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Highland Light

27 Highland Light Rd, North Truro, MA 02652 · North Truro, MA

Why you should go…

Cape Cod's oldest light station has warned ships off the Outer Cape's treacherous bars since 1797; the current 66-foot brick tower dates to 1857. In 1996, engineers dragged the entire lighthouse 450 feet back from the crumbling clay cliff, a feat retold on every tour. Climb the spiral stairs (kids must be 48 inches tall) for sweeping Atlantic views over the Cape Cod National Seashore, then browse the keeper's house and the nearby Highland House Museum.

  • #lighthouse
  • #truro
  • #views
  • #history
  • #national seashore

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Highland Light, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Tours
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    Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch

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    Cruise from MacMillan Pier to Stellwagen Bank, one of the best whale-watching grounds on the planet.

    6.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Museums
    Local Gem

    Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM)

    Under $25

    The flagship museum of America's oldest art colony, Hawthorne to Hofmann to today's Provincetown painters, free on Friday nights in season.

    6.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Tours
    Quirky Fun

    Art's Dune Tours

    $25–$50

    Bounce through Provincetown's protected dunes by 4x4 to historic dune shacks and ocean overlooks.

    6.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Provincetown Chamber of Commerce

    Free

    Provincetown's official visitor information center for Cape Cod's arts, beaches and whale watching.

    6.4 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum

    Under $25

    Climb the tallest all-granite tower in the U.S. for jaw-dropping views over Provincetown and the sea.

    6.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Chatham Lighthouse & Main Street

    Free

    The Cape's postcard village: a working 1808 lighthouse, seal-dotted shores, and a classic Main Street.

    26 mi awayMore like this