Cape Hatteras area to Morehead City (New Bern, Havelock: moving, beach, ferries)

[pickleball]

Will be visiting Kitty Hawk, Hatteras, etc. and eventually have to get to Oriental, NC.
Should I take I64 over into mainland and come down to Oriental that way--or am I better off coming down #12 from Nags Head and taking ferry or ferries ) over to Morehead City and up to Oriental from there?

[SunnyKayak]

let me put it this way the ferry from Hatteras to Ocrocoke takes about an hour then you will have to drive across the island another 30 minutes then the Ocracoke to Swans Quarter Ferry will take about 2 hours

[LBIkid]

It depends on whether you want the scenic route or the quick route. We vacation in Salvo every summer and have friends in Emerald Isle. To take the ferries you'd have to drive from Kitty Hawk to Hatteras (1 hour), take the ferry to Okracoke (45 minutes + boarding times=1 hour), drive across Okracoke and take the ferry to Cedar Island (~3 hours), then drive to Morehead (another 1 hour+). The drive will take under 4 hours, but its far less scenic. The last time we did the ferries, it took 8 hours due to wait time /boarding times at the ferries.

[Bill Hitchcock]

And there is possibly an additional ferry. The Minnesott Beach ferry from North Havelock (Adam's Creek/Temple's Point area) to Minnesott Beach-Which will put you very near by Oriental.

[Ann in Oriental]

Take ferry to Ocracoke,then take ferry from Ocracoke to Cedar Island(you need to call and make a reservation1-800-345-1665) Then you take rt.12 to rt.101 until you get to the Cherry branch ferry. It takes you to Minnisott.Go straight for about 1 mile then take a rt. and follow signs to Oriental.This way is about 5 hours but saves alot of gas. OR take 64 west till Williamston and go south on rt.17.Follow that about an hour till rt.33 take a left about 25 miles later take a rt. onto rt. 306 12 miles later take a left onto rt.55 it will take you into Oriental, about 15. It will take about4 hours depending on traffic. Where in Oriental are you going? Yes I'm nosey, but after all we only have 900 people!

[pickleball]

Thanks for your reply. We are retirees and have heard a lot of nice things about your area--and might coinsider moving there. We need to explore in more fully so will spend a day there.---------------

Originally Posted by Ann in Oriental

Take ferry to Ocracoke,then take ferry from Ocracoke to Cedar Island(you need to call and make a reservation1-800-345-1665) Then you take rt.12 to rt.101 until you get to the Cherry branch ferry. It takes you to Minnisott.Go straight for about 1 mile then take a rt. and follow signs to Oriental.This way is about 5 hours but saves alot of gas. OR take 64 west till Williamston and go south on rt.17.Follow that about an hour till rt.33 take a left about 25 miles later take a rt. onto rt. 306 12 miles later take a left onto rt.55 it will take you into Oriental, about 15. It will take about4 hours depending on traffic. Where in Oriental are you going? Yes I'm nosey, but after all we only have 900 people!

[gigimac]

Best way to go from the Nags Head beaches to Oriental is forget about the ferries. Instead, just go over thru Manteo and take 264 inland (that's numerals two-six-four), curves south and then goes around west, all the way to "Little Washington," which that is maybe an hour and a half, very pretty drive. Then go left onto Hwy 17, takes you right down into New Bern, about 30 more minutes, nice town. Go left towards the ocean to get to Oriental, there will be signs. You're looking at a total of two hours max.