Wilmington experiences cold winters and hot, humid summers. The summer season is the best time to book flights to Wilmington, due to the high temperatures between June and September. The winter season between November and February can be extremely cold, with temperatures dropping below freezing and snowfall being very common.
PHL Temperature | 1 - 26 °C |
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If weather is an important factor for your trip to Wilmington, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, July is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 26.0 C. Travellers hoping to avoid the cold should look outside of January, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 1.0 C).
Situated on the Delaware River just south east of Philadelphia on America’s East Coast, Wilmington is a cosmopolitan city with a historic past. As the largest city in the state of Delaware, Wilmington comprises many historic neighbourhoods, each of which have their own distinctive character, such as Little Italy and Quaker Hill. The city was settled by a Native American Indian tribe called the Lenape in 1609. Following its colonisation by the British from 1664, the city has continued to grow in size and prosperity into the large, modern city it is today. Wilmington offers many opportunities to enjoy a variety of arts, events and entertainment. There are many ethnic festivals held throughout the spring and summer seasons, including IndiaFest and the Italian Festival , and a number of music festivals, such as the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival and the Riverfront Blues Festival. The Riverfront in the city centre area is a particular hotspot for live entertainment and nightlife and also offers a variety of attractions, such as the Delaware Children’s Museum, an interactive museum suitable for the whole family, the Delaware Theatre Company and the Delaware Centre for the Contemporary Arts. The city’s close proximity to the coast offers easy access to beautiful sandy beaches, such as Bethany Beach and Dewey Beach to the south. Alternatively, you can explore Delaware’s Colonial heritage by visiting the historic locations of the First State National Monument, such as New Castle Court House.
The best way to get around the city and the surrounding attractions in the state of Delaware is to drive your own car. The main highway into the city is the 1-95, which connects to Baltimore and Washington D.C. to the south and Philadelphia, New York City and Boston in the north. You can also travel around the central area on the city’s network of buses. Wilmington’s train station also provides convenient connections to other major cities, including New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington D.C. The station is located on South French Street.
The closest airport to the city is Wilmington/Philadelphia Regional Airport (ILG), also known as New Castle Airport. It is located 6.2 miles (10 km) southwest of the city centre. Two major car rental companies are situated at the airport, if you want to hire your own car. You can also book an airport shuttle or a taxi with a local company to pick you up at the airport.