Southern Maine Lighthouses
Heading North Through Kittery,
Kennebunkport, South Portland, and Portland
Photo Gallery of Southern Maine Lighthouses
Lighthouses built along southern Maine's coastline helped to guide shipping traffic between Portsmouth and Portland harbors, and for the many lobstermen and fishermen earning their living coming into these coastal harbors. There are treacherous ledges and shoals such as Boon Island that needed a lighthouse placed on it due to the many shipwrecks that occurred on this tiny desolate group of rocks, along with others on route to Portland.
Note: For stories of famous lighthouse events and folklore, check out the Lighthouse Stories section of this website. There you'll also find info on my book showcasing over 40 stories named “New England Lighthouses: Famous Shipwrecks, Rescues, and Other Tales” produced by Schiffer Publishing. In the book, you'll find in-depth stories about Nubble light's ghost ship Isadore, the most daring rescue by Marcus Hanna at Cape Elizabeth Light, the rescue of the keeper's daughter at Wood Island Light, and the famous shipwrecks at and near Portland Head lighthouse, among many others. |
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Southern Maine Lighthouses
You Can Drive or Hike To
Note: Some of the lighthouses mentioned below that you can drive to can also be viewed from various boat tours offered, see Boat Tours below. Southern Maine is heavily populated during the summer with tourism.
Click any lighthouse link below to find out information about each lighthouse including historic snapshots, directions, more photos, and links for places to visit.
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Southern Maine Lighthouses
Best Viewed by Boat
Places to Visit Nearby in Maine's
Southern Region
(heading north from New Hampshire seacoast)
Historic Portsmouth, New Hampshire, across the Piscataqua River which divides Maine and New Hampshire, provides various concerts, festivals, and outdoor theater acts in Prescott Park. Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth is an outdoor museum of buildings depicting the lives of coastal people and their communities between the late l7th to the mid-20th centuries.
Close views of Whaleback Lighthouse from the Kittery, Maine side can be seen from Fort Foster, with its trails, beaches and long boardwalk to get a close view of the lighthouse.
York also has a mile-long beach called Long Sands, and another called Short Sands Beach full of specialty shops, food stops, and York’s Wild Animal Kingdom, an old style amusement park and zoo within walking distance of Shorts Sands Beach. Nubble, or Cape Neddick Lighthouse in York, hosts many events. One of the most popular events is the annual Lighting of the Nubble during the holiday season, and the lighthouse is also lit in July as part of the “Christmas in July” lighting event. |
Kayaker at High Tide |
Mount Agamenticus nearby is an easy hike to enjoy mountaintop views of the ocean and surrounding area.
In Wells, you'll find the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge, which offers a paved walkway along coastal marshland, and you'll find a huge store of lighthouse products at The Lighthouse Depot.
In Ogunquit, a popular scenic walkway along the rocky shoreline known as Marginal Way offers dramatic views of the area’s rocky ocean shoreline.
Kennebunkport is an affluent community with its pristine Goose Rocks Beach, up scale restaurants, and many artists’ galleries and shops.
For a photographic treat in Kennebunk, travelers enjoy a unique structure known as the Wedding Cake House.
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Cape Porpoise, where you can view Goat Island (Cape Porpoise) Lighthouse from the shore, is also where you can get fresh lobster right off the boats. |
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Saco’s Funtown Splashtown, Maine Aquarium, and Aquaboggan Park are popular tourist attractions.
Friends Of Wood Island Lighthouse offer cruises to Wood Island Lighthouse in the summer.
One of Maine’s major tourist playgrounds, for Americans and Canadians alike, Old Orchard Beach, offers plenty of beaches, camping, shops, amusement park, and nightlife.
In South Portland, visit the Portland Harbor Museum, which also allows visitors access to Spring Point lighthouse and its grounds.
Bug Light (Portland Breakwater) lighthouse at Bug Light Park in South Portland allows visitors to watch lobster boats, sailing, and fishing boats coming in and out of Portland Harbor.
Twin Lights Park near Cape Elizabeth lighthouse offers relaxing picnic tables, hiking trails, and ocean views.
Portland is considered to be the art cultural center of Maine with plenty of galleries and museums, specialty restaurants, and shops along its old port waterfront district. Portland Head Lighthouse is located inside the 41-acre Fort Williams Park for hiking along the cliff edges, picnicking, or exploring the old fort. Visitors can also explore the Museum at Portland Head Light at the Keeper’s house, and, get a good view of Ram Island Ledge Lighhouse from Portland Head's location as well. |
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Boat Tours: Southern Maine
and Portsmouth NH Harbor
Boat cruises mentioned below may offer many types of adventures. While some may offer specific lighthouse cruises along Maine's southern coast, some may pass by specific lighthouses as part of special charters, narrated wildlife and historic tours, while ferrying passengers, whale watching expeditions, fishing tours and other types of excursions. Weather is also a major factor in New England, especially on sailing excursions. Contact info is provided to help you plan your special trips ahead of time and to answer questions before you arrive at any of New England’s destinations. Enjoy!
Isles of Shoals Steamship Co.
Portsmouth Harbor and Isles of Shoals tours. Nubble Light and Boon Island Light in Maine are included during its Fall Extravaganza lighthouse tour.
315 Market Street,
P.O. Box 311
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 431-5500
(800) 441-4620
Lighthouses: Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse (NH), White Island Light (NH), Whaleback Lighthouse, Boon Island Lighthouse, Nubble Lighthouse
Portsmouth Harbor Cruises
Portsmouth Harbor and Isles of Shoals tour.
64 Ceres Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 436-8084
(800) 776-0915
phc@portsmouthharbor.com
Lighthouses: Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse (NH), White Island Light (NH), Whaleback Lighthouse
Finest Kind Scenic Cruises
Provides scenic coastal and wildlife tours. Includes a tour around Nubble Lighthouse.
P.O. Box 1828
Ogunquit, ME 03907
Phone:
(207) 646-5227
Lighthouses: Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse (NH), White Island Light (NH), Whaleback Lighthouse, Boon Island Lighthouse, Nubble Lighthouse
First Chance Whalewatch
Passes by Goat Island Lighthouse while entering or leaving Cape Porpoise Harbor.
4 Western Ave, (Route 9)
Kennebunk, Maine 04043
(207) 967 5507
Lighthouses: Goat Island Lighthouse
Friends Of Wood Island Lighthouse
Provide shuttle service to and from Wood Island, and provide lighthouse tours during the summer months.
P.O. Box 26
Biddeford Pool, Maine 04006
Lighthouses: Wood Island Lighthouse
Portland Duck Tours
Ride these amphibious vehicles through Portland and as they pass by Portland’s lighthouses.
177 Commercial Street
Portland, ME 04101
Phone: (207) 774-DUCK(3825)
Email: info@downeastducktours.com
Lighthouses: Portland Head Light, Spring Point Light, Portland Breakwater
Casco Bay Lines
Use Bailey Island Cruise to view lighthouses.
56 Commercial Street
Portland, Maine 04112
(207) 774-7871
Lighthouses: Portland Breakwater Light, Spring Point Ledge Light, Ram Island Ledge Light, Portland Head Light, Halfway Rock Light
Portland Discovery
Specific lighthouse cruises.
Long Wharf
Portland ME
(Phone: (207) 774-0808
Lighthouses: Portland Breakwater Light, Spring Point Ledge Light, Ram Island Ledge Light, Portland Head Light, Halfway Rock Light, Eagle Island
Eagle Island Tours
Lighthouse tours available
170 Commercial St.,
Long Wharf
Portland Maine
(207) 774-6498
Lighthouses: Portland Breakwater Light, Spring Point Ledge Light, Ram Island Ledge Light, Portland Head Light, Halfway Rock Light
Lucky Catch Cruises
Lobster boat cruises that pass Portland Head Light
170 Commercial St.
Portland, Maine 04101
Phone: (207) 761-0941
E-Mail: info@luckycatch.com
Lighthouses: Portland Breakwater Light, Spring Point Ledge Light, Ram Island Ledge Light, Portland Head Light
Sea Escape Cottages and Charters
Fishing excursions and charters from Bailey Island
P.O. Box 7
Bailey Island, Maine 04003
207-833-5531
E-mail: seaesc@gwi.net
Lighthouses: Halfway Rock Light
Additional Resources
For All You Southern Maine and NH Visitors