Cape Hatteras Ferry with a travel trailer

Garrett Tershel

Cape Hatteras Ferry with a travel trailer

December 1, 2017

So out we went to Rodanthe on the Outer Banks, NC (OBX) and had a great time.  Next we headed to the south-eastern area of the state, the Emerald Isle.  We had two choices, drive north and around or take the Cape Hatteras Ferry and Cedar Island Ferry across the Pimlico Sound. It was a long debate and we went back and forth. Gigi has to work so having an internet connection is a big deal.  Everyone we talked in the area and at the ferry visitor's center said there was no internet connection on the water.  It wasn't looking good but we set an alarm anyway to get up for the ferry.

7 am

Alarm goes off! We decided to stay in bed and drive around.

8 am

we get out of bed and start to pack up to leave.

9:45 am

We pull out of the campsite and we ask the question one more time, "Are we going to the ferry?" There was one more possibly, if the ferry was not busy we could catch the 11 am at Hatteras and the 1 pm at Ocracoke.  We flipped a coin.

9:46 am

We headed to the ferry.  The total drive to the ferry, on to Ocracoke, and through Cedar Island to the campground was 124 miles and 3 hours of ferry trips. ETA 4:15pm.

10:30 am Cape Hatteras Ferry

We make the 1st ferry, sweet! This was always the issue and why I wanted to leave early if we were going to take the ferry.  We had to make the first ferry before 11 or the only ferry we could book for the second ferry, to Cedar Island, was at 4 pm which would get us into the campsite very late.

11 am

We board the ferry and head out.  It was a bit choppy and the car and trailer were soaked.

Miles on a ferry We took Miles out for a boat ride.

 
Cape Hatteras Ferry We make the Cape Hatteras Ferry. This ferry is free, it goes back and forth from Cape Hatteras to Ocracoke Island.

 
Cape Hatteras Ferry out in the middle of the sound. Cape Hatteras Ferry

 

12 pm

We got off and headed over to Ocracoke to Cedar Island ferry terminal.

12:30 pm

We are able to book that ferry.  $45 for a length of 45 ft. to 60 ft. of car and trailer.  Sounded good to me. It was going to cost that much in gas to drive around and a boat trip is much more fun anyway.

1 pm

Head out onto the Pimlico Sound again.

 
This is out on the second ferry in the middle of the Pimlico Sound. This is out on the second ferry in the middle of the Pimlico Sound.

 
Doing some work on the ferry. We had two hours, we completed some work and school. Doing some work on the ferry. We had two hours, we completed some work and school.

 

So the trip was great!  The Ocracoke Ferry had an internet connect so we could work.  It ended up being a quick two-hour trip.  Really glad we took the ferry.

 

3:00

We depart from the ferry.  One hour and ten minute drive...

Our family taking the OBX ferry from Ocracoke to Cedar Island. Our family taking the OBX ferry from Ocracoke to Cedar Island.

 
OBX Ferry That is our ferry, great time!

 
We wanted to take a boat ride in Maine and Boston. Finally we got one in North Carolina and we took our car with us. We wanted to take a boat ride in Maine and Boston. Finally we got one in North Carolina and we took our car with us.

 
We ran around on the deck of the ferry. Running around on the deck.

 
Enjoying the sites. Enjoying the sites.

 
5:30

We finally pull into the campsite.  Hmm, why did it take so long well we blew a tire on the car, but that is a another story. Let's just say "Thanks Randy!"