Weather during October in our area has an average high temperature of 76°F and a low of 56°F.
The average temperature is around 66°F.
*BASE ACCESS
If you are not active duty or retired military, you will need to be issued a pass to access base for the ceremony. In order to get you processed in a timely manner, we will need your RSVP and some additional information no later than September 10, 2025.
Flights + Lodging
We have two airports within a 30 minute drive: ILM (Wilmington, NC) and OAJ (Jacksonville, NC). However, a more budget friendly option with more direct flights would be RDU (Raleigh, NC - 2 hour drive).
There are many lodging options in our area including hotels and vacation rentals. A list of convenient locations is provided below.
Updates
Some of the event details are fluid, and we will have additional activities and gatherings on the days surrounding the ceremony for out of town guests. In order to stay up to date, you can check back to this site. Additionally, guests who are RSVP’d will be added to a messaging update service where we will keep you posted on any critical information.
Click the 
icon below to expand map key with location titles.
There are many lodging options in our area including hotels and vacation rentals. The day of the retirement ceremony, most activities will be taking place on/near the base. However, we live near Surf City, halfway between base and downtown Wilmington. Surf City is very much a slow-pace, beach vacation destination in October, while Wilmington is a historic area with a lot of dining and sight seeing options. There are also hotels in between! A map of the area is embedded in the above section to give you an idea of where we are and what's around.
HOTELS
NEAR BASE
Hampton Inn Sneads Ferry North Topsail Beach
1248 NC-210
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
(910) 327-5555
View on map
Topsail Shores Inn
1325 NC-210
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
(910) 685-0969
View on map
Blue Water Inn & Suites
1565 NC-210
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
(910) 327-8282
View on map
NEAR WILMINGTON
NOTE: These are our favorite for "staycation", but there are TONS of options in Wilmington.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront
9 Estell Lee Pl
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 765-1131
View on map
Hotel Ballast Wilmington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
301 N Water St
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 763-5900
View on map
RENTALS
GENERAL VACATION RENTALS
VRBO + Airbnb
In the fall vacation rental prices dip and availibility becomes more open. Rentals can be a great option.
SURF CITY
(mid-island, near us)
Saltwater Resort & Suites
412 N New River Dr - Resort Property 605 N Topsail Dr - Suites Property
Surf City, NC 28445
(910) 886-4818
View on map
Loggerhead Inn & Suites - Topsail Island
622 N New River Dr
Surf City, NC 28445
(910) 541-4020
View on map
NORTH TOPSAIL
(north island, nearer to base)
Villa Capriani*
790 New River Inlet Rd
North Topsail Beach, NC 28460
*this is a resort with privately owned condos, you will need to use VRBO, Airbnb, Booking.com etc to find units
CAMPING + COTTAGES
Ocean's RV Resort
730 E Ocean Rd
Holly Ridge, NC 28445
(910) 778-2839
View on map
KOA Wilmington
7415 Market St
Wilmington, NC 28411
(910) 686-7705
View on map
Onslow Beach Camping + Cottages*
Bldg. BA-276 West Rd.
MCB Camp Lejeune, NC
(910) 440-6216
View on map
*This is an on base option for military/DoD or sponsored civilians
