From our news services
The Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry resumed Sunday on a limited schedule as follows:
Departing from Hatteras at: midnight, 6 am, 9, noon, 3 pm, 6 & 9.
Departing from Ocracoke: 4 am, 7:30 & 10:30, 1:30 pm, 4:30, 7:30 & 10:30 pm.
The temporary schedule for the Hatteras-Ocracoke route for Sunday, Sept. 27, will be as follows:
Hatteras to Ocracoke: Noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m., and midnight
Ocracoke to Hatteras: 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 10:30 p.m.
The temporary schedule for the Hatteras-Ocracoke route for Monday, Sept. 28, will be as follows:
Hatteras to Ocracoke: 6 a.m., 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m., and midnight
Ocracoke to Hatteras: 4 a.m.,7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m.
The Cedar Island and Swan Quarter ferry routes resumed on Saturday.
Dare County’s emergency entry restrictions will be in place for all departures to Hatteras.
That means that ONLY essential personnel, critical business vendors, and permanent Hatteras Island residents will be allowed onto Hatteras-bound ferries. Law enforcement will be onsite to ensure compliance with entry restrictions. Visitors will NOT be allowed onto Hatteras-bound ferries at this time.
Those wishing to access the mainland via Swan Quarter or Cedar Island are reminded that reservations for those ferry routes are highly recommended before departing for Ocracoke. Reservations can be obtained online at ncferry.org or by calling 1-800-BY-FERRY.
Motorists are advised to drive with extreme caution on the north end of Ocracoke as there will still up to five inches of sand and water on the roadway. NCDOT crews will continue to monitor high tide cycles for any additional overwash or debris on the highway.
N.C. 12 is still closed on Pea Island due to ocean overwash and damage to the road. NCDOT crews will work to clear the road and construct a temporary, one-lane road but do not have an estimated time for when the temporary road will open.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.
As of approximately 10:30 a.m. Sunday, multiple lines of vehicles were already waiting near the Rodanthe emergency ferry terminal to depart Hatteras Island.
Ferry space is limited, and travelers should expect long lines and significant delays. The one-way crossing between Rodanthe and Stumpy Point takes approximately two hours, and travelers are asked to be patient as the emergency service gets underway.
NCDOT said the three-boat, 24-hour schedule will remain the same throughout the operation of the emergency route.
To enter Hatteras Island during the State of Emergency, travelers must have proper credentials. To apply for a 2026 entry permit or learn more about Dare County’s staged entry process, visit DareNC.gov/Reentry.
Priority Two includes permanent Hatteras Island residents and essential personnel for critical businesses. Permanent residents may present a North Carolina driver’s license or identification card showing a physical Hatteras Island address, or a voter registration card showing a physical Hatteras Island address along with matching government-issued photo identification. A 2026 entry permit may also be displayed to help expedite processing.
Food, fuel, medical supplies and other commodities designated as essential by Dare County Emergency Management will receive priority before other traffic. The restrictions apply to all routes onto Hatteras Island, including any route through Ocracoke when ferry service between Ocracoke and Hatteras resumes.
Travelers with urgent or time-sensitive needs, including medical appointments or procedures, may request priority access at info.darenc.gov/ferrypriority. Approval is not guaranteed, and a separate request is required for each direction of travel.
As of noon Sunday, ramps 67 and 70 on Ocracoke are open but most other off-road vehicle ramps are still closed in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
