Martha's Vineyard · guide
Martha's Vineyard Lighthouses
The four public-facing towers worth visiting, plus the one to admire from outside
Martha's Vineyard in brief
How many lighthouses are on Martha's Vineyard?
Martha's Vineyard has five lighthouses: Gay Head, Edgartown Harbor, East Chop, West Chop, and Cape Poge.
What is the oldest lighthouse on Martha's Vineyard?
Gay Head Lighthouse is the island's oldest lighthouse site. Its original wooden tower was built in 1799, while the present brick tower dates to 1844.
Can visitors go inside Gay Head Lighthouse?
Yes. For the 2026 season, it is scheduled to open from Memorial Day weekend, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; admission is $6 for visitors ages 13 and older, and children 12 and younger enter free.
The towers that still earn the detour
Martha's Vineyard's lighthouse circuit is not a contest for the tallest tower. This list rewards places where the setting and the story meet: Gay Head above the eroding clay cliffs, Edgartown at the mouth of a harbor, and Cape Poge after a proper Chappaquiddick outing. It also calls out the access headaches, including the tower that is visible but not open to visitors.
The picks are grouped into the essential public towers, the remote coastal outlier, the limited-hours stop, and the closed site. Build the route around things to do in Aquinnah, things to do in Edgartown, things to do in Oak Bluffs, things to do in Chappaquiddick, and a one-day Martha's Vineyard itinerary.
The full ranking, compared
Every pick at a glance, ranked by how well it earns its place, not by tourist traffic. Tap a name to jump to the full review.
| Place | Why go | Town | Access | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Gay Head (Aquinnah) Light | Colored-cliff setting | Aquinnah | Seasonal public access | Worth it |
| 2. Edgartown Harbor Light | Walkable harbor views | Edgartown | Road, bus, or foot | Mixed |
| 3. Cape Poge Light | Remote refuge and tower | Chappaquiddick | Ferry plus 4WD or tour | Mixed |
| 4. East Chop Light | Harbor overlook | Oak Bluffs | Select public openings | Mixed |
| 5. West Chop Light | Maritime history | Tisbury | Closed to visitors | Skip it |
The picks, mapped
Every stop on the map
All 5 picks across Martha's Vineyard, mapped. Tap a pin for the quick verdict.
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Ranked, with honest verdicts
The best lighthouses on Martha's Vineyard, ranked
Five lighthouse sites define Martha's Vineyard, but they do not offer the same visitor experience. Here is where to go, what is open, and which tower is only worth seeing from the road.
The public towers to prioritize
These are the lighthouse visits with the strongest combination of setting, access, and a reason to climb or linger.
- 1
West End · Aquinnah Worth itGay Head (Aquinnah) Light
The island's essential lighthouse visit, because its history and cliff-edge setting are inseparable.
Gay Head Light earns the top spot because it is more than a tower with a view. It was the first lighthouse built on Martha's Vineyard, and its Native American lighthouse-keeping history, including Wampanoag keepers, gives the visit a deeper island connection. The brick tower stands above the Gay Head Cliffs, a National Natural Landmark, in a landscape that is steadily changing: the lighthouse is now about 50 to 60 feet from the cliff edge, with erosion estimated at about two feet per year. It is open seasonally in 2026 from Memorial Day weekend, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with $6 admission for visitors 13 and older. Check for announced early closures before driving west.
Where: Gay Head Cliffs, AquinnahAdmission: $6; children 12 and under freeHours: Seasonal 2026; 10 a.m.–4 p.m.Why it matters: First island lighthouse; Wampanoag keeper history - 2
East End · Edgartown MixedEdgartown Harbor Light
The easiest all-around lighthouse stop, with a walkable harbor setting and dependable public hours.
Edgartown Harbor Light is the best choice when you want a lighthouse visit that fits neatly into a town afternoon. The tower sits at the harbor mouth, with views toward Edgartown Harbor, Chappaquiddick, and Cape Cod, and the scenic path in front of the Harbor View Hotel makes the approach part of the experience. The current structure has an especially good travel story: it was transported from Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1938 to replace the original tower built on a man-made island in 1828. It is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting. Limited North Water Street parking and the 15-minute walk from the VTA stop make walking the sensible plan.
Where: North Water Street, EdgartownAdmission: $5 adults; children 12 and under freeHours: Daily, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., weather permittingGetting there: VTA stop on Church Street, then 15-minute walkSourcesmvmuseum.orgmvy.com
The remote coastal outlier
Cape Poge is less a quick stop than a full landscape excursion across Chappaquiddick.
- 3
Chappaquiddick · Chappaquiddick Island MixedCape Poge Light
The most rewarding landscape day, but only if you accept that reaching the lighthouse is the point of the outing.
Cape Poge Light ranks third because the approach is as memorable as the tower. The refuge spreads across 516 acres of barrier beach, salt marsh, beach, salt pond, and old Eastern red cedars, while the lighthouse itself carries a remarkable survival story. The 1893 wooden tower was moved four times, most recently in 1987, when a U.S. Army helicopter carried it 500 feet inland to escape the eroding shore. Walk-on visitors can reach the refuge for free, but the lighthouse requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle or guided tour, and the Trustees advise allowing at least two hours on foot. Take the Chappaquiddick ferry from Edgartown, then follow Chappaquiddick Road and Dike Road. Summer vehicle lines can exceed an hour.
Where: Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge, ChappaquiddickGetting there: Chappaquiddick ferry, then Dike RoadTime: Allow at least two hours on footAccess: Pedestrians free; lighthouse by 4WD or guided tour
The limited-hours stop
East Chop rewards a little scheduling and patience, especially if you want to catch an announced opening.
- 4
North-East Coast · Oak Bluffs MixedEast Chop Light
A worthwhile harbor lookout when its selective opening schedule lines up with your day.
East Chop Light is the lighthouse to choose for a quieter, more scheduled visit. It stands on Telegraph Hill above the eastern approach to Vineyard Haven Harbor, a site first used for a coastal semaphore system that signaled vessels bound for Boston. The tower's original fourth-order Fresnel lens could be seen 20 miles out to sea, and the light was automated in 1933. The Martha's Vineyard Museum has maintained the tower since 1994, but access is not daily: the museum specifically announces Sunday-sunset openings beginning in mid-June. Parking on East Chop Drive is limited, and the VTA stop at East Chop Drive and New York Avenue still leaves an uphill walk. Go for the outlook and the history, not guaranteed entry.
Where: Telegraph Hill, Oak BluffsAccess: Select times; Sunday sunsets from mid-JuneAdmission: $5 adults; children 12 and under freeGetting there: Limited parking or VTA plus uphill walkSourcesmvmuseum.orgmvy.com
The tower to admire from outside
West Chop has real maritime history, but current visitor access makes it a poor sightseeing stop.
- 5
West Chop · Tisbury Skip itWest Chop Light
A historically important light, but not a worthwhile planned stop while public access is closed.
West Chop Light belongs on the island's historical roll call, not on a visitor's must-see route. The light entered service on October 5, 1817, when residents of Holmes Hole sought help for a harbor carrying more ship traffic than Edgartown. The present 45-foot cylindrical brick tower replaced an earlier tower in 1891, and the station was Martha's Vineyard's last manned light. The catch is decisive: the West Chop area is not open to the public, the caretaker's cottage is occupied by Coast Guard personnel, and no public hours, tours, parking arrangements, or admission details are supplied. Coast Guard lead-soil remediation had fenced the site as of December 2025. See it only if it falls naturally along your drive, and do not expect a visit inside.
Where: West Chop, TisburyHistory: Light entered service in 1817Access: Not open to the publicCurrent note: Site remediation reported in December 2025
Start with Gay Head Light for the island's strongest lighthouse setting, then choose Edgartown for an easier harbor walk or Cape Poge for a full Chappaquiddick adventure. Add East Chop only after checking its select opening schedule, and skip planning around West Chop because it is not open to visitors. Rankings and verdicts are our own; where shown, star ratings open each spot's Google listing, and details shift by season, so confirm before you go.
The big decision
Easy harbor walk or remote island outing?
Pick the lighthouse by how much of your day you want to give the journey, not just by the tower in the photograph.
The easy harbor walk
Choose Edgartown Harbor Light for a straightforward visit, a scenic approach, and public hours that pair naturally with an afternoon in town.
See more
The remote island outing
Choose Cape Poge Light when the ferry, sand roads, refuge, and time on foot are part of what you came to Martha's Vineyard for.
See moreBefore you go
Know before you go
A few practical things that decide whether the day goes smoothly.
Plan by geography
Gay Head is in Aquinnah at the western end, Edgartown Harbor is on the east side, and East Chop is above Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven Harbor. Cape Poge requires crossing to Chappaquiddick, so do not treat all five sites as casual stops on one short outing.
Check opening dates
Gay Head Light is seasonal in 2026, opening from Memorial Day weekend with announced early closures. East Chop has select openings, including Sunday sunsets beginning in mid-June, so verify the museum schedule before making the uphill trip.
Carry admission money
Gay Head charges $6 for visitors 13 and older, while Edgartown Harbor Light and East Chop charge $5 for adults. Children 12 and under are free at all three public-facing towers, according to the supplied visitor information.
Use buses for accessible towers
The VTA stop for Edgartown Harbor Light is on Church Street, followed by a 15-minute walk. East Chop's stop is at East Chop Drive and New York Avenue, but the final approach is uphill, and limited parking makes biking or arranging transportation sensible.
Treat Chappaquiddick as its own trip
Walk-on passengers on the Chappaquiddick ferry rarely wait more than seven minutes, while summer vehicle lines may exceed an hour. Pedestrian access to Cape Poge is free, but reaching the lighthouse itself requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle or guided tour.
Do not plan on West Chop
West Chop Light in Tisbury is visible but not open to the public, and its site was undergoing Coast Guard lead-soil remediation as of December 2025. It has no supplied public hours, parking plan, tours, or admission details, so plan to admire it only from outside.
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