There’s some wonderful beach running in Wilmington. The most popular is Wrightsville Beach, located 6 miles east of downtown. The 4-mile beach, known for its surf, is fairly wide and has good, compact sand for running. It’s 4 miles between the breaks. Shell Island is at the north end, and a jetty is at the south end.
Author Photo
There are additional beaches to the north and south of Wrightsville — they’re less developed and are wonderful for exploring (and running!). See especially our route in Carolina State Park.
Add-Ons/Variety: Some fun running on the beach-y side streets off the beach. Also the bridge leading to the beach has a nice lane for pedestrians and good views. The side streets right off the bridge have some nice homes and occasional water views.
There’s some wonderful beach running in Wilmington. The most popular is Wrightsville Beach, located 6 miles east of downtown. The 4-mile beach, known for its surf, is fairly wide and has good, compact sand for running. It’s 4 miles between the breaks. Shell Island is at the north end, and a jetty is at the south end.
Author Photo
There are additional beaches to the north and south of Wrightsville — they’re less developed and are wonderful for exploring (and running!). See especially our route in Carolina State Park.
Add-Ons/Variety: Some fun running on the beach-y side streets off the beach. Also the bridge leading to the beach has a nice lane for pedestrians and good views. The side streets right off the bridge have some nice homes and occasional water views.
A lovely run and a way to explore Wilmington is to enjoy a jaunt along the Riverwalk and then the residential side streets of the city's Historic District. The wood-planked Riverwalk is 2 miles, and the residential streets have lovely older homes and a nice canopy.
One of our favorite runs in Wilmington. The lake is located just south of the Historic District, and features a 4.5 mile combination of roads and paths around its circumference. The area is quite park-like, with a lovely canopy of pines and Spanish moss.
Attractive campus for running, with numerous pedestrian paths and the iconic Chancellor's Walk. Also, 2.5 miles of the Cross City Trail runs through campus. For a longer run, connect to Long Lead Park and enjoy the 1.5 mile perimeter path.
A decent run in the area between historic downtown and the UNC campus, highlighting a section of the Cross City Trail passing through Empie Park and a pleasant residential area off Park Ave.
Terrific spot for running only 20 minutes south of Wilmington. 9 miles of trails. with a mix of wooded and open terrain, with views to marshes, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Cape Fear River. Just east is miles of wonderful beach running on Carolina Beach.
Share your feedback on this route and see that of other Great Runs users. Click on the image icon to upload a photo. And please let us know if there are notes or changes we should incorporate!
Review or Comment on This Route/Share a Photo!
Share your feedback on this route and see that of other Great Runs users. Click on the image icon to upload a photo. And please let us know if there are notes or changes we should incorporate!