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Lighthouses in Delaware

26 lighthouses in Delaware with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. New Castle County has the most (14). The darkest skies are at Fenwick Island Light (Bortle 4).

Top lighthouses

Fenwick Island LightLighthouse
Fenwick Island LightSussex County
Harbor of Refuge LightLighthouse
Harbor of Refuge LightSussex County
Cape Henlopen LightLighthouse
Cape Henlopen LightSussex County
Fourteen Foot Bank LightLighthouse
Fourteen Foot Bank LightSussex County
New Castle Range Rear LightLighthouse
New Castle Range Rear LightNew Castle County
New Castle Range Front LightLighthouse
New Castle Range Front LightNew Castle County
Cherry Island Range Rear LightLighthouse
Cherry Island Range Rear LightNew Castle County
Christiana North Jetty LightLighthouse
Christiana North Jetty LightNew Castle County
Delaware Breakwater East End LightLighthouse
Delaware Breakwater East End LightSussex County
Bellevue Range Rear LightLighthouse
Bellevue Range Rear LightNew Castle County
Liston Range Front LightLighthouse
Liston Range Front LightNew Castle County
Liston Range Rear LightLighthouse
Liston Range Rear LightNew Castle County

Lighthouses by county

All lighthouses (26)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Fenwick Island LightSussex County3 mBethany Beach4
Harbor of Refuge LightSussex County8 mLewes4
Cape Henlopen LightSussex County15 mLewes4
Fourteen Foot Bank LightSussex County—North Cape May4
New Castle Range Rear LightNew Castle County10 mNew Castle6
New Castle Range Front LightNew Castle County—New Castle6
Cherry Island Range Rear LightNew Castle County—Bellefonte7
Christiana North Jetty LightNew Castle County—Edgemoor7
Delaware Breakwater East End LightSussex County—Lewes4
Bellevue Range Rear LightNew Castle County—Edgemoor7
Liston Range Front LightNew Castle County—Delaware City5
Liston Range Rear LightNew Castle County—Delaware City5
Mahon River LightKent County—Dover Base Housing5
Reedy Island Range Rear LightNew Castle County—Townsend5
Delaware Breakwater Range Front LightSussex County—Lewes5
Baker Shoal Range Rear LightNew Castle County—Delaware City5
Cape Henlopen BeaconSussex County—Lewes4
Christiana LightNew Castle County—Wilmington7
Mispillion LightSussex County—Milford4
Baker Shoal Range Front LightNew Castle County—Delaware City5
Delaware Breakwater Range Rear LightSussex County—Lewes5
Marcus Hook Range Front LightNew Castle County—Bellefonte7
Marcus Hook Range Rear LightNew Castle County—Bellefonte7
Delaware Breakwater LightSussex County-3 mLewes4
Duck Creek Light (historical)Kent County1 mSmyrna5
Reedy Island Light (historical)New Castle County—Delaware City5

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.