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Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, Bristol, ME

Photo: WestportWiki, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory BuffOutdoor Adventure

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

3115 Bristol Rd (ME-130) · Bristol, ME

Why you should go…

Pemaquid Point Light stands on a dramatic shelf of granite at the entrance to Muscongus Bay, and its 1835 tower still shines a fourth-order Fresnel lens from 1856. The town-run park includes the Fishermen's Museum in the 1857 keeper's house, an art gallery and a learning center. Volunteer docents open the tower for climbs in season, and you may recognize the view from Maine's state quarter.

  • #lighthouse
  • #maine coast
  • #maritime museum
  • #tower climb
  • #rocky shoreline

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 Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

    $25–$50

    Stroll themed gardens, tidal shoreline and woodland trails where giant trolls hide among the trees in Boothbay.

    8.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Theatre & Events
    Local Gem

    Maine State Music Theatre

    $25–$50

    Professional summer musical theatre on the Bowdoin College campus in Brunswick.

    24 mi awaySwitch it up: Theatre & Events

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Freeport

    Free

    Coastal Maine outlet-shopping town anchored by the L.L.Bean flagship.

    30 mi awayMore like this

  • Shopping
    Iconic

    L.L.Bean Flagship Store

    Free

    The outdoor outfitter's 24-hour flagship campus has a two-tiered trout pond, a stream tank, a kids' camp area and a café.

    30 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Maine Tourism Association

    Free

    Maine's statewide tourism trade group, promoting travel and running visitor information services from Hallowell.

    33 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Portland Head Light

    Free

    Walk the grounds of Fort Williams Park to Maine's oldest lighthouse, first lit in 1791, and its keeper's house museum.

    38 mi awayMore like this