Bodie State Historic Park 2024 Guide: Fees, Directions, Parking and More
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If you’ve ever wanted to know what life was like during the height of the California gold rush, your first stop should be a visit to Bodie State Historic Park just outside of Bridgeport, CA.
Often referred to as the “Disneyland” of ghost towns, Bodie features dozens of historic structures, all preserved in a state of arrested decay (meaning park officials do nothing to improve the buildings. They do just enough to keep them from completely deteriorating).
If you’ve never been to Bodie, you’re likely wondering how to visit this spectacular place and see it for yourself. Follow along as we give you all the necessary information to ensure a successful visit.
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Bodie State Park History
Bodie was named after Waterman S. Body. He’s the man who discovered a small amount of gold near the hills north of Mono Lake. Those hills later revealed a massive amount of gold deposits and from there, the boom was in full swing.
Once word spread, people flocked to Bodie and transformed it from a town of a couple dozen miners into a boomtown with over 10,000 people. At its peak, there were many saloons, gambling halls, brothels and more.
After its peak in 1881, mining began to diminish and people began abandoning Bodie, moving on to the next boomtown.
In the early 1930’s, there was interest in getting the town running again by utilizing electrical power to operate the stamp mill and a cyanide process to work the mill tailings.
In a twist of fate, however, a fire started by a two year old playing with matches destroyed all but ten percent of the town. All hopes for another boom literally went up in smoke.
In 1962, Bodie was designated as both a State Historic Park and a National Historic Site in order to preserve this wonderful place for generations to come.
How To Get To Bodie
Thankfully, Bodie is easy to get as it’s located between two beloved California mountain towns; Bridgeport and Lee Vining.
From Bridgeport, it’s seven miles south on highway 395 to state route 270 (turn left) and another 13 miles to the park itself. Alternatively, from Lee Vining, it’s roughly 18 miles on 395 north to the turnoff (turn right).
The first 10 miles of state route 270 is paved and mostly smooth, but the final three is neither of those things. Low clearance vehicles will have no problems navigating it, though (provided it’s clear of snow).
As you can see, Bridgeport is much closer to the park than Lee Vining, making it an obvious basecamp for visitors. However, I highly encourage you to at least visit Lee Vining as well.
READ ALSO: “7 Things You Will Love About Lee Vining”
There are no major airports to the park. The closest ones would be Reno International to the north and LAX to the south. The closest of which is 163-miles away. So having a vehicle (or being part of a group tour) is necessary.
Accommodations
There are no hotels or campgrounds in the park itself, but nearby Lee Vining and Bridgeport offer both. In Bridgeport, accommodations include the historic Bridgeport Inn, Virginia Creek Settlement and a few Airbnb rentals.
In Lee Vining, you’ll find Lake View Lodge, El Mono Hotel, Yosemite Gateway Hotel and numerous campgrounds along Tioga Pass (during summer and fall).
Food & Drinks
Unfortunately, there aren’t offered at the park either. However, water fountains can be found in the parking lot adjacent to the restrooms.
As with accommodations, both Lee Vining and Bridgeport offer plenty of local eateries. Despite this, I would advise you to bring water and snacks with you to the park to have while you explore.
In Bridgeport, “Burger Barn”, and ,”Jolly Kone”, are local favorites. Whenever I’m in Lee Vining, I always make it a point to eat at either ,“Whoa Nelly Deli”, or ,“Bodie Mike’s BBQ”.
Bodie State Park Fees and Hours
Park hours vary according to time of year. They are:
Summer Hours
9:00am - 6:00pm (March 8th - October 31st)
Winter Hours
9:00am - 4:00pm (November 1st - March 7th)
Although the park is open in winter, state route 270 (the road leading to Bodie) is closed and is only accessible via snowmobiles, skis or snowshoes.
Bodie sits at 8,375 feet in elevation and has unpredictable weather patterns (even during the summer months). Sub-zero temps, white out conditions and thunder storms aren’t exactly unheard of here.
Bodie State Park’s admission fees as of 2024 are:
$8.00 per adult
$5.00 per child ages 4-17
Free for ages 3 & younger
$3.00 per tour booklet
While cash is always accepted, they prefer you pay by debit or credit card. Also, change isn’t always available. So if you’re paying with cash, bring exact change.
Something I do recommend to first timers is to pick up the information booklet sold at the entrance. It’s $3.00 extra, but it provides invaluable information on the structures in the park.
As you approach a structure, look for the number (usually staked into the ground) and match it to the corresponding number in the booklet. It’ll tell you what the structure was used for, who lived there, etc. It’s highly informative.
The Bodie Curse
As previously mentioned, Bodie’s a protected site and as such, removing or damaging items in the park is prohibited. You’ll face fines, be trespassed, arrested or something a bit more sinister; be cursed.
The story varies wildly from person to person but they all seem to agree on one thing; bringing anything home with you from Bodie could bring you misfortune.
Per local legend, rangers often receive packages containing stolen items such as dolls, old cans and rocks accompanied by a letter from the apologetic sender.
The letters have stated that they’ve had nothing but bad luck since returning home. After sending the item back, however,, the bad luck would cease and life returns to normal.
Regardless of whether you believe in the curse or not, it’s up to us to do our part to ensure Bodie’s longevity. Just like when you go hiking; take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints.
Points of Interest
There are many buildings and artifacts to see during your visit but there’s a few that are considered must see.
One of the first features you’ll see as you enter the park is the cemetery. It’s uphill to the right of the entrance road and overlooks the town.
The Methodist Church, one of the first buildings on the path, is probably the most recognizable and photographed structure in all of Bodie.
The Stamp Mill is another must see. Guided tours are offered three times a day at 11:00, 1:00, & 3:00 (staffing dependent) for $6 dollars. Tickets can be purchased at the museum.
Speaking of the museum, you’ll definitely want to stop here. It’s a great place to get out of the sun for a bit and while you’re there, you can spend time checking out all the artifacts found in the park throughout the years.
Inside the barn just past the Methodist Church (across the street) you’ll find another opportunity to get out of the sun via the, “Frozen in Time”, video presentation. It’s on a continuous, 28-minute loop and provides an extensive look into the history of Bodie.
Best Time To Visit Bodie
Bodie is open throughout the year. It isn’t always accessible to everyone, though. As stated above, the road to Bodie is closed to vehicles. So for most people that leaves spring, summer, and fall.
Spring: If you get here right at the beginning of the tourist season, you’ll typically experience mild weather and lighter crowds. Weekends are busy but not to the point of being miserable.
Summer: This is the height of the tourist season and brings hot days with probable afternoon thunderstorms. Crowds are at their heaviest during this time so if you must come during summer, a weekday would be your best bet.
Fall: By this time, crowds begin to thin and temperatures begin to cool back down. Until the end of October, weekends will still have a decent turn out with weekdays being light.
Winter: Crowds are non-existent. Aside from the Ranger, you’ll likely have it to yourself. The museum and stamp mill are closed, but you’ll have the chance to see a side of Bodie most never do. Get your hands on a snowmobile and you’re set.
Additional Information and Tips
Dogs are permitted in the park. They must be leashed and they’re not permitted inside any of the structures or on the stamp mill tour.
Wear comfortable clothing, but bring layers. The weather at Bodie can be unpredictable. It’s advisable to dress for heat, but bring a jacket or sweater as well (yes, even during the summer). An umbrella wouldn’t be a bad idea, either.
Not all photography equipment is allowed. Most camera and video equipment use is permitted in the park. Due to the fragile nature of the structures, drone use is prohibited.
You can go inside some of the structures. As long as there isn’t a barrier stopping you from entering, you are permitted inside.
Plan for a full day (or two). You could see all the highlights in a single day but honestly, you could spend an entire week at Bodie and STILL not see everything. The more time you can devote, the better.
Nearby Attractions
There are many other attractions just a short drive away from Bodie. If you’re using Lee Vining or Bridgeport as your base, you’re close to the majority of these (tap/click the link to read our guides on these destinations):
Conway Summit
Twin Lakes
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This article was originally published in 2021 and has recently been updated for accuracy.
