Famous East Coast Lighthouses: A Maine-to-Florida Road Trip Guide
- Rey Eleuterio
- Jul 9
- 15 min read
Some road trips are about the beach. This one is about the tall, striped towers standing guard over it. String together the famous East Coast lighthouses and you get a route that runs from the cold, rocky cliffs of Maine all the way down to Florida's palm-lined inlets, with a couple of wild horse herds and a ghost story or two along the way.
The best part is how different each one feels. Up north you get short, stocky red-and-white towers built to stand out against gray skies.
Down south they turn tall and boldly striped, each with its own pattern painted on so sailors could tell them apart in daylight. Read them in order and the coastline starts to feel like a picture book you can climb inside.
Key Takeaways
The most famous lighthouses on the East Coast run from Maine to Florida, and many let you climb to the top for sweeping ocean views. The northern towers tend to be small, photogenic, and free to admire from the grounds. The southern ones are taller, boldly striped, and usually charge a small fee to climb. Some are still active navigation lights today.
Lighthouse | Location | Height / Steps | Can You Climb? | Highlight |
Portland Head Light | Cape Elizabeth, ME | About 80 ft | Grounds only | Maine's oldest, huge coastal park |
Nubble Light | York, ME | Short cast-iron tower | View from shore | On its own tiny island |
Nauset Light | Eastham, MA | About 48 ft | Free seasonal tours | The Cape Cod chip-bag tower |
Montauk Point Light | Montauk, NY | 137 steps | Yes | Oldest in New York State |
Cape May Light | Cape May, NJ | 199 steps | Yes | Bay-and-ocean panorama |
Assateague Light | Chincoteague, VA | About 142 ft, 175 steps | Weekends in season | Wild horses nearby |
Currituck Beach Light | Corolla, NC | About 162 ft, 220 steps | Yes | Unpainted red brick |
Bodie Island Light | Nags Head, NC | About 156 ft, 214 steps | Yes | Horizontal black-and-white bands |
Cape Hatteras Light | Buxton, NC | Close to 200 ft | Check ahead | The candy-striped giant |
Tybee Island Light | Tybee Island, GA | 178 steps | Yes | 20 minutes from Savannah |
St. Augustine Light | St. Augustine, FL | 219 steps | Yes | Spiral stripes and ghost tours |
Ponce de Leon Inlet Light | Ponce Inlet, FL | 203 steps | Yes | One of the tallest in the country |
Quick Picker
Best for families: Cape May Light, Currituck Beach Light, St. Augustine Light
Best for charm and history: Portland Head Light, Montauk Point Light, Tybee Island Light
Best for photos: Nubble Light, Nauset Light, Cape Hatteras Light
Best free stops: Portland Head Light grounds, Nubble Light, Nauset Light
Best for ghost hunters: St. Augustine Light
Planning a lighthouse run of your own? Wayback Tours makes it easy to save the towers you want to see and keep them all in one spot for later.
What Makes a Lighthouse Worth Pulling Over For
There is something about a lighthouse that makes you slow down, even if you have seen a hundred photos of it. Up close, you notice the scale, the salt on the paint, and the sheer number of steps someone climbed every single night to keep the light going.
The coast tells a visual story if you know what to look for. Northern lighthouses often wear bright red and white so they pop against cloudy skies. In the mid-coast, many were left as bare red brick. As you move south, the towers grow taller and get bold black-and-white patterns, each one a daytime signal so sailors could tell exactly where they were along a low, sandy shoreline. These historic lighthouses are basically old road signs for ships, and each pattern is unique on purpose.
That is why doing them in order is so satisfying. You get to watch the design change mile by mile, from stubby and storm-ready in Maine to sky-high and striped in the Carolinas and Florida.
Fun Fact:
The unpainted or boldly patterned look of many coastal lighthouses is said to have been chosen as a daymark, so ships could identify each tower by sight before modern navigation.
Planning an East Coast Lighthouse Road Trip
You do not need to drive the whole coast in one shot. Most people pick a region and knock out three or four towers in a weekend, then come back for more. An East Coast lighthouse road trip works just as well as a single-state day trip or a slow, two-week crawl down the seaboard.
Best Time of Year to Go
Late spring through early fall is the sweet spot. That is when climbable lighthouses tend to open their towers, and the weather cooperates. Summer brings the biggest crowds and the longest hours, while fall gives you cooler air and thinner lines. If you want color and calm, the shoulder season is hard to beat, and it pairs nicely with a wider swing through the coast in fall. For warm-weather swimming and full tower hours, aim for the coast in summer.
Climbing vs. Just Looking
Not every lighthouse lets you go up, and that is fine. Some of the most beautiful ones, like Portland Head and Nubble, are best admired from the grounds or a nearby overlook. The climbable ones usually charge a small fee, often somewhere around ten to fifteen dollars, and the step counts range from under a hundred to well over two hundred.
A few things to keep in mind before you climb:
Many towers close in bad weather or high wind
Some have height rules for kids, often around 44 inches
Wear closed-toe shoes, since the iron stairs are steep and narrow
Season and hours change, so check the official site before you drive
Who a Lighthouse Trip Is Best For
This kind of trip suits history buffs, photographers, and families who want a mix of walking, views, and short bursts of learning. It also folds neatly into a bigger coastal plan. You can build it around an East Coast road trip, line up nearby vacation spots along the way, and get a feel for what a coastal trip costs before you commit.
If lighthouses are only part of the plan, the same coast serves up plenty of side quests, from quiet lake getaways to relaxing spa resorts when your legs need a break from all those stairs.
Save each tower to your Wayback Tours bucket list as you read, and you will have a ready-made route by the time you reach Florida.
The Most Famous East Coast Lighthouses, Mapped Maine to Florida
Here they are in strict order, north to south, so you can follow the coast without backtracking. Every stop includes what you will actually see and the practical details you need before you go.
Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
If you have ever pictured a "classic" New England lighthouse, odds are you were picturing this one. It sits on rugged cliffs at the entrance to Casco Bay, with a white tower and keeper's house that look almost too perfect to be real.
Why this one stands out: Dating to 1791, Portland Head Light is widely known as Maine's oldest lighthouse, finished during George Washington's presidency. The tower itself stays closed to the public, but the surrounding Fort Williams Park spreads across more than 90 acres of lawns, trails, and old fort ruins. You can picnic, walk the rocky shore, and tour a small museum inside the former keeper's quarters. It is an easy, rewarding stop even if you never step inside the tower.
What you need to know before you go:
Location: Fort Williams Park, 1000 Shore Road, Cape Elizabeth
Grounds: open daily, sunrise to sunset, free
Museum: small admission, open seasonally
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours with the park
Worth it or skip it? Absolutely worth it, especially for first-timers and photographers chasing that quintessential Maine scene.
Save this to your bucket list so the drive north pays off later
⭐ What is a Bucket List? Save places you want to visit and come back to later. Your Wayback Tours bucket list keeps track of stops you don't want to forget, perfect for planning future trips.
Fun Fact:
Portland Head Light is widely regarded as one of the most photographed lighthouses in the country.
Nubble Light (Cape Neddick), York, Maine
Just down the coast sits a tower so photogenic it feels staged. Nubble Light perches on its own tiny rock island a short distance off the shore of York.
Why it's worth stopping: The tower is short and stocky, painted white with a red-roofed keeper's house, and the little island setting makes it one of the most photographed lights in America. You cannot walk out to it, but you do not need to. The overlook at Sohier Park puts you right across the water with a clear, framed view. Sunny days, foggy days, and snowy holiday shots all work here. Pair it with the dog-friendly beaches nearby and you have an easy morning.
What you need to know before you go:
Location: Sohier Park overlook, York
Cost: free to view, free parking
Tower access: none, viewing only
Time needed: 20 to 40 minutes
Worth it or skip it? Worth it for anyone who loves a great photo, and it takes almost no time.
Snap it, then park it on your list for the scrapbook later
Nauset Light, Eastham, Massachusetts
You have probably seen this red-and-white tower before, even if you have never been to Cape Cod. It is the one on the chip bag.
The quick pitch: Nauset Light stands along the Cape Cod National Seashore in Eastham, a cast-iron tower that has been moved more than once to escape the eroding cliffs. Its bold red top and white base make it a favorite for photographers, and volunteers offer free tours in season for anyone curious about the history. The surrounding beaches are a big draw too, so it slots right into a day of Cape Cod beach time.
What you need to know before you go:
Location: Nauset Light Beach Road, Eastham
Tours: free, seasonal, run by volunteers
Cost: free, donations welcome
Time needed: 30 to 60 minutes
Worth it or skip it? Worth it, especially if you want that instantly recognizable photo and a stretch of gorgeous shoreline.
Add this to your bucket list and bring a chip bag for the photo
Fun Fact:
Nauset Light is widely known as the tower that appears on the Cape Cod Potato Chips bag.
Montauk Point Lighthouse, Montauk, New York
At the very tip of Long Island, where the land runs out and the Atlantic takes over, stands one of the oldest working lighthouses in the country.
What makes this stop different: First lit in 1796, Montauk Point Lighthouse is widely recognized as New York State's oldest lighthouse, and it is a National Historic Landmark that still guides ships today. You can climb to the top for wide ocean views, then poke around the museum to learn the local maritime history. It sits inside Montauk Point State Park, so there is plenty of shoreline to wander. The area is one of the more laid-back beach towns on the North Fork end of things, and there are oceanfront golf options close by too.
What you need to know before you go:
Location: Montauk Point State Park, Montauk
Cost: small admission to climb, separate parking fee
Tower: open for climbing, seasonal hours
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours
Worth it or skip it? Worth it for the history and the end-of-the-earth feeling at the tip of Long Island.
Pin this one so your Hamptons trip includes some history too
Cape May Lighthouse, Cape May, New Jersey
Down at the southern tip of New Jersey, this 1859 tower rewards the climb with one of the best two-water views on the route.
Why you'll want to pull over: Cape May Lighthouse rises inside Cape May Point State Park, and the 199-step cast-iron staircase leads to a platform where you can see both the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic on a clear day. Interpretive panels along the climb break up the huff and puff with stories of the keepers. Down below, the state park has trails, birding, and a WWII lookout tower to check out. It is an easy add-on to the classic boardwalks and seaside resorts the area is known for.
What you need to know before you go:
Location: Cape May Point State Park, Lower Township
Steps: 199 to the top
Cost: small admission, free parking in the park
Time needed: 1 hour
Worth it or skip it? Worth it, and a great pick for families who want a real climb without it being too much.
Drop this on your bucket list so the Jersey Shore trip has a payoff view
Assateague Lighthouse, Chincoteague, Virginia
This candy-hooped red-and-white tower comes with a bonus you will not find at most lighthouses: wild horses.
Don't skip this if you like a little wildlife with your history. The Assateague Lighthouse rises out of the marshy wetlands on Virginia's Eastern Shore, built in 1867 and wrapped in thick red and white bands. Climb the roughly 175 steps and you get panoramic views over the island and out to sea, and down below you may spot the famous Chincoteague ponies roaming the refuge. It sits among some of the region's best protected national seashores, with quiet beaches and trails all around.
What you need to know before you go:
Location: Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia
Access: open weekends in season, donations welcome
Steps: around 175
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours with the refuge
Worth it or skip it? Worth it, especially for families and anyone hoping to catch a glimpse of the wild horses.
Save this so the ponies and the tower share one memory
Currituck Beach Lighthouse, Corolla, North Carolina
The first of the Outer Banks giants, and the one that skips the paint entirely. Its bare red brick makes it stand out from every striped neighbor to the south.
Why this one stands out: First lit in 1875, Currituck Beach Lighthouse rises about 162 feet over Historic Corolla Village, and its natural brick finish was left unpainted on purpose so sailors could tell it apart in daylight. Climb the 220 steps and you get sweeping views of the Currituck Sound, the Atlantic, and the northern Outer Banks. This is one of the more welcoming Outer Banks lighthouses, with free grounds, a museum shop, and wild horse tours nearby. Corolla is loaded with luxury coastal rentals if you want to base here for a few days.
What you need to know before you go:
Location: Historic Corolla Village, Corolla
Steps: 220 to the top
Cost: around $13 to climb, ages 4 and up, free grounds and parking
Season: roughly mid-spring through late November, weather permitting
Worth it or skip it? Worth it, and a lovely, less-hectic climb compared to the busier towers farther south.
Add this to your list before you lose it in the Outer Banks shuffle
Bodie Island Lighthouse, Nags Head, North Carolina
Say it like the locals do: "body." This one wears horizontal black-and-white bands instead of the spirals you see nearby.
The quick pitch: Just south of Nags Head, Bodie Island Lighthouse stands about 156 feet inside the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The current tower dates to 1872 and still holds its original first-order Fresnel lens, and the bold horizontal stripes make it easy to tell apart from its striped neighbors. Climb the roughly 214 steps for views over the marsh, the sound, and the ocean. Of the Outer Banks towers, this is one of the easiest to reach, with a visitor center and a boardwalk nature trail on site. The area is stacked with oceanside campgrounds if you want to stay close.
What you need to know before you go:
Location: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, south of Nags Head
Steps: around 214
Cost: small fee to climb, seasonal hours
Time needed: 1 hour
Worth it or skip it? Worth it, and a smart pick if the crowds at Hatteras feel like too much.
Save this striped beauty so the OBX run stays complete
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Buxton, North Carolina
The showstopper. That black-and-white spiral is one of the most recognizable lighthouses anywhere, and the tower behind it is a genuine giant.
Why you'll want to pull over: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is widely considered the tallest brick lighthouse in the country, rising to roughly 200 feet, and its spiral daymark guards the stretch of coast long nicknamed the "Graveyard of the Atlantic." First lit in 1870, it made headlines in 1999 when the whole tower was carefully moved inland to escape the encroaching sea. The grounds and nearby beaches are stunning, and the area is a favorite for surfers, anglers, and anyone chasing the coast's dog-friendly beaches. Note that the tower undergoes restoration work from time to time, so climbing may be paused, and it is worth checking the official schedule before you go.
What you need to know before you go:
Location: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Buxton
Cost: small fee to climb when open
Note: climbing access can close during restoration, so confirm ahead
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours with the beach
Worth it or skip it? Worth it every time, even if you can only admire it from the base during restoration.
Add the coast's most famous tower to your list right now
Fun Fact:
In 1999, the entire Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was relocated inland to protect it from erosion, one of the more remarkable moves in lighthouse history.
Tybee Island Light Station, Tybee Island, Georgia
Georgia's grand old beacon sits a short drive from Savannah, which makes it one of the easiest famous towers to fold into a city trip.
What makes this stop different: Tybee Island Light Station is widely regarded as Georgia's oldest and tallest lighthouse, with a light station history stretching back to the 1730s and the current tower dating to the mid-1800s. Climb the 178 steps for wide views of the island, the Savannah River, and the Atlantic. The station keeps much of its historic character, and the nearby Fort Pulaski and the charm of historic Southern towns like Savannah make this a rich stop. Dolphin tours run from the island too.
What you need to know before you go:
Location: Tybee Island, about 20 minutes from Savannah
Steps: 178 to the top
Cost: small admission
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours
Worth it or skip it? Worth it, especially if you are already visiting Savannah and want a beach-and-history combo.
Save this so your Savannah weekend gets a sea view
St. Augustine Lighthouse, St. Augustine, Florida
Bold spiral stripes, 219 steps, and a reputation for being one of the spookiest stops on the whole coast.
Why it's worth stopping: The St. Augustine Lighthouse rises on Anastasia Island in the nation's oldest city, its black-and-white spiral daymark topped by a still-active light 165 feet above the sea. Climb the 219 steps for a 360-degree view of the historic town and the beaches, then wander the maritime museum in the keeper's house. It is a great family stop, and it is famous after dark for its ghost tours. The surrounding area is packed with family-friendly resorts and some of Florida's east coast beaches worth building a couple of days around.
What you need to know before you go:
Location: 100 Red Cox Road, Anastasia Island, St. Augustine
Steps: 219 to the top
Rule: climbers must be at least 44 inches tall
Hours: open daily, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas
Time needed: 2 to 3 hours with the museum
Worth it or skip it? Worth it, and a standout for families, history lovers, and anyone who likes a good ghost story.
Save this striped stunner before the ghost tour books up
Fun Fact:
The St. Augustine Lighthouse has long been known for its after-dark ghost tours, which are said to be among the most popular in the state.
Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, Ponce Inlet, Florida
The tall finale. This red-brick tower near Daytona Beach is one of the tallest in the country, and the museum around it is one of the most complete.
Don't skip this if you like climbing for a view. The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse stands about 175 feet and dates to 1887, and the 203-step climb rewards you with a panorama of the inlet, the Atlantic, and the surrounding nature preserves. As a National Historic Landmark, it has kept nearly all of its original buildings, and the on-site museum shows off a beautiful collection of Fresnel lenses. It is an easy add for anyone already near Daytona and its coastal amusement parks.
What you need to know before you go:
Location: Ponce Inlet, about 20 minutes south of Daytona Beach
Steps: 203 to the top
Cost: small admission, free parking
Time needed: 1 to 2 hours
Worth it or skip it? Worth it, and a strong finish to a Maine-to-Florida run.
Cap your list with the tall one that ends the trip
Ready to turn this into a real route? Start saving your favorite towers now so your next coastal trip practically plans itself.
Quick Tips for Climbing and Photographing Lighthouses
A few small habits make these stops much better. Go early or late in the day for softer light and thinner crowds, and you will get far better photos with the sun low. Always check the official website the morning of your visit, since wind, storms, and repairs can close a tower with little notice.
For the climb itself, wear closed-toe shoes, bring water, and pace yourself on the landings. Many towers have height rules for kids and no elevators, so plan around the little ones. And if a tower happens to be closed to climbing, remember the grounds and beaches are often the real highlight anyway.
Conclusion
From George Washington's era in Maine to the spiral giants of the Carolinas and Florida, the famous East Coast lighthouses turn a plain coastal drive into a slow, story-filled adventure. You can do one on a Saturday or chain a dozen together over a couple of weeks. Either way, each tower gives you a view, a bit of history, and a photo you will actually want to keep.
Save these stops, build your own coastal road trip bucket list, and keep track of every tower you want to climb, all in one place with Wayback Tours.
FAQs
Are most East Coast lighthouses still working today?
Many of them are still active aids to navigation, even the historic ones open for climbing. The light itself is usually maintained by the Coast Guard, while a local group or park runs the tours.
How much does it usually cost to climb a lighthouse?
Fees vary by tower, but climbable lighthouses often charge somewhere around ten to fifteen dollars for adults, with discounts for kids. Grounds and parking are frequently free.
Can kids climb East Coast lighthouses?
Often yes, though many towers set a minimum height, commonly around 44 inches, and require children to climb under their own power. Always check the specific lighthouse's rules before you go.
What should I wear to climb a lighthouse?
Closed-toe shoes with a secure heel are best, since the iron spiral stairs are steep and narrow. Loose sandals and flip-flops are often not allowed on the climb.
When are East Coast lighthouses open for climbing?
Most climbable towers open seasonally, usually from spring through late fall, with the fullest hours in summer. Weather can close them at any time, so confirm on the official site before you drive out.
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