Wilmington KOA Holiday Blog
Summer Camping Savings: Book 5 Nights Save 25%. Choose from 80+ RV Sites and 20 Cabin Rentals
Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore.
Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore.
From I-40 - Take exit 416B. This will put you on the I-140 bypass. Follow this for 5 miles and take exit 25, signage will read, 17 S./Market St. At the stop sign take a right, this is Market St. Follow for 2 miles, turn right in-between the Speedway Gas Station and the Ogden Carwash. You will see the sign for KOA on the right, above the Ogden Carwash.
From Rt. 17 S. - Follow 17N, take exit 39 on to I-140 (US 17 N/Wilmington/New Bern/Jacksonville).Follow I-140 approx. 25 miles. Take exit 25 , signage will read 17 S./Market St. At the stop sign take a right, this is Market St. Follow for 2 miles, turn right in-between the Speedway Gas Station and the Ogden Carwash. You will see the sign for KOA on the right, above the Ogden Carwash sign.
From US 74/76 - Take exit on to I-140 (US 17 N/Wilmington/New Bern/Jacksonville). Follow I-140 approx. 25 miles. Take exit 25, signage will read 17S/Market St. At the stop sign take a right, this is Market St. Follow for 2 miles, turn right in-between the Speedway Gas Station and the Ogden Carwash. You will see the sign for the KOA on the right, above the Ogden Carwash sign.
From Rt. 17 N. - Follow 17S through Hampstead. Take exit to the right (about 8 miles past Hampstead), signage will read 17 S./Market St. This is Market St. Follow for 2 miles, turn right in-between the Speedway Gas Station and the Ogden Carwash. You will see the sign for KOA on the right, above the Ogden Carwash.
GPS: N34.27778. W77.81417
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Wilmington KOA Holiday RV Park and campground with cabins is located just minutes from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW). Our community environment and dog-friendly cottages, combined with premier amenities like a pool, dog park, EV charging stations, and recreation “pocket” park, mean your entire family can gather to visit and support your Seahawks. Whether you're touring campus, attending orientation, moving a student in, or cheering on the Seahawks, Wilmington KOA offers a relaxed, warm, and friendly place to stay. We also have a promotion just for Seahawks!
Did you know over 75% of UNCW students come from outside the Wilmington area? We love the vibrancy these students bring to Wilmington, but we also know that means some regular travel for family members and budding Seahawks. That is why we offer all current students, prospective students, and visiting family 10% off Wilmington KOA stays.
To get your 10% off, call us at (910) 686-7705 or use the following booking link to apply the code and review our site options.
There’s always something happening at UNCW from campus tours to freshman orientation, family weekends, graduation, and sporting events. The following includes typical dates and seasons for regular events:
Campus Tours
General: Year-round, Monday through Friday, twice a day.
Transfer Students: Specific select Mondays at 12:00 PM.
Admitted Students: Held most Fridays at noon between February and April.
For Applicants and Admitted Students
Seahawk Preview Day: The hallmark spring event for admitted students, typically held in late March.
Seahawk Saturday: Open houses for prospective applicants held during the fall semester.
Orientation
Freshmen: Multiple single-day or multi-day sessions hosted throughout June.
Transfers: Dispersed sessions held in late May, mid-June, and August.
Late Orientation: Final sessions wrap up the Sunday right before classes start in mid-August.
Campus Moving Days
Fall Move-In: Scheduled over a multi-day window in mid-August (typically Wednesday through Saturday).
Spring Move-Out: Happens during final exam week in early May, generally aligning with the final days of the semester.
Family Weekend
Main Event: Annually hosted during the fall, typically falling on the last weekend of September.
Graduation
Spring Ceremony: Held over a two-day block in early May.
Fall Ceremony: Scheduled in mid-December just after final exams.
Athletic Events
Fall Sports: Soccer, volleyball, and cross-country
Winter Sports: Basketball
Spring Sports: Baseball, softball, track, and tennis
Instead of splitting up into separate hotel rooms after a busy day of campus tours, orientation, move-in, or a UNCW game, families can settle into a stay that gives everyone more room to relax. At Wilmington KOA Holiday, you can mix and match accommodations to fit your group:
Pet-friendly cabin rentals for parents, kids, grandparents, or visiting family members who want extra comfort
Full hook-up RV sites for families traveling with their own home on wheels
Tent sites for guests who want a more classic camping experience close to campus
With dog-friendly RV and cabin options, a pool, playground, pocket park with lawn games like cornhole and ladder ball, and welcoming gathering areas, Wilmington KOA makes it easy to share meals, let the kids play, walk the dog, and spend quality time together before the next day on campus. It’s not just staying near UNCW. It’s having a comfortable Wilmington home base the whole family can enjoy.
And when Seahawk game day is part of the plan, Wilmington KOA makes the tailgate spirit easy to carry back to camp. Fire up the grill, gather around the picnic table, and enjoy the casual, crowd-pleasing meals that make campground stays and game-day weekends feel like a natural match. You can even keep the friendly competition going with ping pong or a round of Gaga ball!
If you forget something along the way, the Wilmington KOA camp store is stocked with everyday camping essentials, special treats for furry family members, and locally curated Wilmington gifts. Plus, the friendly staff is happy to offer recommendations and practical tips for navigating Wilmington and UNCW during your visit.
Wilmington KOA Holiday offers a cabin and RV camping experience close to UNCW, but we also put visiting families near some of the best things to do in Wilmington. Turn your campus visit into a Cape Fear getaway with easy access to Wrightsville Beach, historic downtown Wilmington, local restaurants, shopping, and favorite area attractions like Airlie Gardens and the Wilmington Riverwalk.
Planning a UNCW visit? Book your stay at Wilmington KOA Holiday and ask about the Seahawk Special for current and prospective UNCW students and their families.
That doesn't mean this area has to always be empty. When you start reviewing camping options, your history will display here to help compare sites and find the best stay. You will be able to share your stay information with friends or family and save it for a later time if you have a KOA Account.
Make checkout easy by booking all your reservations at once. Add your sites from different campgrounds into your shopping cart* and then choose checkout.
