Visiting Currituck Beach Lighthouse

Visiting Currituck Beach Lighthouse

Visiting Currituck Beach Lighthouse

2024 Season: March 23 – November 30

The Lighthouse and Museum Shop are open daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
(and until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays Memorial Day – Labor Day)

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

$13.00 to Climb Lighthouse Tower (ages 4 and up)

Admission is paid at front door of lighthouse and includes NC sales tax. (Via cash, check, or credit card)
Advance and online ticketing are not available.
77% of admission is deductible as a charitable donation

Questions? View our Frequently Asked Questions Page!

More questions? Contact the Currituck Beach Lighthouse Site Manager any time.

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.

Want to climb all year long?

Purchase a Season Pass

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 are welcome on the grounds.

Tour Groups & Field Trips

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.

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

What Makes Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla a Must-See

Jo JensenJo Jensen
12:25 07 Oct 24
Gorgeous red brick lighthouse!
Super cute lighthouse. Oldworld charm. Optiojbto climb to the top. Super knowledgeable staff.
Jennifer CanoJennifer Cano
13:52 05 Oct 24
Beautiful, well kept grounds and views from the top are stunning!
Donald CampagnaDonald Campagna
00:22 04 Oct 24
Best view in the northern OBX! Wear good sneakers as it’s 200+ steps to the top! $13 per person to climb the stairs.
NancyNancy
22:00 27 Jul 24
We visited the lighthouse around 9:45am on a Friday morning. The wait was just a few minutes. It was worth the drive and was the favorite sightseeing attraction of the whole trip. The lighthouse’s beautiful bricks are unpainted. The view is absolutely spectacular. Well worth the climb of 220 stairs and $13/person fee. Don’t forget to get your national park passport stamped at the lighthouse and at the museum shop.
Reilly HarbisonReilly Harbison
12:50 09 Jul 24
A little pricey at $13 per person to climb, but I get why they charge. Everyone was very nice and helpful. The climb was worth it. Great views from the top and you can pause on the landings to read some history of the lighthouse if need be. Climbed it with 2 kids and it was short enough they didn't complain. The surrounding area was very pretty and very well maintained. There's also a nice little goose/marsh themed park for the kids to play on. Would visit again.
Amanda WalkerAmanda Walker
10:28 08 Jul 24
This was an awesome experience! The views from the top are amazing and it was cool to learn about how the keepers live and the different lighthouse technologies over the years. I thought it would be frightening since I don't do well with heights but it wasn't. Just keep reminding yourself the walls are several feet deep. Lol
Sugar GSugar G
02:28 08 Jul 24
A must see if in or around the area!!
David AdamsDavid Adams
11:02 21 Jun 24
Great national park sight rich with heritage and historic value. I think with the amount of people that climb the stairs each day they wouldn't need to charge$17 per patron to maintain the grounds and structure but is not my business, just seemed to me some people will miss out on these wonderful sights because you have a large group and didn't budget that kinda money to climb to the top. And being over 2 hour wait at times was a definite downer. Plan accordingly since you can't advance purchase tickets to go.
Jeux NiJeux Ni
23:22 13 Jun 24
Steps were very slender on inside turn going up on a crowded day. The view at the top was worth the climb!
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