College Visit Guides

Drive guide · 2 days, 2 campuses

UNCW and Coastal Carolina in 2 Days: A Carolina Coast College Road Trip

A parent-first plan for seeing the University of North Carolina Wilmington and Coastal Carolina University in two days: how each visit works, where to park, four hotels from budget to upscale, the drive down the coast from Wilmington to Conway, sibling stops and seasonal weather, every fact sourced and checked Oct 29, 2026.

A pond with a fountain on the UNC Wilmington campus, framed by green shrubs and pine trees, with a tall open clock tower behind it under a clear blue sky
A pond and clock tower on the University of North Carolina Wilmington campus (Nov 2016). Photo: Edward Orde · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Last checked Oct 29, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).

The short version

Trip at a glance

Schools
University of North Carolina Wilmington (Wilmington, NC) · Coastal Carolina University (Conway, SC)
Days
2 days: UNCW on day 1, then about 2 hours' drive south to Conway; Coastal Carolina on day 2. Arrive in Wilmington the evening before.
Fly into
Wilmington International (ILM), about 13 minutes from the UNCW-area hotel with no traffic. Fly home from Myrtle Beach International (MYR), about 19 minutes from Coastal Carolina.
Best base
Courtyard by Marriott Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach for night 1, on UNCW's list of visitor hotels and about 6 minutes by car from the UNCW Visitor Lot; a hotel near Coastal Carolina for night 2.
Car or transit
Rent a car: the two campuses are about 84 miles apart.
Registration
Book a UNCW campus visit and a Coastal Carolina weekday or Saturday tour online. Both schools ask for registration ahead of time.

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents with a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, who want to compare two public universities near the Carolina coast in one short trip: UNC Wilmington in North Carolina and Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina, near Myrtle Beach.

UNCW visits are booked through the Office of Admissions and visitors park in the free Visitor Lot off Riegel Road; Coastal Carolina's weekday tours begin at the Welcome Center in Baxley Hall.

Why this order

  • Day 1: UNCW's Monday-to-Friday campus visit is a brief information session followed by a 90-minute student-led walking tour.
  • Day 2: Coastal Carolina's weekday visit takes about 2 hours: a presentation of about 20 minutes, a 60- to 90-minute walking tour, and a return to the Welcome Center to meet admissions counselors.
Plan ahead: registration and timing
  • UNCW: book from the campus visit sign-up. The Biology and Marine Biology department tours need their own registration and don't take walk-ins.
  • Coastal Carolina: a reservation is required, online registration closes at the end of the prior business day, and each prospective student registers separately. Register for only one tour.
  • Coastal Carolina's busiest visit times are March and April, and Mondays and Fridays, so book early for those dates.
Tour availability varies by season.
  • If inclement weather is forecast, UNCW provides a virtual tour experience instead of the in-person tour.
  • Coastal Carolina's tours run rain or shine, and the school also offers Saturday tours and Discovery Days open houses. Fall dates are typically released in the summer.
  • UNCW's Seahawk Preview Day is for admitted students only.

2. The suggested 2-day drive

  • Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, using addresses geocoded with OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Leave extra time for weather and beach traffic, especially in summer.

Arrival evening: fly into Wilmington (ILM)

  1. Wilmington International Airport (ILM) → Courtyard by Marriott Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach (151 Van Campen Blvd.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~13 min, 5.5 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving and walking
    Rental car
  • Expedia lists a free airport shuttle at the Courtyard; the hotel asks guests to arrange pick-up 72 hours ahead. You'll still want a rental car for the drive to Conway.

Day 1: UNC Wilmington, then drive to Conway

  1. Courtyard by Marriott Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach → UNCW Visitor Lot (4941 Riegel Rd.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~6 min, 2.2 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving and walking
    Rental car

  2. UNCW Visitor Lot → Fairfield Inn & Suites Coastal Carolina Conway (2061 Hwy. 501 E.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~1 hr 57 min, 83.7 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving and walking
    Rental car
  • UNCW's directions to the Visitor Lot: from College Road (NC 132), turn onto Hurst Drive, turn left onto Hamilton Drive, then right onto Riegel Road. The lot is next to Price Drive; use 4941 Riegel Road in your GPS.
  • Start at the visitor information booth at the Visitor Lot entrance. If your visit confirmation names a different place to park, follow that instead.
  • UNCW's Center for Marine Science is not open to the public, so it isn't part of the self-guided tour.

Day 2: Coastal Carolina University, then fly home

  1. Fairfield Inn & Suites Coastal Carolina Conway → Baxley Hall Welcome Center (100 Chanticleer Dr. E.)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~2 min, 0.5 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving and walking
    ~12 min walk, 0.5 mi

  2. Baxley Hall → Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~19 min, 10.4 mi (no-traffic estimate)
    Driving and walking
    Rental car
  • Arrive 15 minutes early. Weekday tours begin in the rotunda at the rear of Baxley Hall, marked #1 on the campus map.
  • Park in the visitor lot in front of Baxley Hall. Weekday visitors get a temporary parking permit from the Teal Trailblazers at check-in; Saturday visitors don't need one.
  • The tour runs 60 to 90 minutes on foot and doesn't go inside the residence halls, so wear comfortable shoes. Lunch isn't provided.

3. Campus by campus

A pond with a fountain on the UNC Wilmington campus, framed by green shrubs and pine trees, with a tall open clock tower behind it under a clear blue sky
A pond and clock tower on the University of North Carolina Wilmington campus (Nov 2016). Photo: Edward Orde · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

University of North Carolina Wilmington (Wilmington, NC)

Where visits start
  • Campus visits run Monday through Friday: a brief information session, then a 90-minute walking tour led by a current student.
  • UNCW also offers a registered self-guided tour, a virtual tour, Honors College and Watson College of Education sessions, and Biology and Marine Biology department tours that must be booked ahead.
Visitor parking
  • Visitors park free in the Visitor Lot off Riegel Road, next to Price Drive (GPS: 4941 Riegel Road). Start at the visitor information booth at the lot entrance.
  • Campus tour guests should park where their event information says; otherwise use the Visitor Lot. UNCW Parking: 910.962.3178.
Getting there
  • The UNCW Visitor Lot is about 6 minutes by car from the Courtyard on Van Campen Boulevard and about 15 minutes from Hotel Ballast downtown, with no traffic.
What to know
  • UNCW's visit page lists nearby hotels that typically partner with the university on discounted rates for special programs and may offer discounts to visitors and tour guests; ask when you book.
  • The UNCW photo in this guide shows a campus pond and fountain with a clock tower behind it.
Contact
UNCW Office of Admissions: 910.962.3243, admissions@uncw.edu, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 601 S. College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403.

Last checked Oct 29, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: UNCW: Tours & visits · UNCW: Self-guided tour registration · UNCW: Visitor parking · UNCW: Virtual tour

Aerial view of Blanton Park at Coastal Carolina University, a green lawn with curving paths and trees surrounded by red-brick buildings with gray roofs
Blanton Park and the Edward M. Singleton Building, the first building at Coastal Carolina University (Apr 2013). Photo: Coastal Carolina University · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

Coastal Carolina University (Conway, SC)

Where visits start
  • Weekday visits are about 2 hours: a presentation of about 20 minutes, a 60- to 90-minute walking tour, then back to the Welcome Center to meet with admissions counselors. Visits are free.
  • Weekday tours start at the Welcome Center in Baxley Hall, 100 Chanticleer Drive East, Conway, SC 29526. Arrive 15 minutes early; if you're more than 20 minutes late you may need to reschedule.
  • Meetings with coaches, financial aid or faculty aren't part of the tour and must be set up directly; call 843-349-2026 for help, or find coaches in the athletics staff directory.
Visitor parking
  • Limited visitor parking is near Baxley Hall. Weekday visitors receive a temporary parking permit at check-in; Saturday visitors don't need a permit.
Getting there
  • From the north, Coastal Carolina's directions use I-95 Exit 181A to SC 38, then US 501. Myrtle Beach International Airport is about 15 miles from campus; there's no airport shuttle or luggage storage for visitors.
  • Baxley Hall is about 2 minutes by car (a 12-minute walk) from the Fairfield Inn & Suites and about 4 minutes by car from the Comfort Suites, with no traffic.
What to know
  • Class visits aren't offered. For a meal on campus, check the university dining site.
  • The Coastal Carolina photo in this guide shows Blanton Park and the Edward M. Singleton Building, the first building on campus.
Contact
Coastal Carolina Office of Admissions: 800.277.7000, admissions@coastal.edu.

Last checked Oct 29, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: Coastal Carolina: Saturday tours · Coastal Carolina: Discovery Days open house · Coastal Carolina: Campus visits · Coastal Carolina: Visit FAQ · Coastal Carolina: Self-guided walking tour

4. Where to stay: one night in Wilmington, one in Conway

Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Hotel · Our pickMid-range

Courtyard by Marriott Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach

151 Van Campen Blvd., Wilmington, NC

Why here

  • On UNCW's list of visitor hotels, about 1.2 miles from campus and about 6 minutes by car from the Visitor Lot; ILM is about 13 minutes away, with no traffic.
  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists 128 rooms, a seasonal outdoor pool, The Bistro restaurant, a free airport shuttle (arrange 72 hours ahead) and a minimum check-in age of 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateUpscale

Hotel Ballast Wilmington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

301 N. Water St., Wilmington, NC

Why here

  • On UNCW's list of visitor hotels, on the downtown riverfront about 15 minutes by car from the UNCW Visitor Lot and about 12 minutes from ILM, with no traffic.
  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 4-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists 272 rooms, an outdoor pool, the Board & Barrel restaurant, a free airport shuttle, valet parking for a fee and a minimum check-in age of 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateMid-range

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Coastal Carolina Conway

2061 Hwy. 501 E., Conway, SC

Why here

  • Our night-2 base: about 1 hr 57 min by car from the UNCW Visitor Lot, then about 2 minutes by car or a 12-minute walk to Baxley Hall, with no traffic. MYR is about 18 minutes away.
  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists 94 rooms, a free continental breakfast, free self-parking, a seasonal outdoor pool, no after-hours check-in and a minimum check-in age of 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateBudget

Comfort Suites At The University - Conway

2480 Hwy. 501 E., Conway, SC

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's about 4 minutes by car from Baxley Hall and about 1 hr 57 min from the UNCW Visitor Lot, with no traffic.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists 78 rooms, a free breakfast buffet, free self-parking, a seasonal outdoor pool and a minimum check-in age of 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Spend night 1 near UNCW and night 2 near Coastal Carolina, so the 2-hour drive happens after your UNCW visit instead of before an early Coastal tour. If you'd rather stay downtown in Wilmington, Hotel Ballast is on the riverfront.

5. Meals between tours

Hours change, so check before you go.

At Coastal Carolina

Lunch isn't included with the visit; Coastal Carolina points visitors to its dining site for on-campus options.

6. Things for siblings along the route

With siblings

Conway Riverwalk

Downtown Conway, SC

A walk along the Waccamaw River; the 2025 extension links the Riverfront to Main Street and runs up to 4th Avenue. Riverwalk Park is about 9 minutes by car from the Fairfield Inn, with no traffic.

Official page →

With siblings

A Seahawks or Chanticleers game

Wilmington, NC and Conway, SC

Check the UNCW and Coastal Carolina athletics calendars for a home game on your dates. Coastal Carolina tickets are sold through its athletics site.

Official page →

7. Practical tips

Driving and parking

  • Use 4941 Riegel Road in your GPS for UNCW's free Visitor Lot, and start at the information booth at the lot entrance.
  • Pick up Coastal Carolina's temporary weekday parking permit at check-in in Baxley Hall.
  • Wilmington to Conway is about 84 miles, roughly 2 hours by car with no traffic.

Flying in and out

  • Fly into ILM and out of MYR, and book a one-way rental car. If you'd rather return to ILM, it's about 2 hours from Coastal Carolina with no traffic, so book a late flight.

Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Wilmington International Airport)

  • Spring: April averages about 75°F highs and 53°F lows, with about 3.1 inches of rain.
  • Summer: July averages about 90°F/73°F, with about 6.9 inches of rain, so bring water and sun protection for the walking tours.
  • Fall: September is the wettest month, with about 8.7 inches of rain; October averages about 76°F/56°F, with about 4.7 inches.
  • Winter: January averages about 57°F/36°F, with about 3.8 inches of rain and about 0.7 inches of snow.

Parent checklist

  • Book a UNCW campus visit for day 1 and a Coastal Carolina weekday tour for day 2; register each prospective student separately for Coastal Carolina.
  • Coastal Carolina's online registration closes at the end of the prior business day, so don't leave it to the last minute.
  • If your student wants to meet a coach or faculty member, set it up directly before you go.
  • Book a one-way rental car, one night near UNCW and one night near Coastal Carolina.
  • After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.

8. Student-athlete recruiting visits

For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.

Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.

Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.

2 Division I

NCAA basics for parents

  • Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
  • Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
  • Division I (University of North Carolina Wilmington and Coastal Carolina University): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
  • Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.

Planning around the season

  • Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
  • Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.

Student-athlete sources

All checked Oct 26, 2026.

  1. NCAA, 2026-27 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (pp. 3, 21–25)
  2. NCAA.org: NCAA Recruiting
  3. NCAA: Division I and II Recruiting Calendars and Guides
  4. NCAA Directory: University of North Carolina Wilmington
  5. University of North Carolina Wilmington Athletics (official site)
  6. University of North Carolina Wilmington Athletics: Staff Directory
  7. University of North Carolina Wilmington Athletics: schedule of events
  8. NCAA Directory: Coastal Carolina University
  9. Coastal Carolina University Athletics (official site)
  10. Coastal Carolina University Athletics: Staff Directory
  11. Coastal Carolina University Athletics: schedule of events

Trip planner

Plan this trip

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Sources

All checked Oct 29, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.

  1. UNCW Office of Admissions: Tours & visits
  2. UNCW Office of Admissions: Schedule a campus visit (official sign-up)
  3. UNCW Office of Admissions: Self-guided tour registration
  4. UNCW Parking & Transportation: Visitor parking
  5. Coastal Carolina University Admissions: Campus visits
  6. Coastal Carolina University: Weekday campus tours (official sign-up)
  7. Coastal Carolina University: Saturday campus tours (official sign-up)
  8. Coastal Carolina University: Discovery Days open house (official sign-up)
  9. Coastal Carolina University: Campus visit FAQ
  10. City of Conway, SC: Riverwalk grand opening (Feb. 6, 2025)
  11. Expedia listing: Courtyard by Marriott Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-29) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Wilmington-Hotels-Courtyard-By-Marriott-Wilmington-Wrightsville-Beach.h42695.Hotel-Information)
  12. Expedia listing: Hotel Ballast Wilmington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-29) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Wilmington-Hotels-Hotel-Ballast-Wilmington.h13731.Hotel-Information)
  13. Expedia listing: Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Coastal Carolina Conway (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-29) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Conway-Hotels-Fairfield-Inn-Suites-By-Marriott-Coastal-Carolina-Conway.h92363423.Hotel-Information)
  14. Expedia listing: Comfort Suites At The University - Conway (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-29) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Myrtle-Beach-Hotels-Comfort-Suites.h296878.Hotel-Information)
  15. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), driving profile
  16. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), foot profile
  17. OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoder
  18. NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Monthly Normals, Wilmington International Airport, NC (USW00013748)
  19. UNCW Seahawks Athletics: Calendar
  20. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Athletics: Calendar
  21. Coastal Carolina University Dining