The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division launched a 24-hour emergency ferry service Sunday morning after storm damage forced the closure of N.C. 12.
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A powerful nor’easter severely damaged the highway on the Outer Banks. The storm washed out over 500 to 800 feet of pavement near the Pea Island Visitor Center, cutting off all road access to Hatteras Island.
The emergency route will restore a critical transportation link between Hatteras Island and the mainland. The service began at 11 a.m. Sunday and will run between Stumpy Point and Rodanthe.
Dare County has enacted emergency entry restrictions for all Rodanthe-bound ferry departures. Access to Hatteras Island is currently strictly limited to essential personnel, critical business vendors and permanent residents. Law enforcement officials will be stationed at the terminals and visitors will not be allowed on Rodanthe-bound ferries at this time, the department said.
Ferry departures from Rodanthe to Stumpy Point will operate on a first-come, first-served basis, though priority loading will be granted to vendors returning from making deliveries.
The emergency operation will utilize three boats to maintain the 24-hour schedule. State officials warn that because ferry space is highly limited, travelers should anticipate long lines and significant delays.
A one-way trip on the route takes about two hours.
For Sunday, the emergency ferry will run on the following schedule:
Starting Monday, the route will expand to its full operational schedule:
The Stumpy Point ferry terminal is located at 100 Log Storage Road. The Rodanthe ferry terminal is located at 23170 Myrna Peters Road.
N.C. 12 remains closed between the Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe due to the storm damage. NCDOT crews will begin constructing a temporary road as soon as conditions allow.
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Also, N.C. 12 on the northern end of Ocracoke Island remains closed due to ongoing ocean overwash, the department said. Transportation crews are actively clearing sand and water on Sunday to expedite its reopening.
The Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry route remains suspended and will resume service only once the roadway is cleared.
The Ferry Division said they were seeing long lines in Rodanthe with only five more trips leaving Sunday night.
“If you don’t absolutely need to leave today, you might want to consider trying on another day,” the division wrote on Facebook.
Ferries operating between Ocracoke Village and the mainland (Cedar Island and Swan Quarter) continue to run.
Travelers are highly encouraged to make reservations online or by calling 1-800-BY-FERRY. The Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach ferry is running on a reduced schedule, while all other state ferry routes (Bayview-Aurora, Currituck-Knotts Island, Southport-Fort Fisher) are operating normally.
More updates can be found at drivenc.gov or the social media pages for NCDOT Ferry and N.C. 12
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This story was originally published September 27, 2026 at 4:53 PM.