Wrightsville Beach is the closest Atlantic Ocean beach to downtown Wilmington, about 10 miles east via US-74. It's a classic barrier island beach town — a long, narrow strip of sand backed by surf shops, restaurants, and beach houses, with the Atlantic on one side and a tidal channel on the other. The beach itself is wide and clean, the surf is moderate, and the water is warm from June through September.
The town fills up considerably on summer weekends, when Wilmington residents descend en masse. Weekday visits are calmer. Fishing from the Johnnie Mercer's Pier is popular; surfers work the breaks at the north and south ends of the island. The commercial strip running through the centre of the island has the full complement of beach-town infrastructure: ice cream shops, seafood restaurants, surf rental outfits. For a less developed alternative, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach to the south are quieter and have more state park access.