Journey along the Massachusetts Lighthouse Trail
Since the 1700s, lighthouses have captured our imagination with tales of seafaring and adventure. Massachusetts is home to the first lighthouse site in the US. Over 45 lighthouses still grace our coastlines, rocky cliffs, and sandy beaches. Today, you can marvel at these picturesque beauties along our scenic coast on the Massachusetts Lighthouse Trail. From North of Boston’s Cape Ann to Cape Cod and the Islands, travelers can explore coastal communities, the maritime history of the Commonwealth, and discover these breathtaking gems of beauty. To help you plan your journey, here are some of our most notable and accessible lighthouses in the Bay State.
The first lighthouse built in what is now the United States was the Boston light, constructed in 1716. Massachusetts relied heavily on maritime trades of ship building, overseas trading, and fishing for economic growth and stability, especially during the golden age of the whaling industry. While home to many natural harbors, the rocky coastline makes navigation treacherous. The introduction of lighthouses was crucial to the ongoing expansion of maritime industry in Massachusetts.
North of Boston Lighthouse Trail
A Scenic Coastal Byway
Start or end your journey on the Massachusetts Lighthouse Trail in North of Boston, where you can easily spend a few days traversing the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway, a 90-mile roadway that links 14 coastal communities from Lynn to Salisbury. With iconic lights in Marblehead, Salem, Gloucester, Rockport, and Newburyport, North of Boston offers numerous opportunities to visit the lights by land or by sea.
Greater Boston & South of Boston Lighthouse Trail
Iconic harbors and historic skylines
From the historic Boston Harbor, home to one of the oldest lightstation sites in America, to the Taunton Rivier, featuring a sparkplug light where guests can stay overnight, the greater Boston and South of Boston regions have many iconic lights for visitors to explore. Take a guided cruise through the Boston Harbor Islands, book a hotel with lighthouse views, and discover your next favorite meal at a restaurant overlooking a light. Between lighthouse stops, take a break at one of the south shore’s scenic beaches, learn about early settlers at Plymouth, and explore the rich history of the whaling industry in New Bedford.
Cape Cod & The Islands Lighthouse Trail
A rich history of nautical navigation
The shores of Cape Cod have many lighthouses to visit dotted up and down the coastline. Start from the very tip of Cape Cod’s iconic hook in Provincetown and spiral back down around the coast, stopping at multiple lights along the way. From the Nobska Light in Falmouth, it’s a short trip to Wood’s Hole where visitors can catch a 45-minute ferry ride to Martha’s Vineyard, located seven miles off the coast of Massachusetts. Martha’s Vineyard has multiple lighthouses to visit, spread over two islands. Departing from Oak Bluffs after visiting East Chop Lighthouse, it’s just a one-hour ferry ride from Martha’s Vineyard to Nantucket, where there are three more lighthouses to explore.
| Location | Western MA (Springfield) | Central MA (Worcester) | South of Boston (Plymouth) | Greater Boston (Boston) | North of Boston (Salem) | Cape/Islands (Hyannis) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYC | 3 hr (145 miles) | 3 hr 30 min (180 miles) | 4 hr 40 min (235 miles) | 4 hr (220 miles) | 4 hr 45 min (235 miles) | 4 hr 45 min (250 miles) |
| Albany | 1 hr 30 min (90 miles) | 2 hr (130 miles) | 3 hr 15 min (200 miles) | 2 hr 45 min (170 miles) | 3 hr 30 min (190 miles) | 3 hr 30 min (230 miles) |
| Hartford | 30 min (30 miles) | 1 hr (65 miles) | 2 hr (135 miles) | 1 hr 45 min (100 miles) | 2 hr (120 miles) | 2 hr 30 min (160 miles) |
| Providence | 1 hr 30 min (85 miles) | 1 hr (40 miles) | 1 hr (55 miles) | 1 hr (50 miles) | 1 hr 30 min (75 miles) | 1 hr 30 min (75 miles) |
| Burlington | 3 hr 15 min (210 miles) | 3 hr 345 min (240 miles) | 4 hr 35 min (255 miles) | 3 hr 30 min (220 miles) | 3 hr 30 min (220 miles) | 5 hr (285 miles) |
| Portland | 3 hr (190 miles) | 2 hr 15 min (140 miles) | 3 hr (150 miles) | 1 hr 45 min (110 miles) | 1 hr 30 min (100 miles) | 3 hr 30 min (180 miles) |
| Boston | 1 hr 20 min (90 miles) | 1 hr (50 miles) | 55 (40 miles) | - | 45 min (25 miles) | 1 hr 30 min (70 miles) |