Edwards of Ocracoke Cottages

Edwards of Ocracoke Cottages puts guests in Ocracoke village, the only developed stretch of a thirteen-mile barrier island that has no bridge or road connection to the rest of the Outer Banks. Getting here means the free NC ferry from Hatteras village, a longer toll run from Cedar Island or Swan Quarter on the mainland, or a small-plane flight into the island's own airstrip — part of what keeps Ocracoke quieter and slower-paced than the rest of the coast.

What to Know Before You Go

• There's no drive-in option here — build your trip around a ferry schedule rather than a departure time.
• The property keeps regular office hours, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, for check-in and questions.
• Ocracoke village is small and walkable, with Silver Lake Harbor and the village's restaurants and shops close by.

Once you're settled, the rest of the island opens up north along NC-12 through undeveloped National Park Service land — numbered beach-access ramps, permitted 4x4 driving, and the fenced pasture where Ocracoke's wild ponies are kept. Closer to the village, Springer's Point's maritime forest carries the island's Blackbeard history (he was killed in a battle in Ocracoke Inlet in 1718), and the 1823 Ocracoke Lighthouse — the second-oldest operating lighthouse in the country and the oldest in North Carolina — is worth a look, though it's never been open for public climbing. Because the island's only way off is by boat, keep an eye on the forecast during hurricane season (August through October carries the real risk); evacuations and ferry suspensions come more readily here than almost anywhere else on the Outer Banks.