The Ocracoke Express passenger ferry between Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands will begin service for the 2024 season on May 23, and online reservations are currently available for the summer months.
The passenger ferry, which is now in its sixth season, transports passengers via a 70-minute trip between Hatteras Village and Silver Lake Harbor in Ocracoke Village, where a free tram operated by Hyde County is available to carry visitors around the village to shops, restaurants, accommodations, and attractions, including Ocracoke’s seasonally lifeguarded beach.
Per the North Carolina Ferry System website, the Ocracoke Express will have the following departures from May 23 through September 9, 2024
Tuesdays through Fridays
- From Ocracoke Village: 9:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
- From Hatteras Village: 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1:45 p.m., 5:00 p.m.
Saturdays through Mondays
- From Ocracoke Village: 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
- From Hatteras Village: 9:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m
One-way fares are $7.50, with an additional $1 charge for bicycles. Children three and under who can share a seat with an adult can ride for free.
“At this point, the plan is to run the passenger ferry through Labor Day,” said Tim Hass, Communications Officer for the NCDOT Ferry Division.
According to statistics from the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, the Ocracoke Express had an estimated 16,540 total passengers in 2023, from May 23 through September 4.
For more information on ferry routes and schedules, and for online reservations, visit the N.C. Ferry System’s website.
