Portland Lighthouse Guide
Hello friends! This is our favorite lighthouse trip in Maine, mostly due to the fact that they’re so close together. You can easily get to each of the lighthouses in half a day. If you want to take more time at each lighthouse and break for lunch, you can easily turn it into a full day as well. My personal favorite route is to start with breakfast in Portland and move in order from Two Lights State Park, Portland Headlight, Spring Point to Bug Light.
Portland Head Light
1000 Shore Road Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
Portland Head Light is without a doubt one of the more busy stops you’ll make on this trip. It is a photo icon of Maine afterall. Portland Head Light is located within Fort Williams Park, which also hosts some historic monuments such as Battery Keyes, Battery Blair and Goddard Mansion.
My suggestions: The best views of the lighthouse are actually on either side of the lighthouse via the walking path that extends to Battery Blair and Goddard Mansion and then again to the other side of the headlight. Definitely take the time to walk around the park here and see all of the angles of the headlight, and check out the extras!
Need to know: The park is open year round from sunrise to sunset. There is no cost to visit the park, however, to park in the “premium” spots in the park there are fee parking meters in the lot (April 1-Nov 15th). Outside of that date range is free to park in the premium spots. Free parking is available year round in the “overflow” lot.
Check out the museum website for up to date hours and fees! The fees are really low, around $2.00
The lighthouse was completed on January 10th, 1791, making it the oldest lighthouse in Maine and the first government commissioned lighthouse. The original lighthouse tower was 72 feet tall and was operated using 16 whale oil lamps. The outbuildings were built following the completion of the lighthouse itself. In 1864 the light was updated from the whale oil lamps to a Fresnel Lens. Over the years the lighthouse tower has been raised to 80 feet tall.
Ram Island Ledge Light
You can’t necessarily “visit” this lighthouse. You can get the best view of the light from Fort Williams Park on the same walkway as Portland Headlight.
Ram Island Ledge Light was completed in 1905 after multiple shipwrecks on the ledge. The original lens in the lighthouse was a Third-Order Fresnel Lens, and the light transitioned to electric in 1958. In 2001, the light was upgraded to solar power.
Fun fact: A resident of Maine bought the lighthouse in 2010 after government agencies, educational and non profit organizations showed no interest in it.
Bug Light (Portland Breakwater Lighthouse)
Madison Street, South Portland
Bug Light park is open to the public 6:00 am to 9:00 pm. To get into the park you’ll want to turn right when faced with a gatehouse (the gatehouse is for the boat ramp). You can park and walk right up to Bug Light. If you take a walk around the park, on the right side of the lighthouse there is the Liberty Ship Memorial. Entry is free.
The original lighthouse was built in 1855 and later replaced in 1875.
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse
2 Fort Road, South Portland
To get to the lighthouse you’ll need to drive through Southern Maine Community College to Fort Preble. Once parked you can walk out the breakwater directly up to the lighthouse. According to the website the best parking is at the end of Fort Road, though you may park in the student or visitor parking. (Goodluck parking while school is in session though). The walk out over the breaker can be dangerous if you have balance issues. Unfortunately the walk is not ADA accessible, though you can see it well from shore.
The lighthouse was constructed in 1897 after one too many shipwrecks. The lighthouse tower is 54 feet tall. The entire complex has seen a great amount of change throughout the years including the removal of the keeper’s house that used to be located next to the lighthouse in 1935.
Two Lights Lighthouse
Two Lights Road, Cape Elizabeth
Drive to the end of Two Lights Road and park in the dirt parking lot; there may be limited parking in the summer. The best view of Two Lights is accessed by walking down the point closest to the water. The rocks can be dangerous, so be careful! Also, be aware that the main lighthouse is someone’s personal property at this point, and therefore private property. If you accidentally drive down the road that brings you directly to the lighthouse, try to be respectful of the homeowners.
After visiting the shoreline and getting some great pictures of the lighthouse you could head over to Two Lights State park and check out the beach and have a picnic lunch. There is a small gate fee to get into the state park.
