My 6-year old and I climbed to the top of the lighthouse to enjoy some gorgeous views of the sound and ocean. Staff was friendly and given that it was my son's birthday that day, they let him in for free. It was a little warm inside but they had large fans blowing on a couple of different levels and some of the windows were open where you could catch a breeze. Obviously, it can be a little tight when multiple families are trying to go up and down at the same time. But all in all, worth a trip if you enjoy lighthouses and don't mind the climb to see some lovely views! read more

My family visited Currituck Lighthouse for the second time within the last couple of years, and we've enjoyed it just as much both times! Staff members are so friendly, and when there has been a little bit of a wait, they've gone out of their way to make "light" of it. Although it's a little bit exerting, the climb to the top of the lighthouse is worth it. The view is beautiful, and it's neat to see Whalehead and the Sound. Be warned - it can get very hot while you're climbing, but they do have landings and fans set up to help. Don't forget to visit the cute gift shop, too! read more

See all

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse is a beautiful brick tower surrounded by trees and lovely restored buildings. A friendly volunteer will greet you to organize the line and send groups in to register. (Because the lighthouse construction predates current building codes and safety regulations, every group must sign a waiver to climb to the top.) There are 214 steps to the top with several platforms to pause and catch your breath. The view from the top is breathtaking, of course, and the Fresnel lens is fascinating. It's only $7 to climb to the top. Children under 7 are free. If there are high winds or thunderstorms, the Lighthouse may be closed, so be sure to call. The restored gift shop is delightful with lots of lovely rooms to browse. Within walking distance is the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, the Whalehead Club Historic House, and the Historic Corolla Village - all beautiful, fascinating, and worth a visit! read more

See all

Hatteras is the most popular lighthouse on the Outer Banks, but the Currituck Beach Lighthouse has always been my personal favorite. I last climbed this lighthouse 20 years ago and this last week I had the opportunity to do so again. Especially since the idiots in Washington and their government shutdown caused the other lighthouses to be closed, but I wont get into that. Currituck and its unpainted brick colored exterior sets it apart from the other lighthouses on the coast visually and kind of gives it a more intimate feel. I dont know how one can get an intimate feeling from a lighthouse, but just go with me on this. 7 hard-earned greenbacks and 214 steps later you will reach the top with an amazing view of the northern outer banks. Well worth it! You probably should tighten up any loose clothing or accessories before you get to the top, if the winds are strong enough you'll be watching your belongings fly to the ground below. read more

This place is ok. For just walking up a lighthouse it's a bit pricey. We have been a few times and the kids love it.

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse and surrounding little shops made for a nice day trip while I was on vacation in the Outer Banks. Despite the sweltering heat and humidity that day, and the painful trek up the spiral steps, the view from the top was worth it. And the breeze too, of course. I was surprised that you had to pay something like $8 a person to go in it though, but I guess not every historical location can survive on donations alone, so okay. Overall, it's not really different than other lighthouses I've been in. The only thing that made the whole experience different were the shops. Most of them had pretty much all the same chotchskies, but it was nice to walk around, look at stuff, and get some a/c. read more

Straight brick and you can climb to the top of this one! Has an amazing view. Another East Coast lighthouse down and done lighthouse‍

This light house was so out standing!! It was so big and it took me an hour but I climed it! My girl friend had to practically drag me! An elevator would be nice for us out of shap folks...but who am I kidding I need the exercise!! Great view and the staff was help ful and kind to us we love exploring the great obx and all it has to offer to us!! Wish I took the opportunity to propose to my girl friend at the top but I didn't buy a ring yet!! We have been together for a year and she is the love of my life! I'm not climbing the light house again to propose now though I will have to have another opportunity maybe when we play putt putt. Does anyone know where I can get a nice ring in obx? read more

Beautiful, charming old lighthouse. Neat historical info and glimpses into the bygone era of lighthouse keeping as you make your climb. $7, but worth it in my eyes. Note that when I went, it was a crystal clear day and not too hot; who knows what I'd have rated it had that not been such a perfect day. Grounds and surrounding area are really pretty too; whole family enjoyed it except for my pops, who chickened out of the climb at the first landing :-) read more

The lighthouses in Southern California are pretty lame, so it was really cool to check out a good lighthouse for once. We made our way up from the coast to check out the Currituck Lighthouse, and I'm really glad we did. It's this towering brick structure you can climb for a rather steep price. It's a long climb up the couple hundred steps, but totally worth it--unless you're scared of heights. From the top, you get to look out over the nearby Whalehead Club and park a spectacular view of the Outer Banks that seems to stretch on forever. There's also a small museum built into the lighthouse with some great historic photos and other artifacts from the lighthouse's past. read more

Currituck Beach Lighthouse - There it is. The lighthouse. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Corolla, North Carolina

Not sure what the hype is about this place. There's a line outside and very noisy. The lighthouse itself is very underwhelming. The shop is very crowded and nothing special. There's a private residence on site. The owner must be overly annoyed by the lighthouse visitors who are not aware and sit on the stoop. A horrible value compared to the Pearl Tower in Shanghai. read more

Nice quiet place. Great photo ops. The park that is next door was great to walk around. We even ate our pizza at the base of the light house. read more

This is one of my favorite lighthouses of the Outer Banks. Currituck is a beautiful area with gorgeous views from the top of the lighthouse. The Lighthouse Shop is adorable! It's a small space with tons of souvenirs and gifts. read more

We came here on a semi rainy/cloudy afternoon as a family. It is about $7 per person to go up which I found a little bit costly for a lighthouse, but I'm sure all the money goes into maintaining and preserving so that's fine. Children under a certain age are free. The lighthouse has some boards with information on this lighthouse and others on the way up. It's interesting to read a little about the history. The stairways were much wider than other lighthouses I've been to. It definitely was less claustrophobic and steep feeling than others. The view from the top was very pretty. The observation area wasn't too narrow or small. Overall it's a nice little stop if you're in the area and looking for something different to do. read more

We come to the Outer Banks every two years. This is totally worth the wait. This historic lighthouse is very old but super neat. It has over 200 steps and you can see all of Corolla at the top. Definitely a must see when in Corolla. read more

See all

Nice place to stop and make a memory. $10 a person to climb the lighthouse. Well worth every penny. I would definitely recommend this even if you don't go to the top you can take pictures and visit the gift shop. read more

If I could is give it 10 stars I would!! Very knowledgeable staff, not to busy, they send you up in shifts, awesome view at the top. 160 feet up, and only 220 stairs up, breaks in between awesome for kids and adults, and you don't have to work out for the rest of the day :-) read more

See all

This place is nice, but way over priced to go to the top of the light house. It's $10.00 per person over the age of 7 years old. They also only take cash or check. With our family of 5, $50.00 was too much to pay to climb a bunch of steps! read more

Currituck Beach Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Corolla, North Carolina

What a cool place. Loved walking the grounds around the lighthouse. There was a free wildlife building with neat artifacts and animals from the area. There is a yummy little barbecue place and some local artist shops. Worth walking around and exploring!!! Beautiful park and place!!! read more

When my wife and I used to live in Southern Virginia we used to come to the Outer Banks quite frequently. Now that we live in Ohio of course I tripped or less frequent but none the less we still try to make time to go to the Currituck Beach lighthouse. The lighthouse itself is owned by a private Historical Society but the light is still maintained by the government. It cost $10 to get in and we saw that that turn some people around which is ok. The first floor of the lighthouse has period-correct uniforms pictures names and dates of service for all the previous lightkeepers and their families. When you get in and look up you figure to yourself I would have no problem making this climb and then about halfway up your heart is ready to explode and many people had to stop and take a break but fortunately there are some rest areas on the way up which have a lot of really interesting trivia and information about the lighthouse in the area. We did observe some people get kind of anxious because it is rather unnerving to be in this smaller space way up high but is well worth it once you get to the top because you can go outside and walk around the lighthouse to which You Can See For Miles. The time of year we went was off-season so wasn't that warm at all but the lighthouse Keepers did tell us that in the summer it can get right stuffy in there so keep that in mind it's probably not the best idea to go during the heat of the day. Also on the property they have the original restored lightkeeper's house and another Museum. The tour guides will generally leave you alone unless you want to engage in conversation with him which I did in that case they are full of information and very helpful read more

Walking up to the lookout was closed but a great area to walk around and enjoy the weather, if it is not too humid!

Lovely lighthouse and buildings but we weren't paying $10/pp to climb to the top. And we are doing all of the work. So we just enjoyed it from below. I really wish it was more family friendly. read more

Currituck Beach Lighthouse - Looking up.... - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Corolla, North Carolina

Beautiful old lighthouse. We enjoyed our time there. Drove up the road a few miles and right out on to the beach to see the wild horses of Corolla. read more

Currituck Beach Lighthouse - Currituck lighthouse. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Corolla, North Carolina

Love it here!!! The views at the top of the lighthouse are spectacular and well worth the climb. A good family outing at a reasonable price. Can't wait to come back!! read more

This lighthouse is tucked back in the woods and is not right on the beach like you might think. It is unpainted brick, to distinguish it from all the other lighthouses on the OBX which are painted in various patterns. The climb to the top was made bearable by several landings along the way. It was very windy at the top, but the view was terrific. There is a large gift shop on site as well. Would definitely recommend! read more

Was able to hike to the top with my 5 year old. The 1 year old just couldn't do it though! Haha! There's a fan on every other level as you are making your trek up. You already know it's 10$ a person from other reviews. The top of the lighthouse is cool but they are under construction so you can't go the whole way around. The bathrooms near by are very nice and so is the air conditioned (AC!!!) gift shop. My only complaints are that it's hard to get a picture of the lighthouse itself because of the trees surrounding it (but don't cut them down!!) and that they don't have vending machines or sell water in the gift shop! Cool experience though! read more

Beautiful lighthouse and park to spend an afternoon. The lighthouse is very cool,and you can pay $7 to climb. There is also a very quant but cute gift shop to purchase knick knacks and postcards etc. we really enjoyed walking around the adjoining park,i think it was called curritick park cant remember:/ but it had plenty of places to fish and had a wildlife center,a beautiful gazebo that looked over the sound,plenty of places to have a picnic lunch,a beautiful old bridge,and an old hunting lodge with lots of historical info about it. There is also a great bbq place called corolla bbq within a 5min walk from the lighthouse and park:) we really enjoyed our afternoon spent there!! read more

Went to this lighthouse when my partner and I had two hours to kill in town and had a fantastic time. Did not spend much time wandering the small grounds and outlying buildings but enjoyed going into the lighthouse and the views at the top. Simple climb to the top that most walking persons should attempt read more

A fun stop with a bit of history, appropriate for our 10 and 13 year old kids, nice views from the top. Cash and check only!

I tried to climb this lighthouse, but about the 20th stair I started getting dizzy. It doesn't help that the stairs are all metal with holes in them. My husband and 4 year old son made the climb, though, and said the view was awesome. read more

As far as lighthouses go - this one is super clean and well run. It is maintained by a private foundation and it shows - BUT it does cost to climb it. I gave it 4 starts instead of 5 beacause they do not take credit cards - checks and cash only! Good thing I had my checkbook on me - cause where on earth is cash machine near a lighthouse? Sorry lighthouse keepers - time to move into this generation! Speaking of the 'keepers' there is a person being paid to maintain the lighthouse by the foundation. I found this info out by the very informative guid Guide on the top was very informative about the other lighthouses on the island. read more

Right next to the Corolla Wildlife Center, this was a nice looking lighthouse we thought would be fun to climb with our two kids. we waited on line for about 15 min, then overheard the worker managing the line tell another group that it was $10/per person to climb the lighthouse. There were no signs of any kind upon entering the lighthouse area, or while waiting on line, which we thought was odd. So we quickly decided $40 to climb a lighthouse wasnt worth it and moved on. Disappointing. read more

Although I felt that $10 was a little steep ($5 would have been better), it was a magnificent view once at the top. Situated in a nice, wooded area near a big grassy area and the old village. The gift shop had many choices. read more

This review is coupled with the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education because in essence, they are in the same location. Together, they can pass for a 4 star experience, apart, probably closer to 2 1/2 each. Of no choice of mine, whether fortunately or unfortunately, I have visited many different lighthouses on the east and west coast. To me they are all the same and only differ in the minutia. They all have some vaguely interesting history behind it and they differ somewhat in its physical appearance. This one was unique because it is maroon from its red bricks and not being white washed over. It is somewhat visually appealing for what its worth. Other than that, it's the same -- you take some obligatory photos of you with the lighthouse in the background, climb some spiral stairs, pant and sweat in the heat, get to the top, enjoy the nice panoramic view, take some pictures and come down. What made this experience less enjoyable is that I had to PAY for it. I don't remember what it was but I just remember that it was not worth it. Hey, the only place that has a right to rip me off for any masochism is my local Equinox gym. Somewhat attractive lighthouse but then again, it is after all just another lighthouse. read more

Uhhh my three year old had no trouble climbing the 214 stairs and they had fans on floors in case people were too hot. They limit the number of people inside which makes it a more pleasant experience. There must be at least 8 places to hang in between the metal stairways. Guy at the line explained the history of the buildings and how they were restored. Nice view on top of Corolla, the whalehead, ocean and bay. Not the biggest lighthouse but its history an it is nice how they have restored this place. The nature center nearby is nice. My family of four were only ones in auditorium and two guides sang songs on a slideshow and taught us about native wildlife, then took us on a tour to find frogs and spiders. read more

Nice and shady. A good break from the sun. Get there early for lighthouse tour. Otherwise, wait in a line

Enjoyed the Lighthouse and 220 stair climb very much. For those concerned, there are landings for a rest for every approximate 30 stairs. The only issue I would raise is Miss Tracy's (lighthouse attendant and money collector) abrupt welcome and insistance that you print your name and FULL ADDRESS in the book even though I was paying the $10 entry fee with cash. In our new world where privacy and personal data can so easily be compromised, I found it offputting and her attitude, aggressive. read more

COMPLETELY CLOSED IN THE WINTER TIME!!!! SO SAD!!!!! It's a beautiful light house and I would have loved to see it, or even been able to get a couple of photos but the gate was completely locked up so that no visitors can even just look at the light house when the gift shop and museum is closed for the season. read more

Visited during the off season and found the lighthouse was not open for tours, the museum wasn't open either. Most of the other lighthouses in the area at least have the museum open, but not this one. The lighthouse itself looks nothing like what you would expect as the Hatteras and Bodie Island lighthouses are black and white. This one is made of a red brick. The location is quite and there is a nice nature trail that leads to the sound for great views. read more

A pretty and different type of lighthouse - up close the brick construction is very impressive! Nicely maintained grounds surrounding it, plus a little shop that sells almost every kind of lighthouse tschotchke imaginable. If you'd like to climb to the top, that will cost you $8. read more