Hattaras Lighthous Climbing Tours

 

Many visitors to the Outer Banks, sometimes more than 3000 per day, enjoy climbing the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Equivalent to climbing a 12-story building, tackling the 248 iron spiral steps can be a daunting endeavor, especially for visitors with physical and medical limitations. The lighthouse is open for climbing from the third Friday in April through Columbus Day. The Visitor Center is open year-round.

Season and Hours

• Climbing tours begin the third Friday in April and continue through Columbus Day.
  
  
• Spring and fall climbing hours 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
  
  
• Summer climbing hours (the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day) 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
  
  
• Weekly night climbing tours and monthly full moon tours are scheduled during the summer months
  
  
• The Visitor Center on the grounds is open year-round, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. with extended summer hours until 6 p.m. Closed Christmas.

Climbing Tour Tickets

Ticket sales begin at 8:15 a.m. and close at 4:30 p.m., extended to 5:30 p.m. during summer hours. Climbing tours begin at 9 a.m. and run every 10 minutes with a limit of 30 visitors per tour. Ticket holders should arrive at the lighthouse gate at least five minutes before to their ticketed tour time.

• Adults - $7
  
• Senior citizens age 62 or older - $3.50
  
• Children age 12 and under, and at least 42" tall - $3.50
  
• National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Access Pass holders - $3.50