Hatteras - Ocracoke Ferry - BLInspirations

When we visited the Outer Banks of North Carolina in October 2021, one of our objectives was to visit all of the lighthouses along the Outer Banks. NC Route 12 runs the full length of the Outer Banks from Corolla south to Ocracoke and on to Cedar Island. The route includes two ferry rides operated by the North Carolina Department of Highways; the one between Hatteras and the eastern end of Ocracoke Island is free while the other is a longer toll ride between Ocracoke Island and Cedar Island. The ferries are designed for operation in shallow water and carry about 30 passenger vehicles. More information about the ferries can be found at the Wikipedia link in the Additional Information section below.

Although the straight line distance between the Hatteras and Ocracoke Island ferry terminals is 4.5 miles, the ferry ride is about 9.5 miles in the Pamlico Sound because the route makes a detour around the Hatteras Inlet Crab Spawning Sanctuary (please see the Google Maps link in the Additional Information section below). Ferries run hourly and the one way trip takes about 75 minutes so during each trip you pass two ferries going in the opposite direction.

We left Hatteras for Ocracoke about mid-afternoon and immediately noticed an imposing house overlooking the bay by the inlet to the ferry terminal. Then, shortly after we left Hatteras we passed a sandbar that had hundreds of pelicans and other aquatic birds on it. At Ocracoke, we saw the Ocracoke lighthouse and some of the island, and then caught the return ferry to Hatteras in the late afternoon. During the return ferry trip we saw a gorgeous sunset over the Pamlico Sound and a nearly full moon rise over Hatteras. There are more details about each image in the Additional Images section below.

Additional Information

Wikipedia: North Carolina Department of Transportation Ferry Division

Google Maps: Hatteras – Ocracoke Ferry Route – Satel lite View

Zillow: 58200 Shore Dr. Hatteras, NC

The Guardian: North Carolina’s coastal highway is disappearing – so I took a road trip to capture it

Additional Images

These images were taken during our ferry rides in both directions, presented in the order which they were taken. This is some additional detail about the images as the description in the gallery is limited:

Impressive House on Shore Drive – This house at 58200 Shore Drive overlooks the Pamlico Sound at the ferry entrance of the ferry terminal. It is a 5378 sq. ft. single family home with 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms.
Birds on Sandbar near Hatteras 1 & 2 – There were many hundreds of birds on this sandbar just off an island not far from the Hatteras ferry terminal.
Ferry with UPS Truck – During our ferry trip to Ocracoke we passed another ferry going to Hatteras with cars and a UPS truck.
Ocracoke Ferry Terminal – This is the ferry entrance to the Ocracoke ferry terminal. There is a barge with construction equipment to the left.
Ferry with Campers – During our return ferry trip to Hatteras we passed the same ferry going to Ocracoke, this time with two camper RVs.
Sunset over Pamlico Sound with Birds – There were many birds flying in circles over the water as we watched the sunset over the Pamlico Sound.
Sunset over Pamlico Sound with Waves – I liked the pattern of the waves in the foreground with the sunset colored sky.
Full Moon over Ferry – as we approached Hatteras we passed another ferry going to Ocracoke with the full moon above.
Sea Gull Hitching a Ride – I noticed this sea gull on the mast of our ferry – riding might be easier than flying but it is much slower.
Pelicans and Full Moon – as we neared the Hatteras ferry terminal two pelicans flew between us and the full moon.