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Coming to UNCW

Important Travel Information

Airport: Wilmington International Airport (ILM)

  • Flights through Atlanta (ATL), Charlotte (CLT), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), New York (LGA), & Washington D.C. (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport-DCA or Washington Dulles International Airport-IAD) on American Airlines, Delta, & United Airlines arrive daily. For a list of cities with direct flights to Wilmington, please visit the ILM airport's website.
  • ILM Airport Distance from Campus: 10-15 minutes
  • Take a video tour of ILM International Airport to know what to expect and where to go when you arrive.

Important things to remember when booking your flight to the U.S.:

  • Do not book your flight until your U.S. visa is confirmed.
  • You will go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) prior to landing in Wilmington. Don't forget to bring the items below for the CBP officer. Do not pack these documents in your checked-baggage as you will not be able to enter the U.S. if your baggage is lost. All documents will be returned to you before you leave the CBP area.
    • All Students:
    • Passport
    • Visa (this will be stamped in your passport, excluding Canadian citizens)
    • UNCW Admissions or Acceptance Letter
  • F-1 Degree Seeking Students
    • I-20, signed by you and your F-1 advisor (DSO)
    • Proof of I-901 SEVIS fee payment
    • Proof of financial support - you may use the same documents you submitted in your I-20 application.
  • J-1 Exchange Students
    • Signed DS-2019 Form

If you plan to arrive prior to on-campus housing opening or if you want to arrive early to look for off-campus housing, you are responsible for arranging temporary accommodation. Please refer to the chart below for suggested area hotels that often offer discounts to UNCW students. Please note the minimum check-in age required.

  • Taxis cost approximately $20 USD from ILM to UNCW.
    • For a list of taxis and contact numbers that provide transportation from the airport, please visit ILM's website.
    • Most taxis accept credit cards.
  • Uber & Lyft are both readily available in Wilmington and are easy to access from the airport.
  • ILM is a small and friendly airport. ILM staff can assist you in finding transportation if needed.

Take a video tour of ILM International Airport to know what to expect and where to go when you arrive.

On-Campus Housing

For students who apply to live on campus, the UNCW Office of Housing and Residence Life coordinates all housing assignments. Detailed information for the room sign up process can be found on your TealTicket for degree-seeking students, or will be sent to you via email if you are an exchange student. To learn more about on-campus housing, visit the Housing and Residence Life website.

Off-Campus Housing

For students living off campus, the PERCH office serves as the university resource for off-campus accommodation options. For information regarding off-campus housing, please visit the off-campus housing search website. Please note that PERCH provides off-campus housing resources as a guide, but students are ultimately responsible for finding their own accommodation, signing a lease, acquiring furniture, etc.

Hotels

We strongly encourage you to arrange accommodations prior to arriving in Wilmington, but if you wish to arrange temporary accommodations on your own to allow time to look at apartments we suggest contacting one of the hotels listed below which may offer discounts for UNCW students. Be sure to confirm the age required to check-in when booking a hotel room.

Temporary Accommodations

Hotels Address Number Age Required to check-in
Best Western Plus - Coastline Inn - Downtown 503 Nutt St. 910.763-2800 21
Best Western PLUS - Wrightsville Beach 5345 Market St. 910.799-4292 18
Blockade Runner - Wrightsville Beach 275 Waynick Blvd. 910.256-2251 21
Courtyard Marriot - Downtown 229 N 2nd St. 910.632-2900 18
Fairfield Inn & Suites - University Area 307 Eastwood Rd. 910.791-8082 21
Hampton Inn - Wilmington 2320 S 17th St. 910.796-8881 25
Hampton Inn - University Area 124 Old Eastwood Rd. 910.791-9899 18
Hilton Garden Inn - Wilmington 6745 Rock Spring Rd. 910.509-4046 21
Hilton Wilmington Riverside - Downtown 301 North Water St. 910.763-5900 21
Holiday Inn Express & Suites - University Area 160 Van Campen Blvd. 910.392-3227 18
Holiday Inn - University Area 5032 Market St. 910.392-1101 21
Holiday Inn Resort - Wrightsville Beach 1706 N Lumina Ave. 910.256-2231 21
Homewood Suites - Wilmington 6732 Swan Mill Rd. 910.791-7272 18
Jameson Inn - University Area 5102 Dunlea Court 910.452-5660 21
Residence Inn - Wilmington 1200 Culbreth Dr. 910.256-0098 21
Shell Island Resort - Wrightsville Beach 2700 N Lumina Ave. 910.256-8696 21
Spring Hill Suites - Wilmington 1014 Ashes Dr. (910)239-9975 18
Staybridge Suites - University Area 5010 New Centre Dr. 910.202-8500 21
TownePlace Suites - University Area 305 Eastwood Rd. 910.332-3326 21
Wingate By Wyndham - University Area 5126 Market St. 910.395-7011 21
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