This interactive map shows every passenger ferry route and terminal in North Carolina. Across 15 unique routes serving 33 terminals, North Carolina ferries carry around 2,334,145 passengers and 740,514 vehicles each year, ranking the state #9 nationally by ferry passenger volume.

The role of ferries in North Carolina

The North Carolina Ferry Division operates one of the largest state-run ferry systems in the country, serving the Outer Banks and Pamlico Sound with vehicle ferries that substitute for missing bridges. The longest single run is over Pamlico Sound from Cedar Island and Swan Quarter to Ocracoke.

Every ferry route in North Carolina

The table below lists every passenger ferry route serving North Carolina in the latest National Census of Ferry Operators, sorted by annual ridership. Passenger counts combine both directions.

Notable North Carolina ferry routes

• Busiest route: Deep Point – Bald Head Island (Bald Head Island Transportation Inc.) carries about 714,404 passengers a year.
• Longest route: Hatteras North – Ocracoke is 31.0 miles (N.C. Department of Transportation Ferry Division).
• Season mix: 13 routes operate year-round, 2 are seasonal.

Ferry terminals in North Carolina

The list below covers every ferry terminal recorded in North Carolina, including the operator, ownership, and what intermodal connections (bus, rail, bike share, parking) are available at the terminal.

Biggest ferry operators in North Carolina

• N.C. Department of Transportation Ferry Division: 1,619,741 annual passengers
• Bald Head Island Transportation Inc.: 714,404 annual passengers
• Island Express Ferry Service: 0 annual passengers

How North Carolina compares nationally

North Carolina ranks #9 of the 41 US states with ferry service. Just ahead is Hawaii with 2,464,820 annual passengers, and just behind is Virginia with 2,330,110.

For the full national picture and rankings across all 41 US ferry states, see the complete US ferries map.

Neighbouring ferry maps

Virginia ferries, South Carolina ferries, Georgia ferries.

Frequently asked questions

How many ferry routes are there in North Carolina?

The BTS National Census of Ferry Operators records 15 unique passenger ferry routes serving 33 terminals in North Carolina. Including both directional segments, that is 30 numbered route entries in the database (most routes are recorded once for each direction).

Which is the busiest ferry in North Carolina?

The Deep Point – Bald Head Island carries about 714,404 passengers each year, making it the busiest ferry route in North Carolina according to the latest census.

Are North Carolina ferries free?

Some North Carolina ferries are operated as part of the state highway system and run free for passengers and vehicles, while privately operated routes charge a fare. Click any route on the map above and refer to the operator’s website for current fares and schedules.

Where does the data on this map come from?

Routes and terminals are pulled live from the National Transportation Atlas Database published by the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics, which compiles every domestic ferry operator’s response to the National Census of Ferry Operators. The map updates automatically whenever BTS refreshes the layer.