Currituck Beach Lighthouse

Since 1875, this lighthouse has kept mariners from danger, night and day. The Keepers’ Dwelling has housed more than two dozen families, as their duties of “Lighthouse Keeper” were carried out. Today, our on-site keepers and staff continue the tradition: cleaning the lens, maintaining the structure and grounds, and most importantly, now – sharing it with you.


Hours of Operation

2023 Season March 18 – November 30

The Lighthouse and Museum Shop are open daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Free Climb Day on Season Opening Day: March 18

Open *weather permitting* – Closed for thunder, big storms, & Thanksgiving Day

Admission

$12 to climb lighthouse tower (ages 4 and up)

Admission is paid at front door of lighthouse and includes NC sales tax. (Advance and online ticketing are not available.)

We accept cash, checks, or credit cards.

 75% of admission is deductible as a charitable donation

Additional Information

Admission to the grounds and the museum shop is free, along with parking.

There are no height restrictions but climbers must be at least 4 years old to climb. Children ages 0-3 may go to the top in a carrier/backpack only (free).

To climb the tower, visitors must sign a liability waiver. It indicates that there is risk in climbing a building where the architecture is preserved and interpreted for a period before modern building codes.

Drones and their pilots must stay outside the wooden fence that surrounds the Currituck Beach Lighthouse compound.

Leashed pets welcome on grounds.

Come See The Light​

Currituck Beach Lighthouse towers above the northern Outer Banks in the Historic Corolla Village. The last brick and mortar lighthouse built in North Carolina, its unpainted red brick served as a day marker to distinguish it from other coastal lighthouses.

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse is a first-order lighthouse, having the largest of seven Fresnel lens sizes. With a 20-second flash cycle, the light can be seen from 18 nautical miles away. Upon entering, you will find exhibits interpreting the history and significance of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse; its role in cultural and maritime history on the Outer Banks is robust.

Climbing the Currituck Beach Lighthouse is always rewarding; at the top, you’re greeted with expansive views of the Currituck Sound, the Atlantic Ocean, and the northern Outer Banks.

Quick Facts

Illuminated in 1875

Automated in 1937

Self-guided climb takes
anywhere from 5 – 20 minutes
but take as much time
as you’d like!

220 Steps to the Top

9 landings for viewing
and resting

~1 Million Bricks

162′ tall – from the ground
to the top

Weighs 6,000,000 pounds

Events & Programs

Today

Like to climb a lot?

Tour Groups

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse gladly welcomes large school or tour groups. To qualify for our guided-tour group rate, your party must have 15 or more guests and make arrangements at least 3 weeks in advance.

* Prior to climbing the lighthouse, we ask that each person in the group sign a liability statement. Don’t worry, we never share your information. To save time, the waiver will be mailed to the tour coordinator and must be turned in to Lighthouse staff upon arrival.


Get Married at the Lighthouse

We love sharing the lighthouse with you. If you need an unrivaled venue for your special day, look no further. Whether your party is 5 or 150, our grounds can provide a perfect environment for your wedding ceremony.

History of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse

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How to Find Us

The lighthouse entrance is 20 miles north of Highway 158 and Route 12 junction; take the third or fourth left after Corolla’s 11-mile marker, just beyond the Historic Corolla Park sign. The lighthouse is just north of the Historic Corolla Park and Historic Whalehead. 

Currituck Beach Lighthouse Office
(252) 453-4939
Currituck Beach Lighthouse Museum Shop 
(252) 453-6778

More questions? Contact the Currituck Beach Lighthouse Site Manager.