Points of Interest

Currituck Beach Lighthouse

Climb the unpainted brick tower that's still guiding ships past Corolla's shoreline

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About

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse has marked this stretch of the Outer Banks since 1875, and it's still an active aid to navigation today — one of the few lighthouses on this coast left in its original unpainted red brick rather than a painted daymark pattern. It anchors Corolla's historic district, standing alongside the Whalehead Club mansion and the grounds of Currituck Heritage Park, all connected on the same shaded grounds just off Corolla Village Road.

Climbing the Tower

The lighthouse is open to climbers, and the spiral staircase leads up to a walkway circling the lamp room, with views west over Currituck Sound and east toward the Atlantic. It's a genuine workout in beach-town heat, so plan for a breather at the top rather than rushing the descent — the payoff is one of the better vantage points in Corolla.

Visiting

The grounds are open daily, with extended hours on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Because the lighthouse still functions as a working aid to navigation, hours can shift around maintenance or weather, so it's worth calling ahead if you're building a visit around a specific window. Pair it with a walk through Currituck Heritage Park or a stop at the Whalehead Club next door for a full afternoon in Corolla's historic district.

Reviews (7,247)

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4.7

7,247 reviews

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JayTo TheMe

2 months ago

Beautiful lighthouse, wasn’t bad hiking up the 220 steps to the top… the views are worth the sweat and workout! Very well kept, worth the ticket price… also nice little gift shop to check out, a lot of history

Meagan Tedder

4 months ago

We visited a few minutes after the shop had closed, so we were not able to climb the lighthouse. The sign said it was $13 per person to climb. The area is beautiful. There is a residence on the property, toward the back and a beautiful little cottage, which is the store. The area had a brick road you could walk along and benches to sit and admire the view. The historic village and the sound are just 2 minutes away, so if you go a little earlier in the day (before 5), you can have lunch and shop along with your lighthouse visit. It was free for us to visit and take pictures and because we were there after 5, we had the place to ourselves for a bit. I thought it was really cool!

Miss T

2 months ago

Currituck Lighthouse‼️❤️ When you visit check out the free museum across from the bathroom, the free wildlife reserve behind the museum and paid tour of the beautiful yellow house. Before you depart Grab a bite from BBQ shop from the village behind the lighthouse or go across the street to visit the beach and grab a bite there 🥳 Such a beautiful experience 🫶🏽 # July2026LighthouseTour🙌🏾🏖️

Michelle Carswell

5 months ago

Beautiful location, 1st time visiting this lighthouse. Even though it was closed we still wanted to visit. Just as Beautiful from the outside. No other people around and no long lines, a win win in my book. It is $13 per person to climb to the top when open and they do have a gift shop. Pretty cool experience. Bathrooms were pretty clean as well. Great scenic views along the way, be ready for a long drive. 😎 OBX is such a beautiful location, a must see on your next visit!

Julia Berninger

3 months ago

My husband and I visited the Currituck Lighthouse and we both loved our experience there! The Lighthouse itself is beautiful, but the view from the top was stunning and worth every step to the top. The climb up was less daunting than it looks and there and many places to stop for breaks if needed. We both did feel like the fee was a little steep for what it was, but we enjoyed it regardless. There’s a cute little gift shop to check out as well!