Located in Dare County, North Carolina, Bodie Island Light is a lighthouse. It lies in or next to Cape Hatteras National Seashore, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 7.3 km (4.5 mi) ESE of Wanchese. Its recorded tower height is about 47 m (154 ft). It dates from 1872.
The current Bodie Island Lighthouse (pronounced “bah-dee island”) is the third that has stood in this vicinity of Bodie Island on the Outer Banks in North Carolina and was built in 1872. It stands 156 feet (48 m) tall and is located on the Roanoke Sound side of a portion of a peninsula that is the first part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The lighthouse is just south of Nags Head, a few miles before Oregon Inlet. It was renovated from August 2009 to March 2013, and was made climbable by the public. There are 219 steps that spiral to the top. The 170-foot structure is one of only a dozen remaining tall, brick tower lighthouses in the United States — and one of the few with an original first-order Fresnel lens to cast its light.From the Wikipedia article “Bodie Island Lighthouse”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
From the National Park Service
The current Bodie Island Light Station, the third of its kind, completed construction in 1872. Designed to replace the second Bodie Island Lighthouse, destroyed during the Civil War in 1861, the US Lighthouse Board purchased 15 acres of land on June 13, 1871 and began construction soon after. The Bodie Island Lighthouse first shone its first-order Fresnel light on October 1, 1872. Since then, the site has witnessed several modifications including the construction of a double keepers, quarters, an oil house at the base of the light tower, boardwalks, restrooms, and new pathways and trails. On October 15, 1963, the US Coast Guard transferred the property (minus the lighthouse itself) to the National Park Service. On July 13, 2000, the Coast Guard transferred the lighthouse to the National Park Service. Since 2000, the National Park Service has overseen many repairs and modifications to the Bodie Island Light Station. The lighthouse was officially opened for public climbing in April 2013. The Bodie Island Light Station is located at 8210 Bodie Island Lighthouse Road in Nags Head, North Carolina. and is open to climbing April-October. Tickets must be purchased the day-of your visit on www.recreation.gov
Text: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Bodie Island Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:07 AM | 90° E | 7:14 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:47 AM | 60° ENE | 8:22 PM | 300° WNW | 78° | 14h 35m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:51 AM | 89° E | 7:01 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:09 AM | 119° ESE | 4:53 PM | 241° WSW | 31° | 9h 44m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Lighthouses work at both ends of the day: blue hour when the beacon is lit, and golden hour when white towers take on warm tones.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:45 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:51 AM | 4:34 PM | 5:12 PM | 5:40 PM | 10h 00m |
| February | 6:24 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:26 AM | 5:09 PM | 5:44 PM | 6:10 PM | 10h 54m |
| March | 6:49 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:48 AM | 6:36 PM | 7:10 PM | 7:36 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:04 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:36 PM | 8:02 PM | 13h 06m |
| May | 5:29 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:01 PM | 8:30 PM | 14h 03m |
| June | 5:16 AM | 5:46 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:21 PM | 8:51 PM | 14h 34m |
| July | 5:29 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:20 PM | 8:49 PM | 14h 21m |
| August | 5:55 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:54 PM | 8:21 PM | 13h 32m |
| September | 6:20 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:19 AM | 6:37 PM | 7:11 PM | 7:37 PM | 12h 26m |
| October | 6:44 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:44 AM | 5:53 PM | 6:28 PM | 6:54 PM | 11h 19m |
| November | 6:12 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:16 AM | 4:19 PM | 4:56 PM | 5:24 PM | 10h 17m |
| December | 6:37 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:45 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:51 PM | 5:19 PM | 9h 45m |
Local time (America/New York), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Bodie Island Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 25° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| February | 4:50 AM – 5:20 AM | 0.5 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:55 AM – 5:45 AM | 1.8 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:55 AM – 4:55 AM | 3.0 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 12:01 AM – 4:11 AM | 4.2 | 25° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:09 PM – 3:49 AM | 5.7 | 25° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:04 PM – 2:24 AM | 4.3 | 25° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:27 PM – 12:27 AM | 3.0 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 8:37 PM – 10:27 PM | 1.8 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:53 PM – 8:23 PM | 0.5 | 15° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.78 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 53% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (74%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 70 | 69 | 70 | 76 | 84 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 87 | 83 | 75 | 71 |
| Low °F | 25 | 22 | 32 | 43 | 49 | 63 | 70 | 71 | 62 | 47 | 38 | 28 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.5 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.2 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this lighthouse
- During blue hour, use 5–15 second exposures to capture the beam; check whether the light is still active.
- Shoot from the beach or a jetty to place the tower against open sky and sea.
- Stormy weather and crashing surf add drama; keep a safe distance from waves on rocks and piers.
- A telephoto from across a bay compresses the tower against cliffs or the moon.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Summer brings open towers and tours; autumn and winter offer storms, fewer crowds and lower sun angles.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Telephoto lens, ND filter for smooth water, Rain cover. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Tides
The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is OREGON INLET MARINA, 2.9 km (1.8 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Bodie Island Light, closest first.
Beach
BeachBeachBeach
Lighthouse
State Park
National Wildlife Refuge
State Park
Ghost TownCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Bodie Island Light?
What time is golden hour at Bodie Island Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Bodie Island Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Bodie Island Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Bodie Island Light?
How far is Bodie Island Light from Wanchese?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, National Park Service, USGS GNIS / GeoNames, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.