I am shown on the observation deck of the ferry from Cedar Point to Ocracoke. The route is one of several offered by the North Carolina DOT Ferry Division. Click the icon in the lower righthand corner of the player to expand the video.
The ferries that service the Outer Banks are a vital part of the barrier islands’ transportation system. Here’s key information for using them during your trip.
You can’t say you’ve seen the Outer Banks of North Carolina without riding the ferries. That’s a literal statement; the only way to reach Cape Lookout, Portsmouth Island, and Ocracoke (sans small aircraft) is via the ocean. And while they are easy to use, it’s somewhat of challenge to track down data on the ferries while planning a trip. These questions and answers offer valuable information before you head out to the Outer Banks (abbreviated OBX):
How many ferries are there in the Outer Banks?
Starting in Cape Lookout to the south and sweeping north to Corolla, I count seven ferry routes that regularly run to OBX. My map below illustrates each of the routes with red lines (I drew in the Currituck-Knotts Island in the far north only as a point of reference). Four travel to and from Ocracoke, and three go to Cape Lookout National Seashore. For more information on both locations, see the questions that specifically pertain to them further down this article.
Do you have to make a reservation for the OBX ferries?
For most of the routes, reservations are recommended. You can view the North Carolina Department of Transportation Ferry Division’s reservation page by clicking the link; they provide the following routes: Cedar Island-Ocracoke, Swanquarter-Ocracoke, and Hatteras-Ocracoke.
The National Park Service (NPS) lists this company as their authorized ferry from Ocracoke to Portsmouth Island. You can view NPS’s authorized ferries to Cape Lookout by clicking the links for Harkers Island, Davis, and Atlantic.
How much do the OBX ferries cost?
Costs vary dependent upon the route, but you shouldn’t expect to pay much more than the $24 USD roundtrip ticket I purchased for the Harkers Island-Cape Lookout passenger ferry. Some, like the Ocracoke-Hatteras vehicle ferry, are free. Others like the Cedar Island-Ocracoke vehicle route costed me $15 USD. It’s a good idea to visit the official websites of ferry services during the planning phase of your trip. Links are provided in the answer to the previous question.
How many ferries run to Ocracoke Island?
Four ferries offer service to and from Ocracoke Island, and they are all shown on my above map. The two most notable are the Cedar Island and Hatteras vehicle routes; they are part of NC Highway 12 that runs 148 miles up and down OBX. Others include the ferries to and from Swanquarter and nearby Portsmouth Island, the latter of which has no connecting bridges and is therefore dependent upon service from Ocracoke for transportation.
Which ferries run to Cape Lookout?
Just like Ocracoke, Cape Lookout has four ferries that connect visitors to the national seashore. I illustrated three on my above map: the routes from Harkers Island, Davis, and Atlantic. The fourth leaves from Beaufort, but it’s intended for day trips and runs less frequently than the others.
Harkers Island, the southernmost of the ones on my map, is a passenger ferry. I used it to reach Cape Lookout when I camped seaside near the Light Station Visitor’s Center. You can learn more about how to make the trip yourself in my travel guide “Top Places to Camp in the Outer Banks.”
The Davis and Atlantic ferries will carry over your vehicles if you want to cruise the beach. Make sure you air down your tires before driving in the sand.