The North Carolina Department of Transportation Ferry Division (NCDOT) runs seven car and passenger ferry routes across the Currituck and Pamlico sounds and the Cape Fear, Neuse and Pamlico rivers. NCDOT takes reservations only on the Cedar Island–Ocracoke and Swan Quarter–Ocracoke ferries.
NCDOT ferry routes in North Carolina
Currituck–Knotts Island ferry
The Currituck–Knotts Island ferry crosses Currituck Sound between Currituck and Knotts Island.
Hatteras–Ocracoke ferry
The Hatteras–Ocracoke ferry crosses Pamlico Sound between Hatteras and Ocracoke islands.
Swan Quarter–Ocracoke ferry
The Swan Quarter–Ocracoke ferry crosses Pamlico Sound between Swan Quarter and Ocracoke village. NCDOT recommends reservations.
Cedar Island–Ocracoke ferry
The Cedar Island–Ocracoke ferry crosses Pamlico Sound between Cedar Island and Ocracoke village. NCDOT recommends reservations.
Bayview–Aurora ferry
The Bayview–Aurora ferry crosses the Pamlico River between Bayview and Aurora.
Cherry Branch–Minnesott Beach ferry
The Cherry Branch–Minnesott Beach ferry crosses the Neuse River between Cherry Branch, near Havelock, and Minnesott Beach.
Southport–Fort Fisher ferry
The Southport–Fort Fisher ferry crosses the Cape Fear River between Southport and Fort Fisher.
Ocracoke ferry terminals
Three NCDOT ferries reach Ocracoke Island, at two terminals. The Hatteras–Ocracoke ferry lands at the north end of the island on NC Hwy. 12.
The Cedar Island–Ocracoke ferry and the Swan Quarter–Ocracoke ferry use the Ocracoke Silver Lake ferry terminal at 130 Pilot Town Circle, in Ocracoke village. NCDOT's Ocracoke Express passenger ferry from Hatteras lands at Silver Lake too.
North Carolina ferry tolls
NCDOT charges tolls on the Cedar Island–Ocracoke, Swan Quarter–Ocracoke and Southport–Fort Fisher ferries. State law requires tolls on the other four routes too, and NCDOT plans to start charging them. Each route page lists the fares in effect now.
North Carolina ferry delays and alerts
NCDOT says tides, winds and heavy rain can affect ferry travel. NCDOT sends ferry alerts by text or email through its Ferry Information Notification System (FINS). Each route page shows NCDOT's current status for its route.