Top lighthouses
LighthouseJones Point Light
LighthouseAssateague Light
LighthouseCape Charles Light
LighthouseHog Island Light
LighthouseOld Point Comfort Light
LighthouseBowlers Rock Light
LighthouseBack River Light
LighthouseYork Spit Light
LighthouseNew Point Comfort Light
LighthouseNewport News Middle Ground Light
LighthouseOld Plantation Flats Light
LighthouseThimble Shoal Light
Lighthouses by county
All lighthouses (41)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jones Point Light | City of Alexandria | 3 m | Alexandria | 9 |
| Assateague Light | Accomack County | 7 m | Chincoteague | 4 |
| Cape Charles Light | Northampton County | 1 m | Cape Charles | 4 |
| Hog Island Light | Northampton County | 1 m | Exmore | 3 |
| Old Point Comfort LightFort Monroe | City of Hampton | 2 m | East Hampton | 8 |
| Bowlers Rock Light | Essex County | 3 m | Warsaw | 3 |
| Back River Light | City of Hampton | — | Poquoson | 6 |
| York Spit Light | York County | — | Poquoson | 5 |
| New Point Comfort Light | Mathews County | — | Gloucester Point | 4 |
| Newport News Middle Ground Light | City of Newport News | — | Newport News | 7 |
| Old Plantation Flats Light | Northampton County | — | Cape Charles | 4 |
| Thimble Shoal LightFort Monroe | City of Hampton | — | East Hampton | 6 |
| Cherrystone Bar Light | Northampton County | — | Cape Charles | 4 |
| Craney Island Light | City of Norfolk | — | Norfolk | 7 |
| Bells Rock Light | New Kent County | — | West Point | 4 |
| Stingray Point Light | Middlesex County | — | Deltaville | 3 |
| Tue Marshes Light | York County | — | Gloucester Point | 5 |
| Chesapeake Light | City of Virginia Beach | — | Virginia Beach | 4 |
| Great Wicomico River Light | Northumberland County | — | Kilmarnock | 3 |
| Wolf Trap Light | Mathews County | — | Cape Charles | 4 |
| Jordan Point Light | Prince George County | — | Hopewell | 5 |
| Smith Point Light | Northumberland County | — | Kilmarnock | 3 |
| Deepwater Shoals Light | Isle of Wight County | — | Rushmere | 4 |
| Pages Rock Light | Gloucester County | — | Gloucester Point | 4 |
| Killock Shoal Light | Accomack County | — | Chincoteague | 4 |
| Point of Shoals Light | Isle of Wight County | — | Rushmere | 5 |
| Pungoteague Creek Light | Accomack County | — | Onancock | 3 |
| Ragged Point Light | Westmoreland County | — | Leonardtown | 4 |
| Tangier Sound Light | Accomack County | — | Onancock | 3 |
| Upper Cedar Point Light | King George County | — | Dahlgren | 5 |
| Watts Island Light | Accomack County | — | Onancock | 3 |
| Lambert Point Light | City of Portsmouth | — | Norfolk | 8 |
| Nansemond River Light | City of Suffolk | — | Newport News | 6 |
| White Shoal Light | City of Newport News | — | Carrollton | 6 |
| Windmill Point Light | Lancaster County | — | Deltaville | 3 |
| Cape Henry LightCape Henry Memorial | City of Virginia Beach | 3 m | Virginia Beach | 7 |
| Dutch Gap Canal Lights | Henrico County | — | Enon | 5 |
| Maryland Point Light | King George County | — | King George | 4 |
| Fishing Point Light (historical) | Accomack County | 2 m | Chincoteague | 3 |
| Fort Wool LightFort Monroe | City of Hampton | — | Hampton | 7 |
| Rappahannock Light | Northampton County | — | Exmore | 3 |
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.