Island Express Ferry Service

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Ferry Service & Cruises Departing From Beaufort & Harkers Island, NC

The only authorized concessionaire to drop off at Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Shackleford Banks!

CAPE LOOKOUT LIGHTHOUSE IS CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR CLIMBING

We provide park visitors with great service while facilitating visitor understanding and appreciation for the park.

Ride in new, fast, and comfortable ferries alongside all local experienced captains and crew.
Experience the beauty of the Crystal Coast with sparkling clear waters and pristine beaches.
Treasure hunt for shells–Whelks, Scotch Bonnets, Conchs and many more!
See the wild horses of Shackleford Banks or go hiking, fishing, and swimming.
Fun for the WHOLE family! Leave the stress of the mainland behind.

Camping at Cape Lookout? Island Express Ferry is your official connection to camping areas on Cape Lookout National Seashore!

Birders - Island Express is your connection to the best bird watching and photography areas on the Crystal Coast.

NPS Enthusiasts - Island Express' Harkers Island location is adjacent to the Cape Lookout Visitors Center. Take a short ride to the Cape Lookout Lighthouse and get your NPS Passport stamp.

Based in the town of Beaufort, and offering departures from both Beaufort and nearby Harkers Island, Island Express Ferry Service serves as the link between the communities of the Crystal Coast and the spectacularly beautiful and isolated barrier islands of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Accommodating passengers who want to explore the miles of pristine beaches, exceptional fishing and shelling, wild horses, and the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, Island Express Ferry Service serves as the gateway for one of the most unforgettable adventures along the North Carolina coast.

The Cape Lookout National Seashore is only accessible by a boat or privately run ferry, and Island Express Ferry Service has been named one of the best service providers for day trips to this desolate shoreline. Each crossing takes less than an hour, and once on the shore, visitors can take in gorgeous beaches and vistas in every direction. Reservations can be made online before a trip, and passengers will cross in comfortable and spacious covered vessels that are designed to make a smooth trek across the sound. Breathtaking from start to finish, a ride onboard the Island Express Ferry Service opens up a whole new perspective of the gorgeous and isolated Crystal Coast shoreline.

FEATURED PROFILE

New Perfect Way to Explore Cape Lookout and Enjoy Time on the National Seashore’s Pristine Beaches.

The barrier islands that make up the Cape Lookout National Seashore are as beautiful as they are varied. Only a few miles off the North Carolina coast, this stretch of shoreline is a delightful mix of unspoiled beaches, wild horses, historic villages, and the iconic and eye-catching diamond-decorated Cape Lookout Lighthouse.

When touring, having the means to get around and explore is key to being able to see more, do more and enjoy your surroundings more fully. Take family and friends from the Island Express Ferry drop off at Cape Lookout and hop in one or more 4-person NEW Kubota UTVs for a half or a whole day. Make as many stops as your hearts desire while you tool around the terrain. These ultra-fun UTVs are side-by-side utility task vehicles with off-roading capabilities combined with the comfort of a car. Can’t beat it!

At Cape Lookout, take in the smooth seas on one side of the island and the wilder surf on the other — or make no stops at all and cruise straight to The Point where y’all can admire the perimeter of clear, sea-glass colored water on both sides at once. This, too, is an unrivaled destination for searching for shells — Scotch Bonnets, Sand Dollars, Whelks, and Conchs by the bucketload. Add gratitude to your trip with the ability to throw your haul in the back of the UTV and cruise to Cape Lookout Village and the old Life-Saving Station with the cool salt breeze blowing — and avoid what would have otherwise been a miles-long-walk!

The notion that places of pristine and natural beauty are worth preserving is a noble idea. The National Parks enable selected swathes of land and the wildlife that live there, to be protected. Take it all in while you cruise in your UTV and marvel at all of Cape Lookout National Seashore’s wildlife — extraordinary flora, fauna, and fun while riding in the UTV means more time at your disposal. What you would’ve lost in travel and a slow slog through the sand with bags and buckets in tow you make up for in activities and memories to last a lifetime.

Hopping the ferry to Cape Lookout is an adventure in and of itself riding one of the comfortable, fast, and new catamarans of Island Express Ferry Service, the National Park Service concessionaire. Watch for ponies roaming on Shackleford Banks, wait for the lighthouse to appear in the distance and count the minutes ‘till you’ll be cruising the shore — don’t hesitate to grab your UTV ASAP! They sell out faster than ice melts on a hot summer day. Next, delight in the freedom to go where you want, when you want, and stop when it suits your crew and head back home — a little bit sandy, a little bit salty, and a whole lotta happy!

Beaufort

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Island Express Ferry Service map location