Getting Here, Getting Around | The Insiders' Guide® to North Carolina's Outer Banks, 21st Edition

		Ferries Landlubbers also can enjoy an Outer Banks arrival by boat thanks to the North Carolina Ferry System. One picturesque route is to follow U.S. Highway 70 East from New Bern to Havelock. Pick up North Carolina Highway 101, follow to North Carolina Highway 306, and then take the ferry to Bayview near historic Bath. Follow North Carolina Highway 99 to Belhaven, picking up US 264 to Swan Quarter. From here, you can take North Carolina Highway 94 across Lake Mattamuskeet, then US 64 to Manteo-or ride another ferry from Swan Quarter to Ocracoke Island. It sounds complicated, but signs will guide you. An alternate route is to take US 70 through Havelock to Beaufort. US 70 continues from Beaufort to Harkers Island, following the Core Sound to NC 12, where the Cedar Island Ferry takes you to Ocracoke Island. The voyage across the Pamlico Sound is well worth the time it takes to arrive in Ocracoke. Cross Ocracoke Island from south to north via NC 12, and pick up the Hatteras Island Ferry to the upper Outer Banks. Ferry passage is a good way to reduce your driving time if you're heading to the southern portion of the Outer Banks. It also gives you a chance to stretch and move around while still making progress. Unless you have your own boat or plane, ferry service is the only way to reach picturesque Ocracoke Island. The ferries transport cars to the island, although we suggest that you park your car after arriving on Ocracoke and get around on foot or by bike. Following is information on the Outer Banks ferry services. Although it is rare to have a time change, you may wish to call ahead and verify departure times. You can get more information by writing to Director, Ferry Division, Morehead City, NC 28557, or by calling (800) BY FERRY. Truckers: For information about weight and size limitations, call the specific ferry location. The toll-free number is operable east of the Mississippi River only.
		Hatteras Inlet (Ocracoke) Ferry This free, state-run service links the islands of Hatteras and Ocracoke, across the Pamlico Sound. The ferries accommodate 30 vehicles-including cars and large camping/recreational vehicles-and run frequently during the summer to avoid excessive delays. The Hatteras ferry does not require reservations and the trip takes about 40 minutes. Public restrooms are at the Hatteras dock, and heads are on board. For more information, call (800) 368-8949 or (252) 986-2353. Summer Schedule May 2-October 30, 2006 Leave Hatteras Leave Ocracoke 5:00 A.M. 5:00 A.M. 6:00 A.M. 6:00 A.M. 7:00 A.M. 7:00 A.M. 7:30 A.M. 8:00 A.M. Then every 30 minutes until . . . 7:00 P.M. 7:30 P.M. 8:00 P.M. 8:00 P.M. 9:00 P.M. 9:00 P.M. 10:00 P.M. 10:00 P.M. 11:00 P.M. 11:00 P.M. Midnight Midnight Winter Schedule January 3-May 1, 2006 and October 31, 2006-April 30, 2007 Ferries leave Hatteras and Ocracoke every hour on the hour from 5:00 A.M.to midnight. Additional departures may be scheduled as needed.
		Swan Quarter and Cedar Island Make a reservation to avoid possible delays in boarding the Ocracoke-Cedar Island toll ferry and the Ocracoke-Swan Quarter toll ferry. You can reserve space in person at the departure terminal or call the ferry location from which you're departing. For reservations from Ocracoke, call (800) 345-1665 or (252) 928-3841; from Cedar Island, call (800) 856-0343 or (252) 225-3551; and from Swan Quarter, call (800) 773-1094 or (252) 926-1111. Office hours are usually 6:00 A.M.to 6:00 P.M., but the offices stay open later during the summer. Reservations may be made up to one year in advance of departure date and are not transferable. You must claim your reservation at least 30 minutes prior to departure time. Information on tolls and vehicle weight limits follows the schedules. Ocracoke Swan Quarter Toll Ferry This 28-car ferry connects Swan Quarter in Hyde County on the mainland with Ocracoke Island, crossing Pamlico Sound in two and a half hours. The scenic trip provides a wonderfully relaxing break from driving. See Arriving from the South for directions to Swan Quarter. Summer Schedule May 23-September 4, 2006 Leave Ocracoke Leave Swan Quarter 6:30 A.M. 7:00 A.M. 12:30 P.M. 9:30 A.M. 4:00 P.M. 4:00 P.M. Winter Schedule January 1-May 22, 2006 and September 5, 2006-May 21, 2007 Leave Ocracoke Leave Swan Quarter 6:30 A.M. 9:30 A.M. 12:30 P.M. 4:00 P.M. One-way fares and rates are listed at the end of this section. Ocracoke Cedar Island Toll Ferry This ferry is a popular link between Cedar Island and Ocracoke Island. It accommodates 50 cars and crosses in two hours and 15 minutes. Take along a good book, a snack, and enjoy the view. See Arriving from the South for directions to Cedar Island. Summer Schedule May 23-September 25, 2006 Leave Cedar Island Leave Ocracoke 7:00 A.M. 7:00 A.M. 8:15 A.M.- 9:30 A.M. 9:30 A.M. 10:00 A.M. 10:45 A.M. Noon Noon 1:00 P.M.- 1:45 P.M.- 3:00 P.M. 3:00 P.M. -4:30 P.M. 6:00 P.M. 6:00 P.M. 8:30 P.M. 8:30 P.M. Spring and Fall Schedules April 11-May 22, 2006 and September 26-November 6, 2006 Leave Cedar Island Leave Ocracoke 7:00 A.M. 7:00 A.M. 9:30 A.M. 9:30 A.M. Noon Noon 3:00 P.M. 3:00 P.M. 6:00 P.M. 6:00 P.M. 8:30 P.M. 8:30 P.M. Winter Schedule January 1-April 10, 2006 and November 7, 2006-April 2, 2007 Leave Cedar Island Leave Ocracoke 7:00 A.M. 7:00 A.M. 10:00 A.M. 10:00 A.M. 1:00 P.M. 1:00 P.M. 4:00 P.M. 4:00 P.M. Toll Ferry One-Way Fares Pedestrians, $1.00 Bicycles and riders, $3.00 Single vehicles or combinations 20 feet or less in length, $15.00 Vehicles or combinations from 20 to 40 feet in length, $30.00 All vehicles or combinations 40 to 65 feet in length, $45.00 Motorcycles, $10.00
		Getting Around By Auto We've gotten you here; now we'll get you around. Let's get the traffic report out of the way first. The number of travelers on our roads increases dramatically during the summer. Traffic more than triples from Memorial Day through Labor Day. We realize that visitors enrich our economy, and we welcome you-cars, trucks, SUVs, and all. If you're used to big-city driving, you'll find the summer traffic tolerable. Naturally, roads get very congested during hurricane evacuations, despite the advance warnings county authorities give (see the Waves and Weather: How to Stay Safe chapter for more). If you bear in mind the following tips, your drive should be a smooth one. The northern route up NC 12 through Duck and Corolla can get bogged down on summer weekends and during weekday lunch and dinner hours. If the weather's bad, many more people shop rather than go to the beach, so expect heavier traffic when skies are gray. Allow an extra half- hour or so when traveling to the northern Outer Banks on summer weekends. You may want to call the various municipalities or radio stations to see when traffic is heaviest during holidays. And if you must travel during peak traffic hours, try not to lose your cool. Relax-you're at the beach! There are plenty of places to stop for food, drinks, and shopping, though you may also want to pack some snacks, especially if you have young children. While we do have congested areas to deal with from time to time, we have a simple road layout that makes getting lost almost impossible. These barrier islands, including Roanoke Island to the west, have only three major roadways. US 158 crosses the Wright Memorial Bridge into Kitty Hawk and winds through the center of the island to Whalebone Junction in Nags Head. This five-lane highway (the center lane is for turning vehicles only) is also called the Bypass, Croatan Highway, or the Big Road. In this book, we will refer to it as the Bypass or US 158. NC 12 runs along the beach, parallel to US 158. A two-lane road, it stretches from the southern border of the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge at the Villages at Ocean Hill development in Corolla to the ferry docks at Hatteras Island's southernmost tip. NC 12 picks up again on Ocracoke, spanning the length of the tiny island, ending in picturesque Ocracoke Village. NC 12 is also called Ocean Trail in Corolla, Duck Road in Duck and Southern Shores, Ocean Boulevard in part of Southern Shores, and either Virginia Dare Trail or the Beach Road from Kitty Hawk through Nags Head. In this book, we refer to it as NC 12 (or occasionally as the Beach Road, when talking about that stretch from Kitty Hawk through Nags Head). On Roanoke Island, US 64/264 is also called US 64 or Main Highway. This stoplight-filled road begins at the Nags Head-Manteo Causeway and runs across the Washington Baum Bridge through Manteo, across the William B. Umstead Bridge, and through Manns Harbor on the mainland. School traffic clogs US 64/264 on weekday mornings and afternoons. On rainy days in summer, this road is extremely congested with visitors headed to Roanoke Island's attractions and shops. Some congestion has been alleviated by the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge. US 158 and NC 12 run mainly north and south. Smaller connector streets link seaside rental cottages to year-round neighborhoods west of the Bypass. If you truly want to relax and spend your vacation days island-style, kick off your shoes and travel on foot. You can walk for miles down the beaches, collecting shells and wading. Plenty of restaurants and fishing piers run the length of the Outer Banks, so you're usually not far from food and drink. Most spots welcome casual diners. When walking the Beach Road, watch out for vehicles with projecting mirrors-the road is narrow. It is not the best choice for biking, except in Nags Head, where there is a bike path. You can easily explore Manteo on foot, and biking is a safe alternative in that town.
		By Bike The Outer Banks boasts several paved bike paths. Running the length of Roanoke Island is a 7-mile asphalt path, which has awakened the athlete in many locals, young and old, who are now regularly seen walking, riding bikes, and skating on the route. It's a wide, safe path that we are grateful to have. An 11-mile bike path runs along NC 12 almost the entire length of the town of Nags Head. In South Nags Head, the path is concrete, and in the rest of the town it is asphalt. The town of Kill Devil Hills sports a scenic asphalt route along Colington Road, running down the National Park Service property past the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Kitty Hawk's bike path meanders through the maritime forest along Woods Road, off US 158 between the Wright Memorial Bridge and the Kitty Hawk Wal-Mart Shopping Center. A great place to ride is through Southern Shores and Duck. A bike path extends the entire length of NC 12 in Southern Shores and Duck. Duck's path extends through town to just north of Sanderling. Call each township for specific rules on using the bike paths. While pedaling these paths or biking anywhere else on the Outer Banks, please wear a helmet. You can rent bikes at several rental services, and many accommodations offer bikes and helmets as a courtesy (see our Recreation and Accommodationschapters). Watch out-the sand that blows on the road can get in your eyes as you pass the dunes and can be slippery when you brake. Follow the normal rules of the road that apply to cars, stopping at lights and stop signs and yielding to pedestrians. There is a lot of activity near the beach, so whether you're on a bike or in a car, watch out for that rolling beach ball-it is usually followed by a child.
		Transportation for Hire Even though you won't find any public transportation here, you do have a number of alternatives. Since demand for taxicabs and limousines can be great at times, make sure to call in advance. Bayside Cab (252) 480-1300, (252) 441-5488 On US 158 at MP 6, Bayside offers point- to-point service 24 hours a day. Beach Cab (252) 441-2500 The vans of Beach Cab offer 24-hour service and Norfolk International Airport pickups. Coastal Cab Company (252) 449-8787 Coastal Cab offers radio-dispatched 24hour service on the Outer Banks. Service to airports in Norfolk and Raleigh is available with advance reservations. Credit cards are accepted for out-of-town trips.
		The Connection (252) 449-2777 www.calltheconnection.com This shuttle service operates daily between Norfolk and the Outer Banks with door-todoor shared-ride and private service to Norfolk International Airport (other airports upon request) as well as Norfolk's bus and train stations. Full-size, air-conditioned passenger vans can accommodate groups, families, bicycles, surfboards, sailboards, etc. Drivers are fully licensed and insured. Private towncars are also available. Reservations are recommended. Historically Speaking's Outer Banks Tours for Motor Coaches (252) 473-5783 Historically Speaking offers year-round step-on tour guiding and receptive tour services (lodging, meals, attractions) for bus groups, conferences, and conventions, featuring entertaining commentary on the natural and cultural history of Roanoke Island and the Outer Banks. Call for a tour consultation. Private evening programs offer traditional Outer Banks music and sea song sing-alongs as well as costumed living-history performances of Elizabethan music and culture from the time of Sir Walter Raleigh's Roanoke colonies (see our Attractions chapter). Island Hopper Shuttle (252) 995-6771 Island Hopper Shuttle serves Hatteras Island with transportation to and from Norfolk International Airport, plus courier service on weekdays to Nags Head and Manteo. Island Limo (252) 441-LIMO, (800) 828-LIMO If it's a stretch limo you want, Island Limo's selection suits your every need. Island Limo provides transportation to and from Norfolk International Airport via private sedan and limousine year-round. Outer Banks Suburban (252) 305-5466 You'll spot Outer Banks Suburban on the Outer Banks in a 12-passenger super- stretch Suburban limo. Also offering a vintage Rolls Royce sedan, Outer Banks Suburban will pick you up anywhere on the Outer Banks from Corolla to Ocracoke. Call for reservations.
		Car Rentals Whether you need something to get around town in or something more substantial, like a four-wheel-drive vehicle, to really explore the island, you have a number of rental options.
		Cars Only Dare County Regional Airport, on Roanoke Island, off Airport Road, (252) 473-2600 B&R Rent-a-Car at R. D. Sawyer Motor Company, US 64 in Manteo, (252) 473-2141 Enterprise Rent-a-Car in Kill Devil Hills and Manteo, (252) 480-1838, (800) 736-8222
		Cars and Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles Outer Banks Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, Jeep, Eagle, US 158 at MP 5 in Kill Devil Hills, (252) 441-1146 U-SAVE Auto Rental, US 158, 1 mile north of the Wright Memorial Bridge in Point Harbor, (252) 491-8500, (800) 685-9938 Cape Point Exxon in Buxton, (252) 995-5695
		Beach Driving Off-road access is possible on the Outer Banks but only in designated areas and at certain times of the year. Use of a four- wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle is mandatory. Check with each township for specific rules; some places even require a permit. Generally, 4WDs are allowed on the beach in Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head from October 1 through April 30. However, permits are required in Nags Head. Southern Shores and Kitty Hawk prohibit driving on the beach at all times. As far north as Corolla and Carova in Currituck County, there are specified areas where you can drive on the beach. Hatteras Island operates under the guidance of the National Park Service (252-473-2111); call with any questions you have concerning off-road driving. On Hatteras Island, driving is not allowed on the beach at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge (the area from Rodanthe Pier north to Oregon Inlet), but farther south, there are access areas marked by a sign featuring a symbol for off-road vehicles where you can travel on the beach. Obviously beach driving is not allowed at access areas that have signs with an X through the symbol. It's a good idea to stop at one of the National Park Service visitor centers or campgrounds to chat with a ranger before taking to the beach on wheels. Rangers supply up-todate information on unusual conditions, such as eroded beach areas, that could prove hazardous to you and your vehicle. Some areas of Hatteras Island are open year-round for beach driving: From ramp 23 to ramp 34, the area that stretches from the south end of Salvo to the north side of Avon. The beach around Cape Point, which continues all the way to a Frisco Campground access. You can also enter the beach at Cape Point Campground and head north to the Point or south to Frisco. Hatteras Ferry dock to Hatteras Inlet. The north end of Hatteras Inlet, depending on how much beach front is available due to surge conditions. The south end of Ocracoke Island toward the village to the beach behind the airport. These Hatteras Island areas are open to vehicular traffic on a seasonal basis: Ramp 20 to ramp 23, from Rodanthe to Salvo, closed from the end of May until the second week in September. Ramp 34 to ramp 38, the area in front of the village of Avon, closed from the end of May until the second week in September.

		Driving Rules and Safety Tips The maximum speed for beach driving is 25 mph, but even that can be too fast on a crowded day. The speed limit is strictly enforced by park rangers and local law officials. Where the sand is soft, you may have to drive slower than 25 mph. Beach drivers follow the same rules that apply when driving on asphalt: Keep to the right, pass on the left, etc. All vehicles must be street-legal with valid plates, insurance, and inspection stickers, and driven by a licensed individual. Seat belts must be worn by anyone in the front seat. Standing is not allowed in any vehicle. If you are riding in the back of a pickup truck, you must sit on the bed, not on the side rail or wheel well. Jeep passengers must be seated and may not stand and hold onto the roll bar. No open containers of alcohol are allowed in vehicles. Pedestrians have the right-of-way at all times on the beach, regardless of where they are in relation to your vehicle. Look out for children, pets, sunbathers, and anglers. Expect the unexpected. Often, the wind hampers hearing, so use caution when approaching pedestrians. If the wind is blowing away from them and toward you, they may not hear your approach. When driving back to the road, please keep your eye on pedestrian traffic. The edge of the Beach Road grabs the wheels a bit and can pull you to one side or another abruptly. Maintain a wide berth for anyone walking near you. And a caution to pedestrians: Wear light clothing at night if you intend to walk near car traffic. While most drivers respect driving safety rules, some really let their hair down at the beach. Pedestrians need to be as conscientious as drivers on both sand and roadways.
		Vehicle Preparation Many, many drivers get stuck because they don't let air out of their tires before driving on the beaches. The National Park Service says its rangers generally drive with 20 pounds of pressure in their tires. This applies to vehicles of any size, from large trucks to smaller sedans. Lowering the pressure also helps prevent the engine from overheating when traveling through soft sand. Rangers advise reinflating tires when returning to the paved roads. Please don't block the beach ramps when you lock hubs or deflate tires. We suggest pulling well off to the side of the ramp or using the parking areas found at most vehicle accesses.
		Driving on Sand Once on the beach, try to drive on the firm, wet sand below the high-tide line and if there are previously made tracks, follow them. Areas with no tracks may be avoided for good reason. Watch out for areas of the beach with shell-laden, reddish sand and depressions with a bit of standing water. These can be very soft.
		Restricted Areas You are prohibited from driving on, over, or in between the dunes for any reason at any time. The dunes and their fragile vegetation create our protective barrier and are extremely vital to the delicate ecology of animal and plant life. Please obey all the area designations on the beaches. Many portions of the beach are roped off, allowing shorebirds and turtles to nest. These areas change throughout the seasons, so areas that were open in April could be closed in August. Through traffic can be curtailed by these closings, especially at high tide. Stay alert for changes, and respect the limitations. Violations can bring substantial fines. When driving by the waterline, always drive behind surf anglers. You don't want to snap their nearly invisible monofilament fishing line or upset their fishing activity.