Every trip to Ocracoke starts and ends on this dock
Ocracoke Island has no bridge and no road tying it to the mainland — every visitor, resident, and vehicle gets here by boat, and the ferry terminal along Irvin Garrish Highway in Ocracoke village is where that crossing begins and ends. It's the reason the island feels like a different place from the rest of the Outer Banks: getting here takes real, deliberate effort, and that has shaped Ocracoke's pace for as long as anyone can remember.
All three routes are run by the North Carolina Ferry Division and carry vehicles along with foot passengers, though vehicle space is limited — reserving a spot ahead of time is worth doing during the busier summer months.
Because Ocracoke has no evacuation route besides these same ferries, service is often suspended first and restored last whenever a storm threatens the island — a real consideration for anyone visiting between August and October. Check current sailing schedules before locking in a departure date, and keep some flexibility in your plans if a hurricane is anywhere near the forecast.
Ocracoke has no bridge or road connecting it to the mainland, so the only way in or out is by boat. Three North Carolina Ferry Division routes serve the island: a free ferry from Hatteras village and toll ferries from Cedar Island and Swan Quarter on the mainland.
Whether the ferry is free depends on the route. The Hatteras village ferry, the shortest run and the most heavily used of the three, is free, while the longer crossings from Cedar Island and Swan Quarter on the mainland are toll ferries.
The free ferry from Hatteras village takes roughly an hour each way. The toll ferries from Cedar Island and Swan Quarter on the mainland take about 2 hours and 15 minutes each way.
All three ferry routes to Ocracoke carry both vehicles and foot passengers, but vehicle space is limited, so reserving a spot ahead of time is worth doing, especially during the busier summer months.
Hurricanes can disrupt ferry service to Ocracoke. Because these ferries also serve as the island's only evacuation route, service is often the first to be suspended and the last to be restored when a storm threatens — a real consideration for anyone visiting between August and October. Check current sailing schedules before locking in a departure date, and keep some flexibility if a hurricane is anywhere near the forecast.
The Ocracoke ferry terminal sits along Irvin Garrish Highway in Ocracoke village, the point where every crossing to and from the island begins and ends.
416 reviews
3 months ago
Arrive at ferry 30 minutes before hand plus I bought my tickets ($15 per car) 2 months in advance. You can also walk on the ferry for $1. It's a beautiful ride from Swan Quarter to Ocracoke. We saw dolphins on the way back to Swan Quarter
4 months ago
Very organized, always nice people, easy in and out, for my 58 ft RV towing suv. Very reasonable. Cool, enjoyable experience traveling approx 2hr 15mins.
a year ago
We loved our trip to Ocracoke using the Herratas ferry. It’s completely free on on time. You wait in line in your car and then are directed to the ferry. Wait wasn’t too long. I think ferry comes every 30 minutes. Ride is around 75 minutes one way. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip.
4 months ago
very cool experience. we were lucky to catch the sunset on the way back.
2 months ago
People working here are very helpful, friendly, and professional. I enjoyed the ride immensely!