California lighthouses northern and southern

Best California Lighthouses to Visit from San Diego to Crescent City

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When you think of lighthouses, most likely, the first place that comes to mind is the beautiful coast of New England. The lighthouses on the West Coast may not be as famous, but they are certainly just as fascinating. In particular, they can be an excellent opportunity to discover an interesting part of local history and enjoy beautiful views of the ocean and its sunsets.

Lighthouses in California: Where Are They? Why Visit Them?

Most of the lighthouses are easy to visit and can be nice places stop to rest for a while during your road trip in California.  You can enjoy spectacular sunsets over the ocean in lighthouses near cities, especially if you have the opportunity to stay overnight in the area (in some cases, the premises around lighthouses have been converted into hotels or hostels).

Obviously, I could not include all the lighthouses along the California coast in this article, but I will point out those that can be considered to be the most representative that are also the most accessible.

For the sake of clarity, I will describe the lighthouses in order from south to north.

Southern California lighthouses

This section includes the lighthouses of the southern California coast from San Diego County to Santa Cruz.

Old Point Loma Lighthouse – San Diego

lighthouses in southern california - Old Point Loma Lighthouse

The Old Point Loma Lighthouse closely resembles other lighthouses you will encounter along the coast, for example, the Point Pinos Lighthouse in Monterey. In fact, these two lighthouses were both built in 1855. Unfortunately, the choice of location to build the lighthouse was not the most fortunate.

Although it was built almost 430 ft above sea level, the visibility was still poor. Most days, the light emitted by the lighthouse was shrouded by dense fog and clouds at low altitudes that are characteristic of this area. This problem proved to be so serious that by 1891 it became necessary to build another lighthouse further downhill.

How to reach it: The lighthouse is located inside the Cabrillo National Monument at the extreme tip of Point Loma near San Diego.
How to visit the lighthouse: The lighthouse is accessible from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm every day of the year. To visit the lighthouse, one must pay the entrance fee of the national monument, which is $20 per car or $10 per person if you come with other means of transportation. You can use the America the Beautiful parks annual pass.
Where to stay overnight: Since it is located at a short distance from San Diego, I suggest you click the link below to read our tips to help you find the best accommodations in the city.

Our tips on where to stay in San Diego

Point Fermin Lighthouse – San Pedro

best california lighthouses - Point Fermin Lighthouse

This is definitely one of the most original lighthouses in California. It is very similar to the lighthouses in Point Loma and Point Pinos. The characteristic that the three lighthouses have in common is that the actual lighthouse rises above the lighthouse keeper’s quarters, however, the Point Fermin Lighthouse column is square rather than circular in shape, as one would expect.

This was the first lighthouse in the San Pedro Bay. It was built in 1847 in the so-called Stick Style, which involved the use of numerous wooden decorations both in the façade and in the interior of the building.

How to get there: The lighthouse is located in San Pedro in South Los Angeles. The address is 807 W. Paseo Del Mar.
How to visit it: The lighthouse is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm and it is closed on Mondays and on major holidays. There is no entrance fee, but visitors may leave a donation.
Where to stay overnight: If you don’t want to book accommodations directly in San Pedro, you can also look in Long Beach, which is just a few minutes away, or even in Los Angeles, where you can also spend a day to visit the city. Click the link below to read our tips for accommodations in the City of Angels.

Our tips on where to stay in Los Angeles

Point Sur Lighthouse – Big Sur

california lighthouses - Point Sur Lighthouse

This is one of the most important stops along the spectacular Pacific Coast Highway. In fact, this lighthouse is one of the most popular destinations on this scenic road that runs along much of the California coast.

One of the things that make this lighthouse unique is that it was built on a volcanic rock that rises more than 330 ft above sea level and overlooks the entire area below. As you can easily imagine, you can admire splendid views not only of the ocean but also of the coast.

Nearby you can also visit what was once a U.S. Navy Base that was in operation during the Cold War and the main task at the time was to locate Soviet submarines off the California coast. Today you can go on tours of the base (tickets are $15) on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:00 am, on Wednesday at 1:00 pm. Tours last about one hour and a half. More info here.

How to get there: Point Sur Lighthouse is located about 20 miles south of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
How to visit it: The only way to visit the lighthouse is on a tour. The schedule of the tours varies depending on the time of the year. During the winter months (from October to March), there are tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:00 am and on Wednesdays at 1:00 pm, while during the summer (April to September) there are tours on Saturdays and Wednesdays at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm and on Sundays at 10:00 am. Tickets for the tour cost $15. There are also special and themed tours (such as the ghosts tours to learn about the spirits that haunt the area or the midnight tour). I invite you to check the official website for more information.
Where to stay: You can find accommodations in Carmel by the Sea, the nearest city to the north, which I mentioned above, and in Big Sur, located south of the lighthouse. Search for accommodations in the vicinity of the lighthouse by clicking on the link below.

Accommodations in the area

Point Pinos Lighthouse – Pacific Grove

california lighthouse - Point Pinos Lighthouse

Point Pinos Lighthouse was built in 1855 and is still active today, making it the oldest lighthouse in use on the West Coast. Another thing that makes Point Pinos Lighthouse stand out is that it was built inland rather than directly on the coast.

After 1975, the lighthouse became fully automated and the rooms that were once used as the lighthouse keeper’s quarters house a museum. Today it is considered one of the symbolic places of Pacific Grove and it is regarded as one of the best spots in the area to enjoy a beautiful sunset.

How to reach it: The address of the lighthouse is 80 Asilomar Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950.
How to visit it: The lighthouse is open throughout the year except during Christmas, Thanksgiving, and January 1st. During the week, it is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and on Saturdays, it is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm while on the other days of the week, it is open from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. To visit it you must purchase a ticket that costs $5, which will allow you to access the museum, built in the premises of the lighthouse keeper’s house, and climb the tower.
Where to stay: If you want to look for a hotel in the immediate vicinity of the lighthouse, you can consider staying at the lighthouse’s Sunset Inn Pacific Grove. It is a very well-kept hotel that offers more than just the mini-apartments with spacious rooms and all amenities. Otherwise, if you want to have a look at all the accommodations in Pacific Grove, you can click on the link below.

Accommodations in Pacific Grove

Lighthouse Field State Beach – Santa Cruz

Lighthouse Field State Beach - visit california lighthouses

Inside the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse, you will find one of the first museums entirely dedicated to surfing, covering over 100 years of surfing history in the city of Santa Cruz. In the park, there is also Steamer Lane, one of the most popular beaches among surfers and those who want to enjoy relaxing on the beach.

How to get there: It is located along the coast of Santa Cruz south of San Francisco on West Cliff Drive.
How to visit it: You can visit Lighthouse Field State Beach from 7:00 am until sunset. Admission is free.
Where to stay: Given the location, if you want to spend the night in the area, you should consider staying in Santa Cruz. You can read our recommendations by clicking on the link below.

Our tips on where to stay in Santa Cruz

Northern California lighthouses

This section includes the lighthouses of the Northern California coast from Pescadero to the Oregon border.

Pigeon Point Light Station – Pescadero

Pigeon Point Light Station - famous california lighthouses

Pigeon Point Light Station, one of the tallest lighthouses on the West Coast, dates back to 1872 and is still in operation today, although now it is fully automated. Because the lighthouse tower is undergoing renovations, it is not open to visitors, but it is still possible to access the surrounding area.

In any case, it is worth visiting Pescadero also because of the beautiful beaches in the immediate vicinity of the lighthouse.

How to get there: This lighthouse is also located along Highway 1 (also known as the Pacific Coast Highway) about halfway between San Francisco and Santa Cruz.
How to visit it: The lighthouse is located within the Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park and can be accessed from 8:00 am until sunset. Admission is free.
Where to stay: There is a popular hostel on the premises of this lighthouse. For a reasonable price, you can spend one or more nights in this unique location. Of course, you will have to be willing to accept the limited services typically provided by a hostel.

Search for accommodations at Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel

Point Montara Light Station – Montara

Point Montara Light Station

What distinguishes the Point Montara Light Station from other lighthouses is its tower that stands separately from the home of the lighthouse-keeper, unlike most of the lighthouses described so far.

This lighthouse has a very fascinating history; in fact, it is the only one in America to have performed its function on both the West Coast and the East Coast. How was this possible? Originally the lighthouse was built on Cape Cod in Massachusetts where it was active for almost 50 years before being decommissioned in 1925.

Everyone thought that the remains of the lighthouse had been destroyed until some scholars discovered that the lighthouse had actually been transported (it is not yet known how) to the California coast and rebuilt in 1928.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to climb up the lighthouse on your own or on tours and you can only visit the area around the lighthouse, which today is part of a hostel. Before you go to the area around the lighthouse, you must first sign up at the hostel.

How to get there: It is located about 25 miles south of San Francisco between Montara State Beach and Moss Beach.
How to visit it: As I have already mentioned, to access the lighthouse area, you will need to sign up at the hostel reception desk.
Where to stay: The hostel at the lighthouse is the best solution if you want to stay overnight in the area. By clicking on the link below, you can check the availability of rooms during the period of your visit.

Accommodations at Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel

Point Bonita Lighthouse – Marin

Point Bonita Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located in one of the most fascinating and scenic locations in the whole state. Given the importance and beauty of the place, we have written an in-depth guide about this very lighthouse and the Marin Headlands. In this guide, you will find all the necessary tips and directions to reach the area.

You can read our advice in the article Point Bonita Lighthouse and Marin Headlands.

Point Reyes Lighthouse – Point Reyes

Point Reyes Lighthouse

Although Point Reyes Lighthouse is neither the most beautiful nor the most characteristic one among the lighthouses discussed thus far, it is worth taking some time to visit the area where it was built.

It is located on a cliff near the ocean within the Point Reyes National Seashore managed by the National Park Service. To reach the lighthouse, you must follow a trail that starts from the Point Reyes Lighthouse Visitor Center. On this trail, you will have to walk down (and then climb back up) as many as 313 steps.

Since the area is very windy (in some cases the wind speed can exceed 35 mph), the last part of the path could be closed for safety reasons. Therefore, I encourage you to consult the official website so as not to find any nasty surprises when you arrive.

How to reach it: The lighthouse is located at the extreme tip of Point Reyes National Seashore. To get there, you need to drive 20 miles to the end of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, which starts near Point Reyes Station. You will then need to plan for at least one and a half hours of driving roundtrip, not counting the time needed for any stops and exploration of the lighthouse area. Given the time needed, you will be “forced” to plan your trips carefully to time everything right and stick to your itinerary.
How to visit it: While Point Reyes National Seashore is open every day from 6:00 am to midnight, weather permitting, the lighthouse premises are open from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm from Friday to Monday. There is no need to pay for admission to either the park or the lighthouse.
Where to stay: There is not much choice near the lighthouse, but there are some accommodations along the main roads leading to Point Reyes National Seashore. You can find a place that best suits your needs by clicking on the link below.

Accommodations in the area

Point Arena Lighthouse and Museum

Point Arena Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located in Northern California on Point Arena. At certain times of the year, you may be able to see whales in the distance (by the way, if you are interested in whale watching, you can consult our article dedicated to whale watching in California).

Grey whales can be sighted from late November to May, while humpback whales can be seen throughout most of the year. The museum on the premises of Point Arena Lighthouse retraces the history of this lighthouse and the surrounding area.

How to get there: You will find the lighthouse by taking Lighthouse Road, which is a small detour from the Pacific Coast Highway near the town of Flumeville.
How to visit it:  From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the lighthouse’s museum is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm for the period. During the rest of the year, it is open from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Admission to the museum costs $5. If you also want to take a tour of the lighthouse tower, the cost will be $8 per person.
Where to stay: This is one of the few lighthouses that offers the possibility to sleep inside its characteristic rooms that used to be the lighthouse keeper’s quarters. You can check the availability of the rooms by clicking on the link below.

Accommodations at Point Arena Lighthouse

Point Cabrillo Lighthouse – Mendocino

Point Cabrillo Lighthouse

This characteristic lighthouse is located in Northern California. You can visit the rooms on the ground floor where there is a museum that houses a section on the history of Point Cabrillo as well as the structure. You cannot climb to the actual lighthouse except on special occasions during the year, which are posted on the official website.

How to reach it: It is located in the Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park, less than 10 minutes north of Mendocino, which is the film location of Jessica Fletcher’s Murder She Wrote.
How to visit it: Although the park itself is open from dawn to dusk, the facilities inside, including the lighthouse, are open to the public every day from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. A donation of $5 is required to enter the lighthouse premises.
Where to stay: The best place to look for accommodations in the area is probably Mendocino. You can read our advice by clicking on the link below.

Our tips on where to stay in Mendocino

Battery Point Lighthouse – Crescent City

Battery Point Lighthouse

Battery Point Lighthouse is located close to the border between California and Oregon. This lighthouse is in fact a house with a small lighthouse on the roof (compared to the ones we have seen so far), but what also makes it different is its position. It was in fact built on a small island that can only be reached on foot during low tide.

Battery Point Lighthouse also has the reputation of being haunted. It is said that during storms you can hear footsteps going up the stairs of the lighthouse and, sometimes, an old rocking chair seems to move inexplicably by itself.

How to reach it: The lighthouse of Battery Point is located on the outskirts of Crescent City along US Highway 101.
How to visit it: As I previously mentioned, you can only access the lighthouse when the tide allows it. If you want to experience more than just a walk in the surroundings of the lighthouse, you will have to plan your visit carefully. I recommend that you check this website where you can see the current stages of the tide so that you know whether or not the road will be accessible. Operating hours vary depending on the time of year. From April to September, the lighthouse is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, while during the other months it is only open on weekends, depending on the tide, of course.
Where to stay: In Crescent City where the lighthouse is located you will find many convenient places to spend the night. You can search for accommodations in Crescent City by clicking on the link below.

Accommodations in Crescent City

If your road trip itinerary continues north, you can take a look at these two guides for visiting the Oregon coastline:


Our Tip:
Looking for accommodations for your trip from California to other parts of the Southwest? Read our guide that contains reviews of hotels and strategic tips for finding accommodations near major attractions: Where to Stay: Our Tips for the SouthWest Area

Warning: Operating hours can change and closures for extraordinary events can occur, so we strongly suggest to check the venues official websites.

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Filippo Nardelli

I have a degree in History of North America and have always been fascinated by the United States.

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