The official start of the summer travel season is here, and for many, that means the annual pilgrimage to the beautiful North Carolina coast. For a lot of visitors, no trip to the area would be complete without a ride on the North Carolina Department of Transportation's Ferry System.

During the busy summer season, lines for a few of the more popular ferry routes can sometimes get backed up. However, there are some things that visitors and residents can do to avoid wait times and get to their destinations with minimal delays. Here are a few tips from the people who know their routes the best:

Hatteras-Ocracoke: On the Ferry System's most popular summer route, motorists who arrive at Hatteras before 10amor after 3pm will generally avoid the daily crowds, as will travelers who get to Ocracoke's South Dock before 2pm or after 7pm. In addition, the busiest summer days on the Hatteras Inlet route are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. "People who make their day trips on Monday or Friday stand a much better chance of avoiding long waits," says Hatteras Port Captain Walter Goodwin.