Island Express Ferry Service LLC is the only authorized concessionaire to drop off at Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Shackleford Banks!

We provide park visitors with great service while facilitating visitor understanding and appreciation for the park.

  • Ride in new, fast, and comfortable ferries alongside all local experienced captains and crew.
  • Experience the beauty of the Crystal Coast with sparkling clear waters and pristine beaches.
  • Treasure hunt for shells–Whelks, Scotch Bonnets, Conchs and many more!
  • See the wild horses of Shackleford Banks or go hiking, fishing, and swimming.
  • Fun for the WHOLE family! Leave the stress of the mainland behind.

Camping at Cape Lookout? Island Express Ferry is your official connection to camping areas on Cape Lookout National Seashore!

Birders - Island Express is your connection to the best bird watching and photography areas on the Crystal Coast.

NPS Enthusiasts - Island Express' Harkers Island location is adjacent to the Cape Lookout Visitors Center. Take a short ride to the Cape Lookout Lighthouse and get your NPS Passport stamp.

Based in the town of Beaufort, and offering departures from both Beaufort and nearby Harkers Island, Island Express Ferry Service serves as the link between the communities of the Crystal Coast and the spectacularly beautiful and isolated barrier islands of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Accommodating passengers who want to explore the miles of pristine beaches, exceptional fishing and shelling, wild horses, and the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, Island Express Ferry Service serves as the gateway for one of the most unforgettable adventures along the North Carolina coast.

Island Express Ferry Service

Island Express Ferry Service

The Cape Lookout National Seashore is only accessible by a boat or privately run ferry, and Island Express Ferry Service has been named one of the best service providers for day trips to this desolate shoreline. Each crossing takes less than an hour, and once on the shore, visitors can take in gorgeous beaches and vistas in every direction. Reservations can be made online before a trip, and passengers will cross in comfortable and spacious covered vessels that are designed to make a smooth trek across the sound. Breathtaking from start to finish, a ride onboard the Island Express Ferry Service opens up a whole new perspective of the gorgeous and isolated Crystal Coast shoreline.  

Island Express Ferry Service

Island Express Ferry Service

Island Express Ferry Service hatchlings race toward the surf

Beaufort
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Activities
AB Watersport Adventures

AB Watersport Adventures

There are literally endless ways to enjoy the water along the Crystal Coast, and AB Watersport Adventures has you covered. Evplore the beautiful waters of the intercoatal waterways on one of our Jet Skis. For a more educational adventure we offer a jet ski tour to the Capeloout Lighthouse. We also offer rental boats so your family can enjoy one of the Crystal Coat's beautiful barrier islands. Located along the Atlantic Beach Causeway, and easy to reach for folks staying along the barrier island as well as Morehead City, this convenient and accommodating watersports company serves as a launching point for a host of fun-filled days on the Southern Outer Banks.

J R Dunn Jewelers

J R Dunn Jewelers

Featuring two locations along the Crystal Coast, and serving the region for nearly 50 years, J R Dunn Jewelers is a time-tested resource for a wealth of special occasions, gifts, and “just because” treasures for vacationers and Carteret County locals alike. With a fine selection of everything from men’s timepieces to wedding and engagement rings, shoppers can find just the delicate piece of jewelry they are looking for with a visit to this exquisite and elegant shop.

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Shackleford Wild Horse & Shelling Safari

Shackleford Wild Horse & Shelling Safari

Take a quick and scenic ferry ride with your experienced guide over to the pristine Outer Banks Island of Shackleford Banks, which is part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. There, you are introduced to the wild horses of Shackleford Banks. After the tour, you are directed to one of the best shelling beaches in all of North Carolina, where you can spend some time shelling your way down the beach with Cape Lookout Lighthouse off in the distance. Shackleford is well known as one of the best shelling destinations on the East Coast. 

Morehead City Ferry Service

Morehead City Ferry Service

The Crystal Coast is best explored from the water, and Morehead City Ferry Service will take explorers to some of the most remote and beautiful corners of this long stretch of Southern Outer Banks shoreline. Launching from the heart of Downtown Morehead City along Evans Street, patrons who utilize Morehead City Ferry Service for a cruise or a taxi ride to the outlying barrier islands will be treated to full afternoons of sun and fun along the pristine sand.