Plan the Perfect Family Vacation: Best Hotel in Wrightsville Beach for Kids and Parents

With crystal blue water, world-class waves & a quaint town, North Carolina’s Wrightsville Beach is one of America’s best beach towns. And, it’s actually its own island! Wrightsville is surrounded completely by water — the Atlantic Ocean & Intracoastal Waterway.

This hidden gem on North Carolina's coast is less than 5 hours from Central Virginia, making it one of my family's go-to beach towns! I love that you can stay in hotels or rent a vacation home, you can relax on the beach or go on a water adventure, and you have plenty of family-friendly restaurants to enjoy!

This guide is all about the hotel we love to stay at as a family for a completely relaxing getaway -- no cooking, cleaning or work added!

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Where is Wrightsville Beach?

Wrightsville Beach is located 15 miles from Wilmington in New Hanover County. It's on the coast of North Carolina, midway between New York and Florida.

It takes about 4 hours and 31 minutes to drive from Central Virginia to Carolina Beach, and it takes about 21 minutes to drive from Wilmington to Carolina Beach.

Why My Kids Liked This Road Trip: My kids love shorter road trips, and this car ride isn't too long for them! At under 5 hours, we can make this trip right after school or a Saturday morning -- then they are ready to play on the beach!

Where to stay with kids in Wrightsville, NC:

If you’re planning a family‑friendly beach getaway with kids, my family's top pick is the Trailborn Surf & Sound in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. It was completely redesigned and renovated in 2025, making it one of the most sought‑after coastal resorts for travelers, especially families!

While we were in Wrightsville, we also dined at the Holiday Inn Resort Lumina on Wrightsville Beach. We saw plenty of families with children of all ages while we ate dinner, too. While it's a large resort with dining options, it's located in a quieter area of Wrightville Beach. We prefer the location of the Trailborn Surf and Sound over The Holiday Inn Resort Lumina.

More about The Trailborn Surf and Sound:

This 151-room hotel offers both surf and sound access, onsite dining and plenty of family activities. It blends modern design with laid‑back coastal vibes. It offers direct access to beautiful beaches, has plenty of kid‑focused activities, and amenities that will keep kids and grownups happy!

Situated on one of Wrightsville Beach’s best oceanfront stretches, The Trailborn makes it easy for families to walk out to the beach for sunrise seashell hunts or afternoon splash sessions. It also has access to the soundside of Wrightsville!

The resort’s walkable proximity to downtown Wrightsville Beach means you’re never far from ice cream shops, family‑friendly restaurants, and local boutiques perfect for quick stops between beach days. Depending on where you want to explore, you can get to these destinations in 5 to 15 minutes walking or biking with kids!

*The Trailborn offers complimentary bike rentals to guests too!

Spacious Rooms & Suites for Families

Trailborn’s accommodations are designed with comfort and style -- even the traditional rooms have enough space for families of 4 to spread out. They all have a bathroom, sitting area, mini-fridge, TV and various bed options. I also like that each room comes with a beach bag to use during your stay. You even have the option to purchase it if you love it!

Many rooms feature balconies with ocean or sound views, but make sure to select a room with a balcony if you want to walk outside. Some of the rooms come with giant windows that open; however, you cannot walk outside.

Pro Tips:

1. If you want a sunrise view, book an ocean view room.

2. If you want a sunset view, book a sound side room. This is the room we stayed in, and it was perfect for our family of 4.

The Trailborn even has a FAMILY BEACHFRONT SUITE!

The Deluxe Garden Suite, also known as the Family Beachfront Suite, sleeps 6 guests. It has one king bed, one queen bed, and bunk beds. With plenty of space to spread out and direct access to the Great Lawn, this is more like a private condo more than a hotel room.

It has a kitchenette, three beds (1 king, 1 queen, and 2 twin beds) plus two bathrooms with a shower and tub respectively.

This room is on my list to book next!

Resort Amenities for Families

1. Outdoor Pool and Indoor Hot Tub

   1. 8am-10pm daily

2. The Great Lawn

   1. You will find hammocks, chairs, lawn games and more on the lawn. It's the perfect spot for kids to run around!

3. Direct Beachfront Access

   1. You also get complimentary chairs, umbrellas and boogey boards!

4. Soundside Beachfront

5. Complimentary Bike Rentals

   1. Bikes are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

6. Fitness and Wellness Center

7. Onsite dining options

Kid-Friendly and Adult Approved On-Site Dining

Onsite dining at Trailborn adds to the family vacation experience. Enjoy a casual meal at La Duna Paradiso, where fresh, coastal Italian favorites and seafood options are perfect after a long beach morning. For lighter bites and snacks, the beachfront Blockade Surf Bar keeps things quick and kid‑approved with comfortable outdoor seating.

La Duna Paradiso: This onside restaurant blends coastal Italian dining with \North Carolina’s local seafood and organic produce. It has a bar, dining room and outdoor seating.

*Menu favorites for my kids: pancakes and bacon, buttered noodles, house Focaccia

Blockade Surf Bar: This pool side restaurant offers covered outdoor seating all around the pool and the Great Lawn. This is a very casual spot to enjoy lunch, snacks and dinner. They also have live music on select days!

*Menu favorites for my kids: hot dog and french fries, chicken tenders and fries, smash burger and fries

You can also get your meals to go, so that you can enjoy your dinner in your room!

Why We will stay at Trailborn Surf and Sound again:

Why I Liked Staying at Trailborn Surf and Sound: When I go on vacation, I prefer hotels and resorts over vacation rentals. I don't want to have the same chores as I do at home: cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, etc. I also don't want to be responsible for cleaning up a vacation rental after our stay. It's just not relaxing for me!

Why My Kids liked Staying at Trailborn Surf and Sound: My kids loved being able to hop in the pool or go to the beach easily. Everything was a short walk! This resort also offers kid friendly food - my son's favorite is buttered noodles and pancakes. This hotel also offers special touches for kids like camping out in the room - my kids LOVED sleeping in tents and having marshmallows in the room.

For more family-friendly travel ideas, follow our family on @thewestendmom on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube!