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, check in and board. You check your luggage, request assistance with boarding if needed, board a boat instead of a plane and when you arrive, your luggage has been offloaded and is waiting for you. It’s that easy.

Catching the Ferry
Getting to Daufuskie
Your ride to Daufuskie will be comfortable and enjoyable. Every vessel in our fleet includes a climate-controlled cabin, rest room, and a comfortable outside deck. We provide personal assistance with boarding for handicapped travelers is available. Restrooms are located at the landing, and on board the ferries.
Transit time is 45 min. Overnight visitors, please plan to arrive at the landing at least 30 minutes early. Single-day visitors to Daufuskie, please plan to arrive at the Visitor Center 45 minutes early for free parking and free shuttle service to the ferry.
SINGLE-DAY VISITORS
If you are only visiting Daufuskie for the day, there is FREE day-time parking at the ferry’s Visitor Center. Located at 1536 Fording Island Road (Hwy 278) , Suite 102, Building A, the visitor center includes a gift shop, refreshments and a free shuttle that will take you to and from the ferry landing for departures at 10AM, 1PM and 4PM. For 7AM departures, please go to the landing and they will help you.
Parking at any of the other ferry parking areas must be assigned by a crew member if space available. Since daytime parking at the landing, fruit stand or service station is scarce and is $20 per day per car if available, please use the Visitor Center. Same-day round trip tickets are $35 per person. Children 6 and under are free.
OVERNIGHT VISITORS
The Daufuskie Island Ferry’s Embarkation Center, which operates exclusively from Buckingham Landing, is open all year long. It is located at 55 Fording Island Road Extension (which is just off Hwy 278 at the foot of the Hilton Head Bridge on the Bluffton side). For overnight visitors to Daufuskie, parking at the Landing (including parking spaces at the fruit stand or service station) is $10 per night not to exceed $100 per month. Multiple-day tickets are $45 per person. Children 6 year old or younger are free. Single-day visitors to Daufuskie should use the visitor center since daytime parking at the landing, fruit stand or service station is scarce and is $20 per day per car.
PRIVATE WATER TAXI
If our schedule doesn’t work for you or if you prefer the privacy of your own boat, a custom water taxi can be scheduled to pick you up at a time that fits your schedule. Available to or from Daufuskie when you want it. Reservations required: 843-940-7704. ALSO SERVES SAVANNAH, BEAUFORT and more. Call 843-940-7704.
Ferry and Shuttle Schedule
The Daufuskie Island Ferry is running its full schedule. Please be aware that when you purchase your ferry ticket you are entering a contractual agreement with the Daufuskie Island Ferry to follow its policies.
Following SC’s DHEC requirements regarding the COVID- 19 virus, all ferry passengers must wear face coverings in accordance with the directives below.
- All passengers are required to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth throughout the entire passage, including while loading/unloading luggage and cargo, while in the waiting areas, on the docks and while on board the ferry inside the cabin or on open decks.
- Small children who are not able to maintain a face covering are exempt from this requirement. Face covering guidance is provided on the CDC website.
- The application of hand sanitizer prior to boarding will continue as usual.
The Daufuskie Island Visitors Center, Suite 102, Building A, 1536 Fording Island Road, Bluffton, 29915, is open and provides FREE day-time parking and shuttle service to the ferry. Day-time parking at the Landing (including spaces at the fruit stand or service station) is $20 per day.
The daily ferry schedule, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day, is as follows:
- To Daufuskie: 7 AM, 10 AM, 1 PM and 4 PM (on Fridays only 9 PM)
- From Daufuskie: 8:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 2:30 PM and 5:30 PM (on Fridays only 10:15 PM)
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.
From the Visitor Center
There are two shuttles per ferry departure except for the 7AM departure to Daufuskie. Shuttles leave the Visitor Center for Buckingham Landing 30 minutes and 10 minutes before each ferry’s departure time.
Shuttle Leaves From the Visitor Center |
Ferry Departure to Daufuskie |
No shuttle | 7:00 AM |
9:30 AM 9:50 AM |
10:00 AM |
12:30 PM 12:50 PM |
1:00 PM |
3:30 PM 3:50 PM |
4:00 PM |
From Buckingham Landing
There are two shuttles to take you back to the Visitors Center per ferry arrival from Daufuskie.
Ferry Arrival From Daufuskie |
Shuttle From Buckingham Landing back to Visitor Center |
9:15 | 9:20 AM 9:40 AM |
12:15 | 12:20 AM 12:40 PM |
3:15 | 3:20 PM 3:40 PM |
6:15 | 6:20 PM |
On Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day, 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.
For directions to Buckingham Landing or the Visitor Center, click here.
Luggage and Carry-Ons
There is NO charge for items which you carry or roll on board yourself. This includes things like groceries, small household items, luggage, and sports equipment – even a well-mannered dog. Bicycles are $8 per seat i.e., tandem bicycles are $16. Please be prepared to pay the crew for their luggage handling service for items which you can not carry on by yourself upon boarding.
Transit time is 45 min.
Arrive at the landing 30 minutes early if you are staying OVERNIGHT on Daufuskie.
Arrive at the Visitor Center 45 minutes early if you are only visiting Daufuskie for the day. The visitor center has free parking and shuttle service to the ferry and has a comfortable waiting area, gift shop, and refreshments.
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 due and payable to the crew at the time that they load your luggage into the blue baggage carts.
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.
Boarding & Arriving
Boarding
Daytime visitors can go to the Daufuskie Visitor Center to catch the freeshuttle to Buckingham Landing. Plan to arrive 45 minutes early
Overnight visitors should go directly to the Landing to drop off their luggage and get assistance with parking. Plan to arrive at Buckingham Landing about 30 minutes before your departure time.
When driving to the landing, 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.
Upon arrival, drive to the luggage platform under the building to unload your luggage. The crew will help you with parking concerns and will assist you with your baggage for departure and arrival.
Personal assistance from the ferry crew is available for passengers who are handicapped or may have difficulty with boarding or exiting the ferry.
The Captain gives a boarding call 15 minutes before departing. If you choose to wait upstairs, please go down to the boarding area under the building for boarding call.
FAQ’s
You can pay with a credit card when you board or when you make your reservation. No cash is accepted on the ferry.
There is NO charge for items which you carry or roll on board but please do not abuse this privilege. Carry-ons can include things like coolers, duffle bags, golf clubs – even a well-mannered dog. Bicycles are $8 per seat one-way i.e., tandem bicycles are $16 one-way. Kyacks are $10 one-way. Please be prepared to pay the crew for their luggage handling service for items which you can not carry on by yourself upon boarding.
Every vessel in our fleet includes a comfortable, temperature-controlled cabin, rest room, and a spacous outside deck.
Personal assistance with boarding for handicapped travelers is available.
Transit time is 45 min. Arrive 30 – 45 minutes early.
Restrooms are located at the landing, and on board the ferries.
Click here for directions to the ferry.
On Daufuskie
Because the island has no sidewalks and there is no a town center, you really can’t explore it on foot.
Some rental properties include a golf cart, in which case you just need transportation to get there. When a property does not include a cart, you may need to rent one for the day or for the duration of your stay. For information about golf cart rentals, bicycle rentals, or transportation to your vacation home, give us a call at 843 940 7704. Here are some golf cart rental companies that might be able to help you.
Bloody Point – 843-341-5566
Daufuskie Carts – 843-341-2327
Freeport Marina – 843-785-8242
Island Carts – 843-505-3937
Tour Daufuskie – 843-842-9449
Mungeon Creek – 912-844-0222
Sports Addiction Bicycles Rentals – 843-815-8281.
For transportation (for you and your luggage) to and from the dock and your rental unit,
Daufuskie Transit – 843-338-2570
Freddy Taxi Service – 843-368-4238
also provides uber-type taxi service during your stay
Island Essentials – 843-441-8585
Preparing For Daufuskie
Reservations
Passengers are strongly encouraged to make reservations ahead of time to avoid delays in boarding. If you use the ferry website, a confirmation of your reservation will be emailed to you. Our reservation system uses virtual tickets. When you arrive at the boat, the reservation software will indicate that a reservation under your name has been booked with a credit card. You don’t need to present a paper ticket. Reservations can be made from any of our agents, over the phone or on our website.
(Island Residents are encouraged to make reservations. The QRcode on the back of the ID card is used for payment of the reservation.)
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 payment will be assigned stand-by status.
Pre-Boarding Packet
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 overnight 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.
Preparation Tips
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 you at the dock:
Daufuskie Grocery Phone: 843-290-3191.
The Cyber Valet Service Phone : 843-505-8568
> 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.
Get ready to relax and enjoy the Daufuskie life-style: uncluttered, unpretentious and unforgettable.
Things to Plan For
Want some ideas about what to do?
We’ll help you plan your activities on Daufuskie. Ask us about a self-guided golf cart tour of the island’s historic sites and artist studios or a game of golf, or a horse back ride – on the beach or through the woods. One of our associates even gives a lighthouse tour that will knock your socks off. One call does it all: 843-940-7704.
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.