For a low-cost Wilmington outing, start with the Arboretum, Fort Fisher State Historic Site or a walk. Each offers something without an admission ticket, but parking, event closures and the journey can change your total. The ferry’s $7 fare is one way, Airlie’s general admission is exactly $10, and a Greenfield Lake rental starts at $12. Those distinctions matter when you’re paying for a whole group.
October visit alert: the Arboretum’s closure notice says gardens close at 11 a.m. on October 9, 2026. October 10–11 opening is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the ticketed Art in the Arboretum event; regular hours resume October 12. Don’t plan a free garden visit during those event hours.
Compare the cost before choosing a stop
Prices below are the posted admission or activity charges checked October 4, 2026. They exclude fuel, parking, food and purchases.
| Outing | Admission or activity cost | What could change your budget |
|---|---|---|
| Arboretum | Regular garden admission is free | Ticketed events and closures can replace normal access |
| Fort Fisher State Historic Site | Free admission | Closed days can make a special drive wasted |
| Riverfront Farmers Market | Free to browse | Purchases and downtown parking |
| Wrightsville Beach Loop | No walking fee | Seasonal parking; limited Municipal Complex free hours require plate registration |
| SECU Walkway at the Battleship | Free | Entering the ship requires a separate admission ticket |
| Southport–Fort Fisher ferry | $7 one way for a vehicle/combination under 20 feet | Two paid crossings total $14; longer vehicles cost more |
| Airlie Gardens | $10 general; $5 resident or military with ID; $3 ages 4–12 | Group size and special-event tickets |
| Greenfield Lake rentals | $12 or $17 per hour, depending on boat | Rental time; walking is a separate activity |
Free garden and history visits
New Hanover County Arboretum
The county Arboretum page lists free garden admission, regular daily hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and seven acres at 6206 Oleander Drive. Pick it for a garden outing when you want to stay in Wilmington rather than drive to the southern beaches. Check the dated closure notice above for an October trip.
Keep children on appropriate garden paths and give plantings room. This is a short, flexible stop you can pair with another nearby activity, without promising shade across the whole route or an exact visit length. For access needs or a special journey, the county lists 910-798-7660.
Fort Fisher State Historic Site
Fort Fisher lists free admission Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Sunday, Monday and state-holiday closures. Choose it when your group wants coastal history and your day already takes you toward Kure Beach. The historic site is a different destination from the aquarium and the recreation area; their admission and access rules aren’t interchangeable.
Use marked visitor routes around the fort. Earthworks are historic remains, rather than a playground. A Tuesday-to-Saturday outing can combine this stop with a nearby beach visit, but leave room in the budget for whichever beach parking space you actually use.
Free browsing and walks
Riverfront Farmers Market
The market operator lists free admission on Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Dock Street between Second and Water streets. Browsing fits a downtown morning; shopping costs whatever you choose to spend. The operator says high winds or lightning may cause cancellation, so “rain or shine” isn’t an assurance that every weather day operates.
Our market guide covers the fuller outing. Decide on your parking budget before browsing, especially if a free stop is the reason you chose downtown.
Wrightsville Beach Loop
The town describes the Nesbitt Loop as a 2.45-mile sidewalk circuit with restrooms at Wrightsville Beach Park. It’s the walking choice for a group that wants pavement and beach-town surroundings rather than sand.
Walking has no entry fee. For parking, the Municipal Complex offers two free hours during its paid season only after you register your plate on arrival. That limited allowance doesn’t cover every beach lot or a full-day stay. Follow the lot’s signs and use the town parking hub for the space you choose. Don’t assume a residential street is a lawful free alternative.
Free Battleship views
The Battleship’s FAQ lists the SECU Walkway as free and open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It lets you see the memorial from outside the ship, making it useful when only part of your group wants a paid naval-history tour. Entry onto the ship itself is separate. The visitor guide explains that choice.
Low-cost paid options, with the arithmetic shown
Southport–Fort Fisher ferry
NCDOT’s fare table lists $7 one way for a vehicle or combination under 20 feet. Two crossings at that rate cost $7 × 2 = $14 per vehicle, before fuel or spending ashore. A ferry outing can spread that cost across passengers, but it isn’t a $7 round trip. Longer vehicles use a different fare bracket.
Choose the ferry day trip if the crossing and Southport visit are the purpose of your outing. Include the last return sailing in your plan. NCDOT’s 2027 tolling update says rates have not been finalized; the current $7 calculation is not a future-price promise.
Airlie Gardens
Airlie’s posted admission is $10 general, $5 for New Hanover County residents or military with ID, and $3 for children ages 4–12. Two general-admission adults plus two children in that band total $26, excluding transport. Regular tickets don’t admit you to special events.
Two adults and two children: garden admission
- Two general-admission adults$2076.9%
- Two children ages 4–12$623.1%
For eligible residents, the first-Sunday free-day listing allows one county ID for two adults and accompanying children under 18. Reserve ahead, bring proof of residency, and check the event date because reservations can sell out. The day-visit guide helps decide whether gardens deserve the larger share of your day.
Greenfield Lake boat rentals
Cape Fear River Watch posts $12 per hour for single kayaks, canoes and two-seat paddleboats, or $17 for tandem kayaks and four-seat paddleboats. Posted rental hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last boat out at 4. Rentals depend on weather and require the operator’s waiver process.
This is the paid choice for a group that specifically wants time on the water. A one-hour $17 boat split among four riders is $4.25 each, but the group still owes $17, and that arithmetic doesn’t establish suitability or availability. Ask the operator about the boat, riders and conditions before renting.
Build a day without paying for every stop
Stay in one area to control the travel cost. A downtown Saturday can start with market browsing; a Kure Beach day can include Fort Fisher during its operating days. For Wrightsville, match the Loop to the parking allowance you can actually use. Add the ferry or a rental only when that paid activity is what your group wants, and budget it at the full group total.
