North Carolina officials said the state’s Ocracoke Express passenger ferry saw its highest ridership in three years.
According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the Ocracoke Express had more than 18,000 passengers in 2025, its highest ridership since 2022. The passenger ferry now in its seventh year of operation saw a record 25,000-plus passengers in 2022. This year’s 18,786 riders was a 13 percent increase over last year’s numbers, officials said.
“This has been a popular service since it began and this year’s ridership shows that it’s trending upward,” Jed Dixon, director of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division, said. “The Ocracoke Express gives people the quickest, most convenient way to visit and enjoy all Ocracoke has to offer.”
The ferry carries up to 129 passengers between Hatteras and Ocracoke’s Silver Lake Harbor across Pamlico Sound. The 65-minute ride allows people to skip lines for the vehicle ferry and go directly to Ocracoke Village where they can walk, rent bikes or golf carts, or use the free Ocracoke Village Tram to visit the shops, restaurants and attractions the village has to offer.
Officials said the Ocracoke Express operates from May to September and is a popular service for those interested in a daytrip to the island. The NCDOT Ferry Division plans to announce the start of 2026 passenger ferry season in the spring.