Climbing the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is open for climbing daily during the summer.

NPS Photo

Climbing the historic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is a unique experience!

The lighthouse is open from the third Friday in April through Columbus Day. Climbing hours will are 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. daily in the spring and fall; and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Tickets are required.

Tickets

Climbing tour tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for senior citizens (62 or older), children (11 and under, and at least 42" tall), and the disabled. Tickets are available on a first come/first served basis and can only be purchased in-person at the site the day of the climb. There are no advance ticket sales for regular climbing tours.

Ticket sales begin at 8:15 a.m. Climbing tours will begin at 9 a.m. and will run every 10 minutes with a limit of 30 visitors per tour. Ticket sales close at 4:30 p.m. in the spring and fall, and 5:30 p.m. the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Ticket holders should arrive at the lighthouse gate five minutes prior to their ticketed tour time.

Special night climbing tours are offered weekly during the summer months. Check the schedule of events or park newspaper for the weekly tour schedule. In addition to the weekly night tours, a full-moon climbing tour is offered monthly during the summer. News releases with dates and ticket purchase information are published the week prior to the full moon tours. Ticket sales for both the weekly night climbs and monthly full moon tours may be purchased in person beginning two days before the tour.

What to Expect

The climb is strenuous!! The 248 iron spiral stairs to the top equal climbing a 12 story building. The stairs have a handrail only on one side and a landing every 31 steps. There is no air conditioning. It may be noisy, humid, hot and dim inside the lighthouse and there is two-way traffic on the narrow stairs.

Visitors with heart, respiratory or other medical conditions, or who have trouble climbing stairs, should use their own discretion as to whether to climb the tower.

The lighthouse may close at any time if weather conditions are unsafe.

The following safety rules apply:

• Children must be at least 42" tall and capable of climbing all steps on their own.
• Children under 12 must be escorted by an adult (16 years of age or older).
• No person may be lifted or carried.
• Running, jumping, or stomping on stairs and landings is prohibited.
• Do not eat, drink, smoke or chew tobacco.
• No pets, other than service animals.
• Do not arrive in heels over 1 ½ inches high or in bare feet.
• Leave umbrellas in your car.
• Backpacks, tripods, coolers, beach bags, surfboards, fishing poles, etc. also need to be left in your car.
• Throwing of objects, including frisbees, boomerangs, etc, off the lighthouse is unsafe and may get you in big trouble!

Climbing tours may be booked in advance for some school groups.