Cape Cod Lighthouses You Can Actually Visit
Drive times, visiting hours, and which towers you can climb - all from Relax Inn in West Yarmouth
More Lighthouses Than Any Comparable Coastline
Cape Cod and the Islands are home to more than a dozen lighthouses packed into just 70 miles of peninsula - the densest concentration of lights on any comparable stretch of American coastline. Some you can climb, some you can tour, and one sits right here in West Yarmouth. Here is what you need to know before you go.
Chatham Light
Chatham Light stands at 37 Main Street in the heart of Chatham, overlooking the dramatic break in the barrier beach where the Atlantic pours into Pleasant Bay. The U.S. Coast Guard still operates the light, and the grounds are open year-round for photos and views.
Free tours of the tower are offered on Wednesdays in July and August from 1 to 3 PM. While you are there, walk across the street to the overlook where seals frequently haul out on the sandbars, then head down to Chatham Fish Pier to watch the afternoon catch come in. Chatham's Main Street is one of the best strolls on the Cape - galleries, ice cream, and the Chatham Squire all within a few blocks.
Nauset Light
You already know this lighthouse - it is the one on every bag of Cape Cod Potato Chips. The red-and-white tower sits on the bluffs of the Cape Cod National Seashore in Eastham, and climbing its 44 iron steps rewards you with panoramic views of Nauset Beach and the Atlantic.
Free tours run from late May through mid-October, typically on Sundays and select weekdays (check the Nauset Light Preservation Society schedule). The adjacent Nauset Light Beach is one of the Cape's best - bring a towel and make an afternoon of it. The lighthouse was moved back from the eroding cliff edge in 1996, a story the volunteer guides love to tell.
Nobska Light
Nobska Light sits on a hill above Woods Hole with sweeping views of Vineyard Sound and Martha's Vineyard. The white cast-iron tower was built in 1876 and recently underwent a full restoration. It is one of the most photographed lighthouses in New England.
The grounds are open daily and the tower offers tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 AM to 1 PM (seasonal). Combine your visit with a walk through Woods Hole village - home to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and some of the Cape's best fish tacos. If you are catching the Martha's Vineyard ferry from Woods Hole, Nobska is a five-minute detour on the way.
Highland Light
Highland Light in North Truro is the oldest and tallest lighthouse on Cape Cod. George Washington commissioned the original tower in 1797 to mark the treacherous "ocean side" where hundreds of ships met their end. The current tower dates to 1857 and stands 66 feet above the bluff - 170 feet above sea level.
Climbing the 69 steps to the top is the most impressive lighthouse climb on the Cape. On a clear day you can see Provincetown to the north and all the way to Chatham to the south. The adjacent Highland House Museum adds context with exhibits on shipwrecks, lifesaving crews, and the Marconi wireless station. Tours run late May through mid-October.
About Point Gammon Lighthouse
Point Gammon Lighthouse sits on Great Island in West Yarmouth, just across the water from Relax Inn. Built in 1816, the stone tower guided ships through Nantucket Sound until it was decommissioned in 1858. It has been privately owned since 1872 and is not open to the public.
You can see the lighthouse from Keyes Beach (a 5-minute drive) or get a closer look from the water on a Hy-Line harbor cruise out of Hyannis. It is a beautiful sight from the shoreline, especially at sunset. If you want the full island experience, check our Hyannis ferry and harbor cruise guide for schedules and tickets.
Planning a Lighthouse Day Trip
The 3-lighthouse route (full day): Start at Chatham Light in the morning, drive 15 minutes north to Nauset Light, then continue up Route 6 to Highland Light in Truro. This covers the Cape's three climbable towers in one sweep and leaves time for lunch in Wellfleet or Eastham along the way.
Half-day Chatham option: If you have less time, drive to Chatham Light, tour the overlook, browse Main Street, and grab lunch at the Fish Pier. You will be back at the motel by early afternoon with time for the pool or a beach sunset.
Relax Inn makes a perfect home base for lighthouse day trips - central enough to reach every light on the Cape and back in time for dinner. Plan a weekend stay to fit in multiple routes, or pair your lighthouse tour with a visit to the museums and attractions in Hyannis.
