If you plug a Wrightsville Beach destination into your GPS on a Saturday in July, it will almost certainly route you down South College Road (NC-132). It sees a straight line. Locals see a parking lot.

Summer traffic in New Hanover County isn't just about volume; it’s about rhythm. The timing of bridge openings, the check-in windows for vacation rentals, and the specific friction created by curb-cuts on College Road produce predictable bottlenecks that you can—and should—avoid.

Here is the local playbook for navigating Wilmington when the tourists arrive.

The College Road Trap

The stretch of South College Road between Market Street and Oleander Drive is arguably the most congested corridor in the county.

The Issue: It’s not just the cars; it’s the curb cuts. Dozens of businesses line the corridor, creating constant conflict points from drivers turning right-in and right-out.

The Fix: Kerr Avenue. It runs parallel to College Road and, thanks to recent widening and median improvements, moves consistently faster. Use Kerr for north-south travel and only cut over to College when you are within a few blocks of your destination.

The Local Bypasses (and a Construction Warning)

For years, the Pine Grove Drive → Greenville Loop Road circuit was the unofficial bypass for the College/Oleander intersection.

The Warning: In 2025/2026, expect construction slowdowns. The Greenville Loop Trail project and upcoming roundabout work can produce unpredictable delays.

The Alternative: If you’re heading toward Monkey Junction or Carolina Beach, Independence Boulevard absorbs high volumes more gracefully than College Road. Fewer signals and fewer commercial driveways keep it flowing when everything else stalls.

Wrightsville Beach: The Bridge and the Construction

Accessing Wrightsville Beach requires crossing the Heide Trask Drawbridge, and timing matters.

The On-the-Hour Rule: The bridge opens for boat traffic on the hour. Hit it at :05 and you’re coasting across. Hit it at :58 and you’re parked for 10–15 minutes. Plan arrival for roughly :15 past the hour.

The 2025/2026 Headache: Water and sewer main replacements on Eastwood Road and Wrightsville Avenue will create intermittent lane closures through early 2026. Shoulder hours (before 9 AM or after 4 PM) are the safest windows.

Carolina Beach: The Snow’s Cut Strategy

Pleasure Island has one entry point: the Snow’s Cut Bridge.

The Saturday Shuffle: Vacation rental check-ins cluster around 4:00 PM. Traffic from 2:00–5:00 PM routinely gridlocks.

The Hack: Do not grocery shop on the island during this window. Publix and Food Lion become parking lots.

The Move: Stop at Harris Teeter or Lowes Foods in Monkey Junction before crossing the bridge. Better stock, faster checkout, and zero tourist congestion.

Your Next Step

Traffic patterns shift with construction schedules, tides, and tourism waves. You need a real estate partner who understands not just the market—but the roads that connect it.

Aspyre Realty Group navigates Wilmington with precision. We are experts in listening and communicating people’s wants into homes that work for them—and guiding you toward the neighborhoods with the best escape routes for your daily rhythm.

Contact Aspyre Realty Group today. Let’s identify which areas keep you moving, even in July.