Bodie Island Lighthouse

Bodie Island Lighthouse, its name pronounced like the word body, was built in the early 1870s, the third lighthouse to stand in this vicinity after earlier towers failed, and it has guided mariners ever since along a coast long feared for its shifting shoals and frequent wrecks. Tall and slender, it is painted in bold horizontal bands of black and white, a distinctive pattern that helped sailors tell it apart from the other lighthouses along the Outer Banks by day.

Those stripes, rising over the flat golden marsh and reflected in the surrounding waters, make Bodie Island one of the most photographed of the region's lighthouses. Restored and cared for as part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the tower still shines its light, a working aid to navigation and a handsome monument to the long, dramatic maritime history of this stretch of the North Carolina coast.

In the warmer season, visitors can climb Bodie Island Lighthouse, ascending the long spiral staircase that winds up the inside of the tower to a gallery near the top. It is a real climb, many steps up a steep and narrow stair, but those who make it are rewarded with a sweeping panorama over the whole landscape, the marshes and the sound on one side, the dunes and the Atlantic on the other, and the thin ribbon of the barrier island stretching away.

Because the climb is seasonal, ticketed, and demanding, it is worth checking current times and being prepared for the effort and the height. Even when the tower is closed to climbing, though, the lighthouse grounds and the views are free to enjoy, so a visit rewards travelers year-round, whether or not the long stair is open to the top.

One of the pleasures of Bodie Island is the boardwalk that leads out from the lighthouse through the salt marsh, a raised path over the grasses and shallow ponds that is as much a nature walk as an approach to the tower. The marsh here is rich with life, and it is one of the finest birdwatching spots in the northern Outer Banks, drawing herons, egrets, waterfowl, and, in migration, a great variety of birds passing along the Atlantic coast.

Binoculars and a little patience reward a walk on the boardwalk, and the marsh is beautiful in itself, especially in the golden light of early morning and evening when the grasses glow and the lighthouse stripes stand crisp against the sky. In the warmer months insect repellent is worth having, but the reward is a peaceful immersion in one of the wild, living landscapes that make the Outer Banks so special.

Bodie Island Lighthouse sits within Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the long protected string of barrier islands that runs down the Outer Banks, so a visit pairs naturally with the beaches, dunes, and other treasures of the seashore. Just to the south lies the Oregon Inlet and, beyond it, the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, another superb spot for birds, while the beaches and towns of the northern Outer Banks lie a short drive to the north.

That setting makes Bodie Island an easy and rewarding stop on any tour of the Outer Banks, and it is one of a family of famous lighthouses along these islands, including the towering black-and-white spiral of Cape Hatteras to the south. Between the striped tower, the marsh, and the wild coast all around, Bodie Island offers a memorable taste of the Outer Banks and their long romance with the sea.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.

Bodie Island Lighthouse, on North Carolina's Outer Banks just south of Nags Head, is a tall lighthouse painted in bold black-and-white horizontal bands, rising over a wide landscape of golden salt marsh within Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Built in the 1870s to guide ships along a dangerous coast, it is reached by a boardwalk through the marsh, is climbable in the warmer season for sweeping views, and its striped tower against the marsh and sky makes it a favorite of photographers. With its striking stripes, its birdlife, and its wild coastal setting, it is one of the most beloved of the Outer Banks lighthouses. Its beauty and setting make it a delightful destination. A striking and scenic lighthouse, it delights visitors. With its tower and marsh, Bodie Island offers a compelling destination in North Carolina.

Yes, in the warmer season visitors can climb Bodie Island Lighthouse, ascending the long spiral staircase that winds up the tower to a gallery near the top, where the reward is a sweeping panorama over the marshes, the sound, the dunes, and the Atlantic. It is a real climb up many steep, narrow steps, so it is worth being prepared for the effort and the height, and because the climb is seasonal and by ticket, checking current times before you go is wise. Even when the tower is closed to climbing, the grounds and views are free to enjoy. Climbing the tower in season is a highlight of a visit to Bodie Island Lighthouse in North Carolina.

Yes, Bodie Island Lighthouse is one of the finest birdwatching spots in the northern Outer Banks, thanks to the salt marsh around it and the boardwalk that leads out through the grasses and shallow ponds. The marsh draws herons, egrets, waterfowl, and, in migration, a great variety of birds passing along the Atlantic coast, so binoculars and a little patience reward a visit, especially in the golden light of early morning and evening. Insect repellent helps in the warm months. The rich birdlife adds to the appeal of a visit to Bodie Island Lighthouse in North Carolina.

Bodie Island Lighthouse can be enjoyed year-round for its grounds, boardwalk, and marsh views, but the warmer season of spring through fall is when the tower is typically open for climbing and when the birdwatching is richest, especially during spring and fall migration. Early morning and evening bring beautiful golden light on the marsh and the striped tower, prime times for photography, while summer is busiest along the Outer Banks. For climbing and birding, aim for the warmer months, ideally at dawn or dusk, at Bodie Island Lighthouse in North Carolina.

Bodie Island Lighthouse is within Cape Hatteras National Seashore on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, near the beaches and dunes of the seashore, just north of the Oregon Inlet and the excellent birding of Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, and a short drive south of the beach towns of the northern Outer Banks with the Wright Brothers memorial and Jockey's Ridge dunes. The towering Cape Hatteras Lighthouse lies farther down the seashore. That makes Bodie Island a compelling stop to combine with the beaches and lighthouses of the Outer Banks on a visit to North Carolina.