Top lighthouses
LighthouseFaro Puerto Peñasco Cerro de la Ballena
LighthouseLake Havasu Marina Lighthouse
LighthouseFire Island Lighthouse
LighthouseVermilion Lighthouse
LighthouseSplit Rock Lighthouse
LighthousePoint Gratoit Lighthouse
LighthouseWind Point Lighthouse
LighthouseRobert H. Manning Lighthouse
LighthouseCape Henry Lighthouse
LighthouseCape Hatteras Lighthouse
LighthouseWest Quoddy Lighthouse
LighthouseEast Quoddy Lighthouse
Lighthouses by county
All lighthouses (22)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faro Puerto Peñasco Cerro de la Ballena | Pima County | 97 m | Fortuna Foothills | 1 |
| Lake Havasu Marina Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Lake Havasu City | 7 |
| Fire Island Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Lake Havasu City | 7 |
| Vermilion Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Lake Havasu City | 5 |
| Split Rock Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Lake Havasu City | 5 |
| Point Gratoit Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Lake Havasu City | 5 |
| Wind Point Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Lake Havasu City | 5 |
| Robert H. Manning Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Lake Havasu City | 6 |
| Cape Henry Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Lake Havasu City | 7 |
| Cape Hatteras Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Lake Havasu City | 6 |
| West Quoddy Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Lake Havasu City | 7 |
| East Quoddy Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Lake Havasu City | 7 |
| Alpena Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Lake Havasu City | 5 |
| Buffalo Main Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Lake Havasu City | 7 |
| White Shoal Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Lake Havasu City | 6 |
| Chicago Harbor / Navy Pier Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Lake Havasu City | 5 |
| Currituck Beach Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Lake Havasu City | 7 |
| Pemaquid Point Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Cienega Springs | 3 |
| Berwick Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Cienega Springs | 3 |
| Barnegat Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Lake Havasu City | 3 |
| Algoma Lighthouse | Mohave County | — | Lake Havasu City | 6 |
| Faro del Machorro | Yuma County | — | San Luis | 1 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph lighthouses
Lighthouses work at both ends of the day: blue hour when the beacon is lit, and golden hour when white towers take on warm tones.
- During blue hour, use 5–15 second exposures to capture the beam; check whether the light is still active.
- Shoot from the beach or a jetty to place the tower against open sky and sea.
- Stormy weather and crashing surf add drama; keep a safe distance from waves on rocks and piers.
- A telephoto from across a bay compresses the tower against cliffs or the moon.
- Many lighthouses are on private or Coast Guard property — check public access and opening hours.
Season: Summer brings open towers and tours; autumn and winter offer storms, fewer crowds and lower sun angles.