North Carolina Ferry System (NCDOT Ferry Division)
State ferry system with 21 ferries on seven regular routes across the Currituck and Pamlico sounds and the Cape Fear, Neuse and Pamlico rivers, including the Outer Banks routes to Ocracoke.
North Carolina Ferry System (NCDOT Ferry Division) Routes
| Route | Crossing Time | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Hatteras → Ocracoke Island | About 1h 10m | Cars & foot passengers |
| Cedar Island → Ocracoke (village) | About 2h 15m | Cars & foot passengers |
| Swan Quarter → Ocracoke (village) | About 2h 40m | Cars & foot passengers |
| Southport → Fort Fisher | About 35m | Cars & foot passengers |
North Carolina Ferry System (NCDOT Ferry Division) sailing patterns
- Hatteras → Ocracoke Island
Hourly or better from 5:00am to midnight, up to about 25 departures a day between 31 March and 19 October
From 20 October to 31 December 2026 departures are roughly hourly (about 18 a day); extra boats are added at busy times.
Source: NCDOT Ferry Division 2026 schedule, checked 2026-09-29
- Cedar Island → Ocracoke (village)
3 sailings a day each way from 8 September to 31 December 2026 (7:30am, 1:00pm, 4:30pm from Cedar Island); 4 a day in summer
Source: NCDOT Ferry Division 2026 schedule, checked 2026-09-29
- Swan Quarter → Ocracoke (village)
2–3 sailings a day each way, year-round (reservations recommended)
Source: NCDOT Ferry Division 2026 schedule, checked 2026-09-29
- Southport → Fort Fisher
Weekdays from 5:30am to about 6:15pm from Southport, roughly every 45 minutes; weekends from 7:00am
Source: NCDOT Ferry Division 2026 schedule, checked 2026-09-29
Vessels on these routes: Car ferries
North Carolina Ferry System (NCDOT Ferry Division) Network Map
4 routes on FerryConnect; 4 carry vehicles.
🐕 Pets
Pets permitted if kept in vehicles or on leashes.