A short walk from Silver Lake Harbor in the heart of ferry-only Ocracoke village
Pony Island Inn sits on Irvin Garrish Highway in Ocracoke village, an easy walk from Silver Lake Harbor and the working waterfront that has anchored this community for generations. Because Ocracoke has no bridge or road link to the mainland, every guest arrives by boat: the free NC ferry from Hatteras village, the longer toll routes from Cedar Island or Swan Quarter, or a short flight into the island's small airstrip. Landing somewhere central to the village, rather than out on the undeveloped stretch of island to the north, makes settling in after the crossing that much simpler.
From here, the village's shops, restaurants, and Silver Lake itself are all within walking distance, and NC-12 runs north toward the rest of the island's undeveloped shoreline. That drive passes the fenced pasture where Ocracoke's wild ponies are kept, the turnoff for Ocracoke Lighthouse — built in 1823 and still North Carolina's oldest operating light, though it has never been open for public climbing — and the numbered beach-access ramps into Cape Hatteras National Seashore, where a valid NPS permit allows driving on the sand. Back in the village, Springer's Point protects a stand of maritime forest long tied to Blackbeard, who was killed in a battle in Ocracoke Inlet in 1718.
Ocracoke's remoteness is worth keeping in mind during hurricane season, roughly June through November with the real risk window in August, September, and October — ferry suspensions and mandatory evacuations happen here more readily than almost anywhere else on the Outer Banks, simply because there's no bridge to drive out on.
561 reviews
2 weeks ago
The staff was friendly and location was good. The room was very clean but a bit worn. Toilet moved when u sat on it, stains and chips in bathroom counter/sink. The bed was probably he most uncomfortable bed I have ever been on. It was so noisy, lumpy and bouncy that we could not get a full night's sleep without waking up +5 times a night. The reason for the 3 star rating on the room was entirely because it was so clean.
2 months ago
I stayed at the Pony Island Inn for one night (Friday to Saturday) while making my way down the Outer Banks. If you're adventurous enough to take the Hatteras ferry over to Ocracoke, whether for a night, a weekend, or a full week, I highly recommend considering this place. For me, travel is all about convenience, but when I'm traveling with my dogs, peace of mind, security, and great customer service are just as important. From the moment I booked, everything was seamless. Check-in couldn't have been easier—I received my room code ahead of time along with clear information about the property's amenities. The inn offers a lot more than just a place to sleep. There's a nice pool, bike rentals, and golf carts available by reservation on a first-come, first-served basis. We stayed in one of the Cedar-side rooms, which had a welcoming front porch where we could relax while keeping an eye on our vehicle and the street. If you're booking a standard room (rather than one of the suites), expect it to be on the smaller side—but honestly, it has everything you need for a comfortable stay. The bathrooms have been nicely updated with modern showers, the TVs are Smart TVs, and everything felt clean and well maintained. The walls are a little thin, but that's fairly typical in hotels where rooms share common walls. Even during the busy season, though, most of the guests were very respectful and quiet, so it was never an issue for us. The part of my stay that stood out the most was the staff. I was extremely hesitant to leave my dogs alone in the room while I explored the island. The management team listened to my concerns, was incredibly understanding, and went out of their way to place us in a room that was a better fit. They reassured me that if my dogs happened to make any noise, they would communicate with me rather than make it an issue. That level of understanding allowed me to truly enjoy Ocracoke without constantly worrying. You can tell the owners genuinely care about both the inn and the island. Hearing some of the property's history and seeing the ongoing improvements they're making gave me confidence that they're invested in creating a great experience for their guests. Needless to say, I'll absolutely be back. Pony Island Inn played a big part in making my visit to Ocracoke memorable, and I'm grateful for the kindness and hospitality they showed both me and my dogs. If you're looking for a clean, comfortable, well-managed place to stay with people who genuinely care about their guests, I don't think you can go wrong with Pony Island Inn.
4 months ago
Nice spot! Very clean! Hospitable and top notch service. A couple of tips for people staying here: bring earplugs, your own pillows and plenty of clothes and towels because there's no laundry! Also the beds are pretty worn. One of our beds was completely collapsed in the middle and super uncomfortable. The other bed was fine. The pillows are really lumpy. The walls are paper thin so you won't get much sleep if someone in the room next to you is having a conversation or kids are being loud. If you come prepared you'll have a good time! The breakfast at pony island inn restaurant is good too :)
4 months ago
The room was very nice and clean, but if I stay here again it will have to be on the ground floor as there is no elevator and my wife has a bad knee. Also climbing the stairs with luggage is not fun. We were on the second floor. The hot water took a while to get warm enough to shower, but eventually it did.
a month ago
First I just want to tell anyone booking a room to be careful. Go straight to Pony Island Inn and call them to schedule. I thought I could do it on line but it took me to Booking.com. They have extra fees and if you need to change anything you have to talk to them, which is difficult. The person I talked to was in Amsterdam. Everything else was ok. Just ok. Restaurant was closed that weekend and when they’re open it is just breakfast. We didn’t get to try it.