Owls Head Light
Owls Head, ME
A short 1852 lighthouse on a high bluff over Rockland Harbor and Penobscot Bay, reached by a short path and stairs from the state park lot. Free; the tower is open on some summer days.
Owls Head Light is a lighthouse in Owls Head State Park near Rockland, Maine. It stands on a headland about 24 metres (80 feet) high at the southern entrance to Rockland harbour and offers wide views over Penobscot Bay. Lonely Planet calls it a photogenic mid-19th-century lighthouse with a keeper’s house.
The white brick tower was built in 1852, and the Fresnel lens followed in 1856. A well-known story tells of a springer spaniel that rang the fog bell in the 1930s; a stone near the bell marks its grave. The keeper’s house holds a small museum and a shop.
To get there, turn from ME 73 onto North Shore Drive, about 2 miles south of downtown Rockland. From the parking lot it is roughly a five-minute walk. The tower is open at times in summer, when volunteers are on site. Check this in advance.
- Nearest town
- Owls Head, ME
- Category
- Scenic viewpoints
- GPS
- 44.0922, -69.0440
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Sea Swell CampgroundCampsite5 mi from Owls Head LightTentsCaravans
- Camden Hills State Park CampgroundCampsite10 mi from Owls Head LightTentsCaravansWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Camp BishopswoodCampsite12 mi from Owls Head Light
- Mullens Head Camp GroundCampsite12 mi from Owls Head LightCaravans
- Searsport Shores Ocean CampgroundCampsite25 mi from Owls Head Light
- Oceanfront Camping at Reach KnollsCampsite25 mi from Owls Head Light
All campsites in Maine · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Owls Head Light?
Owls Head Light is in Owls Head, ME, at GPS 44.0922, -69.0440. It is about 3 mi from Rockland.
Can you camp near Owls Head Light?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Sea Swell Campground, about 5 mi away; within 25 mi there are 11 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Owls Head Light?
Owls Head Light is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Maine’s Midcoast peninsulas: Bath to Pemaquid and Owls Head.
What is there to see near Owls Head Light?
Places worth a stop nearby: Farnsworth Art Museum (3 mi), Mount Battie, Camden Hills State Park (9 mi), Pemaquid Point Lighthouse (29 mi) and Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (34 mi).
When is the best time to visit Owls Head Light?
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)