Visiting Currituck Beach Lighthouse

Visiting Currituck Beach Lighthouse

Visiting Currituck Beach Lighthouse

2025 Season: March 22 – November 30

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

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

$13.00 to Climb Lighthouse (ages 4 and up)

Admission is paid at front 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 and the nation is significant.

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 hosts school groups, nonprofit groups, and professionally guided tours. To qualify for our 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 may be sent to the tour coordinator and must be turned in to 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

4.7
Based on 6282 reviews
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Linda Linzey
03:56 27 Mar 25
The folks at the lighthouse were informative and friendly.
Jessica J
19:45 26 Mar 25
Mark LaCombe
18:48 26 Mar 25
James Rogers
01:26 19 Mar 25
Carbo Kuo (BYVoid)
01:09 16 Mar 25
A very beautiful red brick lighthouse with a very high height and beautiful and pleasant surrounding environment. Even if you don’t climb the tower, it’s still nice to walk around.
Michael Venning
15:52 21 Nov 24
Great time climbing, 220 steps so be prepared! Good view, bit windy so hang on to your hat, nice staff, no wait time when we went - but was told during peak summer season there is a small wait. There is a nice FREE museum across the street worth seeing. Seemed to be plenty of parking. Small fee to climb - non profit, so worth the small entrance fee. Overall a good value for your buck.
Angela Irwin
14:15 15 Nov 24
While staying in Corolla on vacation, we decided to explore the Currituck beach lighthouse. It was great! Very friendly staff, informational pamphlet, and there’s a gift shop right next to it. The view from the top is amazing!
I’ve lived in NC for over a decade and we’ve never been to a lighthouse! Kids over 4 are able to climb. It’s a little disorienting, but thankfully there’s a landing at each level. The very top offers an incredible view! The entire grounds are beautiful to walk and explore, and there’s even a museum detailing the history of this area. OBX is quickly becoming a favorite NC spot, and we’ll definitely be back (in the off season).On a Friday during off season we were able to get in and go up north problem.
Jamie Wojciechowski
21:29 11 Oct 24
Beautiful historic lighthouse just north of Corolla on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The lighthouse sits in a large green space with boardwalks and pathways that connect the various sites that you can visit.First used in 1875 and just beautiful, the lighthouse is worth a visit if visiting the area.
Jo Jensen
12:25 07 Oct 24
Gorgeous red brick lighthouse!