Bodie is the best-preserved gold-rush ghost town in the American West and a rewarding side trip for visitors who cross Tioga Pass to the eastern Sierra. California State Parks says it lies northeast of Yosemite, about 13 miles east of Highway 395 on Bodie Road and 7 miles south of Bridgeport, at an elevation of 8,375 feet. It was designated a National Historic Site and State Historic Park in 1962, and its remains are kept in a state of arrested decay, meaning buildings are stabilized but not restored. The town once had about 2,000 structures, but fires in 1892 and 1932 reduced what remains to less than 10 percent of that total. Visitors walk the dusty streets and peer into houses, a church, a school and a stamp mill, with a museum and bookstore in the town. Route 270 is paved for 10 miles, and then an unsurfaced road runs 3 miles to the park, which can be rough, so reduce speed and call the park about road conditions. The park is open all year, but in winter it is reachable only by skis, snowshoes or snowmobiles, with winter hours of 9 AM to 4 PM from November 1 to May 1 and summer hours of 9 AM to 6 PM from May 1 to November 1. There is a modest per-person entry fee and the park recommends bringing cash. Facilities include parking, flush toilets at the parking lot and picnic area, outhouses in town, drinking water and the museum, but there is no food or gas, camping is not available and drones are prohibited. Stamp Mill tours had finished for the remainder of 2026, and winter visitor center hours and history talks depend on staffing and weather.
Why it is worth the detour. Unlike many tourist ghost towns, Bodie has not been rebuilt, so the objects left behind, from a dusty store counter to furniture in empty parlours, give a rare unfiltered view of frontier life. The setting, high on a treeless plateau under a huge sky, adds to the atmosphere, and the photography is exceptional, particularly in late afternoon.
Doing it well. Bring food and water, fill your tank in Lee Vining or Bridgeport, and allow at least two to three hours. Wear sturdy shoes, dress in layers because the weather changes quickly at this elevation and respect closed or unstable buildings. Do not take anything from the town, as even small items are protected.
Who it suits. History fans, photographers and families with older children. Pair it with Mono Lake, a drive along Tioga Road and dinner in Lee Vining.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided walk through a preserved gold-rush town at 8,375 feet, with a museum and bookstore, reached by a paved road and then a rough unsurfaced section.
Best time
Summer and autumn for easy access; winter for solitude, reachable only by ski, snowshoe or snowmobile.
How long
Two to four hours.
Tips
Bring food, water and cash, slow down on the unsurfaced final 3 miles and call ahead about road conditions.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History lovers and photographers on the eastern side of the Sierra.
- Families
- Older children who enjoy exploring will love it; supervise near unstable structures.
- Couples
- A moody, atmospheric outing with big skies.
- Pair with
- Mono Lake and a Tioga Road drive.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
Where is Bodie?+
About 13 miles east of Highway 395 on Bodie Road, 7 miles south of Bridgeport, northeast of Yosemite.
What does arrested decay mean?+
Buildings are stabilized to prevent collapse but not restored, so the town looks as it did when it was abandoned.
Is it open in winter?+
Yes, but in winter it is reachable only by skis, snowshoes or snowmobiles. Winter hours are 9 AM to 4 PM from November 1 to May 1.
Are there services?+
Parking, toilets, drinking water and a museum with a bookstore, but no food or gas. Camping is not available.
Is the road rough?+
The last 3 miles are unsurfaced and can be rough. Slow down and call the park about conditions.
