myrtle beach to wilmington nc

If you are staying on the south end of MB. When you leave, take RT.544 west to RT. 31 north, go to end, take RT. 9 west, to first light. Make right, this is HWY. 57. Stay on this road, you will enter NC. Go to end this will bring you into RT.17 in NC. Make left take all the way to Wilmington. You will by pass all the hassel in MB. I know I live here.

I'd forget about Myrtle Beach because there are a ton of things to see and enjoy in Wilmington. As mentioned already, the battleship alone will take you a very full day or two partial days. It's fascinating.

I'd forget about Myrtle Beach because there are a ton of things to see and enjoy in Wilmington. As mentioned already, the battleship alone will take you a very full day or two partial days. It's fascinating.

weathershak wrote:
Best if you can shorten your RV trip to Myrtle Beach and spend a couple of days at the KOA in Wilmington. We made the trip from Ocean Lakes to Wilmington and there just wasn't enough time to see all we wanted to see.

I agree. If you are staying on the south end of MB, the worse part is getting through until you are completely out of the north myrtle beach area. The KOA in Wilmington is a great place to stay and is in a good location. You will be only about 15 minutes from downtown Wilmington. Not too far from the beaches. Make sure you go out to Carolina beach and get some Brits donuts on the boardwalk. You won't be disappointed.

Handbasket wrote:
+++ however many times on BB55. I & many other NC kids chipped in our lunch money dimes in grade school to buy her berthing space when the Navy donated her to the state. Besides the gun turrets and bridge, sure to go below decks to the open engine room and see what made her go... 600 psi steam thru a set of turbines & reduction gears.

Jim, "Keyboard actuator failure. Order and replace."

Handbasket. She wasn't donated to NC. You, and I and thousands of other kids paid $333,000.00 for her with those quarters collected. I'm so glad we did. She was headed for the scrape yards. Would be a true shame.
Do you remember the "early" days of tours. There was not nearly as many compartments open to the public as there is now. I'd like to go back, to see what new has been done. Don't knowif they still do. But there was a nightly show of the battles she was in, with the big guns lighting up, and antiaircraft guns simulated. A good show.

We were fortunate to have been there on the BiCentenial. They actually fired the 5 inch guns on the opposite side of the ship, in a 21 gun salute. Wanna talk about loud. Even from the opposite side. The blasts echoed thu Wilmington, and back across the river. They lit up the forest, and fields like daylight. It was awesome.

+++ however many times on BB55. I & many other NC kids chipped in our lunch money dimes in grade school to buy her berthing space when the Navy donated her to the state. Besides the gun turrets and bridge, sure to go below decks to the open engine room and see what made her go... 600 psi steam thru a set of turbines & reduction gears.

Jim, "Keyboard actuator failure. Order and replace."

Best if you can shorten your RV trip to Myrtle Beach and spend a couple of days at the KOA in Wilmington. We made the trip from Ocean Lakes to Wilmington and there just wasn't enough time to see all we wanted to see.

Length of trip of course depends on which CG you are staying in. Only about an hour from North MB, and about 2 hours from South MB.

The drive is easy, and it is 4 lane all the way. The Battleship is awesome, and Wilmington is a great historic city. Be sure to visit the waterfront across the river from the ship. Also be sure to drive down 421 to Carolina beach, get some donuts at Britt's Donut shop. then ride on down to Fort Fisher, and catch the ferry over to Southport. From there you can catch the Bald Head Island ferry, to see "Old Baldy" the lighthouse on Bald Head.

After that, You can run around over to Oak Island, and see the lighthouse there. In truth. those are the only lighthouses in the area, Except for the small one near the Southport ferry dock.

BTW Southport is a great little town, with lots to see. Can sit at the Ship's Chandler restaurant and watch the big ships come in, and out of the Cape Fear.

And once your ready to go back to MB. Just run 211 "The Green Swamp" back out to 17, and it's not very far back to MB.

Also. If you like history. Near Southport, There is Orton Plantation, A beautiful place to live history. The gardens are beautiful, and there is the crooked bridge, So built because the slaves were superstitious, and believed the water spirits would chase them across the pond. But the water spirits went so fast. They couldn't make the turn, fell off the bridge and drown.

That area of the NC Coast is chock full of history, and in many cases, the way of life has not changed much over the years. The folks still make their living off the ocean. The river pilots still go out to guide the ships in, and you can buy fresh seafood every day.

It is a very easy ride up route 17. Yes about an hour and a half travel time. Going in September should reduce traffic in the Wilmington area.

I have toured the battleship twice. So much to see it is hard to take it all in in one day.

Have fun