Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla

The red-brick Currituck Beach Lighthouse is the landmark of the northern Outer Banks — 162 feet of unpainted brick rising over Historic Corolla, first lit on December 1, 1875, and still working every night as an active aid to navigation with its original first-order Fresnel lens. If you’re renting a 4x4 from us to drive the northern beaches, the lighthouse sits right at the gateway: Corolla village is the last stop before the pavement ends.

Climbing the Lighthouse

The tower is open to climbers seasonally, roughly late March through the end of November. It’s 220 steps to the top, and the view covers the Atlantic, the Currituck Sound, and the beaches running north toward Virginia — on a clear day you can see the 4x4 country you’re about to drive. As of the 2026 season, admission is $13 per person, paid in person at the tower (no advance reservations), climbers must be at least 4 years old, and everyone signs a liability waiver. Hours and dates shift with the season and weather, so check the lighthouse’s own site before you plan around a climb.

The Grounds Are Free

Even if you skip the climb, the light station grounds in Historic Corolla Park are free to walk, parking is free, and leashed dogs are welcome — which matters, since dogs ride free in every vehicle we rent. The Keeper’s House museum shop and the surrounding village make an easy hour before or after your beach run.

Pair It with the Beach

The classic northern-beaches day: air down at the end of the pavement, drive Corolla and Carova in the morning, then climb the lighthouse in the afternoon. Every rental includes the Corolla beach permit, recovery gear, and free parking for your own car at our Kill Devil Hills lot — see the rental prices page or pick a vehicle: Wrangler, Gladiator, or an 8-passenger SUV. Questions? Get in touch.