Ocracoke Lighthouse - North Carolina

​360 Lighthouse Rd, Ocracoke, NC 27960

The first light built to lead ships into Ocracoke Inlet was placed on privately owned Shell Castle Island, once known as “Old Rock.” Most main sources prefer to date it to 1803 although the site could have been established as early as 1798. The first Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was completed in 1803, and construction of both of these early lights was supervised by lighthouse builder Henry Dearborn.​

Prints & Downloads

Lighthouse Prints

Videos to download

Map

Location

Follow NC 12 south of Cape Hatteras for about two miles. A fee-free car and passenger ferry runs from the southern tip of Hatteras Island to the northern end of Ocracoke Island. The ride averages about an hour in duration.

​After disembarking, travel approximately twelve miles south to reach Ocracoke Village. Turn left onto Lighthouse Road and drive a short distance reach the lighthouse on the right. The lighthouse is set back from the road; be aware that the parking area can accommodate only a few cars at a time.  

​​Google Maps HERE

History

Congress approved an act on May 7, 1822 to build a replacement lighthouse "at or near the port of Ocracoke, in the State of North Carolina." The tower and keeper’s quarters were completed in 1823 at a cost of $11,359.35, well below the $20,000 budgeted for the project.

​The Ocracoke Lighthouse remains an iconic landmark for the island with its white tower topped by an octagonal lantern that houses the lens. It is the oldest operating lighthouse in the state and originally held significance because ships navigating Ocracoke Inlet needed guidance after the demise of Shell Castle Island Light. During the early 1800s, the inlet was the only viable way for vessels to reach inland ports including Elizabeth City, New Bern, and Edenton until Hatteras and Oregon Inlets opened in 1846, which shifted shipping traffic farther to the north.

Photography

EASY Access - After getting off the ferry on the island with your car,  there is a short drive to the lighthouse.   You can park across the street from the lighthouse.

Time of day - This location is good for anytime of the day.
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LENS - 35mm to 100mm is ideal for the lighthouse, however, you may wish to spend more time on the island doing bird photography.