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Lighthouse · Nags Head, North Carolina
Bodie Island Lighthouse
1872 lighthouse with black-and-white horizontal stripes at the entrance to Cape Hatteras National Seashore, offering guided climbs in season and a boardwalk over the marsh.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Bodie Island Lighthouse
The Bodie Island Lighthouse, first lit in 1872, is the third lighthouse built in the area to guide ships among the sandbanks of the Outer Banks, a coast nicknamed the Graveyard of the Atlantic because of its shipwrecks. The brick tower is about 48 meters tall and has black-and-white horizontal stripes that helped sailors identify it by day.
The light remains active and still houses the original first-order Fresnel lens. After an extensive restoration, it reopened to visitors, who can climb roughly 200 steps to the gallery for views of the beach, the marsh, and the lagoon.
Next to it, the keeper's house functions as a visitor center and shop. A wooden boardwalk runs from the parking area to an overlook above the marsh, where waterbirds are often seen.
The lighthouse stands at the northern entrance to Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Farther south, on Hatteras Island, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse—the tallest in the United States—has periodic closures for conservation work: check before you go.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
One to two hours.
Best time
From spring to fall, in the morning. Climbs generally operate from late April to mid-October.
How to get there
It’s on NC-12, about 15 km south of Nags Head, at the entrance to Cape Hatteras National Seashore, with parking.
Tip
Tickets to climb are sold only for the same day, starting in the early morning, and sell out early in summer. There is a minimum height requirement for children.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Bodie Island Lighthouse
Can you climb the Bodie Island Lighthouse?
Yes, during the climbing season, generally from late April to mid-October, with tickets purchased the same day.
How many steps does the Bodie Island Lighthouse have?
About 200 steps to the gallery.
Where is the Bodie Island Lighthouse located?
On NC-12, about 15 km south of Nags Head, at the entrance to Cape Hatteras National Seashore.