The first step in planning your lighthouse adventure is decide when you want to go. The best time to explore a lighthouse is in the summer, and Maine's peak summer season runs from around Memorial Day to Labor Day. The weather for exploring lighthouses can still be enjoyable, albeit a little cooler, during late April and early to mid-May as well as into September and October up to Columbus Day.
After you decide when to go, decide where to go. Maine has a longer coastline than California, so driving from the southern tip of the coast in Kittery to the northern terminus in eastern Washington County takes several hours and is not something that can easily be done in a single day or even two. If you only have a few days, spend them exploring the lighthouses in one region; plan to visit several areas if you have more time.
There are five general regions of lighthouses in Maine.Southern Maine—York County south of Portland, Maine's largest city. About a half dozen lighthouses, including Nubble Light in York.Portland Area—Several lighthouses in and around greater Portland, including Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth. This is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the state and a favorite of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.Mid-Coast Area—Scores of lighthouses along a large portion of Maine's coast, from Bath in the south to Ellsworth in the north. The most popular in this region is Rockland Breakwater Light.Acadia Region—Several lighthouses near Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, including Bass Harbor Light near Southwest Harbor.Washington County—There are a few lights in the sparsely populated region of eastern Hancock County and Washington County. One of Maine's most famous lights, West Quoddy Head, is near Lubec, the easternmost point in the U.S.
Most of Maine's lighthouses are located along Route 1, which hugs the coast from the Maine–New Hampshire border in Kittery to Calais, where Maine meets New Brunswick and Route 1 turns north. Route 1 is easily accessible off Interstate 95 in Kittery or York in the southern end of the state or north of Portland in Falmouth, about 45 miles north of the Maine–New Hampshire border.
Maine lighthouses are a great place to visit and take pictures, but the inside of most are not open to the public. Some lighthouse associations hold periodic tours throughout the year, and some are privately owned or are in use by the U.S. Coast Guard. A few lighthouses, including Pemaquid Point in Bristol, offer overnight accommodations. Some are accessible only by boat.
