Most Beautiful Lighthouses in New England
New England region comprising of 6 states in Northeastern US (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut) is full of natural and man-made wonders. Home to numerous beaches, lakes, mountains, quaint towns and nearly 200 lighthouses, New England has got you covered! Without further ado, here is a list of the most beautiful lighthouses in the region..
Portland Head Lighthouse, Elizabeth ME
Portland Head Light, also known as Maine’s oldest lighthouse is located within Fort Williams Park in Elizabeth. Standing tall at the entrance of the Portland Harbor, this lighthouse is maintained by the United States Coast Guard. There are some scenic coastal hikes and a seasonal gift shop on the premises. If you are a history buff, there is an award winning museum located within the former Keepers’ Quarters. Only 115 miles away from Boston, this is hands down one of the prettiest lighthouses I have ever visited. The rocky shoreline, surrounding greenery and gorgeous outlook of the ocean (Gulf of Maine) combine together to give you the most dramatic views!
Sankaty Head Light, Nantucket MA
Housed within the village of Siasconset, Sankaty Head Light is located at the easternmost point of the Nantucket Island. Open daily from Sunrise to Sunset, the lighthouse can be climbed on specific dates as per a predefined schedule. Checkout their official website for a video tour of the top of the lighthouse.The name ‘Sankaty’ is derived from a Wampanoag word meaning ‘highland‘. Fun Fact: Back in the day, the bluffs were used as a lookout for whales by some of the early European settlers heading for longer expeditions.
Nantucket in itself is a stunning island to explore. However, since the hotels could get expensive, we spent a few days in Hyannis (70 miles from Boston) and took a round trip ferry for a day trip to Nantucket.
Nobska Lighthouse, Falmouth MA
Located on a bluff at the southwestern tip of Cape Cod, Nobska Lighthouse is situated at the entrance to Woods Hole Harbor. It is one of the 14 lighthouses located along the coast of Cape Cod. This must-visit destination in Falmouth is visited by thousands of people every year. There are 4 buildings at the station: the tower, keeper’s house, radio beacon house and an oil house. You can book a tour which also lets you access the top of the tower. The original lighthouse was built in 1828 for $2949.30. This lighthouse will always have a special place in my heart as it was the first lighthouse I ever visited. Falmouth (72 miles from Boston) is a lovely base town from where you can explore the rest of Cape Cod. We also took a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard and spent the day exploring the island. Proximity to the ferry terminal was another reason we chose Falmouth as our base town.
Brant Point Lighthouse, Nantucket MA
Brant Point Light located at the entrance to the Nantucket harbor is the second oldest lighthouse in America. Established in 1746, it was destroyed time and again due to fires and natural calamities but was rebuilt every time with more rigor and spirit. During the 1700s, Nantucket went on to become the whaling capital of the world. Originally erected to protect from shipwrecks caused by shoals around the island, this lighthouse is now a part of The National Register of Historic Places. This was our first destination upon arrival at the island by a ferry. It was a nice pleasant walk from the terminal and a perfect start to exploring the charming island. Apart from Hyannis (MA), ferries to Nantucket also depart from Harwich Port (MA), New Bedford (MA) and New York City (NY).
Indian Island Lighthouse, Rockport ME
Situated at the entrance to the Rockport Harbor in Penobscot Bay, the lighthouse was established on Indian Island in 1850. The Island was given this name because the Native Americans took refuge on the island during the French and Indian wars. Originally erected to support the traffic due to lime trade, the lighthouse was decommissioned a few years later when the lime industry didn’t flourish much in the region. With the backdrop of lush green mountains and surrounded by water, this lighthouse is a sight to behold. The lighthouse is privately owned now and can be best viewed from Rockport Marine Park and sightseeing cruises. We got lucky when we spotted this one from our sunset sail cruise in Rockport. It was one of the best unplanned surprises we have received during our many travels. Rockport (190 miles from Boston) and Camden are two quaint towns we visited during our road trip through Maine.
Nubble Lighthouse, York ME
Nubble Light, also known as Cape Neddick Light was established in 1879. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, this lighthouse is still in operation. It is best viewed from the Sohier Park which also has a gift shop on premises and telescope for getting a closer look at the lighthouse. Popular among the tourists (half a million visitors yearly), it is one of the most photographed lighthouses in Northeast US. It is located at the corner of the York beach, an expansive flat white sand beach. Every year the lighthouse lights up during Christmas, looking more dreamy than ever! Fun Fact: The Voyager spacecraft which carries a Golden Record containing 115 photographs of Earth’s most celebrated natural and man-made wonders (should it end up reaching the aliens), includes a photo of Nubble Light along with the images of the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal.
I hope you enjoyed my top 6 and have an amazing time visiting these gorgeous wonders!! Adios!
66 Comments
Caroline Muller
I have always had a thing with lighthouses, they are so romantic! Wonderful to have an overview to pick from.
Lekha C.
I couldn’t agree more.. They are indeed very charming! I am glad you liked the post. Thank you.
Kelly
Lighthouses are so pretty to look at! I would love to visit the Portland Head Lighthouse, it’s too bad that I live In the UK. The scenery looks beautiful!
Lekha C.
I am sure you’ll love it! Thank you very much. I am loving the favorite picks people have left in their comments. This blog has hit the mark 🙂
Digitaldaybook
Soooo beautiful! My husband and I have been there but not together haha. Definitely want to visit together!
Lekha C.
It would be very romantic if you get a chance to visit them together.. Hopefully very soon 🙂
Eswari
Woww!! Such a Awesome place and lovely pictures..Thanks for sharing!
Lekha C.
Thank you so much!
Robyn Jones
These are all so beautiful. Michigan, where I am from originally, is also known for its lighthouses. Thank you for sharing the history behind these. I will pin this in hopes of visiting that one on Nantucket. So cool!
Lekha C.
Hey.. That’s amazing. I look forward to visiting Michigan and it’s famous lighthouses. Thank you!
Lenore | The Nitty Gritty Travel OT
I loved your lighthouse top picks and learning all about them! l’d especially love to visit Brant Point Lighthouse.
Lekha C.
Thank you! I am sure you’ll love it.. Hope you get to visit soon 🙂
Sara Faye
These are all gorgeous! Wow now I want to visit all of these haha
Lekha C.
I feel you.. While putting together this blog itself, I had a yearning to go back and revisit all of them 🙂
Cynthia
This post made me reminisce about my honeymoon road trip through New England. Love it!
Lekha C.
Wow.. that sounds so romantic! I am glad this blog made you relive some of those memories..
Anna Bruder
Beautiful! I would love to visit one day.
Lekha C.
I am sure you’ll love it. Hope you get to visit soon!
ChildrenofWanderlust
Beautiful lighthouse pictures.
Lekha C.
Thank you so much!
Kaisa
There is something special about lighthouses! New England has so many of them, thanks for sharing! I love your photos!
Lekha C.
Thank you very much! I would love to write more about New England.. So much to see 🙂
Tina
Another reason to love New England! Love this post, had no idea there were so many lovely lighthouses in NE.
Lekha C.
I was myself surprised when I did my initial research.. lucky to be surrounded by ocean and lighthouses 🙂
Shubha Naidu
They are all gorgeous but loved the Sankaty Head Light the most! Such scenic locations and lighthouses make them extra lovely 🙂 Living in Dublin, trip to the lighthouse is one of my favourite ways to relax.
Lekha C.
I can imagine! Ireland must have it’s pretty share of lighthouses.. Sankaty did definitely stand out cuz of the surrounding beauty!
Elizabeth
I have always wanted to take a New England road trip. It sounds like a quintessential summer road trip that I can’t miss out on. These lighthouses are just what I would imagine seeing too. The Portland Head Lighthouse sounds really nice to visit and it would be fun to do the nearby coastal hikes.
Lekha C.
You will love it! Summer or even Fall season would be a great time for this road trip. Lots to see and experience.. 🙂 I will be writing separate blogs on road trips through Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Cape Cod. One could combine all 4 for a longer vacation. Hopefully I will have them out just in time!
Sharyn
I like lighthouses also. I never realised there were so many in the New England area! Australia has lots too.
Lekha C.
That’s good to know. Never been to Australia but look forward to visiting the lighthouses out there whenever I get to travel 🙂
Katie
I have been dreaming of a NE summer trip! Adding these to my list- hoping we can get up that way this fall!
Lekha C.
It would be lovely during fall.. I have done several day trips during autumn these past few years, can’t wait to write about my experience 🙂
Karen Warren
When my daughter was young, she used to “collect” lighthouses. She’s collected a few of these. The ones we have visited in New England are stunning, although it looks like we have a couple more to visit. Beautiful pics.
Lekha C.
Aww that’s so cute! Thank you so much. I hope you get to visit them and take her along 🙂
Sharon
I love lighthouses! Cape Cod has some of the most beautiful I’ve seen on either US coast. The Nobska is one of my favorites!
Lekha C.
I haven’t visited any lighthouses outside of the region but there are definitely more options out here. Loved Nobska 🙂
Kate
I live in New England and I haven’t visited any of these! How is that possible?? Adding them to my list!
Lekha C.
Haha It happens 🙂 It took me 2 years to visit Boston as a traveler while it was only 30 minutes away from me all along. I am sure you’ll love them!
Michelle
Wow! These are all so pretty. I would love to visit this region of the United States. Not only does the scenery look fabulous but I bet the food is amazing also! Thanks for a great post. I will be saving it for future reference.
Lekha C.
Ah you will love the seafood! A road trip around this region would be a lovely idea 🙂
Anuradha Srinath
These lighthouses look incredible – each one of them! I have a thing for lighthouses too!
Lekha C.
Thank you so much!
ABIGAIL
As I read this I am getting more excited to travel again and find my center in the beauty of the ocean, the sand and the lighthouses.
Lekha C.
I feel you. Ocean calls out to me. Have been looking forward to some beach time and exploring more lighthouses!
Sara
I love lighthouses, there’s something about being up there and looking out to sea that instantly transports you back in time. Very cool post!
Lekha C.
Thank you so much.. It does indeed take your mind off what’s happening around you. It brings peace and calm to so much of, romance and excitement to others. That’s the beauty of the lighthouses 🙂
Michelle Segrest
There is nothing like the beauty of a lighthouse overlooking the amazing sea, and these are truly spectacular! It’s hard to think about New England and not think about the lovely lighthouses guiding all the sailors home. I love this post! Thanks for making my day!
Lekha C.
Thank you so much. I am glad you liked this most 🙂 Like you said, lighthouses are absolutely amazing!
Crystal Green
I had to check out your post because my adopted mother loves lighthouses. She has a nice collection of lighthouse products all throughout her townhouse thanks to me, to the point she told me to stop. Thank you for sharing these beautiful lighthouses with us.
Lekha C.
Thank you so much for sharing your adopted mother’s love for lighthouses! That’s very touching and I feel honored you like this post 🙂
Emma
A trip to New England is the dream. Such a picturesque place, especially the lighthouses. You found some good ones
Lekha C.
Thank you so much. You hit the mark. New England is full of natural beauty and the northeast region can be easily explored by road.. Nothing is too far!
Kadie
This is so high on my list of things I want to do. I have only ever been to the Portland Head Lighthouse in Maine out of the ones on your list. It’s absolutely beautiful. I live in Nova Scotia so I have grown up around lighthouses and absolutely love them! My hubby and I drove part of the coast of Maine a few years ago and tried to seek out some lighthouses but we weren’t very organized when we went. We were staying in St. Stephen NB and just went over for the day and tried but failed. So I want to plan it out and try again! Thanks for sharing these. I will add them all to my list. I want to plan all of New England!
Lekha C.
Ah I can imagine you must be surrounded by lighthouses and appreciate them all the more.. You should plan a New England road trip. It’s lovely during summer and fall 🙂
Marissa Belle
I’ve never seen a lighthouse in real life before, let alone visited it, but these are all so beautiful!
🌿 Marissa Belle × marsybun.com 🌿
Lekha C.
I am sure you’ll love them! Hope you get to visit one soon 🙂
Britt K
There is something so peaceful and joy-filled about the sight of a lighthouse, isn’t there? I haven’t had a chance to go exploring for them for a while now, but that’s definitely something I could see myself doing in the future when travel restrictions start to loosen once again. The prettiest lighthouses I’ve personally seen are on the east coast of Canada in the Maritime region.
Lekha C.
Absolutely! I have only been to Quebec province in Canada. I would love to visit the Cape Breton island on the East Coast 🙂
Hannah
I am now regretting missing out on New England on our last couple of US trips. I love lighthouses, and have followed the Canadian coastal ones. For some reason I didn’t realise Nantucket was a coastal town – I clearly need to brush up my New England geography!
Lekha C.
There is always the next time! 🙂 You will love the island of Nantucket.. I would love to explore the Canadian lighthouses.
Kelly
Beautiful! I had no clue there were such a variety of lighthouses in New England – so picturesque 🙂 I’ve only been to Washington DC and NYC so I would love to explore more of the East coast One day!
Lekha C.
You will love the Northeast region.. When travel restrictions are lifted, plan a trip in summer or fall 🙂
Mindy
Portland Head Lighthouse is soooo picture-perfect! I traveled there for the first time last Fall on our trip clear up the coast to Newfoundland. Nova Scotia and Newfoundland have so many awesome lighthouses as well (especially Cape Spear). But I definitely have to be sure not to miss Nantucket lighthouse next time – it looks so charming and rustic. I love this post! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Lekha C.
I can see how much you love the lighthouses.. Looking forward to explore Nova Scotia once the ferry from Portland is operational again 🙂 Thank you!
Magical Travels
I have a passion for lighthouses!!! When I was in Norway for vacation I booked two days sleep in a lighthouse, I was so excited!!!. Thanks for sharing this blog post. I’d love to try your suggestions
Lekha C.
Wow that sounds magical! I love the idea of sleeping in unique accommodations including light houses, ice hotels, tree houses and what not. Thank you for the suggestion..