If you are a fan of lighthouses, then Florida is the place to be. With 1800 miles of coastline, Florida boasts 30 lighthouses of many shapes and sizes. Although not all of these historic structures are open to public tours, several of them are, and a few others have grounds that can be toured. You will often find preserver residences of the various lighthouse keepers, as well as other outbuildings, some of which are converted to museums.
Florida Lighthouses that are Open to the Public
Port Boca Grande Lighthouse & Museum
The Port Boca Grande Lighthouse is a quaint structure consisting of a white frame dwelling with green shutters and a black lantern tower. The active lighthouse is currently operated by the Florida State Park Service. It was constructed in 1890, but the architect and builder are unknown. It is only 44 feet tall, with 60 steps to the top. Boca Grande is located on the west coast of Florida near Cape Coral.
It is maintained by the Barrier Island Parks Society.
Cape Canaveral Lighthouse
Although much better known for space shuttle launches, Cape Canaveral also has an active lighthouse that was recently re-opened to the public. It is a conical iron tower with black and white horizontal bands, and it’s located on the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The brick lighthouse is 145 tall with 179 steps, and there is also an oil storage house.
Because of its location, this lighthouse was previously only open to US Citizens. However, foreign nationals may now visit if they provide passport information at least 72 hours in advance of their tour.
Cape Canaveral is an easy drive from Cocoa Beach.
Learn more on the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse website.
Cape Florida Lighthouse
The Cape Florida lighthouse is located in Key Biscayne, just south of Miami. The 95-foot active lighthouse is open to the public, along with the keeper’s dwelling, detached kitchen and privy. It is a whitewashed brick conical tower with a black lantern at the top of the 112-step climb. The lighthouse was restored in 1996, and there is also a museum in the keeper’s dwelling, a video in the kitchen, and a gift shop.
This lighthouse is located within the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. In addition to Cape Florida lighthouse, the park also offers outdoor activities like camping, fishing, and paddling.
Cape St. George Lighthouse
This lighthouse features an interested history. Originally located on Little St. George Island and only accessible by boat, the Cape St. George lighthouse was affected by beach erosion and developed a significant lean. It was listed as Florida’s most endangered lighthouse. During the summer of 2000, it was straightened by giving it a new foundation, but conditions worsened and it finally collapsed in 2005. The lighthouse was then reconstructed from the original materials on St. George Island and opened to the public in 2008.
The Cape St. George lighthouse is a 74-foot white conical tower topped with a black lantern. It is active from November through April, but is not lit from May to October in support of nesting sea turtles (who navigate by the moon and are thrown off-course by artificial lights). There is also a museum and a gift shop.
Cape San Blas Lighthouse
Cape San Blas lighthouse is located on the Eglin Air Force Base near Apalachicola, Florida. The 96-foot structure is not currently active. It is a white square pyramidal skeletal tower with an enclosing stair column and black lantern. There are also two keeper’s dwellings and a brick oil storage house. The current structure is the fourth lighthouse on the location. The first two were destroyed by hurricanes in the 1850s. The third one collapsed in 1882 after erosion left it in 8 feet of water and reached only by boat. The current lighthouse originally stood 1/4 mile from the current location, but was moved due to erosion.
Cedar Keys Light Station
Cedar Keys barely qualifies as an open-to-public lighthouse, as it is open for only two days each year on the third weekend in October. At 33 feet tall, it is the smallest lighthouse in Florida, boasting on 35 steps. It is a white house-style lighthouse with a white lantern, constructed in 1854. The original brick structure has had frame additions, and there is also a water tank, cistern, and oil storage house.
Gasparilla Island Lighthouse
The Gasparilla Island Lighthouse was originally built in Delaware in 1891, where it was known as Delaware Breakwater Rear Range Light or Green Hill Lighthouse. In 1927, it was moved to Gasparilla Island, near Cape Coral in SW Florida. Once in Florida, it was known as Boca Grande Entrance Rear Range before being renamed to Gasparilla Island Lighthouse in 2003.
Gasparilla Island Lighthouse reopened to the public on April 17, 2023, and can now be climbed again. It stands on the road leading to Boca Grande Lighthouse, both within the Gasparilla Island State Park.
This lighthouse is 105 feet tall, with a white steel skeletal tower. It is currently active and has a range of 12 miles.
Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse
The Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse is located in Pompano Beach in southeast Florida. The skeletal structure is white on the bottom half, and black on the top, with a black lantern. It is 142 feet tall, with 175 steps, and was first lighted in 1907. It is only open four times a year.
Learn more on the lighthouse’s official website.
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
The Jupiter lighthouse, in the town of Jupiter on the Atlantic ocean coast of Florida, is an active lighthouse that is operated by The Loxahatchee River Historical Society. It is 108 feet tall, and is built on a 48 foot Indian mound. The red-washed brick conical tower has 105 steps leading to the black lantern. It was constructed between 1854 and 1860, and is thought to have the oldest first-order Fresnel lens throughout Florida. In addition to being open to the public, there are also sunset tours that require reservations. It was restored in 2000, and also has a museum and gift shop.
More information on the official website.
Key West Lighthouse
Key West has one of the more popular Florida lighthouses due to its location as a popular travel spot. The Key West lighthouse is no longer an active light, having been deactivated in December of 1969. It was originally built in 1847, and is 86 feet tall with 98 steps. It is a whitewashed brick conical tower with a black lantern. Located on Whitehead street in Key West, the restored keeper’s dwelling now houses a museum. There is also a privy, an oil storage house, and a chicken coop, in addition to the lighthouse itself.
Find out more on the official Key West Lighthouse site.
Pensacola Lighthouse
The Pensacola Lighthouse, in western Florida on the panhandle, is an active lighthouse that is 150 feet tall. The bottom third of the tower is painted white, while the top two-thirds are black, as is the lantern. It was constructed from 1856 to 1858, and first lighted on New Year’s Day in 1859. One of the most unique aspects of the lighthouse is that visitors can watch the Blue Angels practice, gaining a unique view from the lighthouse itself. Pensacola is Florida’s westernmost lighthouse and situated along the Gulf Coast.
The keeper’s house is a two-story brick building from 1869, which has display rooms open to the public. The tower is also open for public climbs.
The Pensacola lighthouse is claimed to be haunted and was featured on the TV show Ghost Hunters.
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse
Ponce Inlet is located on the Atlantic coast of Florida, just south of Daytona Beach. Its lighthouse is an active red-washed brick tower with a black lantern, standing 175 feet tall and boasting 213 steps. It was built in 1887 and is the only one of the Florida lighthouses to be listed as a National Historic Landmark. It is Florida’s tallest lighthouse, and the second-tallest throughout the United States.
There are also three keeper’s dwellings that have been converted to museums, an oil storage house, a pump house, and privies. It is also sometimes known as the Ponce de Leon lighthouse or the Ponce de Leon Inlet lighthouse.
St. Augustine Lighthouse
The St. Augustine lighthouse is 167 feet tall with distinct black-and-white spiral stripes, topped by a red lantern. It is an active lighthouse, built of brick in 1871, restored in 1994-95, and restored again in 2000. The museum, gift shop, and lighthouse tower are open to the public. The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum is another one of the more popular Florida lighthouses due to the number of tourists who visit St. Augustine. The lighthouse is actually located on Anastasia Island.
Tortugas Harbor Lighthouse (aka Garden Key Lighthouse)
The Tortugas Harbor lighthouse is only accessible by boat, and is 43 miles west of Key West, Florida. It consists of a white dwelling on a brown pile foundation, and is topped by a black lantern. At a height of 82 feet, it is a relatively small lighthouse. It was built in 1886 but the architect and builder are unknown. It is currently operated by the US Coast Guard.
Florida Lighthouses whose Grounds are Open to the Public
Dry Tortugas Lighthouse
The Dry Tortugas lighthouse is a 157-foot tall brick lighthouse with 204 steps. The bottom half of the lighthouse is painted white, and the top half is black. It is topped by a black lantern. There is also a 1926 dwelling, a former kitchen, and an attached oil house. The Dry Tortugas lighthouse is currently active and operated by the US Coast Guard. The grounds can be visited, but the lighthouse must be reached by boat or sea plane from Key West. There is also a gift shop.
Egmont Key Lighthouse
The Egmont Key lighthouse is a small, white lighthouse constructed of brick, iron, and concrete, located in St. Petersburg, Florida. Is was originally constructed in 1857-1858, and it is only 76 feet tall with 99 steps. Normally only the grounds are open to the public, although occasionally the base of the tower is opened as well. The lighthouse is only approachable by boat.
Crooked River Lighthouse
The Crooked River lighthouse is not active, but is maintained by the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association. It is 103 feet tall, has 138 steps, and is a square pyramidal skeletal tower. Its lower half is painted white, with a dark red upper half and a black lantern. It was constructed in 1895 and deactivated in 1994.
Mayport Lighthouse (aka St. John’s Light)
The Mayport Lighthouse in Jacksonville, Florida is a 64-foot tall active lighthouse on the grounds of the Mayport Naval Station. It was built in 1954, and has 71 steps. It has a white square masonry tower with reinforced concrete, as well as a 1950’s keeper’s dwelling. It is operated by the US Navy, and although the grounds may be visited, the tower is closed to the public. It is also known as St. Johns Light, and shouldn’t be confused with St. John’s River Lighthouse, listed below.
St. Marks Lighthouse
St. Marks Lighthouse is near Tallahassee, on the Florida panhandle. It is on the grounds of the St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge, and the grounds are open to refuge visitors. The active lighthouse stands 88 feet high and has 80 steps. It is a white-washed conical tower topped by a black lantern, constructed in 1829-1830 and in 1842. There is an attached keepers dwelling that was built in 1871.
Sanibel Island Lighthouse
It used to have a gift shop and two keeper’s dwellings that could be visited, but these were destroyed by Hurricane Ian in September of 2022. Ian also took one of the lighthouse’s support structure legs, but it was later recovered. The light was turned back on in February of 2023, exactly 5 months after the hurricane.
The grounds used to have a gift shop and two keeper’s dwellings that could be visited, but these were destroyed by Hurricane Ian in September of 2022. Ian also took one of the lighthouse’s support structure legs, but it was later recovered. The light was turned back on in February of 2023, exactly 5 months after the hurricane.
The location is unreachable by the general public at this time, as the bridge to Sanibel Island was also destroyed.
Florida Lighthouses Not Open to Public
Amelia Island Lighthouse
The oldest lighthouse in Florida can be found on Amelia Island northeast of Jacksonville, located among the barrier islands known as Sea Islands. It was constructed in 1838-1839, is 64 feet tall, and has 69 steps. The brick tower is white and cone-shaped, and is topped by a black lantern.
The lighthouse grounds are open to visitors on Saturdays, but the lighthouse itself is not. If you want to tour the actual lighthouse, you’ll need to register and pay for a tour by calling 904-310-3350.
In addition to the tower, there is also an oil storage house and a dwelling for the lighthouse keeper.
The Amelia Island lighthouse is currently operational.
Anclote Key Lighthouse
Anclote Key is located in the Anclote National Wildlife Refuge in Dunedin, Florida. The active lighthouse is 96 feet high and has 138 steps. It is a rust-colored, square, pyramidal skeletal tower with a black top. Originally, the entire lighthouse was black. It was constructed in 1887 and also has an oil house and cistern.
St. Johns River Lighthouse
The St. Johns River lighthouse in Jacksonville is not an active lighthouse. It was constructed in 1858 but deactivated in 1929. It is a red-washed conical brick tower with a white lantern, which was repainted by the Navy in 2000. It can be viewed from outside the perimeter fence of the Mayport Naval Station.
St. Joseph Point Lighthouse
St. Joseph Point Lighthouse is a historic landmark located in Port St. Joe, Florida. The lighthouse was built in 1838 and has played an important role in guiding ships through the waters of Saint Joseph Bay for over 150 years. Although visitors can still appreciate the beauty of the lighthouse from the outside, access to the interior of the lighthouse is not allowed. Despite this, the Saint Joseph Bay Lighthouse remains an important part of Florida’s maritime history and continues to be a popular attraction for locals and tourists alike.
The Florida Keys Reef Lighthouses (Not Open to the Public)
There are six reef lighthouses along the Florida Keys. These historic lighthouses exist off-shore and none are currently open to the public. However, the Florida Keys Reef Lights Foundation has been formed and plans to create a museum and open all six lighthouses to public tours.
Alligator Reef Lighthouse
The Alligator Reef lighthouse is a 150-foot operational lighthouse on a skeletal tower made of wrought iron and wood. It is operated by the US Coast Guard and is not open to the public. However, the Allegator Reef lighthouse can be seen from Islamorado in the Florida Keys. It was constructed between 1871 and 1873.
American Shoal Lighthouse
The American Shoal lighthouse is another off-shore, skeletal-tower lighthouse that stands 124 feet high. It was constructed in 1879-1880. Although it is not open to visitors, it can be seen from the shore on Sugarloaf Key and approached by boat. This lighthouse is brown with a white staircase and has brown octagonal living quarters. The American Shoal lighthouse was constructed in 1879-1880.
Fowey Rocks Lighthouse
The Fowey Rocks lighthouse is 125-feet tall and is an active, operational lighthouse. It has a brown octagonal skeleton, and an octagonal dwelling with green trim. It is not open to the public, but can be seen on a clear day from the top of the Cape Florida lighthouse. It can also be approached by boats from the Key Biscayne and Miami areas. The Fowey Rocks lighthouse was built in 1877-1878.
Carysfort Reef Lighthouse
Another active lighthouse, this time at Carysfort Reef, cannot be seen from land at all. Boats can be chartered from Key Largo to view the lighthouse. The Carysfort Reef is a dark red octagonal skeleton with a conical dwelling, and a stair cylinder in the middle. It stands 112 feet high and was built in 1852.
Sombrero Key Lighthouse
The Sombrero Key lighthouse is a 156-foot operational lighthouse with 133 steps. It has a brown octagonal-pyramidal skeleton. It can be approached by boats from Marathon, and is also visible from land at the Sombrero Beach State Park. It was built in 1857-1858.
Sand Key Lighthouse
Sand Key Lighthouse can be approached by boat from Key West. It is 132-feet high with 112 steps. The lighthouse with its brown pyrimidal skeletal tower was constructed in 1853-1853. It has a white lantern. This lighthouse is currently active, but was restored between 1989 and 1996 and did not operate during that time.
The lighthouse keeper’s dwelling at Sand Key accidentally burned down in the 1960s, and has never been replaced.
Florida Lighthouses Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. How many lighthouses are in Florida?
There are 30 lighthouses currently standing within the state of Florida, including the ones just offshore.
Q. Are there lighthouses on the Gulf Coast of Florida?
Yes, there are 12 lighthouses on Florida’s Gulf Coast. This count does not include any lighthouses near the Florida Keys.
Q. What is the tallest lighthouse in Florida?
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse near Daytona Beach is the tallest lighthouse in Florida, standing at 175 feet tall.
Q. What is the shortest lighthouse in Florida?
Cedar Key Lighthouse, standing at only 28 feet, is the shortest lighthouse in Florida.
Q. What is the oldest lighthouse in Florida?
The oldest lighthouse still standing in Florida is Amelia Island Light, which was built between 1838 and 1839.
Q. Which US state has the most lighthouses?
Despite Florida’s long coastline, it does NOT have the most lighthouses. That distinction belongs to Michigan, which boasts more than 120 lighthouses.
Florida Lighthouse Map
The below Florida Lighthouse Map may be useful if you are trying arrange a lighthouse visit. For the true lighthouse fan, you can even map out a road trip that takes you all around the Florida coast so you can see each and every one!
Preserving Florida Lighthouses
The Florida Lighthouse Association is an organization formed in the mid-1990s dedicated to preserving Florida’s historical lighthouses. Please visit their website to find out how you can get involved to help preserve these amazing pieces of history.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this tour of Florida Lighthouses and that you’ll get a chance to visit some of them on your next trip to Florida.
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