Bodie Island Lighthouse

Rising 170 feet above the marshes just south of Nags Head, Bodie Island Lighthouse is the third lighthouse built at this site — and the one that stuck. Its 1872 tower, built partly from leftover materials from the newer Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, still carries an original first-order Fresnel lens that throws its beam 19 miles out to sea.

Climbing the Tower

From late April through mid-October, visitors can climb all 214 steps to the top for sweeping views across Pamlico Sound and the barrier islands. Tickets ($10 adults, $5 seniors/children/disabled visitors) go on sale each morning at 7am on recreation.gov for that day's climb only — they can't be purchased in advance. Climbs run every 20 minutes between 9am and 5pm.

A Site With a Complicated History

Two earlier lighthouses stood before this one: the first, built in 1847, actually sat on the opposite side of Oregon Inlet in what's now Pea Island; the second, completed in 1859, was destroyed by retreating Confederate troops in 1861. The current lighthouse's distinctive horizontal stripes — three white bands and two black, each 22 feet tall — make it one of the most recognizable landmarks on the Outer Banks.

Note: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is not open for climbing in 2026 due to ongoing restoration — Bodie Island is the only Outer Banks lighthouse offering tower climbs this year.