Best Lighthouses in Maine

Happy New Year! I am going to start off by going BACK into 2022 to reminisce on the stunning coastlines of Maine, USA. I can’t even begin to describe how amazing Maine is, from the endless seafood to rocky coasts to stunning lighthouses.

Today, I’m going to hone in on my five favorite lighthouses from Maine. Here we go!

TLDR: Take a 6- second tour of my favorite lighthouses on Tiktok.

Read about my 22 Day Northeast American Road Trip

1. Doubling Point Lighthouse, Arrowsic, ME

I’m going to start out small, with this adorably tiny lighthouse tucked along the Kennebec River. This was the shortest walk to a lighthouse (basically roadside); however, GETTING to the parking lot certainly got more and more challenging. It started out as a two-way traffic road that by the end became a bumpy dirt road wide enough for one car. Fortunately, it was a short road and was well worth the drive to see this cute lighthouse.

It was 100% worth the narrow dirt road, as there is very little foot traffic here. You can likely experience the lighthouse all to yourself!

Read my full review on Google Maps

Walking down the isle

Dirt road leading up to lighthouse

Aerial wide view along river

Nearby shipyard (viewable from lighthouse)

2. Nubble Lighthouse, York, ME

This was the first lighthouse I visited, which ended up earning a 2nd visit during sunrise. Located on a small island off the east coast, there are breathtaking views of the rocky coastlines that Maine is known for. You cannot get onto the island; however, so your view is from Nubble Point. Flying my drone around this island produced some very stunning views of this island and lighthouse, getting a view like no other!

Read my full review on Google Maps

Stunning aerial panorama of lighthouse and island with crashing waves

Sunrise light and reflection of lighthouse in puddle

Looking down at waves crashing on rocky coast

View from mainland of lighthouse

3. On the Rocks at Two Lights, Cape Elizabeth, ME

Located just down the road from the Two Lights State Park (which you would THINK is the spot to go) is this location on the east coast. There are two lighthouses here that are more inland, with only one that can really be seen on the coast. The 2nd has been converted into a fire station (I believe). Dyer Point is a great spot to really explore the rocky coastline, as you have a good stretch of land to walk along that is surrounded by ocean waves. Again, having an aerial view paid off and allowed me to capture both the lighthouses and the coast.

Read my full review on Google Maps

Pair of lighthouses seemingly not near water

View of lighthouses from rocky coast

Detail of wavy rock formations

Mineral veins running through rocks are everywhere

Up close to lighthouse top

Beautiful aerial view looking down on rocky coast swallowed up by ocean

4. Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth, ME

This may be my #1 spot to recommend, if only because it has EVERYTHING you could ask for. Lighthouse overlooking the ocean, check. Stunning huge rocky coasts you can walk over, check. Delicious food trucks serving up some of the BEST lobster rolls I have had, check.

This is certainly one of the more iconic lighthouses, and the views from the southside walking over the rocks are absolutely magical.

Read my full review on Google Maps

Iconic lighthouse on huge cliffs

Unique rock formations everywhere around

Aerial over stunning coastline with the lighthouse

Nearby abandoned structure

5. Whaleback Light, Kittery Point, ME

If you thought you couldn’t get physically close to Nubble Lighthouse, THIS location has you beat! After seeing an image of this lighthouse in a gift shop calendar, I added it to my itinerary after seeing it was close to me. 

However, upon arrival I was taken back a bit to see how far away it was from the coast. It was SUPER tiny. This was one of the longer distances my drone has gone, granted with perfectly clear skies and visibility it should not have been a concern (I just can’t help but always be concerned when I send my drone over half a mile over the ocean). 

It was an amazing little lighthouse that was on a falling apart pile of rock with nothing else around it, which looks great up close! There was also a large pier and another island with a house on it nearby, as well as old military ruins to explore on the coast (Fort Foster).

Read my full review on Google Maps

Up close after long flight!

Coastline of military structures, boardwalk, island, and WAY in the distance the Whaleback lighthouse

Old military door

Details by old military entrance

Three Bonus Locations

Beyond these five stunning lighthouses, I can’t leave out a few other spots I really enjoyed while traveling through Maine. 

There is Giant’s Stairs, a patch of coastline that lets you climb your way down to the water. It was very isolated, with the path literally just going between houses and no parking other than just on the main road of this residential area.

Next, Old Orchard Beach (where our hotel was) has a fantastic sandy beach and made a perfect spot for viewing sunrise. The large pier is also a great focal point.

Last in this bonus round is Scarborough Marshes, a spot I sought out to watch the train passing through these serene marshes. We had an unusual moment here when we parked along the river. We heard voices but couldn’t pinpoint where they were coming from. Suddenly we noticed two heads sticking out of the water just floating along. They floated their way (not swimming, mind you) and then just got to the coast by us, got out, and started jogging down the road (didn’t even dry off). Talk about commitment to fitness!

Stunning Maine coastline showcasing Giant's Stairs

Detail of sea life at Giant's Stairs

Cairn stacks at Giant's Stairs

Beautiful layers of rocks and minerals at Giant's Stairs

Harbor near sunset from above by Giant's Stairs

Boardwalk to beach at Old Orchard

Old Orchard sunsets are like no other

Accidental drone shot before takeoff - love the soft focused sand in foreground

Old Orchard pier during sunrise

Old Orchard Pier at sunrise facing ocean

Amtrak train going through fall forest near Old Orchard

Pumpkins for sale near Old Orchard

Scarborough Marshes from above

Train tracks through Scarborough Marshes (captured train in video)

Summary

In summary, GO HERE. By “here”, I mean all of Maine’s coast. If you love seafood in particular, you will NOT be disappointed. I will be blogging about my foodie experiences next month - from my first raw oyster and raw scallop to trying as many varieties on the lobster as I could (lobster grilled cheese, lobster rolls, steamed lobster, and lobster chowder to name a few). 

If you simply love going somewhere magical that will take your breath away, any of these above coastlines (bonus “magic” for sunrise) will keep you content for a while.