North Carolina events › Answers › Do You Need a Ferry to Get to Ocracoke?
NCDOT runs state ferries to Ocracoke on three routes, Hatteras-Ocracoke, Cedar Island-Ocracoke and Swan Quarter-Ocracoke, and fares are charged on the Cedar Island and Swan Quarter routes. The state says most of its seven ferry routes are free, and that tolls are directed on all ferry routes by Jan. 1, 2027.
- Ferry Routes7NCDOT regular routes
- Hatteras-OcracokeFree Vehicle FerryNCDOT, toll planned
- Cedar Island-OcracokeFarevehicle under 20 ft: $15
- Fares Page DatedMay 22, 2023check for changes
What NCDOT Says
| Topic | Text | Page Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferry system overview | North Carolina's ferry system consists of 21 ferries and everyday service on seven regular routes across the Currituck and Pamlico sounds as well as the Cape Fear, Neuse and Pamlico rivers. Two routes – Hatteras-Ocracoke and Ocracoke-Cedar Island – are officially part of the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway. | 10/20/2026 | NCDOT |
| Seven routes by name | Routes named across NCDOT pages: Hatteras-Ocracoke, Cedar Island-Ocracoke, Swan Quarter-Ocracoke, Southport-Fort Fisher, Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach, Bayview-Aurora, Currituck-Knotts Island. | NCDOT | |
| Where to find schedules | Current schedule page (Routes & Schedules); sign up for text or email notices through the Ferry Information Notification System (FINS). Reservations: ferry.ncdot.gov or 1-800-BY-FERRY. | NCDOT | |
| Spring 2026 schedule release | New schedules as of March 31, 2026: Hatteras-Ocracoke daily departures 36 to 52; Swan Quarter-Ocracoke and Cedar Island-Ocracoke each four to six daily departures; Southport-Fort Fisher weekday departures 28 to 32. Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach, Bayview-Aurora and Currituck-Knotts Island remain on year-round schedules. | 3/27/2026 | NCDOT |
| Fares: which routes charge | Service for most of North Carolina's seven ferry routes is free, but fares are charged for service on the popular Cedar Island-Ocracoke and Swan Quarter-Ocracoke routes as well as the Southport-Fort Fisher route and the Ocracoke Express (Hatteras-Ocracoke) passenger ferry route. | 5/22/2023 9:36 AM | NCDOT |
| Fares: Cedar Island, Ocracoke, Swan Quarter (One-Way) | Pedestrian $1 (free for ages under 5); Bicycle Rider $3; Motorcycle $10; Scooter $10; Golf Cart or ATV $10; 3-Wheel Motorcycle $10; Motorcycle with Trailer $15; Motorcycle with Side Car $15; Vehicle and/or Combination Less Than 20 Feet $15; 20 to 40 Feet $30; 40 to 65 Feet $45. | 5/22/2023 9:36 AM | NCDOT |
| Fares: Southport-Fort Fisher (One-Way) | Pedestrian $1 (free for ages under 5); Bicycle Rider $2; Motorcycle $3; Scooter $3; Golf Cart or ATV $3; 3-Wheel Motorcycle $3; Motorcycle with Trailer $7; Motorcycle with Side Car $7; Vehicle and/or Combination Less Than 20 Feet $7; 20 to 40 Feet $14; 40 to 65 Feet $28. | 5/22/2023 9:36 AM | NCDOT |
| Fares: Ocracoke Express (one-way, ticket-prices page) | Passenger $7.50 (free for ages under 3); Bicycle $1. | 5/22/2023 9:36 AM | NCDOT |
| Ocracoke Express passenger ferry | Operates Mondays-Saturdays from mid-May until early September. Passenger ferry service is scheduled to resume in May 2027. A round-trip fare is $15 per person. Children 3 and under ride free. There is also a $1 charge for a bicycle. The 2026 Season runs Mondays-Saturdays from May 5-Sept. 7. There is no passenger ferry service on Sunday. Check in no later than 20 minutes before departure. Reservations not required but recommended: 1-800-BY-FERRY or ferry.ncdot.gov. | 9/8/2026 10:51 AM | NCDOT |
| Ferry tolling change | North Carolina state law directs NCDOT to establish and begin collecting tolls on all ferry routes by Jan. 1, 2027. Tolls will be required on the Currituck-Knotts Island, Bayview-Aurora, Hatteras-Ocracoke and Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach vehicle ferry routes. Timeline on page: N.C. Board of Transportation considers for adoption toll rates Nov. 5, 2026; tolls go into effect Jan. 1, 2027. Fares above may change. | NCDOT | |
| Emergency ferry Rodanthe-Stumpy Point | NCDOT's Ferry Division will begin 24-hour emergency ferry service between Stumpy Point and Rodanthe while a section of N.C. 12 remains closed. A one-way trip takes approximately two hours. Stumpy Point terminal: 100 Log Storage Road, Stumpy Point. Rodanthe terminal: 23170 Myrna Peters Road, Rodanthe. Release says the road is closed between the Marc Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe. | 2026-10-22 (URL date) | NCDOT |
Fares are one-way as printed; check the NCDOT fares page before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book?
NCDOT lists reservations at ferry.ncdot.gov or 1-800-BY-FERRY and a notice system for schedule changes.
Is the Rodanthe-Stumpy Point ferry running?
NCDOT announced a 24-hour emergency service while a section of N.C. 12 remains closed; read the NCDOT release.
What We Could Not Confirm
- The NCDOT fares page is dated May 22, 2023 and tolls begin by Jan. 1, 2027; current fares may differ.
- Departure times are not printed on the NCDOT schedules page text; use that page for current times.
- The NCDOT fares page lists no Hatteras-Ocracoke vehicle fare and calls that route free; tolls are due by Jan. 1, 2027.
Sources
- Ferry system overview
- Seven routes by name
- Spring 2026 schedule release
- Fares: which routes charge
- Ocracoke Express passenger ferry
- Emergency ferry Rodanthe-Stumpy Point
Read on October 27, 2026. How we check: editorial standards; spot a mistake? Tell us.
Cite this page: It's North Carolina, “Do You Need a Ferry to Get to Ocracoke?”, itsnorthcarolina.com/answers/do-you-need-a-ferry-to-get-to-ocracoke/ (updated ). By the It's North Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.