Pre-pandemic ridership levels are nearly back for the Ocracoke Express, with North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) reporting ridership levels over the first two months of its 2022 season are growing despite using a smaller vessel.
In May and June, the passenger ferry shuttled 10,063 people between Hatteras and Ocracoke, nearly matching the pre-pandemic 2019 season (10,152 passengers).
“People are ready to travel this season, and they’re discovering that the Ocracoke Express is the easiest and quickest way to go on a day trip between Hatteras and Ocracoke,” said Ferry Division Director Harold Thomas.
The numbers are made more impressive by the fact that the new state-owned ferry has a smaller capacity than the leased boat used during the service’s first three seasons. The vessel used from 2019-2021 had a capacity of 149 people, while the new boat carries 129 people.
The Ocracoke Express takes people on a 70-minute trip between Hatteras and Silver Lake Harbor in Ocracoke Village, where a free tram operated by Hyde County is available to carry them around the village to shops, restaurants, accommodations and attractions. Advance reservations are available online or by calling.
Passenger ferry service is a supplement to the vehicle ferries, which continue to take people between Hatteras and the north end of Ocracoke Island.
