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 $45 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 $55 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.

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

Transit time is 45 min.

If you are staying OVERNIGHT on Daufuskie, please arrive at the landing 1 hour before your departure

If you are just visiting Daufuskie for the day, arrive at the Visitor Center 45 minutes early  The visitor center has free parking and shuttle service to the ferry and has a comfortable waiting area, gift shop, and refreshments.

For your convenience and to ensure the safe operation of the ferry, we ask that you follow the luggage and packing policies specified below.

Luggage Policy

• One piece of luggage weighing less than 50 pounds is free for each paying passenger regardless of whether it is carried on or checked.
• A luggage ticket ($10) is required for each additional piece of luggage weighing less than 50 pounds.
• Heavier pieces of luggage will require additional luggage tickets.
• Luggage tickets can be purchased online or from the ferry agent when checking in.
• A separate fee for the crew’s luggage handling services is due and payable in cash when they load your checked items into the baggage carts.
• Each passenger may carry on one piece of luggage (suitcase, duffle bag, standard folding wagon, etc.).

Packing Policy

Be sure to tag each piece of luggage with your reservation name and phone number. Baggage tags are available at the terminal.

All items must be packed in closed containers, suitcases or zippered bags. Open bags such as grocery bags will be refused.

The ferry company has the right to refuse any item which could hamper the safe operation of the ferry including unusually large items or items with sharp edges.

Coolers or totes with capacities larger than 60-quarts will be refused.

Consolidating small pieces into one suitcase/container is recommended since luggage tickets are required for transporting all pieces of luggage after the first which is free.

Be prepared to pay the crew for their luggage handling services ($10 for loading up to half a cart and $20 for loading up to a full cart).

Canoes, kayaks, bikes and other oversized items may be transported at published rates.

Since luggage is not guaranteed to ship on the same boat with the passenger due to the payload limitations of the individual ferries, it is recommended that passengers carry their essentials with them, such as medications or necessary food, in case they are needed.

If luggage must be shipped on a different boat, it will come on the next available departure which could be the following morning.

Pack as if you were travelling by plane. Many rentals include play pens, and high-chairs. Check with your rental agent.  Daufuskie does have a small grocery store and a Saturday farmer’s market.  There are companies that rent kayaks and beach chairs.

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.

Click here for directions to the ferry.