Maine is known as “The Lighthouse State,” with more than 60 historic lighthouses scattered along its rugged coastline. And you can visit 8 Maine lighthouses in one day! These iconic beacons, perched on rocky cliffs or guarding quiet harbors, have guided sailors for centuries and today stand as symbols of maritime heritage, romance, and New England charm. A visit to Maine isn’t complete without experiencing its lighthouses—each one with its own story, architecture, and breathtaking views.

For guests staying at the Center Lovell Inn, exploring Maine’s lighthouses makes for an unforgettable day trip. While our Inn is nestled in the Lakes Region near Kezar Lake and the White Mountains, the coast is just a scenic drive away. From Portland’s bustling harbor to the quiet shores of Pemaquid Point, the lighthouses of Maine are an easy and rewarding addition to your stay.

Contents

1 Top Lighthouses to Visit in Maine

Top Lighthouses to Visit in Maine

9 Maine Lighthouses Worth Visiting on a Day Trip

Portland Head Light — Cape Elizabeth

Year Built: 1791 (Maine’s oldest lighthouse)
Height: 80 feet
Focal Height: 101 feet (focal height means the height of the light above sea level, which determines how far away the light can be seen at sea)
Status: Active aid to navigation, automated
Access: Public (grounds and museum open daily)
Heritage: Officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 24, 1973
GPS Address: 12 Captain Strout Circle, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107

Commissioned by George Washington, Portland Head Light was built on the orders of Henry Dearborn, the nation’s first Secretary of War. The adjacent keeper’s house now operates as a museum, while the surrounding Fort Williams Park provides hiking trails, picnic spots, and panoramic ocean views. Still in service, its beam can be seen up to 24 nautical miles away.

➜ Learn more

The Portland Breakwater Light — “Bug Light”

The Portland Breakwater Light, affectionately known as “Bug Light” due to its small 26-foot stature, is a historic cast-iron lighthouse located in South Portland, Maine. It is the centerpiece of Bug Light Park, a nearly 9-acre green space offering panoramic views of Portland Harbor and the city skyline.

Year Built: 1875 (The current cast-iron tower replaced a wooden one from 1855).
Height: 24–26 feet (depending on the source; it is famous for being extremely short).
Focal Height: 30 feet above sea level.
Status: Active as a private aid to navigation (it was reactivated in 2002 after being dark since 1942).
Access: Public grounds and park; The park is open daily from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Ample free parking is available along the waterfront in the park. However, the lighthouse interior is generally Private (closed to the public) except for special events like Maine Open Lighthouse Day.
Heritage: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
GPS Address: Bug Light Park is located at South Portland, ME 04106 (specifically near the end of Madison St or Bug Light Rd).

Built in 1875, the lighthoue was designed by Thomas U. Walter (architect of the U.S. Capitol dome). Its unique Greek Revival style features six Corinthian columns that disguise the seams of its cast-iron plates.

The lighthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and remains an active, private aid to navigation, flashing a white light every four seconds.there is a scenic paved walkway that leads directly from the parking area out to the lighthouse. Located at the opposite end of the park, the Liberty Ship Memorial honors the 30,000 workers who built 236 Liberty Ships here during WWII.
The park is a popular spot for kite flying, picnicking, and saltwater fishing.

➜ Learn more

Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse

Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse is a historic “sparkplug-style” beacon located in South Portland, Maine, at the end of a granite breakwater on the Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) campus. It is the only caisson-style light station in the United States that visitors can walk to from land.

Year Built: 1835 (Current tower; original 1827 structure was poorly built and replaced).
Height: 38 feet.
Focal Height: 79 feet above sea level.
Status: Active aid to navigation.
Access: Public. The park and tower are open seasonally from mid-May through late October.
Park Admission: Approximately $3.00–$4.00 per adult; children 5–11 are $1.00. Includes picnic areas, public restrooms, and WiFi.
Tower Climbing: Usually a suggested $1.00 donation.
The Fishermen’s Museum: Located in the first floor of the Keeper’s House, showcasing local maritime history.
Pemaquid Art Gallery: Features rotating works from local artists.
Heritage: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
GPS Address: 3115 Bristol Road, New Harbor, ME 04554 corresponds to the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park.

Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse was rebuild in 1897 to warn mariners of a dangerous ledge in Portland Harbor. This design is a “sparkplug” or caisson-style tower, approximately 54 feet tall. Uniquely, its upper works are made of brick rather than the typical cast iron to better withstand Maine’s harsh winters. Originally only accessible by boat, a 900-foot breakwater made of 50,000 tons of granite was added in 1951 to connect it to the mainland.

The Rocks are famous for dramatic, stratified granite ledges that are popular for exploring and photography.

➜ Learn more

Nubble Light (Cape Neddick Lighthouse) — York

Year Built: 1879
Height: 41 feet
Focal Height: 88 feet
Status: Active aid to navigation, automated
Access: Private island (viewed from Sohier Park)
Heritage: Cape Neddick Light Station) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 16, 1985
GPS Address: 3115 Bristol Road, New Harbor, ME 04554

Perhaps Maine’s most photographed lighthouse, Nubble Light sits dramatically on a rocky island just off York’s shore. Although the tower itself is not open to the public, Sohier Park provides perfect viewing and photography spots. Nubble Light’s image even traveled into space aboard the Voyager spacecraft in 1977, as part of a pictorial representation of Earth’s landmarks.

➜ Learn more

Goat Island Lighthouse — Kennebunkport

Goat Island Lighthouse is an active, historic lighthouse located on a small island off Cape Porpoise, near Kennebunkport, Maine. Owned and maintained by the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust since 1993, the station was restored to its 1950s appearance in 2011.

Height: The tower is 25 feet tall.
Focal Height: The focal plane (the height of the light source) is 38 feet above mean high water.
Status: Active. The U.S. Coast Guard maintains the light as a navigational aid, though the property is owned and managed by the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust.
Access: Public access to the island is limited and primarily by boat.
Visitors can dock at the island during high tide in the summer months, and can explore the island’s grounds. Tours of the tower may be available if the volunteer keepers are home. For views from land, the lighthouse can be seen from the pier at the end of Pier Road in Cape Porpoise.
Heritage: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 23, 1988.
GPS Address: The lighthouse itself does not have a street address. Its location is:
- Latitude: 43°21’28.3″N
- Longitude: 70°25’30.6″W

➜ Learn More

Pemaquid Point Light — Bristol

Year Built: 1827 (rebuilt in 1835)
Height: 38 feet
Focal Height: 79 feet
Status: Active, automated
Access: Public (tower and grounds open)
Heritage: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 16, 1985
GPS Address: 3115 Bristol Road, New Harbor, ME 04554

One of Maine’s most dramatic lighthouses, Pemaquid Point was chosen to appear on the Maine state quarter in 2003. Perched on rugged ledges, the tower is accompanied by the Fishermen’s Museum, which tells the story of local maritime culture. Visitors can climb the lighthouse tower during summer months and walk the wave-washed granite ledges that surround it.

➜ Learn more

Owls Head Light — Owls Head State Park, Maine

Year Built: 1825
Height: 30 feet
Focal Height: 100 feet
Status: Active, automated
Access: Public (grounds and keeper’s house museum)
Heritage: Was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 18, 1978.
GPS Address: 186 Lighthouse Road, Owls Head, ME 04854

Though modest in size, Owls Head Light commands sweeping views of Penobscot Bay. Its short tower sits atop a rocky cliff, and the light itself shines nearly 16 miles out to sea thanks to its high focal plane. The site includes walking trails, picnic areas, and a small museum inside the former keeper’s quarters.

➜ Learn more

Bass Harbor Head Light Station — Mount Desert Island (Acadia National Park)

Bass Harbor Head Light — Mount Desert Island

Year Built: 1858
Height: 32 feet
Focal Height: 56 feet
Status: Active, automated
Access: Public (grounds open; lighthouse itself not open to the public)
Heritage: added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 21, 1988
GPS Address: 2 Lighthouse Road, Bass Harbor, ME 04653

Located on the southern tip of Mount Desert Island, Bass Harbor Head Light is one of the most iconic sights within Acadia National Park. Set on rugged cliffs, it’s a favorite for sunset views and photographs. The surrounding walking paths allow for dramatic viewpoints of the lighthouse against the Atlantic.

➜ Learn More

West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, Downeast, Maine

Located in Quoddy Head State Park in Lubec, Maine, West Quoddy Head Lighthouse is a world-renowned maritime landmark famous for being the easternmost point of the contiguous United States. It is uniquely identified as the only “candy-striped” lighthouse in the country, featuring a distinctive pattern of 8 red and 7 white horizontal stripes.

Year Built: The original wooden tower was built in 1808. The current brick tower was constructed and first lit in 1858.
Height: The tower itself stands 49 feet (15 meters) tall.
Focal Height: The light source is positioned 83 feet (25 meters) above mean high water.
Status: Active. It is an automated aid to navigation maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Access: Located within Quoddy Head State Park.
- Grounds: The grounds are open to the public year-round.
Lighthouse Tower: The tower itself is not open to the public for climbing.
Museum/Visitor Center: A museum is located in the 1858 keeper’s house and is open seasonally (typically May–October).
Parking & Fees: On-site parking is available. There is a small entry fee for Quoddy Head State Park.
Heritage: The West Quoddy Head Light Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 4, 1980.
GPS Address: 973 S Lubec Rd, Lubec, ME 04652.

Beyond the lighthouse, Quoddy Head State Park offers a unique landscape of rugged cliffs and a rare sub-arctic ecosystem. There is The Arctic Bog & Boardwalk.

The Arctic Bog & Boardwalk

The Boardwalk: A raised wooden path with interpretive signs allows you to walk directly over the sensitive peat moss without damaging the environment.
Rare Plant Life: This “naturalist’s delight” features plants typically found much further north in Canada and the Arctic, such as carnivorous pitcher plants, sundews, and black crowberry.
Hiking Trails: Over 5 miles of trails wind through forests, wetlands, and along 80-foot volcanic rock cliffs.
- Coastal Trail: Offers expansive views of the Quoddy Narrows and the Bay of Fundy.
- Bog Trail: Includes a boardwalk through a rare coastal plateau bog featuring sub-arctic and carnivorous plants like pitcher plants.
Wildlife: Visitors may spot humpback, minke, and finback whales offshore during the summer, as well as seals and rare nesting sea birds.
Accessibility: The western portion of the nearby Coast Guard Trail is accessible for motorized wheelchairs, but the Bog Trail itself is largely a narrow boardwalk meant for foot traffic.

Learn more

Map of 9 Must Visit Lighthouses of Maine — A Timeless Coastal Adventure

Lighthouse Preservation in Maine

Maine’s lighthouses are preserved through the Maine Lighthouse Program, created in 2000 in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, the State of Maine, and nonprofit organizations. The program ensures that historic lighthouses no longer critical for navigation are transferred to local communities and nonprofits for preservation, while still remaining accessible to the public.

Organizations like the American Lighthouse Foundation and local “Friends of” groups maintain the structures, restore towers, and keep alive the stories of the lighthouse keepers who once braved storms to keep the lights burning.

Lighthouse Terms & Glossary

Understanding lighthouses means knowing some key terminology:

Pharologist: A person who studies or is interested in lighthouses.
Wickie: A nickname for a lighthouse keeper, referencing their task of trimming the lamp’s wick.
Tower: The vertical structure that houses the light.
Lamp: The device inside the lens that produces the light, which could be anything from an oil lamp to a modern electric light bulb.
Lantern: The glassed-in chamber at the top of the tower where the light shines.
Lens: The optical system that focuses the light beam. Most Maine lighthouses used Fresnel lenses, developed in the 1820s.
Fresnel lens: An advanced type of lens, invented by Augustin-Jean Fresnel in 1822, that uses a system of concentric ridges and prisms to focus and magnify light into a powerful, concentrated beam.
Focal Height: The height of the light above sea level, not just the tower’s height. This determines how far out to sea the light can be seen.
Characteristic: The unique sequence of light flashes and eclipses (periods of darkness) that allows a mariner to identify a specific lighthouse.
Daymark: The painted color or pattern on the tower, allowing it to be identified during the day.
Flash Pattern: The unique sequence of light flashes or intervals each lighthouse displays, enabling mariners to identify them at night.
Fog Signal: A horn, bell, or whistle sounded during poor visibility.
Nominal Range: The maximum distance a light can be seen in clear weather.
Range lights: A pair of lights, one placed higher than the other, that indicate a safe channel when aligned vertically.
Automated: Most lighthouses today are automated, meaning no human keeper is required to operate the light.
Lightship: A vessel that serves as a lighthouse and is anchored in locations unsuitable for a permanent tower.
Decommissioned: A lighthouse that no longer functions as a navigational aid.
Lighthouse Keeper: A lighthouse keeper or lightkeeper is a person responsible for tending to and caring for a lighthouse, particularly the light and lens in the days when oil lamps and clockwork mechanisms

Why Explore Maine’s Lighthouses During Your Stay

Exploring Maine’s lighthouses is more than a sightseeing trip—it’s a journey through the state’s maritime history, coastal culture, and natural beauty. Each lighthouse offers its own unique experience, from museums and gift shops to picnic spots and walking trails. Guests of the Center Lovell Inn can spend the morning enjoying the peaceful lakes and mountains, then set out on a coastal drive to visit these timeless beacons before returning to the comfort of the Inn.

Whether you’re a history buff, a photographer, or simply someone who loves the romance of the sea, Maine’s lighthouses are sure to leave a lasting impression.

**Check-out: Maine’s Coastal Route 1 – Only the Best Stops

🍽️ Check-out our Curated – Food & Beverage Guide for Lovell, Fryeburg & Bridgton, Maine

📌 Reserve your stay today!

🍁Visit our Best Fall Foliage in Maine & Best Fall Foliage Drives Near Fryeburg Maine for more fall fun things to do.