Location
Ocracoke Island can be reached by ferry or private boats and planes. From Hatteras Island, follow N.C. 12 to the Hatteras Ferry Terminal at the southern tip of Hatteras Island. The 40-minute ferry crossing to Ocracoke Island is free. For directions to Ocracoke Island from other points, visit Driving Directions to the Outer Banks.Once on Ocracoke Island, continue driving south on N.C. 12 to Ocracoke Village. Many visitors prefer to explore the village area by bike or on foot since traffic can be very congested during the busier seasons and the speed limit is 20 to 25 mph.
Things to Do on Ocracoke Island
A good place to begin exploring is the National Park Service Visitor Center, located at the end of N.C. 12 where the road enters the ferry terminal.- Ocracoke Lighthouse - Although not open for climbing, the picturesque Ocracoke Lighthouse may be visited daily. It is the second oldest operating lighthouse in the United States with a history that reaches back to 1823.
- The Ocracoke Ponies - As early as the 1730s, Banker Ponies have been recorded on Ocracoke Island. At times as many as 300 ponies roamed free, although today the herd numbers about 30 and the ponies are under the care of the National Park Service. A roadside platform about five miles north of Ocracoke Village on N.C. 12 provides a place to view the ponies.
- NPS Walking Tour - This 90-minute NPS Walking Tour explores many of Ocracoke Village's historic sites.
