Portland Lighthouses: 3-Hour Bike Tour with 4 Stops

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/8

Duration3h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Four lighthouses on one ride, starting from the Greenbelt

You ride 3 hours on a dedicated pathway, stopping at four working lighthouses, with your bike provided and lunch sourced from a local vendor. The final stop is Portland Head Light, the iconic 1791 structure in Cape Elizabeth. You're back by early afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bicycle tour visiting four lighthouses

Start tour at 11:00 am
Cycle to Portland Breakwater Light
Visit Portland Breakwater Light for 15 minutes
Cycle to Spring Point Ledge Light
Visit Spring Point Ledge Light for 15 minutes
Pass by Willard Beach
Stop at Willard Beach for 5 minutes
Cycle to Portland Head Light at Fort Williams Park
Visit Portland Head Light for 20 minutes

The Experience

Pedaling out of South Portland on the Greenbelt Pathway, you're moving through quiet green space that opens onto water views without the noise of a main road. The route follows the scenic corridor for three hours, stopping at four lighthouses that mark different chapters of Maine's maritime history. Your bike is included, and the pace is steady — you're covering ground, but not racing.

The first lighthouse comes up quickly: Portland Breakwater Light, built in 1875 and known locally as "Bug Light" because of its squat, distinctive shape. From there, the tour continues to Spring Point Ledge Light, a small structure built in 1897 after several shipwrecks made it clear the harbor needed another marker. You'll pass Willard Beach, a sandy community beach with public restrooms, before the final stop at Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth. That one's the anchor — built in 1791 under President George Washington, it's one of the most photographed lighthouses in New England, and the views from Fort Williams Park are the kind you'll still think about weeks later.

The tour leaves at 11:00 am, which gives you a reasonable morning and puts you back with time to spare. You'll want to bring lunch or grab a lobster roll from a local food truck that sets up near the route — the organizers can help point you toward it. The ride itself is moderate: you need decent fitness and a comfortable relationship with a bicycle seat for three hours, but it's not a mountain-bike expedition. The Greenbelt keeps you off busy roads, and the stops break up the pedaling into manageable chunks.

What’s included

Your day includes the bicycle, three hours of guided riding on the South Portland Greenbelt Pathway, stops at four lighthouses (Portland Breakwater Light, Spring Point Ledge Light, Willard Beach, and Portland Head Light), and access to Fort Williams Park at the final stop. Lunch is not included, but local food vendors are available nearby.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Lighthouse Bikes

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to see multiple lighthouses without driving between them and have moderate cycling fitness. The 3-hour pace means you're moving steadily, which is what lets you fit four stops into one morning.