Ocracoke Island is a 16-mile-long barrier island that is part of The Outer Banks, a series of barrier islands off the east coast of North Carolina. We're sharing how to get there (there is a ferry involved!), things to do there, where to stay and eat.
The only way for the general public to get to Ocracoke Island is by boat.
You'll have to take a ferry to get to Ocracoke Island after driving on the barrier islands (for instance where Kitty Hawk and Nags Head are).
The Hatteras Ferry to Ocracoke is free. During peak season (which begins mid-May) they run every 30 min from 5:00 am to midnight. Ferry schedules are available online. Click "Learn More" below to see the link in the post!
We recommend getting gas before you reach the ferry at the end of Hatteras Island. There are several gas stations as you drive south on NC-12 to reach it. If you're a low-gas-price hunter then your best bet is to get gas in North Carolina, before you even reach Roanoke Island.
We reserved a house with a few friends for Memorial Day holiday weekend, from Friday to Monday, three nights and three days for our Ocracoke island accommodations.
There are a few hotels and motels that looked very cute, especially the ones with balconies overlooking the water like Captain's Landing and The Anchorage Inn.
When we weren't taking advantage of the kitchen in our VRBO for meals, we were out at island restaurants. There are many local places to enjoy for all meals. Click "Learn More" for a detailed list from casual to date-night culinary destinations on Ocracoke.⬇︎
We enjoyed grabbing a drink and experiencing the neighborhood view from the patio of Zillie's Island Pantry, which has wine, beer, various gourmet provisions, and cigars for guests to purchase. There are also good bars and 1718 Brewery.
Things to do abound on the island! It's a relaxing destination so nothing is too formal. You'll find plenty of great activities...➜
Fishing is popular from the beach and by charter. We saw a few boats that had posted their available openings for the day even if you don't make a reservation in advance.
One of the most educational things to do on Ocracoke Island is to navigate the town/Ocracoke Village with a free audio tour by Ocracoke Navigator. We loved learning more about the area's history this way. (Click "Learn More" below for the audio tour link.)
Ocracoke Village is really cute and stumbling upon houses like the one below made us (and my camera) smile. Morning is the best time of day to walk around during late spring and summer, or in the fall shoulder season before high temperatures and humidity reach their peak.