First things first, Ocracoke Island is only
accessible by water or by air.

If you have a boat, stop by and drop anchor at one of our marinas. No boat? No problem. The North Carolina Department of Transportation runs ferry services between the mainland and Ocracoke Island. And yes, you can bring your car or RV with you.

There are three ferry routes to the island
with both car and passenger ferry options.

From Highway 12, located along the Outer Banks, the Hatteras Ferry crossing is free and takes about one hour. If you’re making a day trip to Ocracoke, plan to arrive at the Hatteras Ferry landing as early as possible since it operates on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Swan Quarter Ferry (2 hours, 45 minutes) and Cedar Island Ferry (2 hours, 10 minutes) routes are tolled, and reservations are required. If you’re coming from the west, take the Swan Quarter Ferry. If you’re traveling up the coast from the south, take the Cedar Island Ferry. 

Departure times vary by season and the schedule is subject to change based on weather or traffic. It’s a good idea to call ahead at (252) 996-6000. Or, for NCDOT ferry route information, schedules, and reservations, call 1-800-BY-FERRY or click here to see the ferry schedule. Click here to make an online reservation on one of the sound side ferries.

Prefer to arrive in a private plane?

We’ll be waiting on the tarmac to greet you. Okay, not really, but if you have a small private plane (one or two engines), you can land at Ocracoke’s airstrip, located just outside the village. Most lodging partners will arrange pickup from the airport and bring you into town.

Pilots looking for airport maps, details, and directions, should go here and select “Ocracoke Island Airport (W95)” from the drop-down menu.