Airlie Gardens
300 Airlie Rd, Wilmington, North Carolina
Located along Bradley Creek in Wilmington, Airlie Gardens is an enchanting southern garden featuring a freshwater lake, historic structures, walking paths, and artwork. The historic 67-acre (21-hectare) site hosts a variety of special events throughout the year, ranging from gardening-themed talks to exhibitions.
Airlie Gardens can easily be explored on a self-guided tour. For a more in-depth experience, opt for a 1-2 hour docent-led walking tour covering the gardens’ history, horticulture, and ecology, or a 30-45 minute open-air tram tour focused on seasonal blooms. Numerous events throughout the year include concerts, butterfly releases over the summer, and festive illuminated trails in the holiday season.
There’s an entrance fee with discounts for children, residents, and military. Children 3 years old and younger receive free admission.
Tickets are valid for one year and do not include special events entry.
Guided tours are available during the week, but must be reserved at least 30 days in advance.
Wear comfortable shoes, plus bring water and sun protection.
Most of the garden paths, buildings and restrooms are accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. A free wheelchair is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
There is a daily tram service around the site, with running hours that change seasonally. Note that the tram is not wheelchair accessible.
Airlie Gardens is located at 300 Airlie Road, northeast of downtown Wilmington. Located just off US17/Oleander Driver and close to Interstate 40, drivers can park for free on-site. Both the 101 and 104 bus routes stop at Wrightsville Ave WB at Jones Rd, which is around a 15-minute walk away.
Airlie Gardens is open daily from 9am to 5pm, with the last entry at 4:30pm The gardens are closed on Mondays in January and February, and on major holidays, while the Butterfly House is open from May through September. Spring is an especially lovely time to visit, with the azaleas typically blooming between March and April.
Airlie Gardens features more than a dozen gardens. Highlights include the nearly 500-year-old Airlie Oak on the Oak Lawn, the formal Pergola Garden, the 10-acre (40-hectare) freshwater lake, the Minnie Evans Bottle Chapel in the Sculpture Garden, the Pollinator Garden, and the seasonal Butterfly House, with native butterflies and blooming plants.
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