The Outer Banks has five iconic lighthouses, and a 4×4 is genuinely useful for seeing all of them — especially for the views from the beach approach side. This guide covers each lighthouse, how a 4×4 enhances the visit, the nearest beach driving ramp, and the best time of day for photography. From Currituck in the north to Ocracoke in the south, you can knock out the full set in a long weekend.
Currituck Beach Lighthouse — Corolla
The red-brick lighthouse at the north end of paved NC-12 in Corolla. Built in 1875, it’s the only major OBX lighthouse that remains unpainted brick. You can climb it for a small fee April–November. From the top you can see the entire 4×4 area stretching north to Carova. A 4×4 isn’t required to visit the lighthouse itself, but it’s the obvious starting point for a Carova run — air down at the end of NC-12 just a few miles north and continue into the Currituck 4×4 area.
Bodie Island Lighthouse — Nags Head / Pea Island
The black-and-white horizontally striped lighthouse just south of Nags Head, near Oregon Inlet. Built in 1872 and rebuilt several times. Best photographed from the south at sunrise. With a 4×4 and an ORV permit, drive south from Ramp 4 (just south of Oregon Inlet) and shoot the lighthouse rising over the dunes — a composition impossible from the parking lot.
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse — Buxton
The tallest brick lighthouse in North America and arguably the most iconic structure on the OBX. The black-and-white spiral ‘barber pole’ pattern is unmistakable. Climb it for a fee April–October. From the 4×4 angle: drive south from Ramp 44 to Cape Point, look back toward the lighthouse, and you’ll get the classic sand-and-tower composition. Or shoot from the beach at sunrise from Ramp 43 with the lighthouse silhouetted to the east.
Ocracoke Lighthouse — Ocracoke Village
The squat white-stuccoed lighthouse in Ocracoke village, the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in North Carolina (1823). You can’t climb it but you can walk right up to the base. Combine a lighthouse visit with a 4×4 day on Ocracoke ramps 59–72. After arriving on the ferry, drive through the village to the lighthouse, then head south to the ramps for the beach driving portion of your day.
Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse — Manteo
Smaller and less famous, but charming. A reproduction screwpile lighthouse on Manteo’s waterfront. No beach driving connection — but worth visiting on your travel day if you’re driving north out of OBX or starting a trip from Norfolk.
Lighthouse-Themed Itinerary
| Day | Lighthouses | 4×4 Activity |
| Day 1 | Currituck Beach | Carova 4×4 area, Penny’s Hill, wild horses |
| Day 2 | Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras | Ramp 4 south of Oregon Inlet for Bodie shots; Ramp 44 to Cape Point with Hatteras Lighthouse in frame |
| Day 3 | Ocracoke | Ferry over, visit lighthouse in village, drive Ramps 59 and 72 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lighthouses are on the Outer Banks?
Five: Currituck Beach (Corolla), Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras (Buxton), Ocracoke, and the smaller Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse in Manteo. The first four are the iconic ‘OBX lighthouses’ most visitors see.
Can I climb all the OBX lighthouses?
Three of them: Currituck Beach (Apr–Nov), Bodie Island (Apr–Oct), and Cape Hatteras (Apr–Oct). Ocracoke can’t be climbed but you can walk to the base. Roanoke Marshes is open as a small museum.
Is a 4×4 required to visit OBX lighthouses?
No, all five are accessible by paved roads. But a 4×4 dramatically improves your photography of Bodie Island and Cape Hatteras lighthouses — you can drive on the beach for compositions that include the lighthouse rising behind dunes, which isn’t possible from the parking lots.
What’s the best lighthouse for photography from a 4×4?
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse from the beach at Ramp 44 — drive south toward Cape Point and turn back to compose the spiral-striped tower with surf and sand in the foreground. Bodie Island Lighthouse from the beach south of Ramp 4 at sunrise is a close second.
Do I need an ORV permit to drive the beaches near lighthouses?
Yes for Bodie Island (Ramp 4) and Cape Hatteras (Ramp 44) — both are within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and require an NPS ORV permit. Currituck Beach Lighthouse is accessed by paved road only; the beach driving nearby (Currituck 4×4) requires no permit.