Skip to content
BusinessesGrow
Currituck Beach Lighthouse, Corolla, NC

Photo: Warfieldian, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffFamily Favorite

Currituck Beach Lighthouse

1101 Corolla Village Rd · Corolla, NC

Why you should go…

Completed in 1875 from about one million bricks, this 162-foot lighthouse was left unpainted so its red brick would set it apart from other coastal lights. You can climb the 220 steps to the outdoor gallery for views over Currituck Sound, the Atlantic Ocean and the northern Outer Banks. Its first-order Fresnel lens is the original and still lights every night. The brick-path grounds and museum shop sit in Historic Corolla Village.

  • #lighthouse
  • #outer banks
  • #lighthouse climb
  • #historic site
  • #scenic views

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 Currituck Beach Lighthouse, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • 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.

    26 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.

    31 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.

    41 mi awayMore like this