Departing on the Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry, Cape Hatteras National Seashore
The North Carolina Department of Transportation operates a free vehicle ferry between Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. No reservations are accepted, so you just have to show up and wait in line and hope you make it aboard the next ferry out. There is only one road running through the islands, so all you have to do is get on NC-12, the Outer Banks Scenic Highway, and head in the right direction and you will eventually run into the ferry terminal. The ferry runs all year round, but schedules change based on the time of year. Check the DOT’s Ferry Schedule before making travel plans.
The DOT reports that waits for Hatteras Island departures to Ocracoke start around 10 AM, and the longest waits, which can be up to three hours, start around 1 PM and continue until after 4 PM. Believe it or not, the DOT also reports that the busiest days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, not the weekends (on a Tuesday morning in early June when I visited, the 7 AM ferry was half full). When returning from Ocracoke, the lines start around 4 PM and remain long until after 9 PM. If you must be somewhere on Ocracoke or Hatteras by a certain time, I cannot stress enough the importance of getting to the ferry very early in the morning, otherwise at least 1.5 hours before the one you want to catch. The worst that can happen is that you get on an earlier ferry. If you aren’t in any hurry, just show up and hope for the best.
The trip takes an hour. Once you have parked your car aboard the ferry you can get out and walk around. There are restrooms on the boat and a passenger lounge on the upper deck, though there is nothing in the lounge other than seats, so you might as well just sit in your car unless it is super hot outside.
Out at sea on the North Carolina DOT ferry between Hatteras and Ocracoke islands
There is also a passenger-only ferry called the Ocracoke Express that stops directly at Ocracoke Village instead of the vehicle ferry terminal 12 miles to the east. This is a great way to get to Ocracoke without having to wait in line for the vehicle ferry if all you want to spend the day shopping and dining at Ocracoke Village. Ocracoke Beach, one of the lifeguarded beaches at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, is two miles away. You can bring your own bike or rent a bike at the village, or even a golf cart. In addition, an 8-stop tram circles the village. The tram does not go to the beach, but if you take it to the farthest stop from the dock, you can get within 1.25 mile of the beach, which for most people is no more than a 30-minute walk.
The Ocracoke Express typically runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends. There is fee per passenger and per bicycle ($15/person and $1/bike, round trip, at the time of this writing). It may see odd that there is no charge for the vehicle ferry while there is one for the passenger ferry, but you can make a reservation for the Ocracoke Express and avoid the long wait in line for the vehicle ferry. You can also purchase a ticket at the ferry terminal with cash or credit / debit card. See the DOT’s Ocracoke Express Passenger Ferry web page for details.
There are 110 parking spaces at the Hatteras Ferry terminal, plus five overnight parking spots. All are taken on a first come, first served basis.
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Last updated on March 9, 2024
