North Carolina Map – Find Lighthouses on a North Carolina Map

lighthouses south carolina map

The Atlantic Ocean and barrier islands of North Carolina are prone to shifting sand bars, disappearing inlets, and dangerous underwater shoals. Lighthouses are needed to warn ships and keep them safe when sailing through these areas.

Imagine that you’re a captain on a ship sailing along the coast of North Carolina. It’s dark and the water is rough. You’re looking for land, but the sand is moving constantly, making it hard to spot it. Then your crew member points to a flickering light and says, “There!”

What’s more, you can find out where that light is by using this map of North Carolina’s lighthouses!

Cape Romain (Lighthouse Island) Southeast of McClellanville, this pair of historic brick lighthouses sit side-by-side. The smaller red-brick tower was constructed in 1827 and is 65 feet tall. The larger 150-foot tower was built next to it in 1857 and is equipped with a Fresnel lens.

Morris Island Lighthouse just off Folly Beach, South Carolina, once stood inland. But after years of erosion, it’s now leaning precariously in the Atlantic. It’s owned by the State, but a local nonprofit is working to stabilize and restore it.

Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse, to the east of peninsular Charleston, is a newer lighthouse that guides boats and cruise ships into the mouth of Charleston Harbor. It was finished in 1962, and it’s now maintained by the US Coast Guard and National Park Service.

There are also several local lighthouses that you can see while visiting the beaches of Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head. Governor’s Lighthouse, located in Little River, is a smaller tower and features black and white stripes on the tower. The building is open daily and offers free admission.