New Ferry Schedules to Ocracoke

The North Carolina Ferry Division has made some changes to the summer Swan Quarter and Cedar Island ferry schedules.

Beginning today and lasting through the Labor Day weekend there will be four departures from both Swan Quarter on Mainland Hyde County and Ocracoke Island versus the two departures that are in effect the remainder of the year.

This year one extra ferry, which would nornally be assigned to the Cedar Island route, will be be assigned to the Swan Quarter route.

Margie Brooks, Executive Director for the Hyde County Chamber of Commerce explains that “the US 264 corridor is touted as the ‘alternate route to the Outer Banks’, and recent improvements to that highway means that travelers from the Raleigh area can be in Swan Quarter in less than three hours, and travel on a four-lane divided highway for all but 45 miles of the 160.”

Travelers are encouraged to call the NC Ferry Division for up-to-date schedules and for reservations.

The toll-free numbers for the ferry terminals are:

Cedar Island -- 800-856-0343
Swan Quarter -- 800-773-1094
Ocracoke Island -- 800-345-1665.

More information is available at http://www.ncferry.org/.

This month's newsletter discusses the planned replacement of the seven bridges on Ocracoke Island in early 2008, and explains some of the issues we will face. You can read it here.