The Outer Banks is home to five historic lighthouses, each with its own character, history, and views. This guide maps where every Outer Banks lighthouse is located, which ones you can climb, and how to plan a lighthouse road trip up and down the barrier islands.
Map of the Outer Banks Lighthouses
[Add interactive map here showing all five lighthouse locations from Corolla down to Ocracoke.]
The 5 Outer Banks Lighthouses
Currituck Beach Lighthouse (Corolla)
The northernmost light, located in Corolla. Known for its unpainted red-brick exterior. Climbable to the top for views over the Currituck Sound and the wild horse beaches.
Bodie Island Lighthouse (Nags Head)
Recognizable by its black-and-white horizontal stripes, just south of Nags Head near Oregon Inlet. Climbable seasonally, with a visitor center and marsh boardwalk.
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (Buxton)
The tallest brick lighthouse in North America, famous for its black-and-white spiral stripes. The most popular lighthouse to climb on the Outer Banks.
Ocracoke Lighthouse (Ocracoke Island)
The oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina, reachable only by ferry. Short and white, it cannot be climbed but is a classic photo stop on Ocracoke.
Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse (Manteo)
A reconstructed screw-pile lighthouse on the Manteo waterfront, easy to visit alongside other Roanoke Island attractions.
Which Outer Banks Lighthouses Can You Climb?
Currituck Beach, Bodie Island, and Cape Hatteras are climbable (seasonally and weather permitting). Ocracoke and Roanoke Marshes are not open for climbing but are still worth visiting.
Planning a Lighthouse Road Trip
Tips on the best order to visit, ferry timing for Ocracoke, climbing seasons, and how to combine your lighthouse tour with nearby beaches and attractions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lighthouses are on the Outer Banks?
There are five historic lighthouses on the Outer Banks: Currituck Beach, Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras, Ocracoke, and Roanoke Marshes.
What is the most famous Outer Banks lighthouse?
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, with its iconic black-and-white spiral, is the most famous and the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States.
Related OBX Guides
Make a day of it: pair a lighthouse trip with our Outer Banks Beaches guide, go pier fishing, or see the wild horses in Corolla. Browse everything in our Things to Do in the Outer Banks guide.