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NC Ferries

Click the Numbers on the map to the left to learn more about the ferry schedules and fees.

The thin barrier islands of North Carolina, located up to 30 miles off the mainland, present a wonderful opportunity for travelers to see the state from a unique perspective - by ferry. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) oversees the fleet of ferries that carry passengers and vehicles to and from the coastline. Since ferry transportation to these delicate islands was established in the mid-1920s, millions of visitors have happily gotten on board.

Currently, the NCDOT has seven routes and 24 ferries that serve Eastern North Carolina, from Knotts Island which straddles the Virginia state line, to Fort Fisher and the Southern beaches of the Cape Fear region. Operating 365 days a year, the 400+ hardworking employees make sure that rain or shine, the ferries get to their destinations, whether they are a quick 20 minute jaunt away or a 2.5-hour stretch across the Pamlico Sound.

Bear in mind that it's not just curious visitors who flock to the ferries. For the residents of lonely barrier islands such as Ocracoke Island, the ferry is the lifeline that provides goods and transportation to the mainland. Without it, life on these deserted islands, and the subsequent tourism that brings millions of visitors every year, simply couldn't exist.

Currently, locals and visitors alike are welcome to ride the ferry, driving any size car, motorcycle, or recreational vehicle that can operate on the highway, though in some locales, reservations may be required to ensure a spot. (Also, special permits are required for vehicles over 65 feet.)

All of the ferries are also pet friendly, provided that your pet either stays in the vehicle with you, or on a leash while exploring the boat. For folks with pet allergies, the ferries also offer pet-free passenger lounges.

For a starboard snack, most of the ferry terminals offer vending machines and close proximity to restaurants and stores, and several of the longer routes have ferries with vending machines on board.

Regardless of which route you take or which boat you board, the experience of turning off your car engine, rolling down your windows, and enjoying a cool ocean breeze while relaxing behind the wheel is nothing short of amazing. It is hard to believe that this experience is available to everyone, with thousands of passengers on board statewide on any given day, when originally the ferry system began with just one captain and just one boat.

In the mid 1920s, Captain J.B. (Toby) Tillet established a privately run tug and barge service that would carry passengers across Oregon Inlet, connecting the Northern Outer Banks with Hatteras Island. In 1934, the North Carolina Highway Commission took notice of this operation and its importance to residents, and began to subsidize Tillet's business, keeping tolls affordable to his small clientele. Eight years later, the Highway Commission eliminated the tolls altogether, paying Tillet to continue his business until he decided to sell it to the state in 1950.

In 1947, Thomas A. Baum, who had a similar operation running between the Croatan Sound and Manns Harbor, sold his business to the Commission as well, making this route the first official route of the NC Ferry System.

Today, the NCDOT's Ferry Division operations are supported by a full-service shipyard, dredge, military-style landing craft utility vehicles (LCU's), tugs, barges, and other support vessels. Each year, North Carolina ferries transport over 1.1 million vehicles and more than 2.5 million passengers across five separate bodies of water - the Currituck and Pamlico Sounds and the Cape Fear, Neuse and Pamlico Rivers.

Obviously, a lot has changed in the 50 years since the state purchased their first passenger ferry, but in the more recent years following September 11 (2001), like all forms of public transportation, national safety has been at the forefront of the NC Ferry Division's concerns.

Today, all NCDOT ferry passengers and vehicles may be subject to voluntary screenings and photo ID checks, and the ferries are also no longer permitted to carry unaccompanied baggage or unattended vehicles.

This stems from the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA), enacted on November 25, 2002. The MTSA was designed to protect the nation's ports and waterways from terrorist attacks. It requires vessels and port facilities to conduct vulnerability assessments and develop security plans that may include screening procedures for passengers and baggage, personnel identification checks and/or installation of surveillance equipment.

In addition, the North Carolina Ferry System is part of America's Waterway Watch, which is a national awareness program that asks those who work, live, or recreate on or near the water to be aware of suspicious activity that might include threats to our country's homeland security. Anyone observing suspicious activity is asked to note details and contact the National Response Center's Hotline at 1-800-424-8802 or 1-877-24WATCH.

Overall, the photo ID checks and other security measures in place do not jeopardize the enjoyable experience of riding the ferry, and for the majority of passengers, aren't the slightest bit inconvenient.

One concern that all travelers should bear in mind is the possibility of bad weather, and travelling by ferry is no different. In the event of a bad tropical storm or hurricane, particularly one with high winds and large waves, ferry service is suspended until the conditions are once again deemed safe. If such an event is on the horizon, check local weather listings, call 1-800-BY-FERRY, or visit the NC Ferry System website for travel updates.

Rainy weather is not a problem, however, as the ferries run their courses rain or shine, with passenger lounges or covered areas for folks who need to get out of their vehicle and stretch.

Depending on how much of the state you want to explore, it is possible to travel along the coast of North Carolina and hit all seven of the individual ferry routes, but whether you take just one ferry or a few on your coastal adventures, each route is a little different, each with its own procedures and local attractions.

If you are coasting south along Route 158 on your way to the Outer Banks, chances are you will spot the blue and white signs indicating the Currituck/Knotts Island Ferry. This ferry connects the Currituck County mainland with tiny Knotts Island, a mainly residential community. The 45-minute ferry across the Currituck Sound is free, with picnic areas at both terminals, and 6 departures scheduled from both sides of the route every day of the year. The ferries have passenger lounges and vending machines, as well as observation decks to enable passengers to enjoy soundside sunsets.

Though small, Knotts Island offers an interesting firsthand look at everyday coastal life. The island features two vineyards, excellent hunting and fishing, miles of water for kayaking, and small gift shops featuring local artists. Every summer, Knotts Island hosts its annual Peach Festival to celebrate the local agriculture community, and for two days the community park is full of food and craft vendors, entertainers and visitors.

Further south along the Outer Banks, past the Bonner Bridge and the beaches of Hatteras Island, you will find the Hatteras/Ocracoke Ferry. Running from 5:00 a.m. to midnight, this free ferry departs every half hour during the busy summer season, and every hour in the winter months when the visitor population is low. The free 40-minute ferry ride crosses Hatteras Inlet, and it is not unusual for visitors to spot flocks of seagulls following the back of the boats looking for handouts during the day, or the beam of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse 15 miles in the distance at night.

While the Ocracoke Island terminal is deserted with just a couple vending machines, public restrooms and a stretch of quiet beach, the Hatteras Village terminal borders the Hatteras Landing Shopping Center, with plenty of stores and restaurants for a fun travel break before the ferry ride.

The ferry is the only way to reach isolated Ocracoke Island, but visitors swear the trip to visit this secluded southern Outer Banks island is well worth it. With miles of unspoiled beaches which make frequent appearances on "Best Beaches" lists around the world, Ocracoke is famous for its lighthouse, wild ponies, and legends of Blackbeard around every corner. Residents and visitors alike agree that this quaint fishing village has truly remained in a world of its own.

For accessing Ocracoke Island from the south side of the state, visitors can choose from two ferries that depart daily from the mainland: the Ocracoke/Swan Quarter Ferry and the Cedar Island/Ocracoke Ferry.

As the longest of the seven ferry routes at 2 hours and 45 minutes, the Ocracoke/Swan Quarter Ferry travels across a wide stretch of the Pamlico Sound. Leaving only twice a day in the winter months and 4 times a day in the summer months from both terminals, advance reservations are strongly encouraged. The cost ranges from $1 for a pedestrian to $45 for vehicles over 40 feet long, but the majority of passenger cars are changed a $15 fee for crossing.

The large ferry boats are built to accommodate a number of vehicles, and provide many creature comforts for the trip, including a passenger lounge with seating, observation decks, and vending machines.

Swan Quarter, named after the 1700s settlement founder Samuel Swann, is a quaint fishing community that is quickly gaining a reputation along North Carolina's Inner Banks as a charming coastal town. It's also home to "The Church Moved by the Hand of God." According to legend, an 1876 hurricane moved the local Providence United Methodist Church off its brick pilings, and floated it down to Main Street to its current location. Ironically enough, its new home was the spot where the original congregation had intended to build it in the first place.

The Cedar Island/Ocracoke Ferry is similar to the Ocracoke/Swan Quarter Ferry in that it is a long trip at 2 hours and 20 minutes, and the same fee structure applies. It leaves slightly more often, with 6 daily departures in the summer months, and 4 daily departures in the winter months from each terminal, and offers comfortable passenger lounges, vending machines, and multiple sunny decks. If you climb up to the top deck and bring your binoculars, you can spot historic Portsmouth Island in the distance as you leave Ocracoke Island. Portsmouth Island was once home to a thriving port town, but as the inlet filled in and the port closed down, the town became deserted, with the last two elderly residents leaving in the 1970s.

Running parallel to the barrier islands of the coast, as you inch closer to Cedar Island, you will also be able to spot Cape Lookout National Seashore. Cedar Island is home to privately owned passenger and vehicle ferries that travel to the Seashore, as well as the Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge and a crop of small coastal towns. The Driftwood Campground, Motel and Restaurant bordering the Cedar Island terminal is the perfect spot for a weary traveler to take a respite from their adventures and spend a day or two kayaking, fishing, or simply exploring the deserted sound beaches.

If your travels take you to the eastern part of the state, also known as the Inner Banks of North Carolina, you still have an opportunity to board a North Carolina ferry that zips across a narrow channel of the Pamlico Sound, the Bayview/Aurora Ferry.

This free ferry takes just 30 minutes and features 11 departures a day from both terminals year round. Nearby, you will find a number of small towns that are filled with history and charm. Historic Bath is a blossoming waterfront village that was settled in the late 1690s, giving it the distinction of being North Carolina's first town. Here, you will find historic homes and buildings, clever gift shops and stories of Blackbeard, as Bath is known as one of his favorite places to unwind on land. On the southern side of the ferry route, take a detour to New Bern, the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola and home to Tryon Palace, a stunning historical site that was once the capitol of the colony of North Carolina, and home to the governor.

Neighboring the Aurora terminal is the Aurora Fossil Museum. This seemingly small town has a rich treasure under its foundation, as Aurora is home to remarkable fossils and is known as the capitol of the world for many fossil enthusiasts. The Aurora Fossil Museum contains a wide array of fossil displays collected from the nearby Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (PCS) phosphate mine. These displays include numerous shark dentitions, including the jaws of a Giant Megatoothed shark. Other displays include a walrus skull and a whale skull. The museum also has a room devoted to Native American artifacts from the area, and the PCS mine dumps piles of fossil bearing sediments at the museum for visitors to search through.

Just a bit further south lies the Cherry Branch/Minnesott Ferry, which is also close to the southern attractions of New Bern and Tryon Palace, as well as the Southern Outer Banks beaches of Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle. The free ferry ride is just 20 minutes long, with ferries departing both terminals every 15 minutes, year round. The Cherry Branch/Minnesott Ferry is a quick and convenient way to discover the NC Ferry System, as it quickly chugs across the spot where the Pamlico Sound becomes the Neuse River, which snakes 275 miles upwards to the Piedmont area of North Carolina.

The Minnesott area itself is a destination all its owns for boating, hiking and especially golf lovers, as it features the Minnesott Golf & Country Club, with 6,403 yards of golf, a course rating of 71 and a slope rating of 110.

The Southport/Fort Fisher Ferry is the southernmost route in North Carolina. Not far from the South Carolina border, the ferry gives folks in the Brunswick County mainland area a ride across the mouth of the Cape Fear River to the secluded Kure Beach and Carolina Beach. The ferry has 16 departures a day, with additional departures in the summer season, and costs between $1 for a pedestrian to $15 for a vehicle over 40 feet. Most cars and SUVs will cost just $5.

Once you have arrived by ferry at Fort Fisher, there are plenty of attractions, including Fort Fisher itself, a historic Civil War Confederate fort located next to a beautiful sandy beach, and the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.

Naturally, with seven different routes with a variety of unique characteristics, from short rides to long rides, popular routes to the ones less traveled, one size of boat does not fit all, and different classes of ferry boats are necessary to ensure that each ferry works as efficiently as possible.

A number of factors determine which class of ferry will best suit a route. The Hatteras Class ferries are built with a draft less than 4 feet, making them ideal for shallow waters and shifting shoals and sandbars. There are nine ferries in the Hatteras Class currently in operation, and while they are grouped together in the same class, each boat is just a little bit different.

The Conrad Wirth, named after a former National Park Service director who served from 1951 to 1964, and the Bonner are the smallest of the Hatteras Class, with the Conrad Wirth measuring 122' long by 40' wide, and the Bonner measuring 112' long by 40' wide. Both of these boats can handle 22 vehicles, or 100 passengers total, and weigh a mere 199 tons. Because of their smaller size, they both have a smaller draft of 3'6".

The other seven vessels of the Hatteras Class include Ocracoke, Frisco, and Roanoke, current Outer Banks locations; Kinnakeet and Chicamacomico, the historical names of Avon and Rodanthe; Bonner, a nod to the current Herbert C. Bonner Bridge which replaced Tillet's boat as the lifeline connecting Hatteras Island with the rest of the world; and Thomas A. Baum. These boats are all have similar design in that they can each carry 30 vehicles, or 149 passengers total, and they all weigh within 248 and 280 tons. In addition, they are also 150' long by 40' long, with a 4' draft. Chances are, if you are riding the shallow waters from Hatteras to Ocracoke, or from Cherry Branch to Minnesott, you will board one of these vessels.

The NC Ferry System also operates eight River Class ferries. These boats are designed for heavy, abusive use, and are double-ended, meaning they do not have to turn around at the docks. This feature saves time on busy routes. If you board a popular ferry route in the summer, there is a strong possibility you'll be riding on one of these ferries.

The River Class ferries are also named after popular Eastern North Carolina locations and figures important to the NC Ferry System. The Southport, Fort Fisher and Neuse are named for locations, while The Croatan pays homage to the famous Native American chief. The last four boats honor important people who helped make this unique form of transportation possible. These ferries include W. Stanford White; Daniel Russell, who was the NC governor from 1897-1901; James B. Hunt, a four term democratic governor and the longest serving governor in the state's history; and Floyd J. Lupton, an administrative assistant to the late Congressman Walter B. Jones.

The James B. Hunt is the smallest of these ferries, carrying 20 vehicles or 149 passengers total, with a length of 125' by 40', a draft of 5', but a weight of 462 tons, making it the heaviest of the fleet. The Floyd J. Lupton, Fort Fisher, Croatan, and W. Stanford White all tie for second largest with enough room for 40 vehicles, or 300 passengers, and a 180' length and 44' breadth with a draft ranging from 5'6" through 6'. The bunch with the highest capacity are Daniel Russell, Southport and Neuse, each of which can each accommodate 42 vehicles or 300 passengers, and are also 180' long by 44' wide, all with a draft of 6' and clocking in at a whopping 374 to 424 tons.

The Sound Class ferries can accommodate the largest number of passengers, and are perfect for longer trips, like those from Cedar Island or Swan Quarter to Ocracoke, where there may be multiple vehicles but limited departure times. These ferries are the largest, and also the most expensive, costing upwards of $5 million each, but they can also withstand the prolonged abuse of constantly traversing the shallow, turbulent waters of the Pamlico Sound.

The smallest, Governor Hyde, is named after a former North Carolina governor who was commissioned to serve the original North Carolina colony in 1711 until his death in 1712. It is able to accommodate 25 vehicles or 300 passengers. At 161' by 48', and weighing 574 tons, it is the smallest of the fleet but has the largest draft at 7'4."

The Silver Lake, Pamlico, Carteret and Cedar Island, all named after familiar Eastern North Carolina locations, can each carry 50 vehicles, the most out of all of the NC Ferry System's vessels. Their weight ranges from an astounding 648 to 771 tons, nearly triple the weight of the smaller Hatteras Class ferries, and their size ranges from 220' long by 48' wide to 220' long by 50' wide. Not surprisingly, you will find large passenger lounges on these ferries with booth or bus style seats, vending machines and public restrooms.

While there are just three classes of NC ferries, ferries around the world that are in operation can vary widely from the North Carolina designs.

In portions of Asia, Russia, the Greek Islands, and other terminals around the world, a hydrofoil ferry is the preferred method of transportation for its reduced drag, and corresponding increase in speed. The boat has wing-like foils mounted on struts below the hull. As the craft increases its speed, the hydrofoils develop enough lift to raise the hull up and out of the water, decreasing the drag considerably.

The first sketches of a hydrofoil were created by Alexander Graham Bell, who after reading a March 1906 Scientific American article by American hydrofoil pioneer William E. Meacham on the basic principle of hydrofoils, began to experiment with the concept of a hydrofoil boat. Partnering with other designers, his first boat enjoyed a world tour from 1910 to 1911.

In the years following World War II, both commercial and military hydrofoils were developed in Italy, Canada, Russia and the United States. Today, both commercial and passenger hydrofoils service a number of routes from remote locales in Vietnam to the popular tourist destinations like St. Petersburg.

A Catamaran, a type of multi-hulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls joined by a frame that can be sail- or engine-powered, has a much deeper history and can be traced back thousands of years. Catamarans are believed to be first used by Paravas, a fishing community in the southern coast of India. Catamarans were also used by ancient Southeast Asian dynasties as early as the 5th Century for quickly moving their fleets during invasions.

Some of the simple Catamarans are still used in some of the more remote locations of the world, and in recent years, the two hull design of the catamaran has become popular for sailing enthusiasts.

The modern Catamaran Ferry design is a broad variation of the basic original, but has been growing in popularity as a means of transport. The use of Catamaran for high speed passenger transport was pioneered by the company Westermoen Hydrofoil in Mandal, Norway, which launched the Westamaran design in 1973. The Westamarans, a Catamaran hull resting on an air cushion between the hulls, became the dominant ferry for all high speed connections along the Norwegian coast. They could achieve speeds comparable to the hydrofoils that they replaced, and were much more tolerant to foul water and wave conditions. In fact, modern Catamaran ferries can withstand waves up to 36 feet high.

One of the biggest developments over the last decade in the yachting arena has been the rise of the Super Catamaran, a multihull over 100 feet in length. Various international manufacturers are leading the way in this area and a catamaran of 150 feet in length is under construction in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

There is a wide variety of other types of ferries currently in use today. Pontoon Ferries carry vehicles across rivers and lakes and it is widely used in less-developed countries with large rivers where the cost of bridge construction is prohibitive. Vehicles drive on and off the pontoon via ramps that are connected at either end. Very short distances can be crossed by a cable or chain ferry, which is usually a Pontoon Ferry that is propelled along and steered by cables connected to each shore. Sometimes the cable ferry is human powered by someone on the boat.

The Fast RoPax Ferries are conventional ferries with large garages for storage and a relatively large passenger capacity. Despite its storage size, with a conventional diesel propulsion engine and propellers, the Fast RoPax ferries can sail over 25 knots.

Not all ferry inventions wind up being permanent additions to modern transportation. In the Victorian Era, there was a "ferry" that ran on rails. The Brighton and Rottingdean Seashore Electric Railway, which ran between Brighton and the coastal village of Rottingdean, had carriages mounted 100 feet above rails that were under water at high tide.

Ferries around the world and in North Carolina's own backyard not only provide transportation for people and goods, but they can also help the coastal waters they travel. In fact, marine scientists at the University of North Carolina and the NC Ferry system are currently working together to monitor surface water quality in the Neuse River.

This North Carolina experiment is based upon a Finland project where a comparable water monitoring system is already in place. The project, called "FerryMon," is the first of its kind in the nation. The monitoring equipment sits in a box attached to a water intake line in the ferry's protected sea chest below deck. Some of the water, needed for the ferry's air conditioning system, is first diverted to devices that record temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll and geographic position once a minute. A telemetry system involving a cell phone enables researchers at their laboratories to collect data for analysis anytime they wish. Another automated, refrigerated device collects water samples to be tested for nutrients, algae pigments, dissolved organic matter and suspended solids.

By placing the equipment aboard the NC Ferry, the costs of measuring the water quality on a regular basis and over a long period of time is reduced significantly, as at least 50% of the research cost is derived from transportation. By working with the NC Ferry System, the cost to the research scientists for using the ferries is free. Researchers are already planning to expand the project by adding equipment to Cedar Island and Swan Quarter routes.

The long term goal of the project is to learn more about how excessive naturally produced nutrients and those resulting from agriculture, industry, municipalities and domestic sources affect the environment, and ultimately, what needs to be done to provide long-term water quality management. Basically, the NC ferry system isn't just providing a free ride, it is helping to ensure that the beautiful North Carolina coast stays that way.

Whether you board a boat thousands of miles away in a remote part of the world, or just a few miles from your own North Carolina beach destination, a ferry ride is a wonderful way to travel. The NC Ferry System is a remarkable division of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, for not only providing this service to visitors and locals alike, but for working to improve the very routes it uses on a regular basis.

With free rides or small fees, seven routes to choose from, and plenty of coastal charm, a ferry ride might be just the break you need from your North Carolina road trip - a chance to step outside the car and catch a spectacular waterfront sunset, or just unwind with a good book in the cool passenger lounge. If it sounds tempting, reservations and obtaining more information is easy. Simply call toll free 1-800-BY-FERRY to reserve a spot, or visit the NC Ferry System website for routes, schedules, and area information. Remember, as with any vacation, the trip there is always half the fun.

Terms: NC Ferry System, NC Ferries

Information on the North Carolina Ferry System, including schedules and fees.

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Information appearing on NCBeaches.com is intended only as a guide and is subject to change and availability. Prices, descriptions, operating times, etc are as accurate as possible, but cannot be guaranteed. Neither NC Beaches, Inc. nor listed businesses may be held responsible for typographical errors or subsequent changes in offerings.