
As mentioned, Crystal Pier is across the road from our fave coffee spot, and it’s a great family area to hangout and enjoy the sun and beach, watch the surfers, and enjoy the community surrounding it.
Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier
Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier is the first concrete fishing pier in the state of North Carolina, and the main Wrightsville Beach fishing pier. It’s located in the heart of Wrightsville Beach, and you’re a 1-minute walk from Shark Bark and Kitchen and closer to the downtown Wrightsville Beach area.
The pier extends 1200 feet into the Atlantic Ocean, and walking out on it is something you must do at least once when you visit Wrightsville Beach ($2 per adult, $1 for kids). Here you’ll also find a tackle shop, seasonal snack bar, and full bathrooms.
As for the beach, spend your time either swimming, body boarding, surfing, collecting shells with your kids, or reading a book. Just relax, unwind, and soak it all up. This is what you’ve worked hard all week for! Wrightsville is one of the best beaches in North Carolina for families, so if you have young kids don’t forget all your beach toys!
Stop 7: Have dinner at Ceviche’s
Hello, the taste of Panama, I now want to visit. Ceviche’s is our favorite of the restaurants in Wrightsville Beach, and the most recommended of things to do in Wrightsville Beach by the locals. From the first sip of our rum cocktail and bite of our calamari, we fell in love with this restaurant.
Here you can enjoy the tastes of Panama at this cozy Latin-American restaurant with a bar made of reclaimed wood straight from Panama.
Located just over the drawbridge as you drive into the town of Wrightsville, it doesn’t look like much from the outside, but when you walk in the door the small bar area opens up to another dining area, which opens up to another small dining area and an outside covered patio. After our appetizers of calamari and the brussel sprouts, we enjoyed an explosion of fresh, spicy and flavorful dishes.
As long-time calamari fans from growing up by the ocean in Australia, we were thrilled to see it coated in gluten-free flour, making it available to us to eat. Ceviche’s uses taro flour for their meals, a Panamanian favorite that gives battered food an extra crunch. For mains we both had the fish specials. We loved the Latin American décor and vibe of this restaurant, and the service was attentive and friendly.
As for our kids, their Spanish beignets were their favorite (memories of beignets from New Orleans) and we enjoyed our Ancho Chocolate Pot De Crème dessert.
OR: Dine at Poe’s Tavern
If you don’t fancy seafood, then you can find traditional pub grub at Poe’s. Named after celebrated author Edgar Allan Poe, Poe’s Tavern is well known for its excellent craft brew selection and a menu full of burgers, tacos and salad options. Located just east of the Intracoastal Waterway on south Harbor Island.
OR: Dine at South Beach Grill
Or for something more upscale, South Beach Grill is located near the heart of Wrightsville Beach inside what was once the first and only bank in Wrightsville Beach. Notice the small bar as you walk in, it was where the drive through ATM and bank vault used to be. Here you can eat Southern-inspired, coastal North Carolina dishes that are locally sourced from both land and sea.
It’s a local hotspot and offers sunset views of Banks Channel – soak it up with dinner on the outside covered patio. Plenty of choices for the kids too! Here are more of the best restaurants in Wrightsville Beach.
Stop 8: Watch the sunset on the Sound
I know, it’s been a long day, and you have to drive home, but if you’re willing to hang around for sunset it can be worth it. Head down to the very South End of Wrightsville Beach. Bring a cooler and snacks if you wish to make it an extra special event.
OR: Enjoy a Sunset Tour
If you’re looking for more romantic things to do in Wrightsville Beach, then a sunset cruise is the perfect evening activity. The boat tour is operated by Wrightsville Beach Scenic Tours and takes you out on the calm waters to see the Intracoastal Waterway, Masonboro Island, and the Atlantic Ocean. As the sky turns into beautiful shades of orange, pink and purple, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views and experience the peacefulness of the moment coupled with the tranquil sound of waves.
If you have more time
If you want to extend your day trip to an overnight stay, here are some things you can do the following morning before heading back to Raleigh…
Visit Masonboro Island
If you have more time, I recommend you visit Masonboro Island, which can be reached by water taxi or you can book a tour with Wrightsville Beach Scenic Tours. Masonboro Island is 5,600 acres of natural paradise with stunning beaches, sand dunes, marshes and tidal flats. It’s a pristine and untouched barrier island that is only accessible by boat, and is remote and secluded. In fact, there are no facilities on the island, so bring food and drinks with you.
This only adds to its secluded and peaceful atmosphere. It’s a great place to see the diverse wildlife of the area such as nesting sea turtles and migratory birds.
Airlie Gardens
Airlie Gardens is the perfect place to visit on the way back from Wrightsville Beach to Raleigh. These historic gardens were planted back in 1545 when the first acorn of the Airlie Oak was planted. In 1735, King George II of England gave 640 acres of land to two brothers, Jonathon and Solomon Ogden, where today’s Airlie Gardens resides.
The gardens are famous for their magnificent oak trees and azaleas and camellias, which were brought to Wilmington in the early 1900s by renowned horticulturalist P. J. Berckmans. We fell in love wit the 400 year old Airlie Oak. Today, it comprises 67 acres of manicured gardens, pine forest, and lakes, and features a Bug Zoo, Butterfly House, and the spectacular Bottle Chapel made from over 2000 bottles and is a tribute to late Wilmington artist Minnie Evans
Parking at Wrightsville Beach
The Wrightsville Beach parking situation is very challenging. For example, we made the mistake of visiting Wrightsville on a Sunday in the middle of the peak summer season and attempting to park at the beach around 10am. 75-minutes later I was still doing laps up and down trying to find a parking spot – it was a stressful start to the day that was supposed to be relaxing.
So if you plan to hit up the beach before lunch time, don’t do what we did and go chill out at SUNdays Cafe for an hour or two before securing a parking spot near the beach – get your beach parking spot first then stroll to SUNdays! On a summer’s weekend, I would suggest getting to the Wrightsville Beach area no later than 9am!
The town of Wrightsville Beach has over 1,600 metered spaces available for public parking that are enforced every day from March 1 to October 31 from 9am to 7pm. They also use pay stations and a pay-by-phone app for your convenience at some public parking locations. For more information about parking locations, payment options, rates and other parking information go here.
Video: Watch our highlights on a trip to Wrightsville Beach
What is Wrightsville Beach known for?
Laid back coastal living, wellness activities, miles of a pristine, spacious beach, and endless world-class watersports such as swimming, body boarding, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and surf culture – yep, Wrightsville Beach is recognized as the birthplace of surfing in North Carolina! There’s also the chance to hire a fishing charter or go boating.
Throw in the laid back community vibe with an active island lifestyle, delicious local food, beach boutiques, stunning sunrises and sunsets, and its incredible location for the whole family. Wrightsville Beach is situated on a barrier island only 4-miles long and a couple of strides wide. It’s a walkable beach town and is considered North Carolina’s most accessible beach.
On one side you have the Atlantic Ocean which offers you a wild, rugged experience to hit the waves. On the other lies the tranquility of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway – miles of open sound water and narrow channels bordered by marshes, swamps, and small islands and a perfect spot for a paddle.
It’s not over-developed like Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, so If you’re looking for family-friendly beaches in North Carolina, look no further, than Wrightsville Beach, a year-round destination. It also has a rich history dating back over a century. Back in the early 1900s, it was named The Banks but was renamed after the Wright family who lived in Wilmington.
It had always been a tourist destination, attracting people from far and wide to come and visit its exquisite beach and sample the laid-back vibe. You can learn more about Wrightsville Beach and its history at the Wrightsville Beach Museum.
FAQs on visiting Wrightsville Beach
Here’s what people often ask us about visiting Wrightsville Beach…
Is one day enough for Wrightsville Beach?
You can see all the highlights of Wrightsville on a day trip, but it’s so relaxing and peaceful, you could easily spend a weekend here.
What is the weather like at Wrightsville Beach?
Wrightsville Beach’s climate is subtropical, which means you get warm summers and mild winters. It rarely snows in the winter, and if it does it’s light, but in the summer it can reach temperatures of around 82.4 °F in the daytime.
What is the ocean like at Wrightsville Beach?
The temperature of the ocean is relative to the outside, with average temperatures reaching 82.2°F in the summer and 55°F in the winter. The waves are relatively gentle all year round which makes it a great spot for swimming.
Can you take dogs on Wrightsville Beach?
Dogs are allowed on a leash on the beach from Oct 1st — March 31st. No pets are allowed on the beach strand from April 1 through September 30. Your pet must always be on a leash, you are required to clean up after your pet and dispose of pet waste in available trash cans. Read more here.
Final thoughts
Wirghtsville Beach isn’t just the closest beach, it’s one of our favorite beaches near Raleigh, and we hope this guide helps you plan a day trip there. All you need to do now is pack your beach bag, and your car, and just go! Let us know in the comments if you have any questions? Or, let us know what your favorite thing to do there is. Check out this post sharing our best experiences on the North Carolina coast.
We also have a 2 day getaway guide to historic downtown Wilmington and the best of Wilmington on an overnight getaway, which includes top attractions like the Battleship North Carolina.
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It’s Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, not Johnny Mercer. And I highly recommend Oceanic and Dockside.
Thanks Jay, my bad. Just had a look at their website and it’s actually Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier.
Hi. Just wondering how many bridges did you have to travel over when coming from Raleigh to Wrightsville Beach. I’m not a big fan of bridges, especially tall or long ones.
Hi Sandra, just two very short ones as you come into Wrightsville, nothing to worry about 🙂