Text and photo by Peter Vankevich
Despite several days of disruptions to the Hatteras Inlet ferry service this fall due to bad weather and related road closings, there was one bright spot for the Ferry Division this year.
During its 2025 season, the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry had more than 18,000 riders, achieving its highest ridership since 2022.
Now in its seventh year of operation This is the highest number since more than 25,000 people used the Ocracoke Express in 2022 and is a 13% increase in passengers compared to 2024.
The ferry accommodates up to 129 passengers and is a 65-minute Pamlico Sound ride between the Hatteras ferry dock and Ocracoke’s Silver Lake Harbor.
This service allows travelers to make a day trip to Ocracoke, bypassing the vehicle ferry lines to directly enter the heart of Ocracoke Village.
Passengers who book reservations online are allowed to load their bicycles or they can walk through the village, rent bikes, golf carts, or use Hyde County’s free Ocracoke Village Tram, which makes several stops near shops and restaurants.
“This service has been popular since its inception, and this year’s ridership indicates an upward trend,” said Jed Dixon, director of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division. “The Ocracoke Express offers the fastest and most convenient way for people to visit and enjoy everything Ocracoke has to offer.”
The Ocracoke Express runs from May to September, and the 2026 schedule will be announced next spring.
To see the ridership figures for all the ferry routes, please visit the N.C. Ferry Division’s website.
