7 Beautiful Lighthouses in Southern Maine
Southern Maine is one of the most popular areas to visit in the state because of its sandy beaches and rocky coastline, making it the premier summer destination in Maine! It also has some of the most beautiful and iconic lighthouses in the state.
And the best part? You can visit many of these lighthouses year-round! If you are visiting Southern Maine, I highly recommend adding these beautiful lighthouses to your bucket list! This guide has everything you need to know about visiting the lighthouses in Southern Maine!
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Tips for Visiting the Lighthouses in Southern Maine
Visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The lighthouses in Southern Maine are some of the best things to do in the area, and they get crowded. If you want to explore the lighthouses with fewer crowds, I highly recommend visiting them early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The best times to visit are sunrise and sunset, especially for photography!
Expect crowds. As I mentioned, the lighthouses in Southern Maine are among the best things to do in the area, so they are crowded. Even during the sunrise and sunset, you will not be the only one visiting the lighthouses during the peak season.
Visit in the off-season. Winter and early spring are beautiful times to visit the lighthouses and enjoy them with fewer crowds!
Take a lighthouse cruise. Some of the best lighthouses in Southern Maine are not accessible by car, and taking a boat tour is the only way to experience them. Also, taking a cruise is a great way to avoid crowds and traffic. The lighthouse cruises bring you around a section of the coast and give you a unique experience of seeing the lighthouses!
Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
Southern Maine Lighthouses Map
The 7 Best Lighthouses in Southern Maine
Nubble Lighthouses
Location: York, Maine
How to get there: Drive to Nubble Point
Nubble Lighthouse is one of the most iconic lighthouses in Southern Maine! It sits on a small island in York, Maine, and although the grounds and lighthouse are not open to the public, you can view it from Nubble Point. The island is very close to Nubble Point, so you get a fantastic view of Nubble Lighthouse!
In the 1800s, the coast of Maine had many of the busiest shipping ports in the northeast. The rocky coastline posed many risks to boaters, and many petitioned to have a lighthouse built, resulting in the construction of Nubble Lighthouse in 1879. Even though it is not open to the public, it is a must-see lighthouse in Southern Maine!
Goat Island Lighthouse
Location: Kennebunkport, Maine
How to get there: Boat tour
Goat Island Lighthouse is a small lighthouse sitting on the 3.5-acre Goat Island along the coast of Kennebunkport, Maine. The lighthouse was built in 1833 to help boaters navigate to the Cape Porpoise Harbor safely.
The only way to get an up-close and personal experience with Goat Island Lighthouse is by boat. You can take a fun 2-hour tour with New England Eco Adventures, where you sail along the coast, explore Goat Island, and learn about its history!
Wood Island Lighthouse
Location: Biddeford, Maine
How to get there: Boat Tour
Wood Island Lighthouse is one of the lesser-known lighthouses in Southern Maine and is only accessible by boat. The original lighthouse and house dwelling were in 1808 to help guide boaters into the harbor. Unfortunately, the lighthouse and house could not withstand the harsh weather and only stood for about 15 years. They eventually were rebuilt in 1858.
If you want an up-close and personal experience with Wood Island Lighthouse, you are in luck! The Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse offer tours seasonally that bring you from Biddeford to Wood Island and allow you to go inside the lighthouse.
Portland Head Light
Location: Cape Elizabeth, Maine
How to get there: Drive to Fort Williams Park
Portland Head Light is the most iconic lighthouse in Southern Maine! The stunning lighthouse sits on a rocky cliff overlooking the ocean in the 90-acre Fort Williams Park and is so picturesque that it is among the most photographed lighthouses in the US!
Portland Head Light was built in 1791, making it the oldest and most historic lighthouse in Maine. Although you can’t explore inside the lighthouse, you can enjoy the beautiful views of it around Fort Williams Park. You can also visit the museum in the keepers’ house to learn more about the history of Portland Head Light and browse the gift shop.
Since Portland Head Light is iconic, it always has crowds. I highly recommend visiting it early morning or late afternoon to avoid most crowds. And you can enjoy a picnic in the park during your visit!
Two Lights Lighthouse
Location: Cape Elizabeth, Maine
How to get there: Drive to Two Lights State Park
Two Lights State Park is one of the most visited state parks in Southern Maine, and the 41-acre state park is home to beautiful lighthouses and trails along the rocky coastline. Two Lights State Park was named after two twin lighthouses built in 1828.
Although only one is active (the other is a home), you can see them from the coast at the end of Two Lights Road near On the Rocks at Two Lights. Although the lighthouses are beautiful, the true beauty is the rocky coastline overlooking the ocean.
Bug Light (Portland Breakwater Lighthouse)
Location: South Portland, Maine
How to get there: Drive to Bug Light Park
Bug Light is another small but beautiful lighthouse in Southern Maine and sits in the 9-acre Bug Light Park. It is considered one of the most elegant lighthouses in Maine because of its architecture.
Bug Light was built in the 1800s to serve as a marker of the breakwater it sits on. It got the name Bug Light because of its small size, being only 26 feet tall. Although it is a small lighthouse, it is beautiful and offers views of Portland’s skyline!
Bug Light Park is also home to Liberty Ship Memorial. The park was home to a shipbuilding site during WWII, where over 200 liberty ships were built. After the war, Bug Light Park was created to preserve a portion of the area, and the Liberty Ship Memorial was built in 2001 to commemorate the 30,000 individuals who worked there in WWII and built the ships. The park is the perfect spot to enjoy the views, history, and a picnic.
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse
Location: South Portland, Maine
How to get there: Drive to Southern Maine Community College
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse is a small but beautiful lighthouse in Southern Maine and sits on a 950-foot breakwater, making it only accessible by walking along it. You can walk to the lighthouse, but you cannot go inside.
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse was built in 1897 after many shipwrecks occurred at the nearby ledge. Since Portland was one of the busiest ports in the northeast, more shipwrecks were happening, leading to steamship companies campaigning for a lighthouse, and a few years later, Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse was built. Stones at the base of the lighthouse were installed in the 1930s to help protect it from ice damage, and then in 1951, the breakwater was built, connecting the land to Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse. The breakwater allows visitors to walk along it to get an up-close and personal experience with the lighthouse!
If you are visiting Southern Maine, I recommend adding these lighthouses to your bucket list! This guide has everything you need to know about the best lighthouses in Southern Maine.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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