How long is ocracoke ferry

Check the ferry schedule prior to your departure, as well as the peak ferry wait times to help plan your day. The vehicle ferry is free to and from Ocracoke and operates on a first-come-first-served basis.

There are many departure times throughout the day for the vehicle ferry. The vehicle ferry ride takes approximately one hour. Ocracoke Express has three departure times each day from Hatteras and Ocracoke. There is a fee to ride the ferry, however, reservations are accepted in advance.

The Ocracoke Express ferry ride is approximately 70 minutes. Leave early to avoid traffic congestion in the Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head areas, and to catch the ferry early to maximize your time on Ocracoke Island. We recommend taking a break at this point in your journey at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge to watch the sunrise over the ocean. As you continue down the coast, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse will come into view. The ferry ride itself adds to the appeal of a day trip to Ocracoke Island.

Relax and enjoy your ride across Hatteras Inlet, whether you choose to take the vehicle ferry or the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry.

Bonner bridge , and the second was that the NC Ferry System was established, with more routes set up along other areas of the coastline where transportation had previously been limited to just a privately run boat or ferry.

As a result, ferries popped up along the East Coast providing new visitors with access to coastal areas that were relatively unexplored. One of the most significant of these routes were the three new ferries that were added to provide passage to Ocracoke Island. These ferries included the Cedar Island and Swan Quarter ferries which departed from the mainland, and the Hatteras Ferry, which provided a quick little trip from Hatteras Island to Ocracoke.

Many Ocracoke locals continue to prefer this route for routine off-island trips, such as an optometrist or dentist visit, or a weekly trip to the Hatteras Island's only chain grocery store. But perhaps the biggest use of this ferry visit is for seasonal day trips or week-long vacations by visitors and Outer Banks locals alike. The ferry makes a trip to otherwise isolated Ocracoke Island a breeze, and a relaxing trip to boot.

Thanks to the early roots of the ferries, a trip to Ocracoke Island is a tradition for many Outer Banks vacationers, and the small town of Ocracoke is the most visited town in all of Hyde County, North Carolina. This is quite a feat for a home that is located 30 miles offshore, and miles away from the rest of the county mainland.

On your next vacation to any portion of the Outer Banks, make your own personal salute to the ferries' history by taking a ride across the Pamlico Sound and exploring the small town of Ocracoke. En route or waiting in line, admiring the massive ferries that chug by on a regular basis, it will surely be hard to imagine that just a few decades ago, the only transportation to these southern regions of the Outer Banks was only by a small, locally run tug boat.

Next time on board, be sure and tip your cap to the enterprising Captain Tillet for turning a small business into a standard method of transport to some of the Outer Banks' most beautiful locations.

The Hatteras - Ocracoke Ferry is a free vehicular ferry that connects the southern end of Hatteras Island with the northern end of Ocracoke Island, via a crossing across Hatteras Inlet. The docks for the Hatteras - Ocracoke Ferry are located on the edge of Hatteras village next to the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, and on the undeveloped northern borders of Ocracoke Island. The ferry route is situated on the southern end of the Outer Banks, at the tip of Hatteras Island. Pets are allowed on the Hatteras - Ocracoke Ferry.

Dogs are allowed to exit the vehicle and explore the main deck of the Hatteras - Ocracoke Ferry, provided they are on a leash at all times. Though the Hatteras - Ocracoke Ferry is a vehicular ferry, passengers are welcome to walk on board.

Passengers going to Ocracoke should note that the Ocracoke ferry docks are 13 miles from the closest community, Ocracoke Village. Vehicles of all types that can legally operate on a highway including cars, motorcycles, trucks, RVs and even tractor trailers , are allowed on the Hatteras - Ocracoke Ferry.

The Hatteras - Ocracoke Ferry can accommodate all types of large vehicles that are legally allowed on the highway, including large trucks, trucks with trailers, RVs, and tractor trailers. Individuals that must use the Hatteras - Ocracoke Ferry to provide business services to Ocracoke Island may apply for a priority pass, which allows them to board the ferry first. The priority pass is given to businesses, vendors, and individuals who travel back and forth more than twice a week, and are issued on an as-need basis at the beginning of the year.

In the summer months, the busiest days for the Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry are generally Monday through Friday, and especially days in the middle of the week. The most popular crossing times from Hatteras are between 9 a. In the summer months, when the Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry traffic is at its peak, the best time to depart Hatteras is in the early morning, before 9 a. The best time to depart Ocracoke is in the mornings and early afternoons, generally before 2 p.

Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry, which includes all outside decks, the passenger lounge, and inside a personal vehicle. Alcohol is not allowed anywhere on the Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry, which includes individual vehicles, outside decks, and the passenger lounge. The number of vehicles that can fit on the Hatteras — Ocracoke ferries depend on the individual vehicle type, like cars versus RVs or trucks with trailers. In general, vehicles can typically fit onboard a Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry.

There are no vending machines onboard the Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry, however, vending machines are found at both ferry terminals on Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. There is no food or drink available on board the Hatteras — Ocracoke ferries. The passenger lounge of the Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry is climate controlled, and has heat in the winter months, and air conditioning in the summer months. Every Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry does have a passenger lounge, which is located on the second level of the vessel.

The passenger lounges are climate controlled, and feature seating and a drinking fountain. All passengers can exit their vehicles and explore the Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry, but must wait until the ferry is in motion, and has departed the terminal docks.

The Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry typically starts boarding about 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time. All passengers are urged to be in their vehicles 15 minutes before the actual departure time to ensure a smooth boarding process. If you are not in your vehicle when the Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry starts boarding, the ferry personnel will direct the other vehicles behind you to pass your vehicle in order to board the vessel.

Once you return, you can move your vehicle back in line. The last crossing for the Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry from both Hatteras and Ocracoke islands is midnight, all year long.

The Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry starts running at 5 a. From May 15 to October 15, the ferry departs Ocracoke at 5 a. The Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry generally runs every half hour from both Hatteras and Ocracoke from May 15 to October 1, and roughly every hour in the off-season. In the spring and fall months, the ferry has crossings every half hour during peak times of the day. The Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry suspends operations during hurricanes and tropical systems, as well as during storms with high wind speeds, which are generally classified as storms with 30 mph sustained winds or higher.

The Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry will not operate during severe weather conditions, with sustained wind speeds of roughly 30 mph or more, due to safety concerns. The docks for the Ocracoke terminal are located on the northern edge of Ocracoke Island, on the borders of Hatteras Inlet. Wait times for the Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry are all dependent on ferry traffic, which in turn varies based on time of year, and time of day. The Ocracoke ferry terminal is adjacent to the Ocracoke beaches, and visitors will find an ORV ramp as well as a parking area less than a mile away from the Hatteras — Ocracoke ferry docks.

The Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry is a little more than six miles away from the Ocracoke Pony Pen, which is where visitors will have the best chance of spotting the famed wild Ocracoke ponies. The Hatteras village ferry terminal is located on the southern end of Hatteras village, and is walking-distance close to a number of restaurants, shops, attractions, beaches, motels, vacation rentals, and marinas. The Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry has run aground on occasion due to shoaling in the ferry channel that cuts through Hatteras Inlet.

Generally, the Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry can maneuver through these instances and start travelling again with ease. The Hatteras — Ocracoke Ferry operates year round, with slightly fewer crossings in the winter months. The Hatteras — Ocracoke Passenger Ferry is an upcoming ferry that will provide transportation to passengers from Hatteras village to Ocracoke village starting in the summer of The Hatteras — Ocracoke Passenger Ferry is schedule to open in the summer of , and likely by the end of June.

Will there be food and drink on board the Hatteras — Ocracoke Passenger Ferry? Currently, there is not slated to be food and drink available on the Hatteras — Ocracoke Passenger Ferry. However, there are vending machines available at both ferry terminals, and a number of stores and restaurants close to both terminals as well.

Small carry-on items, such as backpacks and purses, are allowed on the Hatteras — Ocracoke Passenger Ferry. Due to limited space, large items — like big coolers and luggage — will not be allowed. The Hatteras — Ocracoke Passenger Ferry launches and lands next to the vehicular ferry terminal, near the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, and the Hatteras Landing shopping center.

Reservations are not required for the Hatteras — Ocracoke Passenger Ferry, but will be available for crossings. Passengers with reservations must check in at least 30 minutes in advance of their scheduled departure time. A major selling point is its convenience.

After picking up your ticket, simply walk onto the ferry, stow your bag or bike inside and get comfy. The ferry holds up to passengers between the indoor seating on the first floor and combination of open-air and indoor seating on the upper deck.

No matter where you sit, though, panoramic views of the sound surround you. Outside on the second level, the views combined with the steady breeze make the trip feel more like a leisurely ride in a motorboat which, essentially, it kind of is.

Once it gets underway, the ferry travels at about 28 knots or 32 miles per hour, and the trip only takes about an hour and 10 minutes to dock in Silver Lake. The passenger ferry presents a roomy, fun way of traveling between Hatteras and Ocracoke. From there the island is yours to explore. Set off on foot or by bike, rent a golf cart or take the new tram, which makes eight stops around the village on a half-hour circuit.

On this small island, getting to almost any destination is a breeze except for the beach access or the Hatteras car ferry terminal on the other end of the island; for those you may want a car. The passenger ferry revolutionizes the experience of taking a daytrip to Ocracoke.

Yes, the passenger ferry runs less frequently, but guaranteed transportation at your chosen time makes it possible to keep a schedule. Set out on foot; rent a bicycle or golf cart, or for the romantic, try the Round Creek Rickshaw pedal cab. These real-time, route-specific details provide public updates on conditions, schedule delays and cancellations. Not sure how heavy winds or tempestuous tides may affect the ferry you're planning to catch? These Twitter feeds keep you knowledgeable on any possible delays or obstacles that have arisen for each route.

You can even set your Smart phone or device to receive notifications of Twitter updates. The feeds for each ferry are:. Hatteras-Ocracoke Free Ferry. This ferry service links Hatteras and Ocracoke islands with a relaxing minute trip. During the summer the wait can be long. Reservations are not accepted.