5 Must-See Lighthouses Near Portland Maine
Portland is one of the most beautiful cities in Maine because it is along its stunning rocky coastline. The city offers many things to do, including shopping, eating delicious seafood, and exploring lighthouses.
Portland is home to five beautiful lighthouses that should be on every Maine bucket list! And the best part? They are easily accessible, and you can visit them year-round. I love visiting the lighthouses in every season because they are stunning.
You can spend a day exploring each lighthouse and learning about its history. This guide has everything you need to know to visit the best lighthouses near Portland, Maine!
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Tips for Visiting the Lighthouses Near Portland Maine
Visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Portland is one of the most visited cities in Maine, and its lighthouses are among the best things to do in the area. If you want to explore the lighthouses with fewer crowds, I highly recommend visiting the lighthouses near Portland 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 near Portland are among the best things to do in the area, so they always 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 no crowds. Although Portland is cold in the off-season, it is a fun winter destination.
Take a lighthouse cruise instead of driving. If you want to avoid driving and dealing with crowds, you should book a lighthouse cruise! The lighthouse cruises bring you around the harbor and give you a unique experience of seeing the lighthouses near Portland.
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.
The 5 Best Lighthouses Near Portland Maine
Portland Head Light
Portland Head Light is the most iconic lighthouse in Portland for good reasons! 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 cannot 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 fascinating history of Portland Head Light and browse the gift shop.
If you only have time to visit one lighthouse in Portland, Maine, I highly recommend choosing Portland Head Light. It is one of my favorite lighthouses in Maine, and I know you will love it!
You will not be disappointed with the breathtaking lighthouse and the beautiful Fort Williams Park. Fort Williams Park is also a fantastic place to picnic and relax.
Ram Island Edge Lighthouse
Ram Island Edge Lighthouse is a lesser-known lighthouse near Portland because it is not accessible by car. The lighthouse was built in 1905 because of a near-disaster ship crash in the early 1900s. A boat leaving Portland crashed into the jagged reef because it was slightly off course. The accident was a major factor in a lighthouse being built on the island to help with navigation as boats left and arrived in the harbor.
The lighthouse sits on a small island in Casco Bay, and you can see it from Fort Williams Park. It will look tiny sitting in the bay from the viewpoints in the park, and you can get a better view from a lighthouse cruise.
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse is a small but beautiful lighthouse in Portland, Maine. The lighthouse sits on a 950-foot breakwater and is only accessible by walking along it. I love hiking along the breakwater to get an up-close and person experience with Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse.
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 at the time, more shipwrecks were happening, leading to steamship companies campaigning for a lighthouse. A few years later, in the late 1800s, Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse was built.
In the 1930s, stones were placed around the base of the lighthouse to help protect it from ice damage. 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.
Bug Light (Portland Breakwater Lighthouse)
Bug Light is another small but beautiful lighthouse in Portland, Maine, and it is one of my favorites! The lighthouse sits in the 9-acre Bug Light Park and 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! It is also easily accessible from the park 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, the Bug Light Park was created to preserve a portion of the area. 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 a beautiful area to enjoy the views, history, and a walk. We have visited Bug Light Park every season, and I know you will enjoy visiting it no matter when you are in Portland.
Two Lights Lighthouse
Two Lights State Park is one of the most visited state parks in Maine and is home to beautiful lighthouses. The 41-acre state park is a quick drive from Portland, Maine, and offers 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 rocky coast at the end of Two Lights Road near On the Rocks at Two Lights. Although the lighthouses are beautiful, the real beauty of the area is the rocky coastline overlooking the ocean. You will not be disappointed visiting Two Lights State Park near Portland, Maine!
If you are visiting Portland, Maine, you should add these lighthouses to your itinerary! I have visited the lighthouses in Portland in every season, so I know you will love visiting them no matter when you are in the city. This guide has everything you need to know about visiting the beautiful lighthouses near Portland, 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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