United States
North Carolina (NC)
North Carolina Coast
Wilmington
Things to Do in Wilmington
Battleship North Carolina

Battleship North Carolina, Wilmington

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Battleship North Carolina

See all things to do
See all things to do
Battleship North Carolina
4.5
3,551
#1 of 96 things to do in Wilmington
Ships
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8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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About
As you walk the decks of the NORTH CAROLINA, imagine yourself in the South Pacific during WWII searching the sky for enemy aircraft, anticipating what may happen next. Step aboard the most decorated US Battleship of WWII! Explore nine decks, crew's quarters, gun turrets, and much more. Discover where history comes alive. Located at the junctions of highways 17, 76, 74, 421 on the Cape Fear River across from historic downtown Wilmington. Open every day!
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
184 within 3 miles
Caprice Bistro
1,123
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • French • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Kilwin's Ice Cream & Candy
1,317
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Dessert • American
Front Street Brewery
2,316
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
The Peppered Cupcake
500
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Bakeries • American • Gluten Free Options
Copper Penny
1,151
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Pub
Circa 1922
741
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • American • International • Vegetarian Friendly
PinPoint Restaurant
316
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Seafood • International
Fork N Cork
584
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Pub
The Basics
596
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Fat Tony's Italian Pub
434
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Bar • Pizza
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Attractions
74 within 6 miles
Cape Fear River
234
0.2 miBodies of Water
Historic District
1,049
0.3 miNeighborhoods
Riverwalk
1,428
0.3 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Downtown Wilmington
689
0.4 miNeighborhoods
Front Street Brewery
78
0.3 miBreweries
Wilmington Railroad Museum
303
0.4 miSpeciality Museums
Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts
253
0.5 miTheaters
The Cotton Exchange
208
0.3 miShopping Malls
Expo 216
42
0.3 miArt Galleries • Speciality Museums
Burgwin-Wright House and Gardens
117
0.4 miSpeciality Museums
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
3,551 reviews
Excellent
2,689
Very good
760
Average
91
Poor
6
Terrible
5
Kyla F
Wilmington, NC68 contributions
Really Unique Experience
We live in Wilmington and have had the opportunity to go to We went with our kids ranging in age 6-16. My husband was with the younger group and they flew through it and were done in 30 min. They thought the guns and things were cool and spent most of their time playing with them. Otherwise, they didn't seem all that impressed with the visit. I was with the older kids and we were able to take our time reading all about each section of the ship. We found the history and facts fascinating and made the tour well worth it, though it did take a long time. We ended up skimming through a lot of the info at the end and I'd love to go back and tour that last half again. I'd recommend taking a guided or audio tour if they offer then to limit how much you have to read, and to make it more enjoyable for the younger kids.
Written June 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Haaan
9 contributions
Hot Historical Hike
Couples
Pros:
my husband and I decided to visit since we were in the area. I thought $14 per person was a fair price. Gotta keep history alive!
It was 97 degrees, hot to say the least. The ship did offer some fans at some points of the tour which I thought was a good effort.
If you’re thinking of going - my husband and I HIGHLY suggest just doing it.
Good for families!
Tour guide is a MUST. Ron Jones was friendly, knowledgeable and you could tell he really enjoyed talking about the history of the ship and the men aboard. He answered our questions and was very patient with us DESPITE the heat.

Cons:
Hard to manage for some disabilities.
Upper decks were all closed for maintenance which I thought disappointing especially since we came to tour after Memorial Day during tourist high season.
Written June 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
AndyJ
10 contributions
A time machine into the life of WWII in the USN
Solo
Battleship North Carolina is absolutely worth your time and money. The admission price is nothing in comparison to the costs incurred by those who sailed aboard her during wartime.

Touring this vessel will give you a true respect for life on the seas during WWII. She is in pristine condition, both in preservation efforts, as well as being one of only a few battleships that received little to no post-WWII modifications/upgrades. In other words, what you see is exactly how she was designed to be.

I would dedicate at least a half-day to touring the ship, and you could easily spend more time if you’re the person that reads all the signs.

I’d recommend avoiding going during peak summertime weather, as the deepest parts of the ship are not very well ventilated. I remember being very warm and sweating when I visited in November. Also, the stairs going up and down decks can be very tight and easy trip hazards, so be mindful and watch your step.
Written June 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
olabisij
8 contributions
Nice attraction and something for everyone (missiles, airplane, and more battleship stuff)
My family really enjoyed this attraction. So much to see on all levels of the humongous ship. Tours are available, but we explored without a guide. Very informational and something for everyone (missiles, airplane....battleship stuff). My family spent 2.5 hours reading and admiring everything this battleship was capable of. Also, I would recommend wearing comfortable shoes - some light climbing in and out of spaces. We beat the July heat by going early in the morning. There are a couple of areas were hand sanitizer is available, but I will recommend bringing a pocket size for any touching of rails between the levels of the ship. Also, everyone who worked/volunteer was very friendly, courteous, and patriotic.
Written July 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
NCRltr
15 contributions
Amazing History Lesson🇺🇸
Family
We took the tour with our family which included a 12& 14 yo. Although you can walk through on your own, I highly recommend the guided tour. Todd M was our tour guide. He brought to life the sailors and marines who served on this amazing ship. The nickname of this ship was Showboat and when you learn about the technology that was used in the 1930’s when this ship was designed and built you will be amazed. Todd told us stories of courage and bravery and really helped us to envision life aboard this battleship. This is a must see tour. Allow for 4 hours, wear comfortable shoes and bring water. This ship does not receive federal funding, so it’s important that we support this important piece of US History.
Written June 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
lazyjelly
Columbus, OH3 contributions
Great Tour of a Battleship - But Bring Your Hand Sanitizer and Wear a Mask!
Great self-guided tour. The only problem is most people doing the tour did NOT wear masks and we're talking about very confined spaces inside the ship. You are consantly holding rails to steady yourself going up and down to the different floors. There were NO hand sanitizer stations except at the very end of the tour but that one was EMPTY! Again, the tour itself is great but this ship is a germ factory. I can't even imagine how many people caught COVID there.
Written April 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
DeeAnn M
Greenville, SC756 contributions
Very educational attraction
This ship tour is quite interesting. Being below deck gives you a good feel for just how hard it was for our military to be at sea in such confined space for long periods of time. The many exhibits are kept in top shape and many signs provide good information. The self guided tour is somewhat challenging to follow as there are many up and down arrows with ship ladders that go in different directions. We managed to maneuver through most of the levels and enjoyed the time spent at this attraction. Do wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to do some serious ladder climbing. The view of the city from the front of the ship on the top deck is very impressive so do not miss a photo opportunity at this spot. Go early when the visitor numbers are down so you can enjoy better social distancing in close quarters.
Written October 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Chris A
Washington DC, United States3 contributions
A City in Fast Decline
Couples
There is only one attraction to the 2020 City of Wilmington, NC and that is the Battleship NC. Besides that Wilmington - in total, is a real crap-hole. I know because I spent weeks every summer from age 5 to 35, visiting the waterside and nearby beaches. My wife and I are now 56. We have been going to downtown Wilmington every other year for the past 11 years. 2020 was our absolute last.

The city was really special 25 years ago with cool restaurants and a pretty riverside park. It had charm and character.

Sadly, That is long gone.

Wilmington has been undergoing a major construction project for seemingly ever now. The waterside is completely inaccessible and there is no end in sight. Try staying in a high rise condo with great river views...you’ll wake up to construction that you clearly hear everywhere in your building. It’s a real mess. Additionally, the city downtown looks terrible: unkept buildings, questionable patrons walking around, crappy food, and lots of closed shops. The cost of a few days in downtown Wilmington is just as much as Charleston SC which is worlds above Wilmington. This city is spiraling downward and only that battleship pulls anyone in.

If you’re considering staying, point yourself towards a beach and only visit the ship, as there is nothing more.
Written July 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
megang72491
Saint Paris, OH22 contributions
Battleship North Carolina Experience
If you are a history buff you will really enjoy this. The self-guided tour was easy to follow and very informative. You really get a sense of the culture and what ship life was like. This is probably not meant for younger children. Also, lots of stair climbing and they are very steep, so keep that in mind. If you don't like to be in closed spaces this is probably not for you. The views are outstanding. Plenty of opportunity for pictures. The staff was friendly and welcoming. The gift shop was reasonably priced and had plenty of items to choose from. There are vending machines for drinks (they take credit/debit cards), we needed this because it was very hot and even more so inside the ship. One Tree Hill fans - the Rivercourt was built by the show and it is not longer there, but the shelter house by the battleship has tons of OTH quotes people have left, it's kinda neat. It's always crazy to me that the show was able to film scenes with such a large battleship so close by haha!
Written August 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
natnat876
Cincinnati, OH39 contributions
Amazing experience, but hard in the heat and not sure about wheelchair friendly!
Couples
This was a super cool experience to do. If you like history, I would 100% recommend this. Lots of great signage explaining everything and was very cool to be able to explore the ship. However, during the height of the summer it was very hard to stay down in the ship for long. They do have fans blowing and air circulating, but it’s still very hot. There are also some tighter spaces which may be difficult for someone who is claustrophobic. Just keep this in mind if staying in the heat or small spaces isn’t your thing! Also, there are a lot of stairs, walking, and more. Not sure if there’s any options for those with wheelchairs or any mobility issues. May want to call ahead if you are worried about this!
Written August 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Battleship North Carolina
Battleship North Carolina is open:
  • Sun - Sat 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Battleship North Carolina tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 3 Battleship North Carolina tours on Tripadvisor