Fast-breaking news from the ferry division's Facebook page: "Because demand for spots on the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry route has remained very high, we have decided to extend the summer season schedule until Oct. 6! That means there will continue to be 36 trips each way per day. It's believed the combination of great weather, the traditional lower rental costs after Labor Day, and the low gas prices have helped keep large crowds on the Outer Banks."

NC Ferry Division begins autumn schedule changes September 15th.

Pamlico Sound, Hatteras, Southport routes will go to off-season schedules in the coming weeks.

The kids are back in school, the days are getting shorter. Autumn is coming to the North Carolina coast, and with it comes annual schedule changes for four of NCDOT’s Ferry Division routes.

Here’s a list of the scheduled changes:

• September 15 - The Cedar Island-Ocracoke and Swan Quarter-Ocracoke routes will begin their off-season schedules, featuring three round-trip departures daily on both routes.
• September 22 - The Hatteras-Ocracoke route transitions to its “shoulder season” schedule.
• September 28 - The Southport-Fort Fisher route goes to its off-season schedule, going from 16 weekday round trips to 14. Weekend schedules go from 15 to 13 daily departures from both sides.
• November 10 - The Hatteras-Ocracoke route will transition to its off-season winter schedule.

Year-round schedules for all NC Ferry routes can be found at www.ncferry.org.