The ULTIMATE Maine Lighthouse Road Trip

A teenage heroine. A beloved barking dog saving lives. A Christmas Eve rescue that turned obscenely rowdy. A piano-playing ghost that literally drove a man mad. These all have one thing in common – the lighthouses of Maine.

Taking a Maine lighthouse road trip is as much a paved route as a historical one. Each beacon protects some of the toughest coastlines in the United States. Yet, somehow, they exude rugged romance, beauty in the presence of a beast, and palpably emotional panoramic views.

With nearly 70 lighthouses to consider, where do you even begin a Maine lighthouse road trip? Right here. We’ve carefully plotted out a plan, making the most of your time and taking in as many lighthouse views as possible.

“I can think of no other edifice constructed by man as altruistic as a lighthouse. They were built only to serve.” – George Bernard Shaw

Southern Maine Lighthouses

The beaches of Southern Maine don’t have as many lighthouses since sailing is somewhat smoother, at least compared to the treacherous peninsulas of the Mid-coast and Downeast.

Kittery

Our adventure for the Maine lighthouse road trip starts at Fort Foster in Kittery, where the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse (NH), Whaleback Lighthouse, and Wood Island Life Saving Station can all be seen. The two lighthouses flank the treacherous harbor fed by one of the fastest-flowing rivers in a deep water port.

York

Driving north, choose from the scenic Route 1 or the Maine Turnpike. The next stop is in York on Cape Neddick. The Nubble Lighthouse can be seen from Sohier Park, with holiday lights adorning the outside in summer and winter. The tallest lighthouse in Maine, Boon Island Lighthouse, can be seen six miles offshore on clear days.

The waters here are notably haunted by the ghost ship Isadore, which wrecked near Nubble Rock in 1842. Ya know, if you believe in that stuff.

SEE IT OR SKIP IT? The Lobster Point Lighthouse of Ogunquit is 23 feet tall in the middle of Marginal Way. Go for the scenic cliff walk, not the lighthouse. In fact, it is merely a facade to cover up a sewage pumping station.

Biddeford

You’ll go past the Kennebunks, as the only lighthouse is offshore and hard to see without binoculars. If you’re intrigued, head to Cape Porpoise Pier and look off in the distance for Goat Island Lighthouse.

Stop at Biddeford Pool for views of Wood Island Lighthouse from East Point Sanctuary or Vine’s Landing. This is one of the rare lighthouses in Maine that has tours allowing guests to climb the tower.

You should know this lighthouse was the scene of a murder-suicide in 1896. No less than three ghosts have been reported here. Ya know, if you believe in that stuff.

Cape Elizabeth

Two of the most iconic lighthouses in Maine are in Cape Elizabeth. Well, technically, three. However, we want to clear up the confusion about a pair located near Two Lights State Park.

Two Lights/Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse

The twin lighthouses are the namesake for the small state park, but both lighthouses are on private roads and not open for tours. In fact, stay off the residential streets, which are private drives. The lighthouses sit 300 feet apart, each 65 feet tall. The East Beacon remains active and preserved. It is well known for being the inspiration for Edward Hopper’s painting “The Lighthouse at Two Lights.”

The West Beacon was used as a lookout tower after 1925 before being sold to private owners, including Bette Davis’ ex-husband Gary Merrill.

You cannot see the lights very well from Two Lights State Park. For the best views, stop for food at Lobster Shack at Two Lights.

Portland Head Lighthouse

The Portland Head Lighthouse is also in Cape Elizabeth, surrounded by Fort Williams Park. As Maine’s oldest lighthouse, the museum in the former lightkeeper’s house is worth the small fee to learn more about the history. That includes a crash on Christmas Eve of the Annie C. Maguire. A sign marks the spot where the crash happened. Christmas chaos ensued.

Several scenic viewpoints are set up around the park. From certain angles, you can see Ram Island Ledge Light Station, Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse and Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse.

South Portland

Three miles north in South Portland, Bug Light Park sits at the corner of Casco Bay and Portland Harbor. The stout Portland Breakwater Light (Bug Light) still guides ships into the harbor, while the park is scenic and tells the story of a rich shipbuilding industry at the site.

Those bold enough to walk the 900-foot-long breakwater to Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse get a unique perspective of Casco Bay.

Mid-Coast Maine Lighthouses

Our Maine lighthouse road trip passes through Portland and Freeport on the way to the next big stop in Bath. The only lighthouse along the way is miles offshore at Halfway Rock Lighthouse, which can only be seen from the Portland Observatory or the tip of Bailey Island in Harpswell on a clear day.

Bath

The Maine Maritime Museum in Bath beckons sea lovers with its historic showcase of lights, ships, stories, and other artifacts. This would also be an ideal spot to take a Lighthouse Lover’s cruise down the Kennebec River, knocking 10 lighthouses off the Maine list. Another option is to take a boat tour (or kayak there, if you’re so inclined) to Burnt Island Lighthouse to explore the five-acre island.

If you prefer to drive down the peninsula, you’ll need to carefully navigate to see places like Squirrel Point Lighthouse and Perkins Island Lighthouse. The towers here are stout and secluded, mostly seen at a distance.

New Harbor

One of the best time investments for a lighthouse road trip in Maine is heading south from Damariscotta to the village of New Harbor in Bristol. Not only do you get great stops like the inspiration for Rachel Carson’s The Edge of the Sea, but the road also ends at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse.

This is yet another rare treat where you can climb the tower, which is only 38 feet tall. It’s an especially awesome lighthouse for those afraid of heights but up for adventures. Plus, the Fisherman’s Museum and Art Gallery make for a great way to stretch your legs.

DID YOU KNOW? New Harbor was hit especially hard in the storms of January 2024. The park crews worked feverishly to get the buildings and property safe for tourists again. Your support is much appreciated.

Port Clyde

The next peninsula to consider on a Maine lighthouse road trip is through Tenants Harbor, where you might see the lighthouse offshore on a clear day from the boatyard. However, the apex of this route is Port Clyde, where Marshall Point Lighthouse stands. Some of you might remember this as one of the turnaround points for Forrest Gump during his “I just felt like running” adventure.

Owls Head

The next stop brings us to the stunning vista of Owls Head State Park and Lighthouse. The tower sits atop an 80-foot cliff, with 53 stairs to the platform and then 10 steps inside the tower. A short ladder is also inside to access the lantern room.

A museum and gift shop are on site. Animal lovers should ask about Spot the Lighthouse Dog (a springer spaniel) and his heroic rescue during a brutal blizzard in the 1930s. A memorial plaque for Spot is at the base of the lighthouse stairs.

DID YOU KNOW? Nobody wearing sandals, flip-flops, or Crocs can climb the tower. Bring tennis shoes with you.

Rockland

A short three-mile drive takes you to one of the must-see lighthouses in Maine, and you can view it from shore or walk there. Either way, the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse stuns in the scenery around Rockland Harbor. Once there, the house and tower are open to explore, with another ladder leading to the lantern room.

Continue the road trip through Camden, where you can choose to overlook the harbor and nearby lighthouses from Mount Battie at Camden Hills State Park. Also, there’s a Curtis Lighthouse Overlook tucked into a residential street, but the access is open to the public.

In Lincolnville, a ferry runs to Isleboro, right where Grindle Point Sailors’ Museum and Lighthouse stands. During peak season, the ride is 20 minutes long and leaves every hour from 7:30am to 5:00pm.

TALL ENOUGH? Lighthouse tower tours generally require guests to be at least 42” tall.

Downeast Lighthouses

Once the Maine lighthouse road trip gets to Ellsworth, we’re officially Downeast. The leg of the adventure leads from Acadia National Park to Canada.

Mount Desert Island

One of the best beacons in Maine sits on the opposite side of the island from busy Bar Harbor. Bass Harbor Head Light Station might already be familiar. It made the back of a quarter in 2012 and a postage stamp in 2016.

The lightkeeper’s house and tower aren’t open for tourists, but a stairway leads to a rocky outcrop (watch your step!) for some of the best sunset views on the Eastern Seaboard.

Since we’ve come this far, I wanted to point out another lighthouse opportunity by boat. The Swan’s Island ferry takes about 30-40 minutes, and it does transport vehicles. The visit starts at Swans Island Lobster & Marine Museum.

About four miles away is Burnt Island Coat Harbor Lighthouse. Another rare adventure to the top of the tower awaits, but the real kicker here is the opportunity to stay in the lighthouse keeper’s home.

Back on MDI, lighthouse tours leave from Bar Harbor, including one that pairs with a puffin tour. One cool aspect of that trip is seeing the so-called “ugliest lighthouse in Maine” at Egg Rock.

Schoodic Peninsula

Take the Schoodic Peninsula loop through the Quiet Side of Acadia to see two lighthouses across the water. First is Winter Harbor Light, which is best viewed from the western edge of the loop road with Cadillac Mountain behind it.

Prospect Harbor Lighthouse is another option, but a fire in 2022 destroyed the keeper’s house, and it can only be viewed from a distance. This would be one to skip.

Cutler

Heading to the Bold Coast of Cutler, there’s another opportunity in this Maine lighthouse road trip to stay overnight in the keeper’s quarters with unlimited access to the lighthouse tower. A 15-minute boat trip leads to the Little River Lighthouse. Unlike the Swan’s Ferry location, Little River Lighthouse does not require a minimum stay.

Lubec

The “Easternmost Lighthouse in the U.S.” stands out with red and white stripes on Quoddy Head in Lubec. Dramatic cliffs and forest hikes surround West Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Quoddy Head State Park. The lighthouse opens for tours in the summer most seasons, about once a week, but call ahead before banking on the trek up 50 stairs. Be sure to get a photo near the plaque noting the Easternmost Point in the U.S.A.

Across the Way to Canada

If you plan to cross into Canada on your Maine lighthouse road trip, Roosevelt Campobello International Park offers a whale of a good time at the Mulholland Lighthouse, where the Marine Life Interpretation Centre is located.

Another great reason to road trip internationally is to answer the question, “Where is the EAST Quoddy Lighthouse?” That also might prompt another question – why is the WEST Quoddy Lighthouse the EASTERNMOST POINT?

It all makes sense when you see Head Harbour Lightstation (East Quoddy Lighthouse) at the far end of Campobello Island. The two lighthouses are named for which side of the Quoddy Narrows they are located, and Maine is on the western side.

To make a Head Harbour visit even more exciting, accessing the island means timing the tides right. The massive tidal zone here leaves just a few hours of low tide that you can get to and from the lighthouse.

KEEP GOING? Another popular international route is taking the Quoddy Loop through Maine and Canada.

Is There a Lighthouse in Calais?

We want to clarify some confusion about the Calais lighthouse landmarks.

St. Croix International Site only offers mainland access to see the historic island. While a lighthouse was built on the island in 1857, trespassers lit a campfire that turned into an inferno in 1976, destroying everything but the boathouse.

The lighthouse on Google Maps erroneously listed as the St. Croix River Lighthouse is actually Whitlock Mill Lighthouse, which is tucked back off the road and on private land.

For those just driving by, the only hope of spotting it is at this obscure rest stop south of the lighthouse, and almost impossible when the trees are lush.

Tours can be scheduled on a case-by-case basis through the historical society. One of the main reasons someone might consider this is because Whitelock Mill Lighthouse is the youngest and northernmost lighthouse in Maine.

The Must-See Lighthouses of Maine

If you’re having a hard time whittling down the list of lighthouses to visit during a Maine road trip, here’s some help based on input from our resident lighthouse enthusiast (me).

1. Nubble Lighthouse
2. Portland Head Light
3. Owls Head Lighthouse
4. Bass Harbor Lighthouse
5. Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse
6. West Quoddy Lighthouse

One more lighthouse is worth seeking out if you like the hidden gems of Maine. Ladies Delight Island Lighthouse is in the center of Lake Cobbosseecontee outside Augusta. Take a boat tour or kayak out there to get a better look.

Learn More About Maine Lighthouses

The best time of year to take a Maine lighthouse road trip is between mid-June and Indigenous People’s Day, the second Monday in October. That’s the peak of tours and access at most public lighthouses.

Maine Open Lighthouse Day is always the second Saturday in September, with a rare treat to see some lighthouse towers that are usually off-limits. For example, the Portland Head Light tower tours cater to the first 200 people.

Most lighthouses only stand today because someone donated to help keep them preserved. Keep this in mind when you get a chance to see their nautical beauty. Even the requested $1-$5 donation goes a lot further than you realize.