Lighthouses of the Outer Banks

The Outer Banks is home to five iconic lighthouses from Corolla to Ocracoke Island. Discover more about the oldest operating lighthouse in the state, the lighthouse that shines over the Graveyard of the Atlantic, and which one you can climb on a full moon!

Currituck Beach Lighthouse
Starting in the northern Outer Banks, in Corolla, stands the distinct red-brick Currituck Beach Lighthouse at 162 feet high. This lighthouse is the second tallest OBX lighthouse and it was built in 1875, with 220 steps to reach the very top. Visitors are welcome to climb to the top to see the incredible view of both the Currituck Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.

Bodie Island Lighthouse
Heading down the beach to south Nags Head, Bodie Island Lighthouse stands at 156 feet high with horizontal black and white stripes. The original lighthouse was built in 1847 but has been reconstructed twice. The current lighthouse was completed in 1872 and still uses the first-order Fresnel lens. Bodie Island Lighthouse is open for visitors to climb, all 219 steps, and it offers full moon tours occasionally.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
Located in Buxton with its "barber pole" black and white pattern is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States, reaching an impressive 198.49 feet. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse protects a dangerous section of the Atlantic Ocean, notoriously known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. This lighthouse was first built in 1803 but later had to be rebuilt in 1870. Over a hundred years later, in 1999, the lighthouse had to be moved 2,900 feet due to the threat of shoreline erosion. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse typically allows guests to climb all 257 steps to the top; however, due to current restoration efforts, it is predicted it will not be open for climbing until the summer of 2026.

Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse
This unique, red-roofed lighthouse is on the end of a short pier in Shallowbag Bay in the town of Manteo. Unlike the other Outer Banks lighthouses, this one resembles a small cottage and is only 37 feet high. It helps vessels navigate the waters of the Roanoke Sound. The current lighthouse was completed in 2004 and is a replica of the former 1877 Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse. Before that one, there were two others built in 1831 and 1858. Visitors are welcome to explore inside or outside on the surrounding deck. Next time you visit, be sure to look in the distance towards the ocean to catch the flash of light from the Bodie Island Lighthouse.

Ocracoke Lighthouse
All the way down at the southern end of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore stands Ocracoke Lighthouse at about 75 feet. The lighthouse was built in 1823 and went into operation the following year. Ocracoke Lighthouse is known for its solid white coloration and for being the oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina.
Visitors are welcome to view the lighthouse, and the base is open on occasion, but climbing is not permitted. To get to Ocracoke Island, a scenic ferry must be taken from Hatteras or Cedar Island.

Ready to plan your trip to visit the Outer Banks and see each of the five OBX lighthouses? 

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