Wilmington Brewery Hopping in Bessie, a Private '72 VW Bus
Your group, the stops you pick, and a 1972 VW bus that collects you at your door and drops you back at the end.
Roadies Local runs this tour in Bessie, a pale blue 1972 Type 2 Volkswagen, and the operator's own site introduces its founder, Rachel O'Holla, as your tour guide. The booking buys the whole bus for one group of up to seven, and the stops are yours to choose. The listing calls its itinerary just a suggestion.
O'Holla moved to Wilmington in the summer of 2020 and fitted the bus out as a rolling lounge, she told Cape Fear Living in 2022. Nearly every review on this listing mentions Rachel by name.
Two lengths are sold here. Three hours usually covers two or three stops and four hours usually covers three to five, the listing says. As of October 16, 2026, the listing prices them at USD 350 and USD 450 for the whole bus, whether two people ride or seven.
Private Brewery Tour in a '72 VW Bus - Roadies LocalPrivate VW bus brewery tour · 3 or 4 hours · Up to 7 riderswww.viator.comSix Seats in the Back, Facing a Table
Bessie holds seven passengers, six in the back and one up front, according to the operator's FAQ. Seven riders is the most the bus takes. O'Holla told Cape Fear Living she replaced the middle seat with a matching three-seat bench that faces backward, across a table her husband built and bolted to the floor, and kept the windows clear so riders can see out. A September 2024 group of seven men called it plenty of room.
The listing includes a cooler with ice, bottled water, a Bluetooth speaker for your own playlist and souvenir Roadies Local coozies. The operator's FAQ adds phone chargers for iPhone and Android.
Breweries, Bars or Beer Gardens: You Set the Route
The listing calls each stop a brewery or establishment of your choice. After booking, the operator gets in touch to confirm your pickup spot and start time, and you either send your list of stops or ask for a route built around what you like to drink. Reviews on this listing describe a cocktail afternoon, a run of three bars, and one group's mix of two breweries and two beer gardens.
The operator counts more than 20 craft breweries in Wilmington and points to Downtown, South Front and the Cargo District as well as the beaches. Start time depends on the day of the week and the hours of the places you pick, its FAQ says.
Drinks Are on You, and So Is the Food
Beer, cocktails and tasting fees are outside the price. The listing excludes alcoholic beverages, and the operator's FAQ says tasting fees and drinks are not included. Groups can bring their own snacks and meals and eat at the table on the bus between stops, the FAQ says, or carry food into most breweries and bottle shops. The listing suggests the second stop for eating and says most breweries have food trucks during the day.
The operator's FAQ also lists a USD 250 charge for excessive spills, bodily fluids or damage left in the bus.
Who Can Ride and When to Book
Every rider has to be 21 or older, the listing and the operator both say, and the listing does not accept families with infants. Pickup and drop-off cover Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. The operator's site says groups staying outside that range can work out a place to meet.
The listing closes bookings a day and a half ahead, and each one is confirmed by hand. As of October 16, 2026, the booking calendar showed 17 dates between October 20 and November 22 sold out for both lengths, with dates in December still open.
📍 Pickup is at your home, hotel or rental in Wilmington or the three beach towns, set with the operator after booking.
- Length: three or four hours, pickup and drop-off included
- Cancellation: full refund up to 24 hours before the start, nothing after that
When the last stop wraps up, Bessie drives the group home or on to wherever the night goes next.