Bodie Island Lighthouse: An RV Traveler's Guide
PickRV Editorial
The small team behind PickRV
Bodie Island Lighthouse stands at the northern end of Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina, between Nags Head and Oregon Inlet. The current tower first showed its light on October 1, 1872, and the National Park Service maintains the lighthouse and grounds. With its black-and-white horizontal bands above the marsh, it makes an easy, scenic stop on an Outer Banks RV route.
Can you climb Bodie Island Lighthouse?
Yes, in season. The National Park Service opens the tower for climbing in the summer months, with tickets purchased online and certain restrictions. Dates change each year, so confirm current climbing access on the official NPS site.
- ·First lit October 1, 1872
- ·Seasonal summer climbs (NPS, tickets online)
- ·North end of Cape Hatteras National Seashore
State
North Carolina (Outer Banks)
First lit
October 1, 1872
Manager
National Park Service
Climbing
Seasonal, summer (tickets online)
Set behind a tidal marsh with a boardwalk and the restored keepers' quarters, Bodie Island gives the lighthouse a quieter, more pastoral setting than the open beach towers farther south on the seashore.
It pairs naturally with the taller Cape Hatteras Lighthouse for an Outer Banks lighthouse run, with the two towers bracketing a long barrier-island drive of beaches, inlets, and sound-side views.
Climbing dates and ticketing change from year to year, so check the National Park Service site for current tower access, hours, campground openings, and rig limits before you go.
Official sources
Nearby & related
Keep planning North Carolina
Sourced costs, campground directories, and the places worth a detour — the next layer of North Carolina trip planning.
- North Carolina RV rental costFuel · camping · tax, sourced
- North Carolina RV-friendly campgroundsHookups, rig limits, booking tips
- Campervan & van rentals in North CarolinaVan-life routes, rules & rigs
- National grasslandsWide-open prairie drives
- Sand dunesDune fields worth the climb
- Fossil sitesDeep-time road stops
- Deep trip guidesLong-form seasonal playbooks
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