The Outer Banks has the densest concentration of historic lighthouses on the U.S. East Coast — four major working lights spanning 130 nautical miles of barrier island. They are also extraordinarily well-positioned for an afternoon of low, slow, coastal sightseeing from the left seat. This is our route for flying all four, with notes on altitudes, landmarks, and where to land if you want to put your feet on the ground at each one.
The route at a glance
From north to south, the four lighthouses are Currituck Beach, Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras, and Ocracoke. From First Flight Airport (KFFA), a clockwise loop south down the beach, west across Pamlico Sound, and back north over the sounds is roughly 130 nm and around 90 minutes of flying at 110 knots. Plan it as a half-day if you want to land and walk the grounds at one or two of them.
Altitudes and airspace
The Outer Banks coast is open Class G and E airspace below 1,200 ft AGL for most of its length, with no overlying Class B or C. You’ll want to stay above 500 ft AGL over populated beaches and respect any temporary flight restrictions during summer holidays. For photography, 1,000–1,500 ft MSL gives you a clean angle on the towers without bumping commercial sightseeing aircraft, which typically work below 1,000 ft. Watch for parasail boats and banner-tow traffic in summer.
Currituck Beach Lighthouse — Corolla, NC
Currituck is the northernmost, the unpainted red-brick one, finished in 1875. It stands 162 feet tall on the sound side of Corolla. From the air it’s unmistakable — most OBX lights are painted in bold black-and-white patterns; Currituck is bare brick.
- Nearest airport: Currituck County Regional (KONX), about 12 nm west on the mainland
- From KFFA: Roughly 25 nm north up the beach
- Best photo angle: From the east, over the dunes, with the sound and the village of Corolla behind
Bodie Island Lighthouse — Nags Head, NC
Bodie is the black-and-white horizontally banded light just south of Nags Head, finished in 1872 at 156 feet tall. It sits in a marshy NPS preserve on the sound side of NC-12, surrounded by ponds and live oaks. From the air it’s one of the most photogenic of the four because of the green wetland setting.
- Nearest airport: Dare County Regional (KMQI), about 10 nm northwest in Manteo
- From KFFA: Roughly 12 nm south
- Best photo angle: From the southeast, with the Bodie Island ponds and Oregon Inlet in the background
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse — Buxton, NC
Cape Hatteras is the famous one: the tallest brick lighthouse in North America at 198 feet, with its instantly recognizable black-and-white spiral. It was finished in 1870 and famously moved 2,900 feet inland in 1999 to escape erosion. From the air the spiral pops against the white sand. In 2025–2026 the light is undergoing restoration work — check NPS announcements before planning a ground visit.
- Nearest airport: Billy Mitchell Airstrip (KHSE), about 5 nm southwest in Frisco
- From KFFA: Roughly 45 nm south
- Best photo angle: From the east at altitude, with Diamond Shoals and the Atlantic curving away behind
Ocracoke Lighthouse — Ocracoke, NC
Ocracoke is the small one — only 75 feet tall, solid white, built in 1823. It’s the oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina and the second-oldest in the United States. From the air, it sits at the south end of Ocracoke village, surrounded by live oaks and the harbor. It’s easy to miss if you’re not looking for it; the white tower blends into the village whitewash.
- Nearest airport: Ocracoke Island Airport (W95), about 1.5 nm northeast on the same island
- From KFFA: Roughly 70 nm south
- Best photo angle: From the southwest, low, with Silver Lake Harbor below
Suggested loop from KFFA
Depart KFFA southbound. Climb to 1,500 ft MSL and parallel the beach down past Bodie Island, then Cape Hatteras, then Ocracoke. If you want to land and walk a lighthouse, KHSE for Cape Hatteras is the best stop — short walk to the base, and the village has lunch. Return north either back up the beach or, for a different view, across Pamlico Sound at altitude and up over the Alligator River. Hit Currituck on the way home by extending north past KFFA and circling Corolla before heading back to the field.
What to watch for
- Military operating areas. The Cherry Point MOA complex sits inland; the over-water R-5306 ranges are well south of Cape Hatteras. Both can be hot. Check NOTAMs.
- Banner-tow and sightseeing aircraft work the beaches in summer at low altitudes — give them room.
- Sea-breeze convection builds inland on summer afternoons. The beach itself often stays clearer than the sound side.
- Wildlife. Brown pelicans, gulls, and the occasional drone are everywhere along the dunes. Scan ahead.
For ground transportation options once you land, see our Ground Transportation page. For the full pilot briefing on KFFA, see the First Flight Airport pilot information page. Always verify against current Chart Supplement and NOTAMs before flight.