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Bodie Island Lighthouse, Nags Head, NC

Photo: Pete, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffFamily FavoriteFree

Bodie Island Lighthouse

8210 Bodie Island Lighthouse Rd · Nags Head, NC

Why you should go…

Built in 1872, this black-and-white banded brick tower stands among pine trees and freshwater marsh in Cape Hatteras National Seashore, about four miles north of Oregon Inlet. It still holds its original first-order Fresnel lens. In climbing season you can take just over 200 steps to the top, which the park compares to a 10-story building, with tickets sold same-day through recreation.gov. The grounds stay open, though the keepers' quarters visitor center is closed after a January 2025 fire.

  • #lighthouse
  • #outer banks
  • #national seashore
  • #lighthouse climb

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Bodie Island Lighthouse, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Jockey's Ridge State Park

    Free

    Climb the tallest living sand dune system on the Atlantic coast, fly a kite, try hang gliding or watch the sun set over Roanoke Sound.

    11 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Wright Brothers National Memorial

    Under $25

    Stand where the Wright brothers first flew in 1903, walk the flight line and climb to the granite monument.

    15 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    Cape Hatteras National Seashore

    Free

    Walk miles of open Atlantic beach, visit three historic lighthouses and camp or fish along the Outer Banks barrier islands.

    36 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

    Free

    See the black-and-white spiral-striped brick lighthouse that was moved 2,900 feet inland in 1999.

    39 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Currituck Beach Lighthouse

    Under $25

    Climb 220 steps inside an unpainted red brick lighthouse for views of Currituck Sound and the Atlantic.

    41 mi awayMore like this