These free ferries connect Hatteras to Ocracoke Island. They have a few different sizes. Some ( the larger ones hold about 30-35 cars) with a small air conditioned area upstairs that holds roughly 50 people. While the smaller version holds about 20-25 cars that doesn't have that AC area upstairs. The ride takes roughly 1 hour & 15 minutes each way. There is a small terminal on the Hatteras side almost like a rest area. During the day ferries run every 1/2 hour. Believe they also have a express passenger only ferry which one has reserve in advance and isn't free. The only amenities are restrooms downstairs. Riders are allowed to leave there cars once the ferry has departed the terminal. Enjoy the view. :) read more

the people working on this ferry treated us like actual garbage when we were first getting on. get help!

It's free. You get what you pay for! Long wait on a Wednesday in October. Arrive super early, before the ferries start if you want to be on the first one. We arrived at 10:30AM and waited for 5 ferries until we got on. They don't hold a ton of cars and they carry commercial vehicles which ofter take up the space of 2-3 cars. They hold about 30 cars and it takes 55 minutes to cross. It use to be faster but they have to take a longer route now. This ferry is funded by the state of North Caroline and is part of the transportation budget. They use to allow the ferry to go over budget but now they cut back service after the season to make sure they stay under budget. Unless you really, really, really want to see Oacracoke, it's not really worth losing 7 hours of your day. There are a few nice places to eat, but not a ton of shopping. read more

Ocracoke Island Ferry - Public Transportation Near Me - Hatteras, North Carolina

It's amazing that the ferry still runs FOR FREE!!! And it runs all day and night. It's so nice sometimes to be trapped on a boat and do nothing besides stare at the water. Which is what I did for over an hour. You drive into the line and wait to board. The ferry boards and you wait for it to get rolling. Then you wait to get out of your vehicle if you so desire. Lots of waiting which is fine. It's nice to not have to be in a rush to do anything! It's also a nice place to catch a sunset. read more

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There are only two ways to get to Ocracoke Island. By ferry/boat or by airplane. There is no commercial air service so unless you have your own plane, it's a ferry boat for you. I've taken the Hatteras to Ocracoke Ferry more times than I can count in the 17 years I've visited the Island. After that many visits, I've learned some things to make the trip a little smoother. One of those is to get there early if you're traveling over a holiday weekend. Especially on Labor Day weekend since it's the last big weekend of the season. If the weather is fabulous, you will definitely have company. I usually try to trek over on the Thursday before the Holiday. On Friday, everyone has the same idea and it gets jammed up in a hurry. If you can get there by 2p, usually you will wait maybe a half hour or an hour at the most because they will have 2 ferries running. One of the highlights of Ocracoke is getting to the Marina by 4p to see the fishing boats come in and check out the day's catch. On this particular Labor Day, I was meeting my Sister Mary Elizabeth and her daughter Kelly with the idea of riding over together. They drove separate and decided to make a trip up 12 North to see the sights on the way to Duck. Why Duck? It's where the original and authentic Duck Donuts is located. It's a once in a life time experience for some. I made it to the ferry by 2p and she was in Duck at the same time so I'm thinking we won't be riding over together. It's a 2 hour drive from Duck to Hatteras Ferry. After waiting for about 30 minutes, I sense that something was a miss. There were Ferry crew members scurrying about and people getting out of their vehicles and talking to crew members and walking away shaking their heads. It's never a good sign when the mechanic crew truck pull up to the Ferry. After about 30 minutes, the 'Stop' sign bar was blocking the ferry entrance. I know there is a 'priority' line where local residents get in line to get first entry. There is also another line where large trucks, trucks pulling trailers and RV's get in line. Typically these get on before you as well. I waited for 2 hours and 45 minutes before I finally got on the Ferry and we got underway. I got a text from my Sister saying they were about 15 minutes from Hatteras Ferry. It's about an hour trip to Ocracoke and every year the route over following the green buoy's is a little different. It's called the shoaling route and the storms will change the route depending on the number and severity of the storms. Just about the time we landed at Ocracoke dock, I got a text from my sister 'we are on the Ferry and underway' The lesson to me & the moral of this story: go to Duck and get the Duck Donuts 'It's a once in a lifetime opportunity'. read more

Ocracoke Island Ferry - Mechanics truck is never a good sign when you're waiting @ Hatteras to get to Ocracoke: 9/2/21 - Public Transportation Near Me - Hatteras, North Carolina

Transportation was efficient and had lots of air-conditioning. Tour-guide had a degree in yappanese.

This is a ferry ride between islands. The only way to connect the Hatteras and Ocracoke is through the ferry. The ride is free. It is first come first serve based. The ferry depart very often. Not much of wait. The terminal hold line for passengers car or commercial vehicles that wish to cross. The residents pass holder or commercial vehicles has priority to be load first. This ferry is a bit smaller between islands travel. It has upper deck with AC room while riding. Bathroom is available if you need to use it. The ride is about an hour to cross. The captain need to navigate around the sand bar area. It is a bit tricky but is mark buoy. The view is nice for short ride. read more

Ocracoke Island Ferry - Public Transportation Near Me - Hatteras, North Carolina

Bottom Line: A utilitarian ferry service between Hatteras Island and Ocracoke that is paid by NC tax payers. If you want to travel between Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island your options are the ferry service or a private plane. Currently the state-run ferry service is a car-carrying service that is considered part of Hwy 12. The ferry goes between the southern end of Hatteras Island and the very northern end of Ocracoke Island. Unlike other ferries serving Ocracoke, there is no toll/fee. In the busy summer season I'd estimate that the ferry is about 80% vacationers and day trippers and 20% locals and commercial traffic. From the ferry landing it is about a 15 to 20 minute drive to Ocracoke Village. But here is some exciting news, starting in Fall 2018 there will be an express passenger ferry that will go from Hatteras Island directly to Ocracoke Village. I think this will be a perfect option for most vacationers and day trippers since it's easier to get around the island on foot, bike or golf cart. The ferry crossing between Hatteras Island and Ocracoke is about an hour. There are two lines to board the ferry - priority (for locals and commercial traffic) and dingbatters (everyone else). Once the priority lane is boarded, they ferry guys will cue the others lane by lane, based on a first come, first served basis. Drivers need to pay attention to directions from the ferry guys and may need to provide a drivers license as part of DHS's random inspection security measures. The ferry crossing is mostly boring. Some people stay in their cars while others meander around deck. There is an air conditioned passenger cabin and some outdoor seating. Some of the indoor seating has tables and it would be a nice place to play cards. Because the ferry has to jet way out in the sound to avoid sandbars the crossing is not that scenic but it is smooth. There are not any concessions or amenities on board so bring your own snacks and beverages. There is a water fountain in the passenger cabin and bathrooms on the main deck. read more

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Now this is how a ferry is done! So well organized with a beautiful terminal that's well organized and everyone sticks to the schedule. Boarding the ferries, there are numerous friendly staff guiding you on where to park. The ferries have viewing portions and restrooms. The ferry ride is 60 minutes and very enjoyable. read more

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This ferry might have gotten 5 stars had it not scared the bejeebies out of me on the way back from Ocracoke Island to Cape Hatteras, because the trip there was quite pleasant. Let me just start from the beginning... While on vacation with my husband, celebrating our anniversary in the OBX, like many tourists, I was looking for some cool experiences, other than just lounging around the beach. Not that it's a bad thing, but it is still very early spring, and the weather wasn't exactly 'beach' weather daily. So although it was warm and sunny on April 15, 2019, we wanted to get out and explore like Dora the Explorer. Grab your backpack...let's go! We asked some kind folks at breakfast at Diamond Shoal's how to get to the ferry since I'm not the best at reading directions. The lady pointed down Highway 12 and basically said, "Straight stretch about 20 minutes...it'll be on the right". Easy enough! The ride down was pleasant; sunny skies and sand dunes. I had my music up and windows cracked so the wind would blow through my hair. There was a long line at the ferry and we sat for a few, while they were just starting to board. Unfortunately, we didn't make the cut and the line ended about 3 cars up from us, so it would be another 20 minute wait (give or take) for the next ferry. We knew this because they announced it over the speakers for all to hear. We walked around the marina a bit and grabbed some photos. We went into the gift shop and my husband bought some things. We rushed back out just in time to get back into our cars. Alas, we were making our way onto the ferry. Everyone is very helpful in directing traffic and guess what...there is no cost and no need for a ticket! At least not to those of us who are tourist. The good people of the area pay for this service in their taxes. And I feel their pain...as a resident of Northern Virginia, we get taxed plenty good here. Boarding, the announcement comes over..."Stay in your cars" (basically until you reach a certain point in which you can come out). Nobody said anything, but I knew it was time when I saw everyone else getting out. So I grabbed my husband who was paying bills online while we were waiting, to get moving. There was limited seating on the upper deck and I wanted to ensure us a view. I had been wanting to take a boat ride during our stay in the OBX, and here we were getting one for free! We get to the top and it is windy. And I mean, windy! My hair was a hot mess and I just gave up on it. I used to have a hat; the day before the wind and the ocean decided to conspire against me and whip it right off my head, and into the ocean it went, before I could even blink. So it was just me and my hair now. The ride was smooth. There were a few seats and after I got my fill of standing and taking photos, we sat and enjoyed the ride for the remainder of the time. The ride was about 60 minutes. A couple of times I was entertained by a guy and his wife who stood the entire time and got hit with some big waves by surprise. He gasped and said it was like being on a water park ride! Otherwise, it was relaxing and perfect, despite the wind. On the way back, not so much. We were placed on another ferry that wasn't as accommodating. They had no upper deck. Only a small area inside for some seating (boring!). We stayed in our car with the windows down. The problem was that this ferry was packed solid with a lot of large vehicles. In front of us was a top heavy camper towards the back end of the ferry. In order to offset the weight of it, there was a UPS truck on the other side. But that fat *beep* camper was leaning to the far left with every wave and at some point, I was sure we were going to capsize. I started getting seasick and my anxiety was getting the best of me. Suddenly a huge wave soaked the car to the left of me, and still managed to soak us too. Up went the windows! I put my seat back, closed my eyes and tried to distract myself the rest of the ride. The ride back did seem shorter than the ride there thank goodness! Anyway, a cool experience, but I don't like being on board with the heavier vehicles. Nevertheless, we will ride again! read more

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I want all you passengers to stay in your car seats. Now clap your hands. Now hold your bladder so that you're not the douche that backs up the line when it's time for bordering. Now drivers give me some of that oooold school horn honking in appreciation to the fine taxpayers of North Carolina. You didn't have to pay for our ferry ride like you did But you did, but you did And I thank you You could have charged a fare or a fee or a toll but you didn't And I thank you With that stupidness out of the way, let's talk turkey. I would imagine that my trip on the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry was the typical off season experience since it was done in the winter versus the prime summer vacation season where I can only imagine the crowds, lines and waits. Thankfully we experienced none of that. We got to the Hatteras side mid-morning on a weekday and had maybe a dozen cars in front of us. We had about fifteen minutes to kill so we visited the terminal to use the loo and warm up a bit. The boarding process was simple as the boat was maybe 1/2 full. We left about ten minutes late and the trip to Ocracoke took a little longer than an hour as it was very windy and there was a fair amount of spray and a little bit of wave action coming over the bow. The return trip out of Ocracoke was a bit more interesting as we were shooting for the 5:30pm boat but got held up by an overly long wait during dinner. As soon as we left the boundaries of the Ocracoke Village I hammered it the rest of the way across the island at 90-95. While not safe, it was worth it as we were the last car on right as boarding was ending. For this trip counting us there were nine cars on the Floyd J. Lupton. The ride on the way back was nice. Since it was a clear dark night you could clearly see the flickers from the lighthouses at Hatteras and Bodie Island. The ferries themselves are not built for luxury but to be utilitarian workhorses. There is a passenger lounge up on the second deck but on both trips they weren't really used with the exception of the crew. Not that they're bad but since it was colder than a witch's tit everyone mostly stayed in their cars. Overall this is a great set up: The ride is free. The crews run the boats with a well oiled efficiency. If you need a bathroom on board they have them and they were spotlessly clean. There are basic services on the Ocracoke side with far more offerings on the Hatteras side. I'm not sure I'll ever go back to Ocracoke but if I do I will look forward to another ride with the NC Ferry System and once again thank you to the taxpayers of NC who make this all possible. www.ncdot.gov/download/transit/ferry/ferryschedule2018.pdf www.outerbanks.com/hatteras-ocracoke-ferry.html read more

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Tbilisi was a long ride! Omg. I was expects 10-15 mins but it took forever. Was glad to go on the journey and it was an adventure but probably wouldn't do it again. read more

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[Coronavirus review] When I dropped in, operations were pretty much normal; you get a handout on social distancing, but on an isolated island with a lot of sun and wind you shouldn't have much trouble following them. Normal operations mean that it is conveniently free, but it isn't free of drawbacks. For one thing, it'll likely be a lengthy wait. They had three terminals and were running boats on two of them when I dropped by, but it still took me something like an hour and a half to get from the mainland terminal to the island terminal, between the wait and the ride. The boats are not huge and don't inspire a ton of confidence as to how they would handle bad weather. Even on the ride back, I arrive to find a boat waiting, and it waited empty for quite a while before I got on it. The ride is slow and circuitous, apparently to avoid some protected wildlife areas. Apparently you can ride it as a pedestrian, but it's a twenty-minute drive from the terminal to the only settled part of Ocracoke, so you'd have to have someone or some plan for when you got there. The island is the most outer of the Outer Banks, and it's cool that you can get there relatively easily. Most of it isn't that accessible and I suspect it's better for those who stay overnight; for a day tripper like myself, the amount of time spent getting across is substantial. read more

2nd time going 2022 1st time (on a Thursday) in September we waited 3 hours finally someone came over to us & said it would be another 3 at least so we left. 2 time (right now) in October 2023, been 3 hours already & still waiting. 2 ferry's are at the dock but only 1 working. I would rather pay & have reservations then sit on rot. read more

Wow. Read some reviews saying avoid mid week in the summer. Ignored them. We arrived at 10.20am and finally got a ferry at 1pm. Ugh. Family were "unimpressed" with my brilliant plan. Wish there was more indication of when each line when will make it into the ferry and so you can leave your car for a stroll etc. The actual ferry was fun , and trip to the island was something ticked off the to do list and made a slightly different day. read more

Ocracoke Island Ferry - Ferry line - Public Transportation Near Me - Hatteras, North Carolina

This was an unexpected part of our trip, which was suggested by our bed and breakfast host that morning. He described taking a scenic drive from Kitty Hawk all the way down to Hatteras, then told us we could jump on the ferries and work our way back to the mainland. It took a little more planning than that, but it worked out and was cool! The Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry is FREE and does NOT take reservations. I was worried that the Hatteras ferry would be too full and we would miss the Ocracoke trip to the mainland, so we arrived at Hatteras with three departure times left that would work for us. We pulled up about 20 minutes before the first departure time we wanted and had no problem getting a spot--but it was a summer weekday around noon. 60 minute ride. We DID call and make a 4pm reservation for the Ocracoke-Cedar Island ferry. There were only five spots left when we made the reservation (via phone call at 10:30am). However, that deadline made us worry about making the first ferry (Hatteras) on time. Reservations must be canceled the day before, or they can be rescheduled. 2.5 hour ride. The experience was definitely neat, and I recommend it if you have the time to make it work! Just plan ahead. read more

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Free vehicular ferry that connects the southern end of Hatteras Island with the northern end of Ocracoke Island. No reservation needed to ride this ferry only patience. Upon arriving we were directed into one of the long lines of cars, trucks, and 4x4 vehicles. The people who were there before me had been waiting for 40 mins. There is great excitement as you hear the engines start and vehicles movie slowly to board the ferry. My excitement turned quickly to disappointment when the ferry was fully loaded and it slowly pulled out headed for Ocracoke. Here's a few tips if you want to jump on the ferry and head to the Village of Ocracoke 1. Arrive early They start at 5 am in the morning 2. Highest traffic is Tuesday-Thursday (who knew) 3. Bring some patience (they are short staffed) 4. Once loaded and moving take a walk around the ferry and see the views. There are benches on the upper deck for sitting and picture taking. Oh and they do have restrooms. 5. Relax your on Island Time read more

Ocracoke Island Ferry - Disappointing... the ferry is full!!! - Public Transportation Near Me - Hatteras, North Carolina

The chief engineer was very friendly and the ride was incredibly smooth. The view was also great and best of all, the ferry ride is free! read more

Ocracoke Island Ferry - Public Transportation Near Me - Hatteras, North Carolina

Loooooooong wait Been here 2 hours and still haven't got on Limited ferries on duty during a vacation week Maybe better planning is needed read more

This is a FREE ferry ride to Ocracoke Island where you drive your car onto the boat and they take you to and from Ocracoke. The boat ride is about 45-50 minutes and you have some great views on the way. The ship itself has the bottom deck which you are free to walk about or just stay in your car. Off the back of the boat, people throw bread off and the seagulls catch them in mid-air. On the second floor there's an air conditioned lounge unit to beat the heat. They also have those binoculars that you pay 25 cents for to look out the water. They also surprisingly have clean, sanitary restrooms as well. Little tip, the ferry line gets agnozingly long, mainly around rush hour. Try to avoid this by going a little earlier / later. Overall, this ferry is free and pretty well organized. You can't beat a free service such as this. It deserves nothing less than 5 stars here. read more

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If you're island hopping come early. Long waiting time. It's still off season and only one ferry is running on the hour. Keep in mind that semi's use the ferry too. Less room for single vehicles. You can, however, park your car and hop on board. No food available other than vending machines read more

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I admit I wouldn't want to depend on the ferry service for a daily commute, but we found the ride a very interesting part of our Outer Banks experience all in itself. We found the ferry staff exceptionally friendly and accommodating. It was a comfortable ride with great view of the sound -- including dolphins -- and the only way we could have experienced Ocracoke Island. It is incredible that North Carolina is able to offer this service without charge. read more

Ocracoke Island Ferry - View of opposing ferry from RV window. - Public Transportation Near Me - Hatteras, North Carolina

Over the past three or four decades, we've taken the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry many times. It's always been a safe trip. The Hatteras Inlet waters are usually fairly calm, although bad weather can cause a rougher trip, and in severe weather ferry trips are canceled. The entire ferry system is well run and does its job efficiently. The coastal ferry system is run by the state of North Carolina Department of Transportation. Ferries carry vehicles and pedestrians. All ferries have restrooms (heads) and some have vending machines and interior rooms with tables and bench seats. No alcohol is permitted to be consumed on board. While there's a charge for some of the ferries, the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry is free. It has seasonal hours. In winter, the ferries leave Hatteras village on the hour from 5 am to midnight daily, and on the half hour from the end of Ocracoke farthrest from the village, (about 14 miles north of Ocracoke village) starting at 4:30 am until 12:30 am. After dark, the frequency is reduced somewhat. In spring and fall the ferries run more often, and in summer even more often, with about three dozen ferry trips a day each way. The trip takes about 1 hour each way. Reservations for this ferry route are not accepted. There are complete schedules of all ferries operated by the NC Department of Transportation at the NCDOT: Ferries website at www.ncdot.gov/ferry/. As noted, this ferry is free. However, timing is everything. Especially if you are traveling off-season at certain peak hours, you may not get on the ferry and have to wait until the next one. This just happened to us on our last trip from Ocracoke to Hatteras in late February 2017. On aa Friday, we drove up to the boarding area about 10 minutes before the 10:30 ferry and got in line. There was a huge fifth wheeler trailer ahead of us, and with the fifth wheeler plus local vehicles, which get priority, plus other visitor ferries, three cars including ours couldn't get on the 10:30 ferry and had to wait in the line until 11:30. Ferries on the Hatteras-Ocracoke route are either the Hattteras Class boats, which can carry a maximum of only 30 vehicles and 149 passengers, or the larger River Class, which carry up to 42 vehicles and 300 passengers. If some of the vehicles are larger, or are towing trailers or boats, then the ferry will carry fewer total vehicles. Here are a few tips to keep in mind: Arrive as early as possible. It's first-come, first-serve, but locals get priority boarding. In the summer, try to arrive at the Hatteras dock before 10 am or after 3 pm to avoid the crowds, and from Ocracoke's arrive before 2 pm. or after 7 pm. Busiest days in summer are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. There are bathrooms at both ferry terminals, but don't tarry and get left behind. Once boarding starts, it goes quickly, and the ferry shoves off. There is no information center or gift shop at the Ocracoke docks (the one to Hatteras, not the one in the village), but there is a gift shop and information center at Hatteras village. read more

This was really cool. We got there on time and got in line. A few minutes later they were loading our cars on to the boat. I have never been on a Ferry Boat with my car so it was a new experience. I was amazed at how many cars and trucks they get on one boat. This ride was short - only about an hour. But it was a great trip. It didn't cost too much (free) and I had fun. The problem is that its not something that one does for kicks. Especially if you live in So Cal. It is a mode of transportation. I guess you could take day trips to the island and that would be fun. But I get the impression that most people use it to get back and forth from home to work and such. I enjoyed the trip. read more

Ocracoke Island Ferry - The view from the drivers seat. - Public Transportation Near Me - Hatteras, North Carolina

The wait to get on the ferry is insane!! It takes over 4 hours each way plus the hour each way you are on the ferry! There is nothing there worth sitting in your car for 10 hours!! NC needs to up their ferry game. They are ridiculously slow! read more

Visiting and looking forward to going over to Ocracoke. Unfortunately the system is EXTREMELY time sucking for visitors. Totally get that the locals deserve priority but after day 2 of waiting in excess of 3 hours and no ferry in our future (understand one ferry was broke down on day 2 of our wait) we left AGAIN. The workers don't bother to tell you they are limping around with one boat simply state- day trippers don't need to bother - not worth the wait. Frustrating- lets open our wallets - schedule times- or something!!! Maybe their needs to be a system overhaul? It's broke - sorry. read more

A free ferry ride...........whaaaatttt?? Yes folks its for real - the Ocracoke Ferry system is organized, efficient and a fun experience when leaving the mainland heading to Ocracoke Island. This past weekend we had a great time and even saw a seal hanging out on a bouy as we passed by warming itself in the sunshine. On our way back to the mainland we were held up by fog that had rolled in fast and thick. The staff managing all of us in line did a great job communicating the status and keeping everyone as happy as possible during our 3 hr wait. Thankfully the beach was nearby and most everyone took time to walk through the dunes to check it out. The ride back was quite interesting as we were warned by the Capt'n that we'd be taking it slow due to the shallowness and the shoals. The boat did hit a couple of bumpy spots and we dragged bottom but it just added to the experience overall. If you are in the OBX take the trip down NC 12 S and stop at the lighthouses and shops along the way, take the ferry to Ocracoke and enjoy the ride. read more

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This was so much fun...and FREE! It took us from Hatteras Island to Ocracoke Island. One hour ride. I do wish they would have showed us the life preservers. In a panic, I want to know there is one for me:) We actually rode it two different days. The second day, we timed it just right to see the sunrise on the way over. It was AMAZING!!! I couldn't get enough pictures, video, and jaw dropping views. It sure was fun seeing the dredging going on and the other ferries that passed us. The weather was rainy the first day, but the second day was perfect. read more

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After reading over the other reviews for this place, I have to agree that why else would you give this place less than five stars. Best thing about here is that it is indeed free. I did notice that one thing that people do complain about here is the wait time. If you are on the Hatteras end of the ferry, the wait can be a breeze. You have your option of sitting in your car to wait, using the facilities or going to the nearby shops. The wait can be a bit longer than usual depending on weather and other things that can be unforeseen. The ride over is usually a smooth one. Some people choose to sit in their car to take a small nap, others venture out onto the boat itself to take in the air and some even go up the stairs to enjoy the lounge area. Seeing how this is the only way on and off the island, you have no choice if you are driving. read more

Free ride. If your ferry docks to load at 1000 get in line by 0900 at least. Bring water. It is a HOT wait in the middle of hundreds of people and pavement. That sun does not quit. Only shade A/C is in the shops to the right of the ferry lot. People flock there to beat the heat. Once on the ferry, you can get out of your vehicle and walk around and go to the upper deck for a nice breeze. Small cabin with air conditioning up there also. Each ferry is different. Most named after War heroes or Bases, I think. The guys who run these ferries whether on the ferry or on the land getting everyone in place are great. Hats off to these guys. They are very nice and stop to answer questions politely. This year the ride was about an hour long to Ocracoke where in the past it was ... 20/30 min. The course depends on the current, and sand bars mostly, I believe. Depth of the water ETC. Nice views. read more

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My best advice to anyone traveling to the Outer Banks by all means AVOID using the North Carolina Ferry system until the pandemic is completely over! I was stuck in the line for the Ocracoke-Hatteras ferry from 430pm to nearly 900pm because of staffing issues and canceled ferries. I would not plant on stating on Ocracoke Island as a guest either-the dimbulbs that run the ferry system had a schedule posted in their terminal with all the canceled ferries crossed out but did not update their website! A second ferry trip was even worse; I made reservations for the ferry from Cedar Island to Ocracoke and the ferry was supposed to be at 430pm I arrived at the ferry at 345pm and lined up then they asked me what ferry are you taking I stated 430pm they responded you didn't get a notification? I am like notification of WHAT? The 430pm ferry was canceled. Do you mean that ferry that is loading up right now is the last ferry to Ocracoke? Yes. Can I get on that ferry ? By the time this slow witted woman communicated with the ferry it was already leaving the dock. I am like well when is the next ferry? She responds 700am and it is sold out. I had to drive 250miles on the mainland by way of highways 70, 171, 17 and 64 to get to the place I rented in Avon. At least till the pandemic is over I would AVOID if at all possible using the North Carolina Ferry system and I would not rent ANY vacation properties that require a ferry trip. Read more read more

Ocracoke Island Ferry - The ferry schedule on the NC Ferry website notice-NO CANCELATIONS! - Public Transportation Near Me - Hatteras, North Carolina

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The workers are nice and they must have a stressful job trying to get everyone on and off. I recommend going on the ferry to get to ocracoke island if you like the quiet peaceful beaches and you want to visit the lighthouse. The lighthouse had historic significance, it's one of the oldest in NC and the nation and it had rustic simplistic beauty. Getting to ocracoke island on the ferry wasn't a problem, we were able to get right on during Memorial Day weekend BUT it seems like everybody on the island is in the ferry line to get back to Cape Hatteras, residents and deliveries to and from the island get first priority... For this reason we had to wait a little over an hour to get on the third ferry, hence the 4 stars... However, there is a beach you can easily walk to while to wait for the ferry. read more

Ocracoke Island Ferry - Ocracoke Island Lighthouses - Public Transportation Near Me - Hatteras, North Carolina

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Yes, can't beat the price. People were friendly and the ride was short. It runs on the hour every hour during the off season. It about a 20 minute ride, good for a quick nap in the rain. I can't imagine how crowded this gets when its high season! They have decent bathrooms at the station, clean and automatic. Also took the ferry from Cedar Island to Orcacoke. It cost $15 each way with car. It was easy to make reservations and their visitors station was clean and friendly, with plenty of information booklets and a few seats to sit down at. The ferry was on time and not crowded because it was off peak season (it can hold up to 53 cars but there were only 6 on our boat). It was 2 hours and 15 minutes and plenty of space to walk around on the boat. There was indoor seating, outdoor upstairs viewing and of course you could relax in your car too. read more

FREE!!!!! Okay, so I'm just going to let you know I love to save money to fund my obsession with gnomes and brightly colored Chuck Taylors. What does that have to do with this review? Well, you can take the free ferry to Ocracoke, spend some free time on the beach, and have some cheap fish tacos and make a day of it!!! Save that money, lol! Kids love the ferry!!! The only thing to be aware of is that sometimes you can wait up to two hours getting on the ferry! This is not really a complaint because the service is provided free! OK, now I'm going to take the money I saved and go gnome shopping.... read more

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The crew runs an efficient, punctual no charge service. It's a relaxing experience to watch the ferry maneuver through the colored buoys, as well as, quite impressive when the captain docks the boat ever so gently. read more

DO NOT PLAN A DAY TRIP TO HATTERAS FROM THE MAINLAND!! WHAT A DISASTER. We took the 7 am cedar island ferry to Ocracoke and drove immediately to the Hatteras ferry. There were 7 cars in line at 10 am and we got on with no problem. We drove to the Hatteras Lighthouse, stopped at one beach for 15 minutes and ate a small lunch before heading back to the ferry 1.5 hours prior to departure. There were three regular lines and two priority lines. After watching three ferries depart with ONLY priority passengers, we realized we would not get back to Ocracoke to make our 4 pm ferry, the LAST ferry, off the OBX in Ocracoke.... so we had to take a five hour detour back to the Crystal Coast. This was our first time and it was through the week so I did not expect this horrible wait. I think we would have sat there for another 3 hours or more if we had waited. Horrible experience that ruined my families little side trip. read more

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Wow, you can review a ferry? One of the things that makes Ocracoke special is that the journey to arrive is an adventure--either by plane or boat. In this case, a boat you can take your car with you, courtesy of the NC tax payers. The trip has gotten longer in recent years as shoaling has caused the ferries to take a meandering horseshoe route several miles soundside. But it's all good, it's a fun boat ride, and a nice opportunity to get out of your car (if the weather is good) and enjoy the view. Pro tip #1: try to get on to one of the "River Class" ferries. They are double-enders so no need for them to turn around, and they have a great upper viewing deck. Pro tip #2: Don't feed the @#$% seagulls, you tourists! LOL. read more

I went upstairs to the passenger lounge where I found 2 crew members taking up 15 seats with there food and backpacks scattered everywhere. Kind of seemed inconsiderate on top of them being quite rude. read more

Can you give -5 stars. Want to ruin a family vacation for a day. The go to the Ocracoke. Kinda fun for a lunch and seeing about 15mins of touristy stuff. Otherwise it's typical trinket and shirt buying from items made in china. But the worst part - driving 45mins to 1hr from wherever you are vacationing to wait 1:45mins for the ferry, then 1 hr ferry there, then 1-3hr wait to catch the ferry back, and of course another hr on the boat. Plus that drive back to wherever you are vacationing. We spent from 11:30am to midnight, of which 8.5hrs were traveling. It sucked. Driving the golf carts with big wheels was super-fun. About all the could be said. read more

Who doesn't love a free ferry ride? This is a long ride of 60 minutes but, it is free and the ferry from Cedar Island to Ocracoke is even longer at 2.5 hours. I would avoid that at all costs and take in the beautiful scenery of the ocean and beaches right on the side of the roads of NC 12 before I took the other ferry. The other ferry has a toll of $15.00 in addition to the longer trip. The lines are not long going to Ocracoke on this side depending on the season but, still reasonable being that it is a smaller car carrying ferry. You will get to take in the beautiful views and if you time the ferry correctly you can see the sunrise and set while on the ferry which is a notable lifetime experience. Just don't be like me and have a mishap of losing your phone into the water while trying to take pictures. Yup mishap strikes again for this solo traveler who lost not only her phone but, all of her photos of the trip! Sad face but I was on the ferry long enough to talk with the people riding who were from all of the USA and the world so that made up for it. read more