The Fort Fisher-Southport state ferry crosses the Cape Fear River in about 35 minutes. The published one-way fare is $7 for a vehicle or combination under 20 feet, so two crossings cost $14 in that vehicle category. It can make a useful Southport day trip when you plan the return and your transport from the Southport terminal before leaving.
This guide uses NCDOT fare and route information checked October 5, 2026, including the timetable’s visible route selectors. It does not promise a short queue, unrestricted deck access, or priority boarding for bicycles.
Fares and the two-crossing budget
NCDOT’s price page publishes these Southport-Fort Fisher categories:
| Category | One way | Two crossings at the same category |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrian | $1; under 5 free | $2 per fare-paying pedestrian |
| Bicycle rider | $2 | $4 per rider |
| Motorcycle or scooter | $3 | $6 |
| Vehicle/combination under 20 feet | $7 | $14 |
| Vehicle/combination 20-40 feet | $14 | $28 |
| Vehicle/combination 40-65 feet | $28 | $56 |
The return column is our multiplication of the published one-way fare by two. Confirm the correct category for a trailer or unusual vehicle and any passenger/payment details with NCDOT. Food, parking, onward transport, and an overland fallback are outside this ferry-fare calculation. NCDOT accepts cash and the listed major cards at terminal booths.
Read both directions of the schedule
The NCDOT schedule has separate From and To selectors. Read Fort Fisher to Southport for the outbound ride and Southport to Fort Fisher for coming home. Choose the date range and weekday/weekend table that match your day.
| Current 2026 table | Fort Fisher outbound examples | Southport return examples |
|---|---|---|
| September 8-December 31, Monday-Friday | 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m. | 3:15 p.m., 4 p.m., 4:45 p.m., then final 6:15 p.m. |
| Saturday-Sunday, January 1-December 31 | 10 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11:30 a.m. | 3:15 p.m., 4 p.m., 4:45 p.m., then final 6:15 p.m. |
These are selected departures from the checked timetable, not the complete schedule or a guarantee of same-day operation. Confirm status and any notices before travel. Do not apply NCDOT’s Hatteras-Ocracoke busy-time advice to this different route.
For an illustrative weekend plan, a 10 a.m. departure plus the listed 35-minute crossing puts scheduled arrival near 10:35 a.m., before unloading and any delay. A 4 p.m. return leaves nominal time for a meal and waterfront visit, with later listed sailings available if operating. That is a sample schedule, not a reservation or a forecast of queue length.
Car, bicycle, or walk-on?
| Mode | When it suits the plan | What you must arrange |
|---|---|---|
| Car | Downtown Southport, lunch, or more than one stop | Vehicle category, loading queue, parking at your stops and a return sailing |
| Bicycle | Riders with an appropriate road route and equipment | Terminal-to-destination route, traffic comfort and crew boarding instructions |
| Walk-on | The crossing itself or an outing with arranged pickup | Confirmed transport from the terminal and back, plus a missed-ferry contingency |
The NCDOT terminal map, checked with Southport selected, gives 1650 Ferry Road, Southport, phone 910-477-5200. Do not mistake arrival at that address for arrival at the downtown pier or a restaurant. Map both transfers using the actual destinations. This guide has not verified a continuous sidewalk, a protected cycle route, or a waiting taxi service.
Follow ferry staff’s boarding direction. A bicycle fare does not prove you can bypass every vehicle queue or board immediately. Confirm current loading arrangements, service-animal or pet needs, and accessibility if they affect your outing.
Choose one waterfront stop
Compare Provision Company and Fishy Fishy Cafe using their current menus, operating hours, and seating arrangements. A waterfront address does not guarantee an available outdoor table when you arrive. If a dog or step-free route is essential, confirm the actual dining area’s access before planning the ferry around it.
Keep the itinerary to one meal and a manageable waterfront walk until you know the transport time from the terminal. Add another attraction only when it still leaves room to return, queue, and board. A meal ending at 3:50 p.m. downtown is not a plan for a 4 p.m. terminal departure.
Plan for a full boat or canceled sailing
The NCDOT reservations page distinguishes reservable routes from first-come service. Do not treat an advance ticket purchase as a secured Southport-Fort Fisher vehicle space. Check the route’s current loading arrangements and allow time before the departure you want.
For drivers, a missed last ferry requires an overland route or another night’s arrangements. Map that alternative for your actual lodging, including current traffic; this guide does not promise a universal driving time. For walk-ons, “drive around” is not a usable fallback unless someone with a vehicle is available. Arrange pickup, a feasible transport service, or lodging before leaving the first terminal.
Check NCDOT’s current status and contact 1-800-BY-FERRY when service is unclear. Weather, low water, or operational disruptions can alter the schedule. Plan the return as carefully as the outward ride.
A separate Fort Fisher stop
Fort Fisher State Historic Site has its own hours, so check them before pairing it with the crossing. The aquarium at Fort Fisher is closed for expansion, with reopening timing an estimate rather than a confirmed day. Do not use old ferry-tourism copy that still suggests a same-day aquarium visit there.
The state car ferry is also different from the Bald Head Island passenger ferry. Verify the route and terminal, then choose your outbound sailing, confirmed Southport transport, and return with enough margin for the trip you actually want.
