Summer brings crowds to Maryland’s waterfront, but winter hands the lighthouses back to anyone willing to bundle up. Fill a thermos with hot cocoa or coffee, grab a warm hat, and head for the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers while the parking lots sit nearly empty.
The six lighthouses on this list range from a short city stroll to a trail walk through a state park. Some sit inside museums with exhibits, and a few still let you climb up for a wide view of the water.
Check the hours before you go, since several keep a shorter schedule in the colder months.
1. Friends-Concord Point Lighthouse, Havre De Grace, MD
Built in 1827, Concord Point is one of the older lighthouses on the bay, and it sits right at the edge of downtown Havre de Grace. You can park, walk a few steps, and be standing at the water where the Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake.
The climb is short but fun. Visitors head up 27 steps and a 6-rung ladder to reach the top, where the Chesapeake Bay spreads out in every direction.
Admission is free, and the small gift shop keeps its prices friendly. Historical exhibits and educational tours help explain the tower’s long story.
Winter is a great time to pair the lighthouse with a walk along the nearby boardwalk, when the waterfront is quiet. Plan carefully, though.
The lighthouse opens only on weekends, Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM.
2. Turkey Point Lighthouse, North East, MD
Here is the one where you earn your view. Turkey Point Lighthouse sits inside Elk Neck State Park, and reaching it means a 1.5-mile round-trip walk from the parking lot.
I like this stop for a crisp winter morning. The trail is a medium walk, not a hard hike, and dogs are welcome to come along.
At the end, the restored lighthouse looks out over the top of the Chesapeake Bay. On clear days, the sunsets here are a big draw.
A few practical notes help. Parking is limited, and the site closes by 2 PM, so an early start makes sense.
Volunteers help guide guests and share the history, which makes this more than just a pretty spot in the woods.
3. Choptank River Lighthouse
Cambridge built this one as a replica, and the result is a working lighthouse you can actually walk around and step inside. It stands at the end of the wharf near Water Street and Choptank Avenue.
Inside, a small history exhibit acts as a mini maritime museum. Outside, the boardwalk leads out over the water with wide views of the Choptank River.
The setting is calm, and that suits winter well. People come to fish, watch boats, take photos, or just sit by the water at sunset.
Restrooms are on site, though there is no restaurant, so that thermos earns its spot in the car. A dockmaster is based here, and the whole place is kept in tidy shape.
4. Piney Point Lighthouse Museum & Historic Park, Piney Point, MD
Thursday mornings are the quietest time at Piney Point, which makes a weekday winter trip an easy win. The site is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.
The 1836 lighthouse anchors a small campus along the Potomac River. Exhibits spread across several buildings, covering the lighthouse, the local fishing industry, the Coast Guard, and a bit of military history.
A lightkeeper’s house and a collection of historic wooden boats add to the visit. Staff know their stuff and lead tours of the lighthouse.
Families will find activities for kids, plus a gift shop, a cafe, and restrooms. Active military members can also ask about discounts.
5. Drum Point Lighthouse, Solomons, MD
Not many lighthouses get moved, but Drum Point did. The historic structure was relocated to the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, where it now stands as one of the museum’s star attractions.
Tours walk you through the lighthouse and come with good views of the water. Then the museum takes over, with exhibits on local maritime history and wildlife.
Kids tend to stick around for the otters and jellyfish. It is an easy pick for a cold day when part of the plan needs to happen indoors.
Hours run daily from 10 AM to 4:45 PM, and on-site parking keeps things simple. Weekdays are usually not too busy, and a gift shop and restrooms round out the stop.
6. 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse, CBMM, St Michaels, MD
Picture a lighthouse that once stood in the middle of the bay, with no shore in sight. The 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse did exactly that before finding a home at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels.
Visitors can tour the inside and see how keepers ran the light day to day. The sea hatch and lookout are two details that stand out.
The rest of the museum covers life on the bay with plenty of displays, and staff are quick to explain the stories behind them.
Plan around the schedule. The site is closed Monday through Wednesday and open Thursday to Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM, a nice excuse for a long weekend on the Eastern Shore.
Six lighthouses, one thermos, and a lot of quiet water. Winter might be the best season to see them.
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