North Carolina, United States
Ferries from Harkers Island
Harkers Island (North Carolina, United States) has 4 ferry routes to 2 destinations, operated by Cape Lookout National Seashore. You can sail from Harkers Island to Cape Lookout and Shackleford Banks East End. Crossing times and timetables for each route are listed below.
- 4
- Routes
- 2
- Destinations
- 1
- Operators
Routes & timetables
What ferry routes connect Harkers Island?
4 crossings with live schedules — each card opens its full timetable.
Cape Lookout to Harkers Island
- Fastest crossing
- 25m
- Operators
- 1 operator
See schedule
Harkers Island to Cape Lookout
- Fastest crossing
- 25m
- Operators
- 1 operator
See schedule
Harkers Island to Shackleford Banks East End
- Fastest crossing
- 25m
- Operators
- 1 operator
See schedule
Shackleford Banks East End to Harkers Island
- Fastest crossing
- 25m
- Operators
- 1 operator
See schedule
Timetable
Ferry departures from Harkers Island
46 scheduled sailings leaving Harkers Island, across every route. Times are local.
| Departs | Arrives | To | Duration | Operator | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08:15 | 08:40 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 08:15 | 08:40 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 08:45 | 09:10 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 08:45 | 09:10 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 09:15 | 09:40 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 09:15 | 09:40 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 09:45 | 10:10 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 09:45 | 10:10 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 10:00 | 10:25 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 10:00 | 10:25 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 10:15 | 10:40 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 10:15 | 10:40 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 10:45 | 11:10 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 10:45 | 11:10 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 11:15 | 11:40 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 11:15 | 11:40 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 11:30 | 11:55 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 11:30 | 11:55 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 11:45 | 12:10 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 11:45 | 12:10 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 12:15 | 12:40 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 12:15 | 12:40 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 12:45 | 13:10 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 12:45 | 13:10 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 13:00 | 13:25 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 13:00 | 13:25 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 13:15 | 13:40 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 13:15 | 13:40 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 13:45 | 14:10 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 13:45 | 14:10 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 14:15 | 14:40 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 14:15 | 14:40 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 14:45 | 15:10 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 14:45 | 15:10 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 15:15 | 15:40 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 15:15 | 15:40 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 15:45 | 16:10 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 15:45 | 16:10 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 16:15 | 16:40 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 16:15 | 16:40 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 16:45 | 17:10 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 16:45 | 17:10 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 17:15 | 17:40 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 17:15 | 17:40 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 17:45 | 18:10 | Shackleford Banks East End | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
| 17:45 | 18:10 | Cape Lookout | 25m | Cape Lookout National Seashore | Daily |
Times are indicative and may change seasonally. Confirm with the operator before travelling.
Network
Where does Harkers Island connect?
Ports connected
Operators
Location
Where is Harkers Island?
- Region
- North Carolina
- Coordinates
- 34.685° N, 76.527° W
- Shortest crossing
- 25m
Plan your trip
The day at Harkers Island
First 08:15
Last 17:45
Busiest 10:00–11:00
10 of 24 hours served
Nothing sails outside 08:15–17:45, so a day trip has to fit inside that window; the last departure is the last one. 46 scheduled departures in total.
About
About Harkers Island
Neither destination from Harkers Island can be reached any other way. Cape Lookout is 3.7 nautical miles offshore and Shackleford Banks 3.2 — both undeveloped barrier islands with no bridge, no road and no scheduled alternative to the boat.
Crossings take 25 minutes each way. The timetable is compact: departures at 08:15 and running until 17:45, arrivals from 09:15 to 18:15, with 23 sailings a week outbound and 22 back on each route.
The service is operated under the Cape Lookout National Seashore concession, which is why the hours track daylight rather than commuting patterns — the last boat back is the one that matters, because there is no accommodation on Shackleford Banks and the wild horses that live there are the only permanent residents. A single daily calendar covers the week.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get a ferry to from Harkers Island?
From Harkers Island you can take a ferry to Cape Lookout and Shackleford Banks East End. Each route page shows the crossing time and timetable.
Which ferry companies operate from Harkers Island?
Ferries from Harkers Island are run by Cape Lookout National Seashore. Open an operator page for its fleet, routes and contact details.
How many ferry routes serve Harkers Island?
Harkers Island is served by 4 ferry routes connecting 2 ports. Timetables can change seasonally, so confirm with the operator before travelling.
Where is Harkers Island ferry port located?
Harkers Island is in North Carolina, United States (around 34.685, -76.527). See the map on this page for its exact location.
How do I get to Harkers Island ferry terminal?
Harkers Island serves short local crossings — arriving 10–15 minutes before departure is usually enough for foot passengers. Confirm the exact boarding point with your operator.
What are the most popular ferries from Harkers Island?
Popular crossings from Harkers Island include Cape Lookout and Shackleford Banks East End. Browse the full list below for crossing times and live timetables.
Do ferries from Harkers Island carry cars?
Vehicle capacity varies by route and vessel, and short local crossings are often passenger-only. Check the individual route page and confirm with the operator before travelling with a car.
When should I book a ferry from Harkers Island?
For peak season and any sailing with a vehicle, book as early as possible. Off-peak foot-passenger fares are usually more flexible. Always confirm the latest timetable before travelling.
Reviewed by Serhat Özçelik, Founder & Editor of Ferry Schedule Hub · Last updated Aug 11, 2026.
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