Ride the ferry from Harkers Island Visitor Center to Shackleford Banks
15 Minutes
Take a round-trip ferry from Harkers Island Visitor Center to Shackleford Banks with departures every 30 minutes in the summer. The crossing takes about 15 minutes each way.
If you miss your scheduled island pick-up, you may be charged a $150 fee for a ferry to come get you. Return pick-up times from the island cannot be changed.
Cancel at least 24 hours prior to departure to receive a refund. If Island Express Ferry Service cancels due to inclement weather, you can reschedule or receive a full refund.
Arrive 30 minutes before departure. If you miss your departure time, you forfeit your scheduled time and go on standby for the next available ferry. Late arrivals are non-refundable.
No. Pick-up times from the island cannot be changed. Arrive at the pick-up point at least 15 minutes early; if you miss your pick-up, you may not get space on a later ferry. If you cannot get on a later pick-up, a $150 fee is charged to send a ferry to get you.
Your round-trip ferry fare includes 2 free carry-ons per person (such as a backpack, folding chair, small cooler, or tote). Each additional carry-on costs $5.
Beaufort, NC
The staff really stands out here, with everyone from the ticket counter to the boat captains getting consistent praise for being friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable about the islands. Reviewers describe this as an "old school business" with reasonable prices and genuinely nice people, which seems increasingly rare. Several visitors mentioned crew members going above and beyond, like coming early to pick up passengers when weather turned bad or helping out when travel plans got complicated. The destinations themselves, Shackleford Banks and Cape Lookout, are clearly the main draw with their wild horses, excellent shelling, and serene beaches. Travelers rave about spotting horses along the shoreline and feeling like they have the island to themselves. A couple practical tips from recent visitors: bring serious bug spray since mosquitoes can be intense, and watch out for parking enforcement near the dock since signage isn't great. Overall, this comes across as a straightforward, well-run operation staffed by people who genuinely care about giving visitors a good island experience.
Service was great, very kind, safe drive.
Saska Madilka
April 3, 2026
Service was great, very kind, safe drive.
Saska Madilka
April 3, 2026