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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Buxton, NC

Photo: Go4DaGreen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory BuffFree

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

46379 Lighthouse Road · Buxton, NC

Why you should go…

Completed in 1870, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse stands just over 198 feet from foundation to pinnacle and is painted with black spiral stripes on a white background. In 1999 the lighthouse was moved 2,900 feet in 23 days and now sits 1,500 feet from the shoreline. The tower is not open for climbing in 2026 because of restoration work, and the national seashore charges no entrance fee. There are 269 steps from the ground to the lens room.

  • #lighthouse
  • #outer banks
  • #national seashore
  • #maritime history

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    Cape Hatteras National Seashore

    Free

    Walk miles of open Atlantic beach, visit three historic lighthouses and camp or fish along the Outer Banks barrier islands.

    3.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Bodie Island Lighthouse

    Free

    See the black-and-white banded 1872 lighthouse over the marsh, and climb its 200-plus steps in season.

    39 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Jockey's Ridge State Park

    Free

    Climb the tallest living sand dune system on the Atlantic coast, fly a kite, try hang gliding or watch the sun set over Roanoke Sound.

    50 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Wright Brothers National Memorial

    Under $25

    Stand where the Wright brothers first flew in 1903, walk the flight line and climb to the granite monument.

    54 mi awayMore like this