Preparing, Arriving, Boarding
Some people feel apprehensive about taking a ferry to an island without a bridge. But, don’t be. Taking the ferry is a little like taking an airplane. You still prepare, pack, arrive and board. You board a boat instead of a plane and when you arrive, your luggage is off-loaded for you. The captain will even provide you with a ride should you need assistance in getting on or off the boat. It’s that easy.
Preparation
To help make the boarding process a “breeze,” we have provided an optional Pre-Boarding Packet. This is especially useful if you are coming over a holiday or staying over night during the busy summer months.
The packet includes:
Boarding Passes
Parking Permits (for overnight parking)
Bag Tags
For more information about the Pre-Boarding Packet, click here. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 843-940-7704. Click here to download the packet.
Reservations
Passengers are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time to avoid delays in boarding. Tickets can be purchased from any of our agents, over the phone or on our website.
If purchased on our website, you will receive two confirmation emails (one for your trip over and one for your return). You do not need to show these emails to the crew since the computer-generated passenger list will indicate that you have secured your reservations with a credit card. However, do make sure that the confirmation emails contain the correct departure and return times and dates.
(The QRcodes on the back of islander ID cards are their tickets. For more information about QRcodes, click here.)
If you do not have a ticket at boarding time and if there is space available, please be prepared to present a credit card. Cash is not accepted on the ferry. At boarding time, reservations without paid tickets will be assigned stand-by status.
Advice
Here is some advice to make your trip an easy and enjoyable experience:
Pack sparingly – The island lifestyle is VERY casual.
Tag each of your bags with your name and cellphone number.
Make sure all your bags are closed or zippered to avoid spillage.
Plan to carry on all your valuables, medications and breakable items.
Consider using a grocery shopping service to deliver your groceries to the dock.*
Leave any luggage or other items that you cannot carry on by yourself on the loading platform for assistance by a luggage handling service provider.
Make sure you have a golf cart, bicycle, or land transportation waiting for you when you arrive on Daufuskie.
* Grocery Shopping Services
If you need groceries, there are two grocery “valet” companies that provide grocery shopping and delivery services to Daufuskie. For guests on their way to Daufuskie, your grocery order can be delivered to the boat which you will be taking. If you are on the island and need something, these companies will also shop and deliver your grocery order to the boat but you will have to be at the dock when the boat arrives to pick up your order.
To order, just call or email your grocery list. There is usually a fee for the grocery shopping and delivery service.
The Cyber Valet Service
Online : www.cybervaletgrocery.com
Email :keri@lowcountrygroceryrunner.com
Phone : 843-505-8568 .
Daufuskie Grocery – specializes in servicing Daufuskie
Online: DaufuskieGrocery.com
Email: DaufuskieGrocery@gmail.com
Phone: 843-508-5900.
Directions
FROM HWY 95
Follow the Highway 278 East toward Hilton Head. Approximately 17 miles from Hwy 95, you will pass the Tangiers Outlets on the right. After you pass thru the Moss Creek traffic light, stay in the right lane. Fording Island Road Extension will be your next right. It is a slight right just before the Fruit Stand near the Bluffton Overpass. The road ends at the Landing.
FROM HILTON HEAD
Take US 278 West to Fording Island Rd Extension (approximately 12 min after you cross the Cross Island Expressway). It is the first left turn after your cross the Hilton Head Bridge. The left turn is immediately after you pass under the Bluffton Parkway overpass. Watch for Wesley’s Fruit Stand on the left. Take sharp left onto Fording Island Rd. Extension and go to end. Click on map for greater detail.
Ferry Service
BY DAILY SCHEDULED FERRY
The ferry runs the same schedule every day, rain or shine, including Sundays except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day:
- Departs for Daufuskie at 7AM, 10AM, 1PM, and 4PM every day and 9PM on Fridays only.
- Returns from Daufuskie at 8:30AM, 11:30AM, 2:30PM and 5:30PM every day and 10:15PM on Fridays only.
- On Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, the ferry departs for Daufuskie at 7AM and again at 4PM and the ferry returns from Daufuskie at 8:30AM and again at 5:30PM.
Transit time is 45 min. Arrive 20 minutes early.
Restrooms are located at the landing, and on board the ferries.
BY CUSTOM WATER TAXI
Available when you want it. Reservations required: 843-940-7704. ALSO SERVES SAVANNAH, BEAUFORT and more…
What Can You Bring on Board?
There is NO charge for items which you carry on board yourself. This includes things like groceries, small household items, luggage, and sports equipment – even bicycles and well-mannered dogs.
Any luggage or other items that you cannot carry on by yourself should be tagged with your name and cell phone number. These may be left on the loading platform and the crew will load them into the ferry’s large blue baggage carts.
A luggage handling service charge (similar to the gratuity that you would give a valet for equal service) will be determined by the crew at the time that your items are loaded.
Make sure all your bags are closed or zippered to avoid spillage. Boxes to hold open bags such as grocery bags and satchels can be purchased at the dock.
There is a $20 charge for transporting any unaccompanied items (items belonging to passengers who are not on board).
Freight
There is a charge for shipping freight on the ferry (larger items which require special handling such as furniture, appliances, grills, moving boxes, landscape material, golf carts, lawn mowers, building materials, mattresses, box springs, and oversized items). Freight using up to 1/2 of a the ferry’s blue transport bins is $20; using 1/2 to a full bin is $40. For large freight, call 843-247-5378 to reserve barge transportation.
Departure
Plan to arrive at Buckingham Landing about 20 minutes early. When arriving, please be considerate of the people who live in the area. This includes driving slowly, radios turned off or at low volume, no littering, and parking only in designated areas.
Drive to the loading dock under the building to unload your luggage and carry-ons. The crew will assist you with all your belongings and help you with parking concerns.
The Captain gives a boarding call 15 minutes before departing.Round-trip tickets are $35 per person
Parking
Daytime parking is free. Overnight parking is $10 per night or $100/month. Dashboard Parking Permits are required for overnight parking. Parking permits can be purchased from a crew member at boarding time or you can pay for your parking on the RESERVATIONS tab on this website. All cars or motorized vehicles must display a valid bumper parking sticker or valid dash board permit.
Remote overnight parking is FREE at the Beaufort Government Center for cars with a valid parking permit displayed on their dashboards. VISITORS coming in more than one car are encouraged to drop off their luggage and park all but one car at our free remote parking location (The Beaufort County Government Center, 4819 Bluffton Parkway, Bluffton 29910). Dashboard passes for parking at the remote location can be obtained from the ferry crew.
Transportation On Daufuskie
When you arrive on Daufuskie, you will need land transportation. Some rental properties include a golf cart in which case you just need transportation to get to there. When a property does not include a cart, you may need to rent one for your entire stay. If your rental agency has not arranged for your land transportation, here are some options:
Bloody Point Carts – 843-341-5566
Daufuskie Carts – 843-341-2327
Freeport Marina – 843-785-8242
Island Carts – 843-505-3937
Tour Daufuskie – 843-842-9449
Sports Addiction Bicycles Rentals – 843-815-8281.
Daufuskie Transit (Provides transportation between your rental and the dock) – 843-338-2570
Please observe the following general rules of conduct.
- Passengers must wait in the designated waiting area until the boarding call is made.
- Smoking is not allowed on any Daufuskie Island Ferry.
- Firearms are not permitted on any Daufuskie Island Ferry.
- Passengers must be appropriately dressed (shoes and shirts are required).
- Eating is not permitted in the enclosed cabin. Drinking from glass containers is not allowed. Food and beverages are allowed on the aft open deck only.
- Guide dogs or trained personal assistant animals can accompany their owners. Passengers with personal pets must keep them in the designated area.
- Riding Daufuskie Island Ferry is a privilege. Please behave politely and do not disturb others.
- Please use headphones when listening to your radio / CD / MP3 player.
- The Daufuskie Island Ferry service accepts credit cards, and printed tickets which can be purchased on-line. No exceptions will be made. If you have any questions about purchasing Daufuskie Island Ferry tickets, please call 843-940-7704.
- Please make sure to take all belongings when leaving the ferry. If you find something that has been lost, please give it to the staff. Please call the Daufuskie Island Ferry office with lost and found inquiries at 843-940-7704. Daufuskie Island Ferry is not responsible for personal belongings.
Daufuskie Island Ferry Service information: 843-940-7704.
Additional Information
To avoid delays in boarding, it is recommended that you make your reservations and purchase your tickets ahead of time. Click on the RESERVATION tab above to make reservations and purchase tickets.
If you do not have a ticket at boarding time and if there is space available, please be prepared to present a credit card. Cash is not accepted on the ferry. At boarding time, reservations without paid tickets will be assigned stand-by status.
