Getting to Bald Head Island is part of the adventure and if timed right it can be fun and scenic.  Bald Head Island is the southernmost of North Carolina’s cape islands and is located at the confluence of the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean.  Generally speaking, the island is 6 nautical miles (20-minute ferry ride) off the coast of Southport, North Carolina.  Southport itself is a great destination - old Victorian homes, Christmas shop, antique shopping and a quaint sea side village. If you have time before the ferry leaves, drive to the end of Howe Street and sit in the swings overlooking the water. The island you see from there to the right is Oak Island (it has a bridge) and straight ahead in the distance is Bald Head Island.  Once you learn to identify “Old Baldy” our 1817 lighthouse - it is easy to spot the island.

To MapQuest your trip, enter the following address:

6099 Indigo Plantation Drive

Southport, NC 28461

Bald Head is 30 miles south of Wilmington and 60 miles north of Myrtle Beach.  From Route 40 use Exit 414, Castle Hayne and follow the signs to the Brunswick County Beaches. (Detailed directions provided below).

Advance ferry reservations are required. Ask our property manager if they are making ferry reservations for you and if it is included in the total cost.  If not, call the ferry landing (910-457-5003) after you confirm a stay reservation with us. During the busy vacation season ferry reservations are critical. Please plan to arrive at the ferry terminal at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time.

Tram service from the harbour to the house is included in the $15 per adult, $8 for children ages 3 to 12 round trip ferry ticket. You do not need a ticket to ride from the island to the mainland. Dial 457-5006 from the island for the return trip reservation, once you know when you will depart.

You will park your car (after you unload your luggage) in a secured lot near the ferry landing at Indigo Junction. Indigo Junction is at the end of West 9th Street in Southport.  For your convenience, be sure to drop your luggage off at the ferry landing onto the wooden luggage racks for the handlers “outfitters” to load onto the ferry - BEFORE you park your car.

The parking lots have daily rates of $7/day in Lots B & C and $5/day in Lot D.  You can walk to the ferry from B and most people can walk there from C but you will have to take the shuttle bus from D.  The cost of parking is not included in your rental rate. Be sure to take your parking ticket with you.

When you arrive on the island you will arrive in the picturesque 10-acre Bald Head Island Marina in the Harbour Village.  As you disembark from the ferry make your way to the transportation podium by staying to the right. 

Tell the outfitter there at the podium that you are going to Villa 20. They will assign a tram (by “Letter”) for you to ride in to the house.

Place your carry-on items in the tram and then retrieve your luggage from the wooden racks and carry it to the tram.  The outfitter will load you luggage into the tram and take you to Villa 20.

When you return from the island walk directly to the parking booth in Lot B with your parking ticket, to pay your parking fee. 

You will be given either a token or a pass code to put in the gate to get your car out of the lot. By the time you get back to the ferry landing with your car, your luggage should be taken off the boat and put on the wooden racks where you dropped it on the way over. 

Packing Tip - Pack like you would for flight travel. Bald Head is a casual environment.  In the summer it is quite warm and nobody expects you to dress up. Remember you are traveling by golf cart. They are not air conditioned and sometimes it rains. Pack light.  You will quickly notice that veteran Bald Head visitors pack all loose belongings in large Rubbermaid boxes.  This makes loading and unloading at the dock much easier. You can hand carry valuables/breakables onto the boat with you. Be sure your bags are all properly tagged. Often in the rush things get left at the dock.  If they are marked with your name the outfitters will seek you out and deliver your belongings. Open bags of any kind need to be hand carried onto the ferry.   

Detailed Directions from NC Route 40 Eastbound - Exit 416 (Route 140 south) to Bald Head Island Ferry

At exit number 416, bear right onto 140 south

Follow 140 over the Willmington river to highway end.

Loop back around and under 140 - heading toward Brunswick County Beaches - south on 133.

Continue to follow the Brunswick Co. Beaches signs and stay right.

After going over yet another bridge, take the first exit following the signs for 133 South - stay in the left of the exit lanes.  At the bottom of the exit at the light go Left on 133 South.  You will see the first sign for Bald Head Island at the light.

In about 20 miles, just before you get into Southport, 133 S will turn right - BUT YOU GO STRAIGHT - and will now be on 87 South (River Road).

At a light where 87 appears to be coming to an end (there is a Kerr Drugstore on the corner) - Turn Left on Howe Street (otherwise marked as Route 211).  There is also a sign that says Bald Head Island at this corner.

At the next traffic light turn Right on West 9th and this road will take you directly to the ferry.

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