OBX Field Guide

Outer Banks Lighthouses: Which You Can Climb in 2026

Checked against official sources Last verified October 29, 2026 · 7 min read

On this page
  1. The five lighthouses compared
  2. Currituck Beach Lighthouse, Corolla
  3. Bodie Island Lighthouse, near Nags Head
  4. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Buxton
  5. Ocracoke Lighthouse, Ocracoke Village
  6. Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse, Manteo
  7. Seeing all five in one trip
  8. Before you go

In 2026, you can climb two of the five Outer Banks lighthouses: Currituck Beach in Corolla and Bodie Island near Nags Head. Cape Hatteras is closed to climbers all year for restoration, and Ocracoke is not open for climbing. Roanoke Marshes in Manteo is a small replica on a pier, and no official listing we found describes a climb.

The five lighthouses compared

Currituck Beach Bodie Island Cape Hatteras Ocracoke Roanoke Marshes
Town Corolla Nags Head (Bodie Island) Buxton Ocracoke Village Manteo
Run by Outer Banks Conservationists National Park Service National Park Service National Park Service Not confirmed (see below)
Climb in 2026? Yes Yes, through Nov. 5 No, closed for restoration No No climb listed
Height 162 ft 156 ft 198.49 ft to the lightning rod About 75 ft Not officially stated
Steps 220 214 257 climbed by visitors None open Not applicable
Climb fee $13, ages 4 and up $10 adults; $5 for ages 11 and under, 62 and over, and visitors with disabilities None None Not stated
2026 season March 21 to Nov. 30 Spring to Nov. 5 Grounds only Base open limited summer hours Listed as year-round
Hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Timed slots; see below Outdoor areas open 24/7 Ask at Ocracoke Discovery Center Listed as Tue. to Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets Pay at the door; no advance sales recreation.gov, same day only, from 7 a.m. Not applicable Not applicable Not stated
Kids Ages 0 to 3 ride up free in a carrier; no height minimum 42 in. minimum; no carrying; under 12 need an adult 16+ Not applicable Not applicable Not stated
Parking Free Not stated Not stated Not stated Not stated

Currituck Beach Lighthouse, Corolla

You buy tickets at the front of the lighthouse with cash, check or card. Online and advance tickets are not sold.

  • Season and hours: March 21 to November 30, 2026, daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In June, July and August it stayed open until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
  • Closures: It closes for thunder, big storms and Thanksgiving Day. All hours are weather permitting.
  • Fee: $13 per climber, ages 4 and up, tax included. The grounds, museum shop and parking are free.
  • Kids: There is no height rule, but climbers must be at least 4. Children 3 and under may go up in a carrier or backpack at no charge. Every climber signs a liability waiver.
  • The climb: 220 steps to the top of a 162 foot tower, self-guided.
  • Finding it: The entrance sits about 20 miles north of where U.S. 158 meets N.C. 12. Take the third or fourth left after Corolla's 11 mile marker, just past the Historic Corolla Park sign.
  • Accessibility: The operator's pages do not describe an elevator or wheelchair access. Call the office at (252) 453-4939 if you need details.
  • Pets: Leashed pets are welcome on the grounds.

Bodie Island Lighthouse, near Nags Head

Bodie Island is the only park service lighthouse you can climb in 2026, and the season is nearly over. The last climb day is Thursday, November 5, 2026.

  • Address: 8210 Bodie Island Lighthouse Road, Nags Head. It sits north of the Pea Island closure, so you can reach it from Nags Head.
  • Late season days: From October 13 to November 5, climbs run Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday only. Slots start every 20 minutes from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Peak season: Earlier in the year, slots ran every 20 minutes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, with up to 8 tickets per slot.
  • Tickets: Buy on recreation.gov starting at 7 a.m. on the day you want to climb. You cannot book future dates. The reservation fee is not refunded.
  • Fee: $10 for adults. $5 for seniors 62 and up, children 11 and under, and visitors with disabilities.
  • Arrival: Be at the base 5 minutes before your slot. Late arrivals and no shows get no refund.
  • Kids: Climbers must be at least 42 inches tall and are measured first. Each child climbs every step alone. No one may be carried, including in a child carrier. Children 11 and under need an adult aged 16 or older.
  • Other limits: Climbers must weigh under 260 pounds. One person per flight of stairs. No bare feet, and no heels over 1.5 inches. Only water is allowed, in a sealable, non-glass bottle. Only service animals are allowed.
  • The climb: 214 steps in a 156 foot tower, with nine landings and a handrail on one side. There is no elevator or air conditioning.
  • Weather: Climbs stop for lightning within 10 miles or audible thunder. They also stop when the indoor heat index hits 103°F.
  • On site: The outdoor areas are open. The Double Keepers' Quarters visitor center is closed until mid-summer 2027 after a January 2025 fire.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Buxton

The park service says the lighthouse "will not open for climbing in 2026, due to restoration efforts." The outdoor areas near the tower normally stay open around the clock. Right now, though, Hatteras Island is closed to visitors.

  • Address: 46379 Lighthouse Road, Buxton.
  • Size: 198.49 feet from the base of the foundation to the top. Visitors normally climb 257 steps to just over 166 feet.
  • Instead of climbing: The park offers a virtual tour and a webcam online. The original Fresnel lens is at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras Village, about 10 miles southwest.
  • Reopening: The park has not published a date for climbs to resume. Watch the park's restoration project page, which it says it updates at least monthly.

Ocracoke Lighthouse, Ocracoke Village

You cannot climb this one. The park says the narrow interior, small doors and ladders rule it out. It stands about 75 feet tall, on Lighthouse Road in the village.

In summer, the base is open during limited hours. The park does not post those hours online, so ask at the Ocracoke Discovery Center. Reaching Ocracoke takes a ferry. Check the current ferry status first, since storm closures in September and October 2026 restricted the Hatteras route.

Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse, Manteo

This is a 2004 replica of an 1877 light, at the end of a pier on the Manteo waterfront by Queen Elizabeth Street. The replica is a two-story building with a Fresnel lens and history exhibits. It sits next to the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum.

The state tourism listing shows it open year-round, Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Neither official listing we checked gives an admission fee or describes a climb. We could not open the Town of Manteo's own page to confirm these details. Check with the Town of Manteo or the Roanoke Island Maritime Museum before you go.

Seeing all five in one trip

Driving north to south, the order is:

  1. Currituck Beach (Corolla). About 20 miles north of the U.S. 158 and N.C. 12 junction.
  2. Roanoke Marshes (Manteo). West of Nags Head on Roanoke Island.
  3. Bodie Island (south of Nags Head). On N.C. 12, before the Marc Basnight Bridge.
  4. Cape Hatteras (Buxton). South across the bridge and Pea Island. Currently closed to visitors.
  5. Ocracoke (Ocracoke Village). Take the Hatteras to Ocracoke ferry from Hatteras Village. The park puts Hatteras Village about 10 miles southwest of the lighthouse.

We have not listed drive times, because we could not confirm them at an official source. Traffic, ferry lines and N.C. 12 overwash can change the day a lot. To climb both open towers, pair Currituck (any day) with Bodie Island on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday before November 5.

Before you go

  • Check N.C. 12 and ferry status on DriveNC.gov and ncferry.org the morning you travel.
  • For Bodie Island, log in to recreation.gov before 7 a.m. on climb day. Each slot holds up to 8 climbers.
  • Measure kids at home: 42 inches for Bodie Island, age 4 to climb on foot at Currituck.
  • Bring cash, check or card for Currituck. It does not sell tickets online.
  • Wear closed shoes with low heels, and leave bags in the car.
  • Watch the sky. Thunder closes both climbable towers.

Sources