Island Express Ferry Service is your seamless passage to the wild beauty of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast. As the sole National Park–authorized ferry to Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Shackleford Banks, this locally owned company pa...
Island Express Ferry Service is your seamless passage to the wild beauty of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast. As the sole National Park–authorized ferry to Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Shackleford Banks, this locally owned company pa...
The staff really stands out here, with everyone from the ticket counter to the boat captains getting consistent praise for being friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable about the islands. Reviewers describe this as an "old school business" with reasonable prices and genuinely nice people, which seems increasingly rare. Several visitors mentioned crew members going above and beyond, like coming early to pick up passengers when weather turned bad or helping out when travel plans got complicated. The destinations themselves, Shackleford Banks and Cape Lookout, are clearly the main draw with their wild horses, excellent shelling, and serene beaches. Travelers rave about spotting horses along the shoreline and feeling like they have the island to themselves. A couple practical tips from recent visitors: bring serious bug spray since mosquitoes can be intense, and watch out for parking enforcement near the dock since signage isn't great. Overall, this comes across as a straightforward, well-run operation staffed by people who genuinely care about giving visitors a good island experience.
Everyone was super nice, helpful and shared interexting information about Shackleford Banks. We weren't scheduled for the return ferry for another hour, but it started raining and they came early. Thank you!!!
Jan Miller
November 7, 2025
Everyone was super nice, helpful and shared interexting information about Shackleford Banks. We weren't scheduled for the return ferry for another hour, but it started raining and they came early. Thank you!!!
Jan Miller
November 7, 2025
