How can you visit Maine & not visit a ton of lighthouses? It seems obvious, but I actually had trouble plotting out a true lighthouse tour. A little Googling & I found this one, which worked out really well. The turn by turn directions are below, along with some photos of the various lighthouses. It takes about two hours to drive the whole thing, depending how long you poke around the various locations.
1. From State Street in Portland, take the Casco Bay Bridge & follow Route 77 South toward Cape Elizabeth.
2. Approximately one mile south of Cape Elizabeth’s town center (you’ll see an IGA store on your right in town center), turn left at the sign for Two Lights State Park & follow to the lighthouses. Both are on private property, so you can’t get close, but you can get a good view of them from the park.
3. Retrace your steps back to Route 77 in Cape Elizabeth, turn right on Route 77 & follow to the town center, then turn right onto Shore Road.
4. Follow Shore Road approximately three miles, turn right at the sign for Fort Williams & follow the road to the end to Portland Head Light — one of the most photographed lighthouses in the country.
6. Retrace your route back out to Shore Road & turn right, then veer right again onto Preble Street (at the Irving Station).
7. Follow Preble Street through Willard Square approximately 1/2 mile, turn right onto Fort Road & follow to the campus of the Southern Maine Community College.
8. Drive through the campus to the Portland Harbor Museum, & walk along the granite wall to Spring Point Ledge Light. You can walk out on the granite breakwater to get close to the lighthouse (not for the faint of heart!) or admire it from the beach.
9. Exit the campus, and turn right onto Breakwater Drive. Turn right again at a stop sign onto Madison Street.
10. Continue past the industrial section of town, keeping the breakwater on your right, to Bug Light at the end of the road. You can park your car & walk out on the short breakwater to the lighthouse or take a walk on the paved path that offers views of Portland Harbor and the city skyline.
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