Portland Head Light is the lighthouse that people think of when they think of Maine. It is the white tower on the rocky cliff with crashing waves that appears on every calendar, every postcard, and every “Visit Maine” advertisement you have ever seen. And unlike a lot of famous landmarks, it lives up to the image. It is genuinely one of the most beautiful spots on the Maine coast.
Commissioned by George Washington in 1791, Portland Head Light is the oldest lighthouse in Maine and one of the oldest in the entire country. It has stood on this headland at the entrance to Portland Harbor for over 230 years, guiding ships past the rocky shore of Cape Elizabeth. It is still an active aid to navigation, the light shines every night, automated since 1989.
Here is everything you need to know to visit.
Getting There
Portland Head Light sits in Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, about 15 minutes south of downtown Portland.
From Portland: Take Route 77 south through South Portland. Follow signs for Fort Williams Park. The entrance is on Shore Road in Cape Elizabeth.
From I-295: Take Exit 7 (Route 1 South), then turn onto Cottage Road/Route 77 toward Cape Elizabeth. Follow signs.
Parking: Fort Williams Park has a large parking lot with space for about 200 cars. A parking fee applies ($5 per hour or $20 for the day for non-Cape Elizabeth residents, free for residents). The lot fills on summer weekends by mid-morning, but spaces turn over frequently since many visits are 1-2 hours.
No entrance fee for the park itself, the parking fee covers everything. The park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset.
What You Will See
The Lighthouse
Portland Head Light stands 80 feet tall on a rocky headland. The white tower with its red-roofed keeper’s house is the classic New England lighthouse image. You cannot go inside the tower itself. It is an active Coast Guard facility, but you can walk right up to the base, circle the keeper’s house, and explore the rocky shoreline around it.
The keeper’s house has been converted into the Museum at Portland Head Light, a small but well-done museum about lighthouse history and maritime heritage. Open daily from late May through mid-October, and weekends in spring and fall. Admission is $2 for adults. It is worth a quick stop, especially on a rainy day.
Fort Williams Park
The lighthouse sits within the 90-acre Fort Williams Park, which has its own history and attractions. The fort was a military installation from 1873 through World War II, and the ruins of the fortifications, concrete bunkers, gun emplacements, and underground passages, are scattered across the park. Kids love exploring them.
The park also has:
- A cliff walk along the rocky shore south of the lighthouse
- Open lawns for picnicking and kite flying
- A playground
- Tennis and basketball courts
- Walking trails through the grounds
- The remains of the Goddard Mansion (a stone ruin covered in ivy)
- Food trucks and a seasonal snack bar (summer months)
You could easily spend two to three hours here without getting bored.
Best Time for Photos
Portland Head Light faces east-northeast, which means the lighthouse is front-lit in the morning and side-lit in the late afternoon. The best light for photography depends on what you are after.
Sunrise: The golden hour light hits the tower directly. Get there 30 minutes before sunrise for the best color. You will likely have the place nearly to yourself, most tourists do not show up until 10 AM. The classic shot is from the rocky shore to the south, looking northeast at the tower with the ocean behind it.
Late afternoon (golden hour): The side light creates dramatic shadows and warm tones on the white tower. Stand on the cliffs to the south or walk down to the rocky beach below for a low-angle shot with waves crashing on the rocks in the foreground.
Stormy weather: Some of the most dramatic photos of Portland Head Light come during nor’easters and coastal storms. Waves crash over the rocks, spray explodes against the cliff, and the lighthouse stands stoic above it all. Stay safe. Those rocks are slippery and rogue waves are real. Use a telephoto lens from the safety of the paved walkway.
Fall foliage: The park has scattered hardwoods that add color in late September and October. The combination of fall leaves, blue ocean, and white lighthouse is hard to beat.
The most iconic photo angle is from the rocky outcrop to the south of the lighthouse, looking north-northeast. Walk past the keeper’s house and down the paved path toward the cliff edge. The composition with rocks in the foreground, surf in the middle ground, and the lighthouse with keeper’s house against the sky is the shot you have seen in every magazine. Morning light makes it glow.
A Brief History
Portland Head Light has been part of Maine’s coast since before Maine was even a state.
1787: The Massachusetts legislature (Maine was part of Massachusetts until 1820) authorized construction of a lighthouse at Portland Head. Local masons began work using rubblestone from the headland.
1791: President George Washington signed the order to complete and light the tower. It was first lit on January 10, 1791, making it the first lighthouse completed under the new federal government and the oldest in Maine.
1813: The tower was raised 20 feet to its current height of 80 feet after ships complained the light was too low.
1864: A Fourth Order Fresnel lens was installed, replacing earlier lamp systems.
1883: The keeper’s house was rebuilt in the Victorian style you see today.
1989: The light was automated. The last keeper left, and the keeper’s house was converted into the museum.
1973: Added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The light itself, a DCB-224 aerobeacon, flashes white every four seconds and is visible for 24 nautical miles. It runs 24/7, powered by electricity with a backup generator.
Nearby Lighthouses
Portland Head Light is the most famous, but there are several other lighthouses within a short drive. You can easily visit three or four in a half day.
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse
Spring Point Ledge is the most unusual-looking lighthouse in Portland Harbor, a caisson-style tower connected to shore by a granite breakwater that you can walk out on. It sits at the end of a 900-foot breakwater in South Portland, about 10 minutes north of Portland Head Light. The walk out the breakwater offers panoramic views of Portland Harbor, the harbor islands, and Bug Light nearby.
Bug Light (Portland Breakwater Lighthouse)
Bug Light is a small, ornate lighthouse at the end of a short breakwater in Bug Light Park, South Portland. It is modeled after a Greek monument and looks more like a decorative column than a working lighthouse. The park around it is popular for picnics and sunset watching, with views across the harbor to Portland’s skyline.
Two Lights
Two Lights State Park in Cape Elizabeth is named for the pair of lighthouses that once stood here, the only twin lights in Maine. One is now privately owned (you can see it from the road but not visit). The state park itself has dramatic rocky coastline, tide pools, and some of the best wave-watching spots near Portland. The Lobster Shack at Two Lights next door is a classic Maine seafood experience with outdoor picnic tables overlooking the ocean.
More Lighthouses
For a full lighthouse tour along the Maine coast, see our Maine Lighthouse Road Trip guide covering 12 iconic lights from Kittery to Lubec.
After Portland Head Light, drive 5 minutes south on Shore Road to Two Lights State Park. Walk the rocky shoreline, watch the waves, then eat lobster rolls at the Lobster Shack. It is the perfect Portland lighthouse half-day. Add Bug Light and Spring Point Ledge if you have a full day.
What Else to Do Nearby
Portland Head Light is 15 minutes from downtown Portland, which means you can combine a lighthouse visit with plenty of other activities.
- Downtown Portland. Maine’s food capital. The Old Port has dozens of restaurants, breweries, and the waterfront. See our best day trips from Portland guide.
- East End Beach. Portland’s public beach on the Eastern Promenade, about 20 minutes from Fort Williams Park.
- Scarborough Beach. One of the best ocean beaches near Portland, about 15 minutes from Cape Elizabeth. Sandy, swimmable in summer.
- Mackworth Island. A 1.5-mile loop trail around a small island in Casco Bay, connected to the mainland by a causeway. Easy walk with water views the entire way. About 20 minutes from Portland Head Light.
- Kettle Cove. A small, sheltered cove beach in Cape Elizabeth, about 10 minutes from Fort Williams Park. Less crowded than the bigger beaches and good for kids.
Practical Tips
Time needed: Plan 1-2 hours for the lighthouse and park. Add another hour if you explore the fort ruins and museum.
Best season: Year-round. Summer has the best weather for a leisurely visit. Fall has foliage and fewer crowds. Winter storms create dramatic surf photography opportunities.
Food: Food trucks operate in the park during summer months. The seasonal snack bar has basic fare. For a real meal, drive to Portland or stop at the Lobster Shack at Two Lights on the way.
Accessibility: The main paths around the lighthouse and keeper’s house are paved and accessible. The rocky shoreline below is not.
Dogs: Allowed in Fort Williams Park on a leash. Popular spot for dog walking among locals.
Can you go inside Portland Head Light?
No. The lighthouse tower is an active Coast Guard navigation aid and is closed to the public. You can visit the Museum at Portland Head Light inside the keeper's house, which covers lighthouse and maritime history. The museum is open late May through mid-October (daily) and weekends in spring and fall.
Is Portland Head Light free to visit?
The park itself has no entrance fee. Parking costs $5 per hour or $20 per day for non-Cape Elizabeth residents. Cape Elizabeth residents park free with a sticker. The museum is $2 for adults.
What is the best time of day to visit Portland Head Light?
For photography, sunrise or late afternoon golden hour. For a casual visit, morning is best to beat the crowds, the parking lot fills by late morning on summer weekends. The park is open sunrise to sunset year-round.
How far is Portland Head Light from downtown Portland?
About 15 minutes by car (6 miles). Take Route 77 south through South Portland to Cape Elizabeth.
Are there other lighthouses near Portland Head Light?
Yes. Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse and Bug Light (Portland Breakwater Lighthouse) are both in South Portland, about 10 minutes away. Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth is 5 minutes south. You can visit all four in a half day.