NEED ADVICE ON GETTING TO OCRACOKE ISLAND FOR VACATION....

[JNUNZMAN]

My inlaws planned a family vacation on Ocracoke Island, NC, in the beginning of August. I've never been down in that area before and am having an anxiety attack regarding the best way to drive down from the Philadelphia area. Everybody is telling us about the Swan Quarter to Ocracoke ferry, but, Google Maps and Mapquest also shows that I can cross on to the Outer Banks via Kill Devil Hills and head south on 158 to get to a much shorter ferry to Ocracoke.
Does anybody with knowledge of that area have any suggestions on the best route to take? I'm looking to get there in the least amount of time possible, sites are not a necessity. Having to be at a ferry dock with a reservation, and the ferry only leaves at certain times makes me nuts when considering I don't know what kind of traffic I hit on the way down there. What happens if you miss the ferry?
I greatly appreciate anybody taking the time to answer.

[lolife]

You need to check out this site.  Its the NCDOT Ferry site.  It has times, fees etc on the ferries.  http://www.ncdot.org/ferry/

I'm not from the area but have been there.  I can tell you that the ferry from Hatteras from Ocracoke Island is very short.  Its about 45 mins.  

Depending on what time you want to get on the ferry will determine if you have to have a reservation or not.  If you miss the ferry you'll have to wait for the next one.    The last time I was there, I took the Cedar Island Ferry to Ocracoke & we got on the first one.  It was just before daylight & we had no reservation & got on.  They had 2 lines.  Those with reservations & those without.  They loaded the people with reservations & then filled it with the non reservations.  The day we were riding, everyone got one.  

To be honest, I'd give the NC DOT a call & direct your questions to them.  

Let us know how your vacation went.  I've been through the outerbanks riding but I've never vacationed there.  It doesn't look like there is a whole lot to do around there.  Check out Kitty Hawk though.  Its definitely worth the price of admission to the Wright Bros Memorial.  Really nice place

I'm from South Carolina...You don't want me to give you directions.  

[rfulcher]

My father was born on Ocracoke Island and I have be going to the islands most of my life. Locals use routes 12 and 158 when they get on or off the island. The Swan Quarter ferry will probably add significant time to your trip. The Hatteras to Ocracoke Ferry ride is much shorter, runs frequently, does not require a reservation, and the wait for boarding is usually not to bad but depends of holidays, time of day and luck. It is kind of fun. MS Streets and Trips also gave directions to use 158 and 12.

Be careful if you have to pull off the road lots maybe most of the shoulders are soft deep sand.

[nantahala]

Go to Hatteras and take the short frequent ferry to Ocracoke.  But, there is the possibility of random roadblocks on Highway 12south like monthly high tides and maybe some wind/rough seas that overtops the dunes (or from the sound) and floods the road around Rodanthe.  That's a pretty low risk in summer though, and with the tourists, DOT would be all over getting the road opened...  

Time slows down on Ocracoke, so adjust accordingly and enjoy.

Matt

[Formerly Known as Bigfoot]

I haven't been to Ocracoke in years.  Do they still have the wild horses on the island?  

[Scratch33]

What happens if you miss the ferry?

You don't get a family vacation with your in-laws at Ocracoke Island; and instead can point your bike west to the good stuff.

Darn it.