Current timetable, Sept. 8-Dec. 31, 2026 -- in force today and checked live against both NCDOT's route lookup and its 2026 schedule sheet on Sept. 22, 2026
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~135 min
Operator
NCDOT Ferry Division
Map – Cedar Island Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Pedestrian, one way | $1.00 |
| Bicycle rider (includes bicycle), one way | $3.00 |
| Motorcycle, one way | $10.00 |
| Scooter, golf cart, ATV or 3-wheel motorcycle, one way | $10.00 |
| Motorcycle with sidecar or trailer, one way | $15.00 |
| Vehicle or combination under 20 feet, one way | $15.00 |
| Vehicle or combination 20 to 40 feet, one way | $30.00 |
| Vehicle or combination 40 to 65 feet, one way | $45.00 |
Cedar Island-Ocracoke is one of only four NCDOT crossings that charge a fare, alongside its sister route Swan Quarter-Ocracoke (same price table), Southport-Fort Fisher, and the seasonal Ocracoke Express. All fares below are one way and were last revised May 22, 2023, still the figures on NCDOT's current pricing page and 2026 schedule sheet. There is no separate passenger surcharge on top of a vehicle fare -- a car's price covers the driver and every rider inside it -- so the pedestrian and bicycle rows only apply to travelers boarding without a vehicle. Tickets can be bought in advance online, by phone at 1-800-BY-FERRY, or at the terminal ticket booth, which also takes cash in addition to the major card networks. All fares in US dollars (USD).
Cedar Island-Ocracoke is NCDOT's longest regular crossing: two hours and fifteen minutes across the open water of Pamlico Sound, linking the mainland community of Cedar Island in Down East Carteret County to Ocracoke Village on the other side. Unlike the free Hatteras-Ocracoke vehicle ferry that lands at the island's undeveloped north end, this boat docks right in the village itself, at the Silver Lake waterfront, putting drivers within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and the Ocracoke Lighthouse the moment they roll off. Together with the Hatteras route, it is one of two NCDOT crossings designated part of the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway.
It is also a paid route, unlike most of the state ferry system. One-way fares scale by vehicle length -- $15 under 20 feet, $30 from 20 to 40 feet, $45 from 40 to 65 feet -- with $1 pedestrian and $3 bicycle-rider fares for those boarding without a car; a vehicle's fare already covers everyone riding inside it. Because sailings are limited to two, three, or four times a day depending on the season, and there is no way to simply wait twenty minutes for the next boat the way riders can on NCDOT's short free routes, the Ferry Division lets travelers reserve a spot up to 90 days ahead through its online booking system or by phone, and strongly encourages doing so, particularly in summer. A reservation is not mandatory -- space can still be booked or bought same day if a sailing isn't full -- but it must be claimed at the terminal at least 30 minutes before departure or NCDOT releases it to standby traffic.
The timetable itself resets four times over the calendar year: a lean two-round-trip winter grid, a three-trip shoulder-season grid in spring and again in fall (the one currently running, through Dec. 31, 2026), and a four-trip peak-summer grid from mid-May to early September. NCDOT's own schedule literature also flags an ongoing operational risk unique to this corner of the sound -- shifting shoal water that periodically affects the channel -- and points riders to its @ncdot_ferry account on social media for updates beyond the standard status board, which read Normal Operations as of this research date.
- Arrive at the terminal several minutes before departure; vehicle lanes close earlier than the foot-passenger gate.
- Check the operator's service alerts before you set out — weather, tides and vessel maintenance change sailings.
- Confirm accepted payment methods: some crossings are card-only and some take cash only.
Frequently asked questions
One-way vehicle fares run $15 for anything under 20 feet, $30 for 20 to 40 feet, and $45 for 40 to 65 feet. Walking on without a vehicle costs $1 per pedestrian or $3 for a bicycle and rider; a vehicle fare already covers the driver and all passengers inside it.
NCDOT lists the crossing at 2 hours and 15 minutes, making it the longest of the state's regular ferry routes.
It isn't mandatory, but NCDOT strongly recommends it since there are only two to four sailings a day. Reservations open up to 90 days in advance online or by calling 1-800-BY-FERRY, and must be claimed at the terminal at least 30 minutes before departure or the space is released.
It depends on the season. The schedule in force now, Sept. 8-Dec. 31, 2026, runs three round trips a day. That drops to two a day from Jan. 1-Mar. 30, rises back to three from Mar. 31-May 18, and peaks at four a day from May 19-Sept. 7.
On the mainland side, at the Cedar Island Ferry Terminal on NC Highway 12. On Ocracoke, it lands at the Silver Lake waterfront inside Ocracoke Village -- a different dock from the one the free Hatteras-Ocracoke vehicle ferry uses at the island's north end.
Yes. Walking on with a bicycle costs $3 total, which includes both the rider and the bike, and no reservation is required for pedestrians or individual cyclists.
As of this research date, NCDOT's Current Conditions board showed Cedar Island-Ocracoke at Normal Operations with no active alert. NCDOT also warns that shifting shoal water in this part of Pamlico Sound can periodically affect the route and directs riders to its @ncdot_ferry account on X for the latest updates -- worth checking before a long drive to either terminal.