Information

If you plan to experience Junction 2010 but would rather not camp (meaning you buy tickets at the door; see ticket page for prices), we recommend you procure accommodations AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Junction takes place during the peak tourist season on the island when hotels are usually at capacity. DO NOT JUST “SHOW UP” AND EXPECT TO FIND A PLACE TO STAY!

About Ocracoke
Voted in 2007 as the “#1 Beach in the U.S.,” Ocracoke Island boasts 13 miles of undisturbed sand and sea. That’s right – no houses, no boardwalks; just you and the ocean. Ocracoke Village, located at the south end of the island, is a quaint collection of homes and businesses that can be easily traversed by bike or on foot.
For more information, visit www.ocracokevillage.com

About the Campsite
Located 1.5 miles north of the village on Highway 12, the National Park Service Campground is nestled just over the dune line from the beautiful beaches of the Atlantic. The site is suitable for tents and R.V.’s. Modern toilets, drinking water, cold showers, grills, a dump station and picnic tables are available.

Getting to Ocracoke
Ocracoke Island is located on the southernmost tip of the Outer Banks, and is only accessible by plane, boat, or one of the state operated ferries. For more information about ferry’s and to make ferry reservations, visit www.ncdot.org/travel/ferryroutes or call 1-800-BY-FERRY.

1-Hatteras Ferry (Recommended) Free - From Hatteras, NC across the Hatteras Inlet (40 minutes). The Hatteras ferry is free and does not require a reservation. However, there are usually long lines during the middle of the day that may require travelers to wait for up to two hours to board a ferry. We recommend you arrive before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. to avoid a long wait

2-Cedar Island Ferry $15- From Cedar Island, NC across the Pamlico Sound (2 hrs 15 minutes)

3-Swan Quarter Ferry $15- From Swan Quarter, NC across the Pamlico Sound (2 hrs 45 minutes)

NOTE: Both the Cedar Island and Swan Quarter ferries cost $15 each way and require reservations. If you plan to go this route, WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU MAKE FERRY RESERVATIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. YOU MUST BE AT THE FERRY TERMINAL 30 MINS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE OR YOU WILL LOSE YOUR RESERVATION AND HAVE TO EITHER WAIT FOR THE NEXT AVAILABLE FERRY OR DRIVE AROUND TO THE HATTERAS FERRY. THIS POTENTIALLY CAN PUT YOU AN ENTIRE DAY BEHIND-

Click below to download the ferry schedules. Please note departure times for May 25- Nov1.

Finding the Campsite
If arriving on the Cedar Island or Swan Quarter ferry, drive north through the village on Highway 12. Once out of the village, look for signs for the NPS (National Park Service) Campground on your right (at the end of a long, straight stretch of Highway 12). If you cross over a small bridge, you’ve gone too far!

If arriving on the Hatteras ferry, follow Highway 12 south for around eight miles. Look for signs for the NPS campground on your left. If you get all the way to the village, you’ve gone too far!

There are 3 things that can make your Junction experience miserable and potentially harmful:

HEAT AND THE SUN
The average July high temperature on the island is 85 degrees, with heat indexes that can run much higher. However, since your campsite is so near the beach, you can expect a nice breeze blowing off the water. Regardless, it is critical that you STAY HYDRATED and WEAR PLENTY OF SUNSCREEN! If you’re trying to get a tan, don’t worry – camping near the beach guarantees it. But getting sun burnt is the quickest way to ruin your vacation. Plus, it can be very painful. There is little shade at the campsite, so bring extra shade cover if possible.

MOSQUITOS
Ever wonder where Incognito Mosquito got their name? All we can say is that it’s no coincidence that lead guitarist Ansley Wynn is originally from Ocracoke. BRING PLENTY OF BUGSPRAY AND MAKE SURE YOUR TENT IS BUG PROOF!

RIP CURRENTS
Ocracoke is a barrier island located some 25 miles from the mainland, and at that distance the Atlantic Ocean can pack a powerful punch. VACATIONERS DROWN EVERY YEAR ON OCRACOKE FROM BEING SWEPT OUT IN RIP CURRENTS.
We encourage you to enjoy the ocean (it will be seconds from your campsite, after all), but be advised that there are no lifeguards at the campsite. SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK! Unless you are an experienced ocean swimmer, use some common sense:
If you don’t know how to swim, don’t get in the water!
If you’re intoxicated, don’t get in the water!
If it’s dark outside, don’t get in the water!
If you do know how to swim but the water looks rough, don’t go in past your waist!

The lifeguard beach is located less than a mile from the campsite, so if in doubt, go there!

We encourage everyone to enjoy their Junction experience to the best of their ability and reserve no judgments about the way in which you reach your partying potential, but keep a few things in mind:

You will be camping on Federally-owned property (the National Park Service campground), where federal laws apply
If you’re getting your head right, use your head
Put alcoholic drinks in cups or containers
Head to the beach to light up
You will be sharing the campground with families – be respectful when it comes to late-night noise
When in doubt, head over the dunes to the beach where the sounds of the sea will be louder than you
You will be camping on communal land meant to highlight the beauty of the island – “Leave No Trace”