North Carolina Ferry System

06/18/2024

🎶 Come sail away, come sail away. Come sail away with me 🎶

It's a great day to hop on board the Ocracoke Express ➡️
https://bit.ly/3Wf3vXl

06/06/2024

Take the easy way to Ocracoke this summer... on the OCRACOKE EXPRESS. No cars, no waits, no worries!

05/31/2024

June 1 marks the start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, and the experts say it'll be a busy one. We hope they're wrong, of course, but now is the time to prepare. The NC Ferry System is ready to help if you need us, from evacuation before the storm to recovery efforts after it.

05/22/2024

On Monday, the crew of the M/V Hatteras received NCDOT's "Extra Mile Award", as well as official commendations from the U.S. Coast Guard for their heroic rescue of two fishermen and a dog from an overturned boat in Hatteras Inlet on January 12. We couldn't be more proud of them!

05/21/2024

Who's ready for a trip to Ocracoke this summer? Our sound routes between Cedar Island/Swan Quarter and Ocracoke began expanded summer service today, and the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry will begin its sixth season of service Thursday! https://bit.ly/3WQmxmZ

05/10/2024

Passengers on our Cherry Branch route got a free air show with their ferry ride yesterday, as the Navy's Blue Angels practiced overhead. This is the view from the M/V Avon. Awesome!

05/03/2024

We are pleased to announce that Jed Dixon has been named the new Director of the North Carolina Ferry Division! He's been a part of our team for more than 20 years, and our Deputy Director since 2012. Congratulations! Details here: https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-05-03-dixon-nc-ferry-system.aspx

05/01/2024

We're so proud of the crew of the M/V Hatteras! Today, the NC Board of Transportation recognized them for the dramatic January 13 rescue of two fishermen and their dog from an overturned boat in Hatteras Inlet. Here's a short video about the incident:

04/25/2024

It"s a beautiful day for a North Carolina Ferry ride!

04/23/2024

Heads up for passengers departing from our Swan Quarter Ferry Terminal: Due to road construction on US 264 in Beaufort County, delays of up to 30 minutes are possible on the way to Swan Quarter. Please adjust your travel times to avoid arriving late for your ferry departure.

04/12/2024

Good news! NC12 on the north end of Ocracoke reopened at 5pm today. NCDOT removed a lot of sand today & water has receded. Traffic will proceed on 1 lane until pavement can be repaired. Drive carefully & expect delays at automated traffic signals. With NC12 now open on Ocracoke, the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry has resumed its normal schedule. Ferry schedule: https://bit.ly/3hmD37z. Visit DriveNC.gov for real-time travel updates.

04/12/2024

Good morning! Five of seven ferry routes are running on a normal schedule this morning. Hatteras-Ocracoke route is suspended but will resume service when it is safe to reopen NC12 on Ocracoke. NCDOT crews are assessing the road this A.M. Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach route is on a 1-boat schedule for maintenance issues. All other ferry routes are running on a normal schedule. Stay tuned here or DriveNC.gov for travel updates. 🛳️

03/29/2024

GREAT NEWS! NC12 is reopening on Ocracoke Island, so ferry service will resume with the 2pm departure from Hatteras and the 3:30 pm departure from Ocracoke.

Keep in mind there is still sand and water on the road, so SLOW DOWN on Ocracoke when you get there!

03/26/2024

Due to worsening conditions on NC12 on Ocracoke, the highway will remain closed and ferry service from Hatteras will remain suspended. Those wishing to access or leave Ocracoke Village during that time should use ferries to/from Swan Quarter or Cedar Island as an alternate.

03/25/2024

Due to continued hazardous conditions, NC12 on the north end of Ocracoke will remain closed today, and ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke will remain suspended.

Ferries between Cedar Island, Swan Quarter and Ocracoke are currently running on schedule.

03/25/2024

Good morning! We are back in service on our Cedar Island/Swan Quarter routes to and from Ocracoke! The Hatteras-Ocracoke route remains suspended at this time due to the NC12 road closure on the north end of the island. Crews are hoping to reopen the highway later today.

03/24/2024

Good morning! Strong northerly winds are affecting several of our routes this morning. Routes will resume service as soon as it is safe to do so.

03/23/2024

Good morning. Due to the closure of NC12 on Ocracoke Island, ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke has been suspended. Service will resume when the road is reopened and conditions are safe.

In addition, ferry service between Cedar Island, Swan Quarter and Ocracoke has also been suspended due to high winds on Pamlico Sound. Service will resume as soon as it is safe to do so.

03/22/2024

A low pressure system will be rolling through the NC coast tonight through Sunday, with a forecast of heavy rain and very strong winds. Schedule interruptions are possible, so if you're planning to catch a ferry this weekend, sign up to get text/email notifications on any schedule changes at ncdot.gov/fins.

03/14/2024

We want to wish a happy and fulfilling retirement to Captain Mary Beth Ray, an integral part of our Southport-Fort Fisher route for 28 years! You will be missed!
https://bit.ly/4afdHT5

Nothing could be more appropriate for a ferryboat captain than to sail off into the sunset at the end of the day. That is essentially what Marybeth Ray did last

03/13/2024

Say 'Ahoy' to our newest river-class ferry, the M/V Avon, which made its debut on the Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach route today. Welcome aboard!

03/04/2024

March 4-8, 2024 is Severe Weather Awareness Week, but here at the Ferry Division, planning and testing and preparing for severe weather is a year-round job. We are ready to help evacuate before a storm, deliver emergency supplies to hard-hit areas after the storm, and then return residents to their homes when the coast is clear.

Make sure you and your family have plans in place for when severe weather hits: https://www.weather.gov/ind/preparedness

02/16/2024

The easy way to Ocracoke.

Ocracoke Express tickets go on sale Feb. 23. Plan your summer now and hop aboard starting May 23 where there are no cars, no waits and no worries.

02/14/2024

Good news! NC12 on Ocracoke will be reopening at 2 p.m. today, and ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke will be resuming with the 2 p.m. departure from Hatteras.

02/13/2024

Afternoon update: With winds dying down, all routes have resumed service except for the Hatteras-Ocracoke route, which will remain suspended until NC12 reopens on Ocracoke Island. Currently, the highway is expected to reopen sometime before noon on Wednesday.

02/13/2024

High winds along the coast are impacting several of our routes today, In addition, NC12 is CLOSED on Ocracoke and is experiencing soundside flooding on Hatteras and Pea islands.

02/01/2024

New schedules are now posted on our website, as we temporarily realign resources to ensure more robust schedules in the spring and summer to better meet demand.

Details and a link to the new schedules here: https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2024/2024-02-01-ferry-schedule-changes.aspx

01/11/2024

Great news! NC12 on the north end of Ocracoke is reopens at noon, and ferry service between Ocracoke and Hatteras will be resuming as well! First departure from Ocracoke at noon, first departure from Hatteras at 1 p.m. With this, all NC Ferry routes will be back in service.

01/10/2024

The Currituck-Knotts Island ferry route has resumed service, and the Swan Quarter-Ocracoke and Cedar Island-Ocracoke routes will resume service in the morning tomorrow. Service between Hatteras and Ocracoke will not resume until NC 12 reopens on Ocracoke Island.

01/10/2024

1pm UPDATE: The Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach route has now resumed service. Other routes will resume operating as soon as it is safe to do so. Please note that NC12 on the north end of Ocracoke is currently CLOSED and will not be reopening today.