Bodie State Historic Park — Attraction in Hawthorne

Bodie Ghost Town is absolutely worth the trip. Nestled high in the Sierra Nevada at around 8,400 feet, the scenery is hauntingly beautiful—rolling hills, open skies, and dozens of well-preserved wooden and brick structures that look frozen in time. As a former gold-mining town turned state historic park, Bodie offers a fascinating glimpse into California’s past. Many of the buildings, like the church, saloon, jail, and general store, remain intact in a state of “arrested decay,” with original furnishings and artifacts still visible through the dusty windows. Walking the dirt paths feels like stepping back into the late 1800s, and the overall atmosphere is both eerie and captivating.

Getting to Bodie is part of the adventure. The town is most commonly accessed via California State Route 270, which is about a 45-minute drive from either Bridgeport or Lee Vining. While the first 10 miles are paved, the last 3 miles are a bumpy, unpaved dirt road. It’s manageable for most vehicles, but be prepared to go slow—15 to 20 mph is a good range to avoid damage or kicking up too much dust. This final stretch can be a bit jarring, but it's well worth it once you arrive. Do avoid alternate routes like Cottonwood Canyon Road, as they are far rougher and not recommended for standard cars.

The park has a small entrance fee—typically around $8 for adults—and offers a self-guided walking tour with interpretive signs explaining the history behind various buildings. There are no services inside the park, so bring water and wear sturdy shoes, as the ground can be uneven with nails and broken glass scattered about. The town is open seasonally, with access limited in winter due to heavy snowfall and road closures, so it’s best to visit in the summer or early fall.

Overall, Bodie offers a unique and atmospheric experience. Whether you’re a history buff, a photography enthusiast, or just looking for a memorable detour, it delivers. The houses are cool, the views are stunning, and though the last bit of road is rough, it’s a small tradeoff for such a fascinating glimpse into California’s...

A site emblematic of the decline of California itself.

We drove up the road, with 4km of dirt track at the end, not knowing what to expect. We came to a toll booth, with some old buildings beyond it, and asked the man what the deal was.

Apparently it was US$8 per person, and there was a lot to see - he offered a guide box for an extra US$3, so we thought it sounded worth a look.

The car park was a car park. The toilets odoriferous. On walking down to the buildings, there was an introductory film about the site, which made it sound interesting and the US$3 guide book was promising. So we walked down to where the buildings started, only to be told the place was closing and we had to leave.

I pointed out this was ridiculous - they shouldn't be selling tickets and a guide book if they were about to shut (and for no apparent reason - there was nothing to stop us looking around and leaving in our own room). The response was that the guy selling tickets should have warned us, to which I wholeheartedly agreed. But the fact is he didn't.

Dashcams are not common in the USA, but we're not from the USA and therefore the whole transaction was recorded. The State of California, who runs this show, is ripping off visitors. They should be ashamed.

However, as we're staying close by, they have the chance to make this good when we return tomorrow morning, and I hope to review the site rather than the disgusting toilets, and not to rely on dashcam footage of someone messing up. Mistakes put right don't count...

It's a must visit for History enthusiasts. I had visited only the Ghost town of Rhyolite before, it had only very few buildings compared to Bodie. Bodie is is well preserved with good maps and very knowledgeable park rangers.

ENTRY FEES of 8$ per head CARD ONLY

1. Loved that we could look inside the homes through windows and see what it's like.

2. It can be a good location for themed photoshoots too. The best place to click picture of whole town is to walk uphill and that gives a good perspective and view of the whole town.

3)The artefacts and collection in the museum is very interesting and a must check out.

4)The 20 minute video on history of Bodie is worth watching if you have time. It's actually a very engaging and funny narration unlike usual documentary which just state facts.

5)There are some guided tours to the factory, which didn't align with our schedule.

6)Bodie can be seen within two hours or half a day depending on how much time you are willing to spend.

7. All these ghost towns will have a Cemetery , the one in Bodie has been preserved well and you can take a self guided tour. You can buy the book about Cemetery from the souvenir shop or there are books available outside the cemetery that you can take by depositing money.

8. The toilets are well maintained and clean.

9. You can buy water from the Souvenir / museum but other than that there are no food items available . So If you are planning a half day come prepared.

10. Sunscreen Water Hats Shoes...