Bodie Island Lighthouse Reviews

This light house is a beautiful historic place to go. I would definitely recommend coming here! The climb isn’t that long or hard and it is definitely worth the climb because the view is spectacular! The ranger at the top was very helpful and nice. She was telling us about some great places to go on the island!

The lighthouse is nice to see, The grounds are nice too. I wooden boardwalk goes across the yard to a march with a raised platform. The marsh is full of natural wildlife, fish and birds. The dunes are too high to see the beach, but its there. Nice history of the lighthouse to read about too.

We have stopped at Bodie many times but this is the first time we were able to climb. The experience was amazing. If you want to climb you need to go on the National Park Service website to book. There are only 8 spots per time slot due to the infrastructure. The view is well worth the time to book. The visitor center is smaller than some but the staff were very knowledgeable and friendly. If you want to hike any trails other than the viewing platform take bug spray.

Great Experience! The lighthouse was very Family-friendly and offered a great view of the swamps of the Outer Banks! Definitely recommend!

Beautiful but the line was long and you have to go on line to get tickets. The lighthouse looks like it has just been painted- the entire grounds look so well kept!

Well worth the trip. We love lighthouses, you couldn't climb it until end of April.
Beautiful grounds, could walk a boardwalk and see lots of birds and the lighthouse from a different perspective. It's a must. Nice museum and giftshop.

One of the most accessible lights on the OBX just celebrated its 150th birthday! Bodie is a beautiful lighthouse, recently remodeled a few years ago. The parking is very decent here and it's one of the easier lights to get a fantastic photo of. It's not a place you'll spend a long time, the gift shop is quite small and you can only climb at specific scheduled times, but this light is still a must-visit. If you're looking for a little more to do surrounding lighthouse history be sure to check out Hatteras. Its facilities are somewhat a home base for OBX lighthouse talk. It is under a remodel though so climbing currently is probably not possible (2022)

It was great to finally go to the top of my favorite NC lighthouse. Very interesting history and a great place to be able to walk around and look at nature. Loved my second visit just as much as I did my first visit of Bodie!

We stopped here on our way north. Beautiful drive with woods and grass to the lighthouse. Once there it’s wide open spaces. You should visit at least once!!

Beautiful lighthouse to visit. Definitely worth stopping in and visiting if you are traveling in the area.

Not a destination to go out of your way for, in my opinion. Cool to see the lighthouse in person, but not much there besides that and the boardwalk - which isn't that spectacular. The house/gift shop was closed when we were there, so not sure what is in there. I've been inside other lighthouses before and didn't plan to go in myself, but the rest of my family wanted to do it once we got there. We thought we'd be able to purchase tickets while there but there is absolutely no cell service whatsoever in that area and we could not get to the website or even call the number for tickets. If you have any sense that you want to go inside, make the arrangements before you even get anywhere near that area of the island.

This was pretty cool to see for the first time but there is not really much to do here. If you just want to see the light house and visit the store than you'll enjoy this.....ps you are not allowed in the light house.

nice lighthouse, great picture spot and lots of open, green space. rangers were helpful and nice little information center. Great little side-stop.

This is a beautiful and impeccably maintained lighthouse in a salt marsh a few miles south of Nags Head and just north of Hatteras Island. I especially liked the boardwalk trail, and was able to take beautiful pictures of the walkway leading up to the lighthouse. Gorgeous!

My husband and I LOVE lighthouses and have climbed all of NCs (except for Ocracoke, which is only open on the 4th of July every year and is no longer open for climbing). I am so pleased after many, many, many years that Bodie is open for climbing again. Unfortunately on our last trip, everything was closed for the season, but we enjoy walking up to and around the lighthouse and then out on the marsh trail for great views from there. Even with little ones, this is a fun adventure!

2021 I am a volunteer at Bodie Island Lighthouse and we ARE open for Climbiing! Seven days a week. Climbs are every thirty minutes from 9AM until 5:30PM. Tickets MUST BE PURCHASED ONLINE. Go to recreation.gov and search "Bodie Island Lighthouse Tickets" to do that. And please read all the information there. As some comments note, it can be a frustrating experience.

The grounds and lighthouse are beautiful. We didn't get to go into the lighthouse. Tickets for the day were sold out by the time we got there. Still pretty cool to visit.

We stopped on our way towards Hatteras. Pretty but pretty buggy when it’s humid. Pets can’t go in the lighthouse or building obviously but we had him with us and he was able to walk around the grounds outside with us.

We had a great day to visit the lighthouse. Our plan was to visit each of the key lighthouses on our OBX trip. On this day our first stop was Bodie light. We did not climb the lighthouse but we walked the grounds and they have a nice boardwalk that leads to the marsh where you can see fish, crabs and birds. The light house and buildings are well maintained. I always love to stop and see lighthouse along to east coast. This one is worth the visit.

Went during the time where they were not allowing the lighthouse to be climbs but that didn't stop us from enjoying the area. Had a nice talk with the rangers and then went out to the walkway and enjoyed the view. If you go, call ahead to see if the lighthouse is open for climbing if you want to do that.

Beautiful and educational experience. Our kids are 8 and 11 and loved climbing up the lighthouse steps. Cool breeze felt nice at the top.

We visited Bodie Island Lighthouse. Loved learning the history of the lighthouse and were able to take some great pictures.

Beautiful sight.
A little chilly but still
a beautiful! I can’t wait to take my nieces and nephews here when we visit this coming summer.

This place was great. Always wanted to climb a lighthouse and this was great. The Outer Banks area is great itself. Wasn’t staying here but would definitely consider it for another trip. The lighthouse let’s 8 people up at a time so depending on your group size and arrival time you may have to wait before you can go up. We had to wait 1 hour but the time went by quickly. They have a boardwalk area you can go on to get a little bit away from the lighthouse and into the marsh area. Watch out for snakes. Stay in the path and you’ll be fine. The prices are reasonable and the climb is totally worth it. They also have a gift shop with some cool items including a lego type set of the lighthouse 287 pieces which my little guy wanted. Some other cool stuff as well. Worth the trip.

Bodie Isalnd is a beautiful lighthouse, but the grounds are simply amazing! There's a boardwalk that I plan on walking next time! The Visitor Center was closed this trip, but in the past we've enjoyed browsing the gift shop. Just a beautiful area!

If you have seen the picture then you have seen the lighthouse. I don't have anything negative to say but it is a lighthouse with nothing extraordinary or special about it. We were not able to climb the inside steps but walked the path to the wooden deck and watched the crabs in the water which was nice. There really isn't much else to say or know.

Not much to see. Visitor center/gift shop is open. Lighthouse is projected to open in later this spring.

I like to visit lighthouses when on get aways. I like this lighthouse excpet I was not able to climb the stairs. I was there around 2pm and they had a sign up that all of the climb tickets were sold out. I was a little bumbed about not being able to go up to the top.

Not that far off of Highway 12. It's worth the stop. Informative staff. A classic Outer Banks Lighthouse. Small gift shop with stuff you may actually want.

Great history lesson and excellent tour of property. A wonderful experience. Property is in incredible shape and a must-see spot on OBX. I recommend the tour for valuable insights.

21 people in family photos at dusk. Stunning location. We want to go back to explore! check out the overlook of the sound as the sun goes down!

Well worth a visit in the views are amazing. Beautiful walkway over the water makes for stunning pictures. Experience nature at its best in OBX

Lovely walk outside. Bathrooms were open and clean, and people were respectful about masks and distance. My New England daughter loved how tall and impressive the lighthouse was and we enjoyed the jumping fish. It's a great place to take nature photographs.

Bodie (pron. Body) Island Lighthouse is great. Of the 4 in NPS control on the outer banks , Bodie is the only one you can currently climb. Ranger's Sandy & Kyle were on duty when we went up & they were great. The inside of the lighthouse is as impressive as outside. Beautiful ironwork staircase & nice geo-marker plaque placing it's date & geo location. If only public buildings were still so artfully done. Must make reservations for the climb but well worth the effort for an incredible view of the marsh, sound & Atlantic. The museum is also well done with a nice gift shop & informative displays on sea life & the difficult life people made on the obx in years past. Bodie is my favorite because it is still accessible, in it's original location & the first I saw as a landlocked Texan.

This is a charming little place with a definite Outer Banks feel. There is a nice boardwalk and gift shop.

We had an amazing time and it was a great tour of the light house, we had wait for our climb so we walked out on their boardwalk and outlook. I would do it again!

Visited Bodie Island Lighthouse in the Outer Banks while on vacation. Great attraction, especially if you like lighthouses. I recommend it be included while visiting other lighthouses in the area.

Picturesque views and informative guide at top of the lighthouse who explained the history of the lighthouse, keeper's duties, provided info of the move. Enjoyed our visit very much.

Nice pathways and great history! Restrooms available and clean. Lots of great photo opportunities in the grounds were well-kept and clean. There was ample parking and even a couple getting married while we were there!

If you have never been to a lighthouse, check this one out! If you have been to a lighthouse, still check this one out! While closed this summer due to COVID, you can still walk the grounds and see a number of birds and wildlife. Worth the trip!

One of my favorites! It is such a beautiful lighthouse and always photogenic. We were there on a really nice day. Bathrooms, climbing, and the keepers house were still closed but you can walk the grounds and out to the marsh area. It has a spectacular view of the lighthouse and surrounding area. The first pick was the day I am reviewing. The 2nd and 3rd were from another visit. I just like the clouds above look almost like a phoenix.

Pretty cool they finally let you climb this one. I'd get there as early as you can because the time-slots to climb fill up pretty quickly- think they said it was 6 people per slot. Our time-slot ended up being an hour and a half after we arrived, which was no big deal because you can run down to Pea Island or back into town to kill some time. Was slow going on the way up because only one person can climb the set of stairs between landings at a time. Didn't affect the descent though. Great view from the top.

As luck would have it - just like at Cape Hatteras - work was going on so not everything was open for access. However, it is well worth the stop just to walk the board walk out to the viewing area. It is lovely, not long, the bathroom facilities were open - you just could not go into the house. They had a recent fire and were doing repairs. It was not busy either so we really took our time to enjoy the area.

Better than Hatteras. Situated in a nice area off the water, this lighthouse is located on a much nicer track of land than the famous Hatteras lighthouse. Although you can't go up into the lighthouse due to COVID, the ranger outside is full of great information and the surroundings are just gorgeous. Take the nature walk to the water over by the gate if you have extra time. It will lead to a dock on the sound where you can see fish jumping and birds flapping.

We really enjoyed our visit to the Bodie Lighthouse. The Park Rangers were very interesting and informative. I am afraid of heights. The Rangers were very assuring that I would be ok. The history of the lighthouse was very interesting. The climb to the top was really easy. It did not seem like over 200 steps! The view from the top is gorgeous! They also have a nice gift shop on the property. Clean restrooms available. Well worth the time to visit.

Free. Scenic setting. Natural beauty surrounding area. Nice place to ride to and enjoy the sights. Open spaces for families to picnic, play, and relax.

This place is well maintained. My wife & I took the nature walk which led to a viewing area above a marsh. We saw all kinds of birds. She loved it. This is not far off highway 12 & is worth a stop.

Stayed in Corolla. Visited the Bodie lighthouse. It was an awesome sight. Beautiful lighthouse and grounds. Walked the pier. This was a postcard experience.

We typically visit at night and look at the sky. An iphone with night setting takes pretty neat pictures (it has longer exposure and you can see the brighter stars). We experimented with several based on the lighthouse light position.

If you go to OBX, don’t forget the lighthouses. Bodie Island is great. The staff are helpful and courteous. You can also climb to the top.

Awesome Lighthouse in the Outer Banks. Lighthouse is a few miles down when you enter from Roanoke Island. Many opportunities for pictures and you only have to pay if you are climbing the stairs. Follow us @WanderingParents

Beautiful lighthouse, great area for a walk, easy path to follow out to observe some natural beauty! Large parking area, clean restrooms available.

Such a nice place to visit. Great scenery! The lighthouse is closed but walk through the marshes is amazing. Worth the trip!

This is probably one of my favorite lighthouses in North Carolina to visit. It is easily accessible from the road, and you can get great pictures of the lighthouse. There’s also a small walking trail nearby, which allows you to see much of the marsh and get additional pictures of the lighthouse from different angles.

Our family was excited to visit. Unfortunately as we arrived a thunderstorm was rolling in. We were not permitted inside the lighthouse itself. Average review is based on our disappointment at not being able to explore the keepers house. Only the first floor is open to the public and it contains a small gift shop and an area to pay the fee to go inside the lighthouse. No displays of the history of the place. The entire second floor was off limits.

Awesome facility. Well groomed. Has a nature walk. Lighthouse was awesome. Restrooms are available. Lighthouse entry requires advance tickets.

What a fantastic view with the great opportunity to go inside the lighthouse. I would also recommend the short walk behind it. The souvenir shop has quite a few nice things on sale.

if you are traveling North or South on NC 12 to/from Nags Head you will likely drive right by the Bodie lighthouse. It only takes a couple of minutes off the highway to get to the parking lot, where you can get out of your car take a couple of pictures and retreat to the air-conditioning and head on your merry way. Recommended

Unfortunately we were unable to enter and climb the stairs of the lighthouse at this time. We did enjoy walking around the grounds and made a few purchases in the gift shop. Everyone was helpful and accommodating.

Made a stop here while visiting the area. The lighthouse and grounds are really nice to see. It is closed for the summer, but the area is worth experiencing.

It was raining and the lighthouse is under construction so we couldn’t actually climb. It was nice to walk around and take a few quick pictures.

You will have to make reservations on recreation.gov to walk up the lighthouse. Tip: do this first thing in morning (example 7am) they only allow 8 people up every half hour. It’s so worth walking to the top!

I visited 5 Lighthouse stations this trip. Bodie Island has the most beautiful grounds by far. Plan on spending some time there to stroll the boardwalk and take in scenery. Closed to climbing till April 30th

Due to lack of help the lighthouse closes in the Fall. The park guide was friendly and informative but without being able to climb the steps in the lighthouse the trip was disappointing. The short walk to the water is uneventful though we did see a few black ducks. I would suggest planning a trip to the lighthouse when it is open to climb.

It's a beautiful lighthouse with some interesting history. There's also a nice pier to walk out on over the marsh. However, you got to plan ahead if you want to walk up it. We were facing a 2 hour wait to go up and opted against it. The walk is a bit of a stuff one too if you have any physical limitations.

Pretty grounds and clean bathrooms. Very disappointed to find out the lighthouse is closed for climbing until the end of April. Walked to the little platform to see the seabirds.

It is well worth a visit. The lighthouse looks very picturesque and beautiful. The climb is rewarded with a great view and is a must. Tickets can only be booked online. Tickets should be booked early as they are very limited per day.

Good sight to see, too bad we visit while Trump had the government shutdown. The downfall is the grift shop is a little expensive.

Super staff! Thanks everyone who dedicates themselves to educating the public on this historic gem. Keep up the great work.

Nice visit. Easy to locate. Easy parking. Informative park rangers. Took about 30 minutes to visit, but only saw living quarters, did not get to go up the lighthouse. Easy to stop and see when traveling by in Rt. 158.

My husband walked to the top. Great views from above. Super hot inside but he made it - equal to 10 floors and 200 steps. Didn't like the bathrooms with rattlers underneath the steps though!

Bodie Island lighthouse is open and has been historically and fully renovated. You can climb it and while you wait for your tour time (20 minute increments). You can walk the boardwalk into the salt marshes. The view from the top is pretty awesome. Over the marshes to the ocean. Nice workout with stairs to get your circulation going.

Unbelievable, the grounds and buildings were pristine. The park rangers were very polite and informative.

Beautiful spot to visit. Lighthouse is spectacular. There’s a boardwalk out to a viewing spot where you can take in great views of the lighthouse and marsh. I recommend an early morning visit, but it’s worth going anytime.

We walked out to the pier and took picture of the water and took pictures of the lighthouse and went into the welcome center. But we did not go into the lighthouse. You must purchase the tickets online and use credit card and give your email which we did not want to do. If they would do cash then yes it would have been nice to tour the lighthouse. It is very large and high.

We visited on a cold, rainy day in March. I would have liked yo have walked up the steps inside the lighthouse, but we were told it is closed until mid-April.

The Bodie Island Lighthouse is a peaceful place to visit that can be enjoyed at your leisure. The signage to the lighthouse is minimal and you need to look close so you do not miss the road.

Love the light houses!. I don't go up in them anymore (bad knee) but would recommend for those able. Great adventure for the little ones able to handle the climb.

This was so fun! The lighthouse is on really beautiful grounds. The brick walkway in front was a great spot for pictures.

Lighthouse is really nice but we were not able to climb it since you had to make reservations and the next one’s available were a 2-hour wait. It does have a short boardwalk though and decent gift shop.

The lighthouse is located a short drive from our hotel and we had a quick visit on our way to Cape Hatteras from Nags Head. The beautiful black and white tower was a treat for our eyes but we did not venture to climb the stairs due to feet issues. As I stood there, I wondered how many ships have charted their course by the Bodie lighthouse. There is the other lighthouse at Cape Hatteras, which is also awesome, however, the black and white stripes are at an angle with a different design. The waters are treacherous in that area as I learnt, the two saved a lot of sailors I would think. If you got a bit of time while visiting for the beach or Wright Bros memorial, have a look there.

We had some time to kill as we were waiting to get into our rental beach house. So we went here for a quick peek. It's a lighthouse overlooking a swamp basically. We did not climb up. We just walked around and took some photos. Enjoy.

We were here before 9am when nothing was open so I can’t comment on the inside of the lighthouse or gift shop. It was very peaceful to stroll around having the entire grounds to ourselves. There is a very nice wooden boardwalk that goes to a wooden pavilion. If you look into the water below, you can see all the crabs. Lighthouse itself is majestic. It was moved to this location.

Climbing the lighthouse is by reservation only. We could get inside but not climb it. There were rangers on duty to answer questions.

Beautiful lighthouse! The inside is well taken care of and the spiral staircase is beautiful! The views from the top are amazing!!

Had a wonderful time, stopped in based on my guide along tour app, climbed to the top of the lighthouse and walked around it—- it was awesome! There are over 200 steps but there are landings every 20 steps or so , which really helps if you’re a scaredy cat like me or need breaks often 😊 very knowledgable and helpful park rangers - highly recommend !!!!

This was a delightful treat. We were there early on a Sunday so it wasn’t crowded. The lighthouse is beautiful and so well maintained. The park service employees were welcoming, knowledgeable and helpful. It’s just a quick drive from Nags Head, so I’d mark it as a not-to-be-missed attraction.

The lighthouse is very cool. The surrounding property is also very cool, lots of birds and an observation deck. If you like visiting lighthouses, then this one should be on your list.

So this lighthouse has great grounds, it’s relatively inland compared to the others on the coast. What NOBODY tells you (including TripAdvisor) is that if you want to climb it, it is a pain & you have to jump through hoops. I was unaware that Bodie wasn’t open to public climbing until 6 years ago. We stopped by yesterday at 4pm. Closes at 5pm. Tickets to climb were already sold out for the day. Apparently due to weight restrictions, only 8 people can climb it at a time & they do climbs every 20 minutes. We went back this morning at 9:10am & the next available climb wasn’t until 10:30am. We already had plans. We’re leaving town in the morning so I stopped back in after lunch (around 1:30pm) to see if I could preorder 2 tickets for 9:10am tomorrow. Not only was I told no (buy them the day of, first come first serve) but they only had 4 tickets left for today (2 at 3:10pm and 2 at 4:30pm). So yes, you can climb it but plan on making it the centerpiece of your day & plan on everything else around it. You can tour the grounds anytime but climbers beware!

My family was in Nags Head for vacation, and decided to visit the lighthouse as the weather was a little too poor for the beach. The kids enjoyed the wildlife in the area. The only thing that could make it better was if the visitors center was open. I don't know if it's under renovations....

This is always a quick visit for those staying in the Nag's Head area and is one of the better lighthouses. You cannot climb this one in the off-season, but can during the regular season there. Regardless, it's a gorgeous spot, plenty of history inside, and a nice walk out on the boardwalk to some viewing platforms on the side. Nice gift shop, great staff - will tell you all sorts of additional interesting facts about it. Well worth dropping by!

It's tough to give Bodie a good or bad review due to the parks closures steaming from Covid. The grounds are open as is the gift shop but access to the other rooms in the gift shop building and the actual light house is unavailable.

It's still a beautiful, picturesque location and there are still alot of visitors walking the grounds and stopping in to take in the wonder of the lighthouse. We will definitely be back when things open back up.

Well kept grounds. Lovely boardwalk out to the sound. Definitely worth seeing the lighthouse even if you don’t want to climb to top. But one intense ranger inside the base of lighthouse loudly told me twice to not go on the iron steps. This was after I asked if I could take a photo looking up at the staircase. He was loud and spoke to me like I was a child. He could use some people skills training. Even the group getting ready to climb up was not impressed with his forceful demeanor. All other rangers were warm and friendly.

Decided to stop here on the way back from Cape Hatteras. It’s simply beautiful and stunning in itself. Friendly staff and a great gift shop! Highly recommend.

Just off Highway 12, easily accessible and visible from the road. You can climb it if the weather allows (i.e. not heavy winds) and it is right by the Coast Guard Station Oregon Inlet. Beautiful area, great to take some photos.

It was nice to see and learn a little of its history and importance. It was open for climbing to the top when we visited.

Beautiful lighthouse, but we were very disappointed that you needed a reservation to see the inside. The walkway into the marsh was great. Well worth the time.

I love the history these walls have, the detail in building, the walk to the top and the views are all so amazing.

We go to Bodie Island Lighthouse every time we come to Nags Head and continue to be in awe of it. To me, it is a true beacon as it draws me to it. Every time I go to Bodie I learn more about it and the area it protects. Thank goodness that our nation thinks enough of this wonderful place to maintain it so we can all lean just a little more about thing wonderful area and this inspiring structure.

Just have to stop here every time we come down, however this time we went in to the gift shop and information area. Great little gift shop with everything about the lighthouse, from books to pens, sun catchers to puzzles. (Very reasonable too). The park employees were very knowledgeable about everything from lighthouse to where to go for the freshest seafood!!! And the photo opportunities are amazing! I must see!!

We visited here but weren't able to climb the lighthouse! If you want to do so you have to buy tickets the day of at 7 am prompt. You also have to have made a "profile" for the website to check out; the ranger on duty told us that they usually sell out by 7:05 am for the day. So, if you're dying to climb the 219 stairs you should try to get up at 6:55 am to get these! otherwise, it's still fun to see the lighthouse but maybe not worth it if you're not a fanatic and it's out of your way.

As with the other lights on OBX you can climb this one too. Much like hatteras, this is a FCFS ticketing. Get there early if you want to climb without a wait. Pro tip - if you want to climb later in day, go early and buy for the time you want and come back then.
Enjoy the climb! Remember to take breaks if you need them.

Since we travel with our dogs, we weren't able to go into the lighthouse. However, it's quite impressive from the outside and there is a house with interesting exhibits on seafaring life. Follow the wooden footpaths out over the marshland for more views.

Very picturesque lighthouse that is easy to get to and not crowded. Beautiful boardwalk trail to an beautiful salt marsh view. Free to visit, takes about 45 minutes to see everything.

Beautiful lighthouse and view at the top. Glad I got a ticket to climb the lighthouse but very frustrating process trying to get one online. Definitely recommend visiting this beautiful and unique lighthouse.

The lighthouse and park are clean and well-maintained. It is only about a 10 minute drive from Nags Head.

I loved the Bodie lighthouse. It offered a souvenir gift shop and you could go inside and climb to the top.

This was the closest OBX lighthouse to where we were staying in Kill Devils Hill, so we went to see it. Would have loved to climb it, but you have to reserve a time in advance (same day?) on the website, and it was booked up when we were there. Looked well worth the climb, as we could see people outside at the top, who must have had a great view of OBX. I think the cost is $10 per person.

I loved the history and the view was great. I was really sad that it was closed and we could not climb it. Next time.

I enjoy the walk on the boardwalk out from the lighthouse. You get a cool perspective from the tower out there.

Very nice lighthouse to visit - esp later in evening when the light / beacon is on.

Sadly, our trip was there along with all the lighthouses on the OBX during Covid - so everything is closed except the grounds for viewing.

Would be interesting to actually go inside the buildings and climb up to the beacon (if possible) - as there are some awesome views. (I fly a drone and was in the area doing so - so views are quite amazing, esp at sunset on Bodie Island, Rodanthe, and that area of Hatteras. Not many people get the views of the Intercoastal either; except where access is and I think you can walk down there from the lighthouse via trail / road.

Will be back NON-Covid to check out ALL of Hatteras's lighthouses. Great treasures from long ago.

The light house was closed during our visit bu the visitor center in the old keeper's quarters is the place to begin your exploration of the National Seashore. This is really a recreational park. However, you can enjoy the lighthouse and visitor center at Hatteras, a nice interpretive trail at Buxton Woods, and the beauty of the beach and sound. Lots of fishing to be done, wind surfing, para sailing even in the off season, which is the time to go to avoid stifling crowds.

Made a quick stop here- not a lot to see, but a very pretty lighthouse to visit and there was a friendly guide outside answering questions.

The Park Service has done a good job with this site. The grounds are kept in good condition, the rangers are well versed in the history of the site and crowd control and the lighthouse is, frankly, beautiful. We did not climb the lighthouse, you have to buy tickets in advance via a web site. I heard from the ranger that they sell out quickly.

Beautiful site to stop and take a walk and some photos. Great lighthouse to see on your way to or if you’re not up for the drive to Cape Hatteras.

We did not climb the 200 stairs to the top but enjoyed the scenery and the view accross the country. Recommend to see the video inside which gives a lot of background information.

Plan ahead with tickets so you can actually climb the lighthouse. However, the grounds are beautiful and there is a trail to a lookout over the marsh. I recommend making a stop here.

We were.lucky enough to climb on the last day of the season. Love the area and the view. Always recommend climbing lighthouses when you can.

Nice grounds walk to the boardwalk to the marsh. Lots of grass area for kids to run.
Gift shop. Can not climb due to covid. Got a picture and left.

Gorgeous views surrounding the lighthouse with a beautiful raised wooden path to a lookout sight. A highlight of our trip! It was much more scenic than Hatteras Lighthouse and so much closer to our rental home in Nags Head.

Outstanding, I did not attempt to climb because of my fear of heights. But just to see it in real life and be able to take picture was enough for me.

Very nice historical lighthouse in a lovely setting. At this time we were unable to climb to the top.

This lighthouse was so photogenic. Not much tall stuff in the way so it was easy to capture. Only cost 10 dollars to climb. Be sure to get there early cause tickets sell fast and they only sell 8 per tour time. The climb only takes 10-15 minutes. The National Parks workers are knowledgeable and will answer all questions you have. The gift shop is located in the same building where you buy climb tickets, but on the other side. Bathrooms are clean and close to the parking area

This lighthouse is awesome and always it's a walkway to see the ocean which was amazing to stand is just watch the crab and fish and does had seats on nice you get up there..must got to see

Having visited off season the lighthouse was closed to visitors wanted to climb the stairs. With that said it was still a beautiful sight.

Visiting this lighthouse in the evening is a unique experience, the staircase is lit by candlelight and brings a magical touch to get to the top and discover the landscape and Fresnel lens. The accompaniment and explanations of the ranger are excellent. Provide good mosquito repellent.

Super cool views of the black and white lighthouse set contrasting the color of the sky. We missed the ranger talk so that was a bummer. We did do the Junior Ranger activities with my sons which is always cool! We also walked the walkway to the side which gives a nice view of the water on one side and the view of the lighthouse again on the other. We caught some wildlife in action which was exciting like a nutria and an egret (I think it was an egret) catching food. So glad we came.

Definitely worth the stop. They were closing when we got there but we read the information and walked the grounds. We hit 4 of the light houses in the area and this didn't disappoint. We also walked the boardwalk out to the observation area.

The lighthouse and the grounds are absolutely beautiful. The lighthouse is well maintained. There is a walking path and tower over the wetlands. You can find crabs, fish, and other wildlife.

Another beautiful lighthouse. They do not let you go up but its nice just to see it. The house is now a mini museum and gift shop, and you can get your stamp for your passport there. There is a board walk out into the marsh that leads to a platform. its very pretty and you can see wildlife and fish all around. There is bathrooms outside that is realy nice.

My husband and I stopped by here on our way back to Raleigh airport so unfortunately did not have time to climb the lighthouse, next time! However we did talk to the park rangers and get some history of the lighthouse which was very interesting, and we availed on sales ourselves of their very clean and air-conditioned toilets! There is also a nature trail and tickets have to be purchased in advance to climb the lighthouse.

Bodie Island Lighthouse is an easy visit on the way to Cape Hatteras. With a similar candy stripe pattern, it is a beautiful lighthouse and a must-see if you are a Lighthouse enthusiast. There is a little walkway which extends over the marsh near the lighthouse which provides for some nice views (see attached photo). Parking was easy. It was closed for climbing due to the COVID, and possibly it being the off-season, but still worth the trip.

Beautiful location! Big parking lot and a boardwalk going down to the water. Great place to see some wildlife! There are bathrooms at the beginning of the boardwalk and a gift shop in the main building. Beautiful lighthouse!

We enjoyed it! In order to climb up to the top, you need to sign in at recreation.gov. Sign in starts at 7 AM, and you get an assigned time. There is a nice walking path by the water, where se saw some birds.

We climbed the ten stories to the top of the lighthouse. You have to get on the NPS site at 7:00am to get tickets for the day. The lighthouse was beautiful and the parks staff were friendly and knowledgeable.

I have a special love for Bodie Island Lighthouse. We have been going to the Outer Banks for years, and I have gone to this lighthouse many times. It is in a very pretty location with the wildlife marsh behind it. Plus it is very easy to get to from the Outer Banks beaches, and there is plenty of parking. It is one of the easier lighthouses to climb--not nearly as tall as the Hatteras lighthouse. The gift shop is also amazing, and has great items for sale.

I love how organized the visits are - you have to buy tickets ahead of time ($10-worth it!) and they are strict on the rules - one person on each set of steps at a time, must be 'this tall' to go up, no carrying children, etc. This is a fantastic climb with great views. The history was fabulous to learn. Take the walkway after your climb, lots of wildlife on the marsh.

The lighthouse was lovely. We visited after the 5 pm close time, but the grounds were still accessible, which was perfect because we had the place to ourselves. We were able to take pictures of the lighthouse. The most unexpected and beautiful aspect of our visit however, was the grounds. There are wooden pathways leading out into the surrounding marshland which ends at a gazebo. It was a serene and peaceful place. Highly recommended.

The lighthouse tickets sold out within minutes of online sales. We had a disappointed little guy. The park ranger allowed home to come into the first level of the lighthouse to look up at all the steps. There’s plenty to walk around and see outside. Just note if you want to walk up the lighthouse, you need to be online to purchase tickets at 7am.

This is the third lighthouse my dad and I have climbed. The views are amazing from the top and the rangers are very informative. Great piece of history! Make sure you go early in the morning during the summer because we had to wait over an hour for the next available climb, but we walked around the grounds and out to the boardwalk to pass the time. Nice views from there as well. Check before you go about restrictions for children.

Another beautiful stop along the Outer Banks is Bodie Lighthouse. Plays second fiddle to Hatteras Lighthouse, but no less enjoyable and worth a stop. Don't miss it when in the Outer Banks /Nags Head area.

Actually this is the third Bodie Island Lighthouse built. The first one started construction around 1847 by men that did not have experience with building a lighthouse. After 2 years, the lighthouse started to lean and unable to be repaired then abandoned in 1854. The second lighthouse built was blown up by Confederate troops for fear the Union Troops would use the tower. The current structure was built in 1871 and first operated in 1872. Inside the Keeper's quarters is a gift shop and small museum. Upon arrival, we were informed no tours or entry to the lighthouse due to staff shortage. Still worth a stop to admire the beautiful grounds. Restroom on site by the board walk that extends out to the water. Large parking lot.

My husband and I took my elderly parents to see the lighthouse because my dad really enjoys the experience. The lighthouse itself is definitely worth seeing with lots of intriguing history. Unfortunately, the 2 women working in the gift shop were really ugly to people. After we were angrily told to exit through the back doorway as soon as we walked into the shop, my parents left. They were too discouraged by the rude commands to leave as soon as we entered. I hung around to overhear the women talking about tourists and how bothered they were by them. That being said, we did not purchase online tickets to go up into the lighthouse. I didn’t want to give them my money after their rude comments about the tourists wanting to have the opportunity to experience the lighthouse. Oh well, we won’t be back. I just hated that my parents were so taken aback by the unpleasant behavior. The outside of the lighthouse was lovely, but the women working there that day were not. Poor things, having to work at a lighthouse at the beach.....sad. They should try working somewhere else if they hate it so much.

If your in the area this is a must see and learn the history. Off season it will be less than one hour of your time. Pretty cool place and fully restored

Great visit to this lighthouse! We did not go up in the lighthouse. It was $10 per person. They have a gift store and clean restrooms on site.

This was a cool experience. You have to be able to walk up a LOT of stairs. Make sure you take water, maybe a snack. It was a shockingly good leg workout. Thank God they have you stop halfway up to rest. Great views at the top & worth doing once.

The lighthouse and grounds are very nicely kept and the little marina next to it was beautiful at sunset.

if you have never been to the outer banks you need to go, have to check out the light houses, this one is named after all the bodies that washed up on shore by ship wrecks,before lighthouse was put up

It can get hot inside the lighthouse, so bring water. The views are great once you get to the top. Most of the staff was friendly and eager to answer questions guests had. Buy your tickets the morning of (set the alarmm, they go on sale at 7am) because they go quickly.

Very interesting place. Staff is helpful and knowledgeable. Adequate parking. Great gift shop. Clean restrooms. Eat before you get there or bring a picnic. SHOES ARE REQUIRED FOR CLIMBING THE 200 STAIRS TO THE TOP OF THE LIGHTHOUSE. We had an hour and a half wait to climb because only eight are allowed up at a time. Worth the visit.

This is one of the few lighthouses in NC that have all of the following: 1. easy to access by car, 2. unobstructed by trees, and 3. in an undeveloped area. There is lots of parking - free and the grounds are well maintained and wide open. There are several paved trails in the area, and the beach is across the highway about a mile away. There are public rest rooms, a visitor center, and it's only about 20 minutes from downtown Nags Head.

We visited the lighthouse after hours, so we were unable to go in and climb to the top. The visit was still very enjoyable! Beautiful views!

Got great photos and the grounds are nice to walk around- much better than the Cape Hatteras lighthouse

We enjoy visiting lighthouses across the country and so of course stopped here. The lighthouse was not open to climb the day we were there, however it was very enjoyable to walk around the area.

Last day of season to climb. Was a beautiful day, a bit windy when we got to top(33 mph) just a few shy of when they would close the top deck for visitors, but you could see got miles.

Smaller than Hatteras, but appears in better condition. It looked like it had just been painted. There was a full time park ranger at this spot. The beach is right there as well. Worth a stop if you are in the area.

On our tour of the OBX lighthouses, this one is up next. This has a really nice gift shop and mini museum. For $10/adult, you can climb to the top (approx 10 stories) but they are timed tix because there is only one person per landing. We didn’t have time to wait till the next available slot. Looks like the view from the top would have been great. Walk out to the water front on a board walk and watch the birds. Bathroom and water bottle filling station available. Passport stamp for US National Park Passport books here.

Fantastic lighthouse to see!! Unfortunately, because of Covid, we could not climb to the top. BUT still well worth the drive to see it. There was a small little gift shop that was nice to purchase a couple of little things. Well worth the time and visit.

Excellent piece of history about early Lighthouse operation. Very nice visit, due to Covid 19 restrictions, could not do everything, but the view and in person visit was worth it. Don's miss it if you are at the Outer Banks.

Beautiful lighthouse to visit. I wish I could say more but it was past closing time when we arrived. Use your GPS to get to it because it isn't marked on the road. At one point you can see it while driving then it's like it disappears and you will drive past the entrance.

We enjoyed the walk on the boardwalk. Great views in all directions. Didn't enter/climb the lighthouse.

My husband and I visited Bodie Island Lighthouse because he wanted to climb it after doing Currituck and Hatteras. We arrived the first time at 4:15 and they were sold out of climb tickets for the day. So we had to return the next morning. He was able to get a ticket for the next climb on our return trip. A few things to know about this lighthouse. They only let 8 people go every 20 minutes so the tickets sell out quickly. Unlike the other light houses, the stairs have not been braced so there is a weight limit to climb it. Also, only one person can be on each flight of stairs at a time. So you really have to pay attention to make sure you are doing it right. It was a really cool lighthouse though. There was also a boardwalk you can walk around while you wait and check out the blue crabs. I would recommend this attraction.

Loved to check out the entire grounds, from the keeper's house, to the walkway around the lighthouse and out to the sound. We went in August 2018, and wanted to come back on another trip to check out the other lighthouses. Quite near Jockey Ridge Park as well, so it was nice to combine a bit of outdoors excursions together.

Really cool lighthouse. Well cared for facility. Only BIG negative is you can only schedule and pay for light house tours on line….and it’s a fairly complicated procedure! Have to register and give out a lot of info just to buy a simple ticket to walk up the lighthouse stairs! Along with having to do it on line their internet service there was very slow making it even more of a pain.

Go back to accepting CASH payments!!!🙁

We wanted to visit as many lighthouses as we can during our OBX trip. Bodie Island was one of three we visited, but did not climb up.

Every morning they release reservations (on the half hour) to climb to the top 8 people at a time. Rangers are helpful and knowledgeable and the half hour increments are well timed. Definitely go online to make reservations early in the day so you have your choice of time. It fills every day and we tried to your without one and didn’t have luck getting in.

When writing my novel, "Legend: An OBX Novel." I had originally intended to use the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in the story; however, I couldn't make it work. Instead, I chose the Bodie Island Lighthouse in the novel, and it soon became a key part of the storyline. Throughout the chaos and twists of the plot, it is always there overseeing what transpires while offering inspiration to the main character to overcome the evil he must battle. I even have a late-night confrontation scene in the parking lot of the lighthouse leading to the final climatic confrontation.

My family and I enjoyed our time visiting the Bodie Lighthouse! Unfortunately, the outer walkway was closed due to the wind but we will return again soon!

Stopped by the Bodie Island Lighthouse one morning and it was a great visit. The grounds were very well kept and manicured. My only regret is we didn't get to go up into the lighthouse due to the current pandemic. Maybe next time.

Perfect photo opp! Went with my daughter, and we enjoyed taking photos and visiting the museum. This lighthouse is open for climbing (tickets required), but we chose to experience it all from the ground. Parking is close to the museum, with the lighthouse just behind. Beautiful view! And a nice stop between Hatteras and Nags Head. Note that Bodie Island is much closer to Nags Head than to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, but the drive is beautiful.

Of the lighthouses nearby this seemed the least exciting but I enjoyed the visit. The stroll was ok. The lighthouse was as advertised. I recommend if you have time and like lighthouses.

This is a wonderful historical site to visit. We enjoyed seeing the lighthouse and reading about the history of Bodie pronounced “body” light house.
The gift shop supports wildlife and we did our part!
Good stuff and don’t pass it up!

Amazing location for summer sunrise photos. Don't forget to go back when it opens and walk to the top of the lighthouse. The morning I was there another photographer was capturing three deer wandering around the grounds.

We went there each day to walk. So peaceful and calm. Place is kept clean and to see rangers coming to check on the place was nice to see.

Took a few days to be able to get the tickets (8 max per 30 minute time slot). Worth the effort to get the tickets - beautiful views. Also learned we had been pronouncing the name wrong - "BODY" not BODIE. Who knew?! Easy to get to as we were staying in Nags Head.

Lovely place to stop on a nice day for a little walk around to take photos. Clean grounds, lots of parking. Will visit again.

Lovely lighthouse in a beautiful setting. Didn’t go up in the lighthouse due to health, but looked into the buildings and walked the boardwalk and admired the views in all directions.

The Bodie Island lighthouse is beautiful and well worth stopping to see. Climb it if you can--limited number of guests can go up at a time, and it is a lot of steps!--but go see it even if you cannot climb it (or do not want to). Be sure to go in the keeper' cottage, which also has a small gift shop.

Arrived at 11 am and bought a ticket to climb it. Had to wait until 2:50 pm to actually climb it. Beautiful view and the climb was not too rigorous. Small child stuck in too screaming because she was afraid to come down. Make sure your kids are good with heights!

Pretty place and very nice land and surroundings. You can not climb up the lighthouse which of course is what most folks want to do. We could schedule a trip the following day but have too many plans already with a large party of friends and family. The lighthouse is extreme impressive from the outside and the gift shop is nice outside as well. Not bad, just wanted to climb! Next time.

Must see I was lead to visit hatteras because my great grandfather was lost at sea at hatteras I visited all the lighthouses this one was special because I was told Bodie is really bodies because of the bodies that washed up ashore one of them could have been my great grandfather who knows. So this was my experience hope you have one too.

Plan ahead because you cant go inside except for certain times. Unfortunately the day we decided to go inside access was not offered. It was nice to look at none the less and was worth the drive.

We got there too late to go to the lighthouse home. The grounds around the lighthouse was neat and clean.

This lighthouse was recently renovated and refurbished, and is in great condition. The view from the top of the Pamlico Sound and the Oregon Inlet area is tremendous. There is also a boardwalk path through the wetlands that leads to the waters edge. Also a giftshop where you can buy reasonably priced souvenirs.,

The day I went with my family we had to reschedule due to how hot it was in the lighthouse. Park Ranger Dylan did not want to close the lighthouse and went in 10-20 minutes after he first closed it off. Dylan told us some more things about the lighthouse and stories. We then were able to go in the lighthouse and it was about 85 degrees but wasn’t bad. Long way up but worth the view. If you have any questions I would ask Ranger Dylan if he is there.

the area was really pretty and had a nearby walkway that led to the water with nice views. only downfall was the limited opportunities for climbing the lighthouse. i believe they’re open three days a week and tickets usually sell out before 9am.

Its a lighthouse ... No more ... No less ... The area can get extremely windy ... Hold on to your hats ... Small dogs ... and kids ... Okay ... You can let go of the kids ...

Bodie Island Lighthouse has -- history, good gift shop, activities (climb the lighthouse), nature boardwalk, ample parking, good rangers, clean bathrooms, etc...

Stopped in to climb the light...
-- but due to the lighthouse stairs being 'free hanging' (you'll learn) -- there is a limit of only 8 people allowed to climb at a time. So we had to purchase tickets and come back -- in two hours (so we drove to Jockey's Ridge, did that and drove back).

The climb is easy for adult, but I'd recommend children 5 and up only - as they need to follow instructions and not good around.

Great views from the top!!

On the boardwalk trail we saw - egrets, blue crabs, a turtle and one very large King snake (non-venomous). So that was cool.

You can also purchase beach driving, and fire permits in the ranger station inside.

Would recommend: Yes
Would re-patronize: Probably not -- as there are other lighthouses to climb!

Wasn’t hard to find. It was closed for climbs but the visitor center was open. There is also a boardwalk out to a viewing area overlooking a body of water.

Absolutely gorgeous and worth the visit. A New England girl, through and through- I have seen my share of lighthouses and this has to be one of the top 3. EVER! That is saying something. Very picturesque and well maintained. Simply stunning. Long boardwalk to marshlands surrounding it gave a stunning visual scenery. Adorable visitors center and helpful Park Rangers. The only reason this wasn’t 4 stars is because we couldn’t climb to the top. Poor planning on my part as the climb is only available until Columbus Day.

We stopped on our way down south to Cape Hatteras. It was very easy to find and parking was plentyful. Everything was closed, as was the shop, since it was a sunday. There were a coupel of volunteers, which were extremely knowledgable, that provided plenty of history. There was also a nice little walking path you can take to the water (about 10 minute trip) where you can get another great view of the lighthouse. The facilities were very well maintained and clean. We will definitely be back whenever the lighthouse itself opens back up to go to the top!

Easy to get to and near the Oregon Inlet. Plenty of parking. The morning sun can be tough for photo ops but there are many angles to take your photos. The gift shop was very nice inside too. Rest rooms are on the property as well. Classic Carolina Outer Banks lighthouse is a must see.

This is such a pretty lighthouse in such a beautiful setting. The history is interesting too. Be sure to take the boardwalk over to the lookout. The water and plants are interesting, and the view of the lighthouse is even better! Don't pass this one by - it's one of the prettiest ever.

Wonderful historical experience. Even with an artificial metal hip, and age 63, I was able to climb the 200 plus steps of the huge spiral staircase. There are landings about every 20 steps or so. The incredible 360 views at the top on the outside balcony are amazing! The National Park guides are very helpful and knowledgeable. Floor fans on every landing help keep you more comfortable as you assend. Go early in the day in the summer, as it gets warm inside the Lighthouse.

Online booking for current day starts ONLINE at 7:00 am - and they book fast. We were not able to schedule a tour of the lighthouse as a result, BUT we enjoyed walking the grounds, checking out the information center and store and the boardwalk area to the north the lighthouse with great wildlife views.

We made it just before sunset and the views were breathtaking!!
Deer were grazing in the field around the parking area. There is a lookout point that is perfect for catching a sunset picture of the lighthouse.

The grounds and lighthouse here were lovely. We were unable to go inside the museum or lighthouse itself, I think just due to the holiday schedule. But it was very nice to just get to see it and walk around it for a bit.

We enjoyed our visit! Just know that if you want to go to the top of the lighthouse, you must purchase tickets online. There is no in-person option, so if you don't have cell service there, you're out of luck!
We did enjoy going to the top! People can only go up each flight of stairs one at a time though, so you do end up walking in shifts, but that breaks up the 10 flights of stairs anyway.

Went twice. First time it wasn’t open to climb so just took pictures, visited the gift shop and walked the boardwalk. The second time I went back to climb and didn’t know you had to have a reservation to go up. I was so aggravated. So many people were turned away (and angry) for the same reason. They know it’s there…they go to visit and climb and then get told sorry you need a reservation. Not everyone checks the website for information. There were lots of wasps at the top of lighthouse that were looking like they were trying to nest up there. I think it would have been proper to let people know at the bottom in case they are allergic. Also, still can’t figure out why we needed a safety talk about what to do in case of being caught in a rip current in order to climb the lighthouse…

So interesting. We visited all four lighthouses and they were all so different. Very nice grounds and rangers.

It was perfect weather to take the short drive to see the Bodie Island Lighthouse! So glad we did! We loved seeing the lighthouse & reading its history.

Wish we could have gone up (could not due to COVID restrictions). Great stop on the way to Pea Island.

View was worth the climb. Great information given by Park Rangers. Highly recommend the climb, also kid friendly.

We really enjoyed Bodie! We were disappointed that we could not climb as the season was over, but we were able to go into the light house and the ranger on duty did explain some history. The grounds are very well kept and we enjoyed exploring the boardwalk. This is a very short drive from Kill Devil Hills. We got some great pictures and would definitely return!

Excellent historical excursion within the national park system. Tickets must be purchased on the day you plan to attend, and you have to arrive five minutes early for a session with the ranger regarding rules and safety. I am afraid of heights, so stepping out on the top railing was a bit intimidating, but I did not have any problem climbing the stairs. There is no air conditioning inside, but a fan was placed on each of the landings, which helped.

A gorgeous park, forest, and lighthouse await you just a few miles south of Nags Head. It is the easiest of the North Carolina lighthouses to get to. When I visited in August 2021, it was not open for climbing due to maintenance. Check online to see if it is open to the public, and if so, if you need to purchase timed tickets online in advance.

Take yourself family, and friends to Bodie Island Lighthouse to enjoy a bit of Outer banks history, beautiful scenery, and fresh air!

Another amazing light house on the Outer Banks. Ample parking - easy to park if you have a trailer. Rest rooms are located in an out building near the parking lot. Well maintained museum in old light keepers residence.

Enjoyed seeing the lighthouse and walking the grounds. Nice for a short visit. Inside areas were closed due to Covid-19 so can’t comment on those.

We had a super time at Bodie Lighthouse. Got there early (9:30 am) to get tickets to cascend lighthouse at 11:30 am. Not too hard to ascend and views at top were incredible! You cannot usually go up in lighthouses so this was pretty special. Not for people who have fear of heights.

You can also walk out on a boardwalk to a gazebo with a nice view of the marshes, we saw lots of egrets and crabs when we were there.

Stopped at the bodylighthouse while visiting Kitty hawk area. Very well maintained lighthouse of years gone by. Excellent learning opportunity for young children. Good for adults too. Well maintained and very nice. Large Parking area And restrooms available. Gift shop in small building in front of lighthouse. Well worth the time spent

A lot of people were visiting at the time we went. If you want to go inside the keeper’s house or climb the tower, bring a mask - required.

Unfortunately it was closed due to Covid 19 but enjoyed the grounds.
Beautiful site! We enjoyed our visit.

We stopped by on our way back to Nags Head from Buxton. It was right off the road. The grounds are well kept and there is a book store on site. I did not go inside the book store but they were letting a few in at a time if you had a mask. There was a guide answering questions at the entrance. You could not go in the lighthouse but it was nice to walk around it. Worth a stop.

The lighthouse is beautiful. I haven’t made it to cape hatteras light so I can’t compare yet. You must reserve a time slot to climb the lighthouse which is not convenient. Masks are also required which definitely takes away from the experience. I decided it wasn’t worth the $10 and was content with just taking a photo.

This is a very pretty area with a boardwalk to walk out on and look back at the lighthouse. We did not do an online reservation (only) to climb the lighthouse so we only saw it from the base and the boardwalk.

Inside there is a nice information and a good gift shop. Restrooms are on site too. Plenty of parking.

A great opportunity for photos of an iconic OBX lighthouse. Easy access to the grounds. The keeper's house is now used as a shop.

Got there around 11:30. I was trying to get permit to drive jeep on beach. The ranger there was impatient and not helpful to get permit online. I hadn’t got signed in to webpage for state park before she was rushing me and several people out the building. Said they closed from 12-2, for lunch and change of shift. It took me at least 30-45 min to figure out how to get permit online. I wanted the permit for a day, no such option. Only option was 1-10 days or for a annual permit. I had to spend $50.00 for a one day permit to drive on beach.

Great Visit to Bodie Lighthouse it’s very clean and taken care of! Plus you don’t have to drive a hour to see it!

If lighthouses are your thing, this is a don’t miss. Unfortunately due to COVID-19 restrictions you currently can not enter the lighthouse, but the grounds are lovely and it’s a beautiful locale.

Beautiful nature with a walking path, pretty light house with a great history, and friendly staff answering all questions

I enjoy visiting light houses on my trips and this one was just beautiful. The history and story. Quite a few horse flies around though-I'd suggest bringing some bug spray!!

Finally made it to see this beautiful black and white lighthouse on Bodie Island. As the saying goes, the third time is the charm. It took three times to build the lighthouse we see today. The first time because of faulty destruction, the second time destroyed during the Civil War and finally the third time a face lift was completed in 2013. The lighthouse grounds as well as the boardwalk trail over a salt marsh are available to walk around and take photos. When we arrived, a woman was on the porch of the Visitor Center located in what was once the lightkeeper’s home. When I tried to go inside, the doors were locked. Bodie and Currituck are considered “sisters” because they are structurally the same except for color.

The lighthouse was the highlight of our week! Ranger Reginald totally made our day, he was so knowledgeable and answered all of our questions and even acted as our photographer at the top. The lens is amazing, (I’m sorry Reginald, I can’t remember the name of it) and the history fascinating. Make sure you wear comfy shoes and clothes, the climb is definitely a workout, but worth every thigh burning step!

Lighthouse was closed due to covid I assume but the grounds and views were still awesome. Just be careful walking on the boardwalk and don’t fall into the marsh. LOL

Beautiful setting - lovely lighthouse. Limited access makes it difficult to plan the climb. The app based on the QR code is good but availability is very limited and even if you show up, high winds may cancel your scheduled climb. Tough to plan your visit.

This is a great experience if you can get the tickets on the National
parks website. Create a Log in save your credit card information for fast checkout. 7am sharp the day of your trip to the lighthouse tickets go on sale and they go so fast. I didn’t get 4 tickets until 5:20pm and I got on at 7am sharp. Only 8 tickets per time slot. Otherwise you are turned away from going up in site.
But wow what view. 215 stairs to the top and being July and having to wear masks it wasn’t that hot. The top was super windy and the family loved it.
This is the only lighthouse as of July 2022 that you can go to the top.

We were able to visit 4 of the 5 lighthouses in outer banks. Unable to get to Orcacoke do to devastated area from hurricane Dorian in September 2019.
When you leave here, drive straight across scenic route 12 to a nice beach area.

We come here every time we come to the obx. This was our first time climbing it. Even though the wind was too strong for us to go outside at the top, they opened up the lens room. The staff was awesome! Learned so much, and it’s amazing. A must do!

Beautiful lighthouse and surrounding area. Grounds are well maintained. Bathroom facilities available and also clean. If you enjoy lighthouses, this is a must see. Plenty of parking.

Even if you don't plan on going inside the lighthouse the surrounding grounds are worth a look. There's a lengthy boardwalk that gives you commanding views of the lighthouse from different angles. Tickets must be booked in advance as per an employee that worked there. She said it's common for the lighthouse to be fully booked a day or two in advance in high season. IF you have no interest in going up you can still walk around. This is one of those attractions you can quickly snap if you're on your way out of town or need to kill time before a dinner reservation. There is a small bathroom nearby as well as a small museum too. A word of caution though: do NOT leave the boardwalk area, especially after rain or at night. Snakes do come out. The mosquitos are pretty horrific as well after dark so be prepared. Definitely worth a visit.

Fun stop to see this lighthouse, very photogenic and a nice place to get some good photos of the lighthouse. Easy and quick

We enjoyed climbing the Bodie Island Lighthouse on a Saturday afternoon during a trip to the area. We reserved tickets for a specific time online, $10 per person. The climb is relatively easy unless you have health conditions that would create difficulty. It's a winding staircase with a series of landings. One climber is allowed on a section of the staircase at a time (max 260 lbs on the section). Once you reach the top you can see the modern lighting apparatus. Recommended.

We arrived at the lighthouse shortly after it re opened from hurricane Dorian. All staff were very pleasant and knowledgeable. View at the top is stunning, and they actually have fans set up at each landing in the lighthouse so you can stay cool.

We wouldn’t come to outterbanks without coming to this lighthouse. It is beautiful and so pretty. We do an airboat ride that takes us on the water and then we come to see it up close. If there calling for any storms they do postpone later in time if weather permits. Great place at outterbanks

The light house is fabulous, the view incredible and the rangers are great. Wonderful. There is a walk way with a viewing deck out into the sound. Just lovely, great for bird watching.

We had a nice time at Bodie Island Lighthouse. My kids participated in the National Park Service's Junior Ranger program and the rangers not only made a big deal about their participation, one of the rangers took us into the base of the lighthouse free of charge. It was so special that she recognized them. Highly recommend the junior ranger program. It was also fun to walk out on the boardwalk and see the crabs, fish and birds in the water.

Just a great little nps site. Lighthouse is Beautiful and grounds are very well maintained. Very nice helpful staff. Small gift store and limited exhibits

It was a really rainy day so that hurt a lil but it was really cool to see some NC history. The grounds are well maintained. Had a good time. Would recommend if in the area

We drove quite a distance to see the Lighthouse and anticipated climbing it. Upon arrival, saw signs that indicated it’s only open on certain days. You aren’t even able to get too close to it either. There was an interesting boardwalk through marshlands and an observation deck that offers a nice view and opportunity for photos. Otherwise, we were a bit disappointed we used up valuable time on our short vacation to travel here.

Beautiful! The lighthouse itself was great but what truly made this an amazing experience was the land around the lighthouse. Beautiful scenery and lots of space to social distance. A must see if you driving the OBX. About a 20 minute stop. Free of charge unless you want something from the gift shop.

Even though you can't enter the lighthouse in the winter months, it was still an educational experience! There are signs explaining the history of the structure and the work of lighthouse keepers. It's amazing to see this building of 150 years still in impeccable condition and being preserved for the public. There is a small gift store inside where you can have your passport book stamped if you have one since it's part of the National Parks system.

When I went in mid-May this was the first time that you could actually climb the lighthouse. You do need to book your tickets online the morning of but the climb is worth it as you'll get great views. The boardwalk is also very nice and the tiny museum is really cool as it will tell the history of the lighthouse.

This is a nice attraction and worth the drive, it got some amazing views. There is also a lot of history here.

Beautiful lighthouse located just 22 mins from kitty hawk / nags head . The tickets to climb the lighthouse goes on sale only on the day of climb by 7 AM in the morning .Due to weather there will be cancellations , plan accordingly . Parking is free outside

Out tour group stopped here briefly for quick walk down the nature boardwalk and some walked up the light house stairs. I was fortunate to do the walk and experience the views. Park rangers were knowledgeable and friendly

First time we've visited this beautiful lighthouse and we weren't disappointed a real gem on the outer banks. A must see if you enjoy the North Carolina's national lighthouses.

We stopped by to see this lighthouse close-up, but did not climb it. It was too windy that day to go outside at the top. For free they did let us walk inside. We got some great pictures of the spiral staircase going to the top. Nice restrooms here.

A terrific National Park site and a great place to visit. The beauty of this place on a sunny day is breathtaking. We encountered a number of photographers and birders. A must-see location for anyone who loves the outdoors.

We were staying about 10 minutes away from the lighthouse and visited several times during our vacation. The setting is so peaceful and beautiful. Definitely take the walk out to the pavilion, it’s so pretty to see it from a little distance away. We also went one evening as it was getting dark, and stayed until well after dark to see the stars and it was amazing. Really enjoyed seeing the lighthouse being lit up too. We also climbed it once, the view from the top is beautiful. As a side note, you must purchase tickets to climb it online the day you plan to climb, and they do seem to sell out relatively fast some days.

We enjoyed stopping here. Ample parking and a nice clean area. Bathrooms were closed due to covid concerns. Great walking path (elevated wood) out over the marsh with a lookout. We came across a pine snake while we were there - pretty cool. All in all stop if you’re in the area and check it out

Took a day trip from VA beach to view the lighthouses of Nags Head. The Bodie Lighthouse was my first stop and it didn’t disappoint. Loved the boardwalk out to the marsh as well.

My husband and I visited in November for our anniversary weekend getaway and it is such a beautiful place. Although we didn’t get to climb the lighthouse as it seasonally closed in October we plan to go back when we can climb. You can walk on the boardwalk out to the dock seeing wildlife it is a beautiful place. Put this one on your list of adventures. ❤️

Lighthouses are always cool to see especially if you live far from a beach. This is very pretty. Not able to climb as they take tours up and we were there to late in the day. The staff in the information center were very helpful. Small but cute gift shop. The setting of this Lighthouse is very nice. A quick stop off the highway

Any other lighthouse I've climbed has been open whenever. I'm sure there's some kind of limit, but I've always just been able to get a ticket and walk up. Unfortunately here, you have to do so in advance and the ticket availability is limited. I don't know how much COVID affected that restriction, but that's how it was when we went. There's a sign outside that has you scan a QR code to get your tickets. In order for two of us to climb, we would have had to wait 2 more hours for the first available tickets. This was on a Sunday and the parking lot was fairly full. The outside is beautiful. It's a really cool looking lighthouse and the area there is really nice. And I'm confident I would have been able to give this a 5 star rating had we been able to enter the lighthouse. But we couldn't. So this should definitely be on your to-do list while you're visiting, just make sure you plan ahead.

Beautiful and picturesque location. This is a great stop for pictures. When we were there a guide gave a short talk about the history of the lighthouse from the porch of the house, which was the former living quarters for the lighthouse keepers. The lighthouse itself wasn't open (I think as a COVID precaution). There is a board walk going out over the adjacent salt marsh which is worth spending some time walking. Definitely recommend a stop here when in the area.

Visiting the lighthouse was pretty cool. Taking the walk out to over see the marsh was even cooler. Once we realized where it was, we could see the light at night from our rental. Friendly staff

We arrived just at closing time, so missed the visitor center, but took a nice walk on the boardwalk out to the marsh. We saw turtles, crabs, many birds, and an expansive view of the marsh. The grandkids loved watching the turtle swimming lurking around the pylons, we assumed it was there feasting on the many crabs that were quick swimming little devils! Will attempt to visit the lighthouse next trip, when it is open.

We stopped in at the shop before leaving town so my oldest child could turn in the Junior Ranger paperwork for a badge. Wish we had more time to explore, but I believe the lighthouse was still closed at this time. Whomever was working was not as informed as the folks down at Hatteras and had a bit of a time finding the badges and knowing if they could issue us one. Anyway, just saw recently about the fire in the keeper's house. Hope everything is okay! I've climbed all of NC's lighthouses and I'd love for my children to have the opportunity one day too!

I don't know what I expected. I knew walking to the top was closed, but I just expected more in the area around it. The visitor center had a line and I was excited to see inside the original house of the light keeper, but after waiting for quite some time to get in, I learned it was just a gift shop. If you're driving by anyway, check it out. If not, dont go out of your way for it.

Visit our lighthouses, especially Bodie Island lighthouse. It is spectacular in person, design and function.

Beautiful area, friendly rangers! The lighthouse was closed for climbing but it was fascinating to learn the history of it.

The drive wasn’t bad at all stopped along the way to check out the beaches. You have to make reservations ahead to be able to climb the lighthouse. We didn’t know that. I would recommend for you to do that. The ranger was very friendly answered a lot of questions. Make sure you stay on walk ways. There are snakes.

Even on a slightly overcast day with a few sprinkles of rain you can enjoy this location. Did not pay to climb, I think 600 odd steps, but did peek up to see the steps.

Got confused at first by the double duo on the park rangers. Apparently there are twins who work the lighthouse.

I would never have asked about why the Lighthouse was called Bodie until as I was leaving the lighthouse there was a sign on the inside wall that said Body Lighthouse. Hummm, I thought to myself, there must be a story about that, and there was. Humans are an interesting mix of fact and coverup.

History, views, birds, trails. Accessible by everyone and something for everyone. Even the youngest kids will be impressed with the lighthouse's size and enjoy running the boardwalk trails.

This is a nice lighthouse. It is open to climb but only so many people are allowed up at a time. There was a wait to be able to climb it when we arrived so we did not climb it.

We visited here while in the area. Very much worth your time if you like light houses. All the park rangers were very nice and helpful. Make sure to walk out the board walk to the end. Along the board walk we saw several blue crabs in the water. A lot of history here

It was closed for climbing as it closes on Columbus Day. We got there right at closing time. Walked the grounds and took many pictures. Will visit again to climb it.

This is a very pretty lighthouse in the Outer Banks. The grounds are well-kept. There is also a boardwalk over the marsh where you can look out to see the lighthouse, dunes, and marsh. Very scenic and a great stop on a scenic byway.

We went here in February and it was beautiful. I like that you can bring your leashed dogs. There is a small giftshop where you can stamp you NP passport. Dogs arent allowed in the buildings so my husband and I took turns going in. There is a nice walking path to the left of the light house. Lots of people were walking around on the grass outside of the lighthouse.

I enjoyed seeing the lighthouse and learning its history. I also enjoyed the boardwalk which passes over the marshlands beside the lighthouse.

Well worth a visit in the views are amazing. Beautiful walkway over the water makes for stunning pictures

This was a day trip from Avon. Beautiful grounds with great views. I would suggest pack a picnic an enjoy this is a goodie!

Beautiful and well maintained lighthouse. Lots of pretty places to walk. Just reopened for climbing to the top! Staff is limiting number of people in, but you can make a reservation.

One of the most picturesque lighthouses I have seen in a long time. Feels very serene. The marshes around it are full of birds, fish, snakes, crabs. Beautiful place.

By showing up at 9 am, it was easy to get tickets for later in the day or a few after. Do not wait until you want to tour in the summer!

So cool seeing an actual lighthouse. The Rangers onsite are a wealth of information and history. I suggest going to the top. Its worth it.

Fun place to visit and you are actually able to climb up in lighthouse though I haven't done. Lots of good history related to lighthouses in museum by lighthouse and good gift shop

We stopped here to kill some time before our rental house was available. We enjoyed walking the nature path so see many types of birds and crabs in the marshy areas. The grounds are beautiful. We didn’t climb because our youngest is too small but we always enjoy the beauty of this lighthouse.

Apparently pronounced "Body", this lighthouse is another I visited as a child but had no real memory of. My friend and I vacationed recently and decided to stop in and climb to the top. The view is fantastic, and overlooks a reserve popular for duck hunting (many duck blinds are spread throughout the waterways). Be sure to walk around the grounds, but keep an eye out for snakes and don't wander into the tall grass.

We couldn't go up inside because of the covid but it is very nice to visit. The grounds are beautifully kept.

I gave this a 1 star because the outside can be beautiful to see. I would not recommend wasting your time to climb this lighthouse. You have to purchase tickets at 7a the day of on recreation.gov. They only allow 8 people every 20 minutes. If lightning or even thunder is seen or heard they will cancel your entry. You'll receive a refund but they keep a $1 of each ticket purchased for a cancelation fee. I can understand this if I, the buyer, canceled but they even do it if they cancel due to weather. We were there for our entry time. If you still want to climb after all that you have to start the process all over again. The rangers are not helpful or have any empathy. There is a boardwalk to overlook the marsh. Restrooms were clean.

Bodie Island lighthouse is one of three lighthouses associated with the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and is the most northerly of the three. The others being Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and Ocracoke Light Station on Ocracoke Island.

The lighthouse is easy to reach, as you can see the lighthouse from the road as your driving towards it. The road to the lighthouse is marked and as long as you aren't speeding too fact, you should be able to make the run easily.

The keepers quarters houses the visitors center. The ground have a board walk that takes you out into the grounds where you can get an elevated look at the area and lakes around the lighthouse.

When I went it was closed for climbing. Also, plenty of parking was available.

We were looking forward to climbing the lighthouse but found out after arrival that it was closed because it was too hot inside. I get it - we don’t want to die, but this is not posted anywhere online so you only find out by driving there. The gift shop is tiny and there is really nothing else indoors. There is an outdoor walk.
My advice would be to arrive at 9 am and assume that if it is hot outside you are only taking a picture.

We stopped at and climbed this lighthouse near the end of our recent OBX trip. It's well managed for safety if you decide to climb it, with everyone taking turns as you go up or down each floor. They were running fans on each level when I was there. You are rewarded with a view at the top and you can walk out to a gazebo on a raised path through the wetlands. At the time, we were pressed for time but we enjoyed it.

It does get hot in the summer.

On our first visit to the Outer Banks, my wife and I made a point of visiting the lighthouses. This one was easy to spot from the highway. We checked out the visitor center fist, then walked out to the observation point, where the views are spectacular. Definitely worth the stop!

My husband climbed to the top of Bodie Island Lighthouse! There is also a nice giftshop. I found a paperback cozy mystery set at Bodie Island Lighthouse!

We visited the Bodie Lighthouse one morning after breakfast, before heading to the beach, and it was a wonderful stop. Walking around the grounds and out along the boardwalk past the lighthouse was really enjoyable and peaceful.

While there isn’t a ton to do on-site, it’s a beautiful and interesting place that’s absolutely worth the time. A great way to spend a relaxed morning and a memorable part of our trip.

I've lived in NC 13 years and this was my first time visiting a lighthouse! It was absolutely magnificent to see. The lighthouse was closed to climbing, and that's okay. We had our infant with us, so strapping her to me and climbing the lighthouse was not high on my list of priorities. The grounds (and bathrooms) were open, though, and a wonderful way to stretch our legs. The views from the marsh were beautiful. This was one of my favorite parts of our whole trip.

enjoyed my visit but regretibly didn't go up into the lighthouse due to a 45 min wait and my party wasn't willing to stay that long

Went in the board walk which was wonderful. We couldn’t buy tickets due to having a 1 year old with us. And the lady stated he would have to be able to walk the steps so that was out. She stated we can go on the base (first level) which we were fine with. We got up there and the Male ranger was not so nice to us. My husband went in and he was following him around to make sure he wouldn’t climb the stairs. Then I handed my child off to my husband and I went in. He came into the room I was looking at a yelled quite loud “Do you have a ticket to be in there?!” I told him I was just looking around in the room. The experience was nice but that one ranger was not.

Cool Place offers climbing for a fee and required with pre bought ticket. Great photo op everywhere you turn here. Coolest Lighthouse in NC

Made it a goal to climb to the top of the lighthouse; well worth the effort. The view is beautiful and the limited number of people (8) allowed to enter the lighthouse every 20 minutes makes for stress free movement to each landing as you head to the light tower. The grounds are well maintained and wide open; very picturesque for scenic photography. Bought our tickets with an hour and forty minute wait; so just went souvenir shopping and returned.

We had visited Currituck Lighthouse the day prior. Purchased our tickets at the door and had a fun time climbing to the top and enjoying the view. We thought great, we will do Bodie next. Arrived and discovered they don't sell tickets onsite. Okay we can order online, no internet available. Okay, I will call, no cell signal. If you are going to make it this hard to visit, you can keep it. We left. Wonder how much money is being lost due to this poor set up? On the bright side, I did get a nice picture and had a nice chat with one of the volunteers.

The last time we were in OBX - BIL was covered in scaffolding and we weren’t able to visit! This year we visited with masks on during our covid-cation! It was worth it! Beautiful grounds .. beautiful lighthouse!

Beautiful lighthouse. Makes a great photo opportunity. Could not go into any of the buildings due to the virus. Not too crowded either.

Very nice National Park Service stop. All of the Park Rangers are friendly and informative. PLEASE make sure to do your homework before arriving - buy tickets online as the website suggests. The tickets purchase is important not for COVID but for the walk to the top of the lighthouse. There is a set number of people allowed access to walk to the top due to the floating stair construction. The stairs are metal, solid and safe as stated by the NPS Rangers. The view at the top is well worth the 200 step trek.

We love dropping in to view the beautiful lighthouse and take the boardwalk over the marsh to see wildlife. It's an easy drive, park, walk around family stop. A staple on our vacations.

Self-guided tour of the grounds. Lighthouse was not open for climbing during our visit, but should open soon. Nice little gift shop with typical souvenirs from a park shop.

Is an awesome sight to see on the lovely grounds of the lighthouse keepers site. Also the history and how the lighthouse was moved because of encroaching ocean is a great story. The engineering involved and cooperation of many made it happen.