The Silver Lake Hotel at Ocracoke sits right in the village, close enough to Silver Lake Harbor that you can walk to the shops, restaurants, and docks clustered around it. This corner of the Outer Banks isn't reachable by road; every visitor arrives by water or air, which makes the trip itself part of the appeal.
Getting Here
Three ferries serve Ocracoke, and they don't all land in the same place. The free NC ferry from Hatteras village takes about an hour, but it puts you ashore at the north end of the island, roughly 13 miles up NC-12 from the village, so plan on that drive before you reach the hotel. The toll ferries from Cedar Island and Swan Quarter, each around 2.25 hours, dock directly at Silver Lake Harbor in the village itself, a short walk from the door. A small island airstrip is also an option if you're flying in private.
While You're on the Island
- Springer's Point, a preserved maritime forest at the edge of the village traditionally linked to Blackbeard, killed nearby in a 1718 battle in Ocracoke Inlet
- Ocracoke Lighthouse (1823), the second-oldest operating lighthouse in the country; it's not open for climbing, but the grounds are worth a stop
- A fenced pasture partway up the island where Ocracoke's wild ponies, a herd distinct from Corolla's wild horses, are kept and viewable
If you're booking during hurricane season (June through November), keep an eye on the forecast: Ocracoke has no bridge out, and ferries and the island itself can be shut down or evacuated faster than almost anywhere else on the Outer Banks.
