Travel and transportation

Getting to Wilmington

Air travel

Wilmington can be easily reached from several major US cities via Wilmington International Airport. Major airlines include Delta and US Airways with most connections to Wilmington originating in Atlanta, GA, Charlotte, NC, or Philadelphia, PA. After arriving at Wilmington International Airport (ILM), the Coastline conference and event center and the adjacent hotel are a short ten-minute taxi ride from the airport with an expected cost of $10-15. Numerous taxi services are readily available just outside the airport terminal.

Travel to Wilmington by car

Interstate 40 (I-40) and US highway 74 both lead directing into Wilmington from points west. If traveling down the Atlantic coast from points north, follow Interstate 95 southbound until reaching I-40 and head east to Wilmington. If traveling up the Atlantic coast from points south, follow Interstate 95 northbound until reaching US highway 74 and head east to Wilmington.

If you are coming into town on I-40, the easiest way downtown is to take a right at the second traffic light after the interstate ends onto the Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway. The MLK Parkway ends in downtown and simply becomes 3rd Street. Follow 3rd Street and make a right onto Red Cross St. Take Red Cross St. to the end, make a right and the Coastline Inn and conference center will be the first parking entrance on your left.

If you are coming into town along US-74, simply continue on US-74 across the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and make a left at the first traffic light onto 3rd Street. Follow 3rd Street for about 1.5 miles and make a left onto Red Cross St. (Red Cross is 5 blocks past the large intersection at Market St.). Take Red Cross St. to the end, make a right and the Coastline Inn and conference center will be the first parking entrance on your left.

International Travel

Travelers from Canada and Mexico are reminded to bring a valid passport to enter the US. Citizens of 35 countries in Europe and the Far East may visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa if the attendee has a passport with a computer-readable bar code under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Details can be found at the U.S. Department of State web site or contact your local American consulate.

International visitors to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program are now required to apply for travel authorization online. To apply visit the Electronic System for Travel Authorization web site HERE.

Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)

Electronic System for Travel Authorization is an automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

ESTA cannot be used instead of a U.S. visa when a visa is required. Travelers traveling on valid visas are not required to apply for an ESTA. Approved ESTA applications are valid for a period of two years, and multiple trips to the United States without the traveler having to re-apply for another ESTA.

If you do not already have current ESTA authorization, we recommend that you apply as soon as you know you will be traveling to the United States under the VWP. There are other requirements and limitations associated with the ESTA system, please visit the ESTA page for more information.


Major highways to Wilmington




Map showing an overview of Wilmington, North Carolina




Map of the downtown area