Hatteras to Ocracoke Island Ferry Schedule 2020 [Vehicle & Passenger]

There are now two ferry options for visitors wanting to travel from Hatteras to Ocracoke Island or vice versa!

One is the ferry you may have been aboard a dozen times which is the one that transports not only you but your vehicle as well. The newest ferry is strictly for passengers and moves faster than the alternative.

Below we’ve provided times as well as some general information on the two options to help you decide which is best.

Hatteras Island to Ocracoke Island Vehicle Ferry Schedule & Information

Hatteras Departure Times (January 1 – March 4)
AM: 5:00, 6:00, 8:00, 11:00, Noon
PM: 2:00, 3:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:30, 9:00, 10:00, Midnight

Ocracoke Departure Times (January 1 – March 4)
AM: 4:30, 6:30, 7:30, 9:30, 10:30
PM: 12:30, 1:30, 3:30, 4:30, 6:15, 7:30, 8:45, 10:30, Midnight

Hatteras Departure Times (March 5 – April 8)
AM: 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, Noon
PM: 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:30, 9:00, 10:00, Midnight

Ocracoke Departure Times (March 5 – April 8)
AM: 4:30, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30
PM: 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30, 6:15, 7:30, 8:45, 10:30, Midnight

Hatteras Departure Times (April 9 – May 13)
AM: 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, Noon
PM: 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, 5:30, 6:00, 7:30, 8:00, 9:00, 11:00, Midnight

Ocracoke Departure Times (April 9 – May 13)
AM: 4:30, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:30, Noon
PM: 12:30, 1:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30, 5:30, 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:30, Midnight

Hatteras Departure Times (May 14 – September 30)
Monday – Saturday
AM: 5:00, 6:15, 7:20, 8:30, 9:00, 9:15, 9:40, 10:00, 10:30, 10:55, 11:20, 11:35, Noon
PM: 12:20, 12:50, 1:15, 1:40, 1:55, 2:20, 2:40, 3:10, 3:35, 4:00, 4:15, 5:00, 5:30, 5:45, 6:20, 6:35, 6:45, 7:20, 7:50, 8:15, 9:15, 10:45, Midnight

Ocracoke Departure Times (May 14 – September 30)
Monday – Saturday
AM: 5:00, 6:30, 7:25, 8:30, 9:45, 10:10, 10:25, 10:50, 11:10, 11:40
PM: 12:05, 12:30, 12:45, 1:10, 1:30, 2:00, 2:25, 2:50, 3:05, 3:30, 3:50, 4:20, 4:45, 5:10, 5:25, 6:10, 6:40, 7:00, 7:30, 7:45, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:30, Midnight

Hatteras Departure Times (May 14 – September 30)
Sundays
AM: 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, Noon
PM: 12:30, 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, 5:30, 6:00, 6:30, 7:30, 8:00, 9:00, 11:00, Midnight

Ocracoke Departure Times (May 14 – September 30)
Sundays
AM: 4:30, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, Noon
PM: 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, 5:30, 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, 9:00, 9:30, 10:30, Midnight

Hatteras Departure Times (October 1 – November 4)
AM: 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, Noon
PM: 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, 5:30, 6:00, 7:30, 8:00, 9:00, 11:00, Midnight

Ocracoke Departure Times (October 1 – November 4)
AM: 4:30, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:30, Noon
PM: 12:30, 1:00, 1:30, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30, 5:30, 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:30, Midnight

Hatteras Departure Times (November 5 – December 31)
AM: 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, Noon
PM: 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:30, 9:00, 10:00, Midnight

Ocracoke Departure Times (November 5 – December 31)
AM: 4:30, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 10:30
PM: 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30, 6:15, 7:30, 8:45, 10:30, Midnight

Fare is FREE!

Crossing from Hatteras to Ocracoke Island and vice versa takes approximately 60 minutes.

Ferries can accommodate any size motorcycle along with any size car, trailer or recreational vehicle that can legally operate on the highway. Special permits are available for vehicles that are over 65 feet.

Ferry service is provided 365 days a year! Unless weather conditions such as tides, strong winds, and heavy rain impact the schedule. This isn’t an uncommon occurrence, the weather can be unforgiving along these barrier islands at times.

Vending machines are on many ferries and at most ferry terminals. Sorry, the Ferry Division does NOT serve alcoholic beverages and there will be no bartender aboard the vessel. Please don’t bring your own beer, wine or liquor to enjoy on the boat.

Also, meals will not and have never been provided on the vehicle ferry. Consider bringing a snack with you in the car!

Public restroom facilities are at each ferry terminal and on the boats.

Pets are indeed permitted on the ferry and must be kept in the vehicle or leashed when out of your vehicle.

Hatteras Island to Ocracoke Island Express Passenger Ferry Schedule & Information

Available only between May 20 through September 5, 2020

Departures from Hatteras at: 9:30 a.m., 1 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.
Departures from Ocracoke at: 11 a.m., 3 p.m. & 8 p.m.

The Ocracoke vehicle ferry is completely free, but the express ferry costs $4 per person round trip – which isn’t too bad! Children 3 and under are free.

The crossing time to Ocracoke Village is approximately 70 minutes.

Moving at twice the speed of the normal ferry that transports people and vehicles from Hatteras to Ocracoke Island, the passenger ferry was first operational in 2019.

Approximately 149 passengers are able to board the vessel.

Reservations are not required, but they are however recommended! To book your spot, call 1-800-BY-FERRY or book online at ferry.ncdot.gov.

Check-in is no later than 20 minutes before departure time. Small carry-on items, backpacks, and purses are permitted. Concessions and drinks are offered on-board the passenger boat. 

The express passenger ferry will transport patrons from Hatteras Village across the Pamlico Sound into Ocracoke Village. Take note that dining, attractions, and shopping are within reasonable walking distance.

There is a free tram service that is available to cart people from the terminal to the end of the island. Tram rides run on a 30-minute loop around Ocracoke Island with 8 stops.

If you’d prefer to skip the tram and don’t feel like walking, golf carts and bikes are available for rental near the terminal.