Connecticut has over 20 lighthouses along its 253 miles of Long Island Sound shoreline, in towns such as Stratford, Norwalk, New Haven, New London and Stonington. Only a few are open to visitors, and the rules differ from one to the next. You can walk up to some, reach others by boat on a few summer dates, and see the rest only from a distance.
It is early November, so this year’s boat trips have ended. One of them, in New Haven, can still be visited today, though, and the summer trips are worth planning for early.
What Is Still Open In Early November
Your best bet right now is Five Mile Point Light in New Haven, inside Lighthouse Point Park. Park gates are open from 7 a.m. to sunset all year, according to the city. Built in 1805, the tower has a sandstone outer wall, a brick lining and 74 granite steps. You can walk out on a jetty for the view or go right up to its base, though its light no longer shines.
Fees are posted for the April 1 to November 1 season, so call 203-946-6920 to ask what applies. Stonington’s Old Lighthouse Museum opens May through October, so it waits until spring.
Reaching The Norwalk Dock Before Boarding Starts
In 2026, the Norwalk Seaport Association sold trips to two lighthouses, Greens Ledge and Sheffield Island, on three Saturdays in June, July and August. Boats left at 8:30 a.m. and returned at 1:30 p.m., with about an hour and a half at each stop. At Greens Ledge, guests toured the rooms, including the Beacon Room, and at Sheffield Island they could climb the tower.
Everyone had to be at 90 Water Street 30 minutes before departure, and the dock has no parking apart from a few handicapped spaces. Closest paid parking is a lot at 5 Haviland Street. Riders from Bridgeport or Stratford can skip that search, and Avon Limousine, which provides limousine service in Bridgeport, is one option for a drop-off at the dock. Tickets cost $110, and every passenger needs one regardless of age.
A $55 Boat Trip With A Ladder
New London Ledge Light, first lit in 1909, is a brick building with a French mansard roof that stands alone in the water. Between July 9 and early September, the New London Maritime Society took visitors out to it on boats from City Pier, behind the train station.
Each 90-minute trip gave visitors an hour at the light, and adults paid $55 while children 16 and under paid $35. New London and Groton residents paid $5 with proof of address.
Getting aboard takes some effort, so read this before booking.
- You balance on the boat’s edge and climb a ladder to the platform.
- Sandals and flip-flops are not allowed, so wear sneakers or deck shoes.
- Trips follow high tide, so times can shift with the weather.
Why Stratford Point Stays Behind The Gate
Stratford Point Light has stood at the mouth of the Housatonic River since 1822, first with a 28-foot wooden tower and then, from 1881, with a 35-foot cast-iron one. It is still an active Coast Guard aid to navigation, so you cannot wander in on a normal day.
Its best-known story dates to 1871, when twelve-year-old Lottie Lillingston, alone at the light, relit the lamp after it went out and restarted the turning mechanism.
Visits happen at limited open houses, and the 2022 event took 25 people per slot, with the tower closed because of lead but the cottage and grounds open. Spring 2025 tours all sold out, and no 2026 date appeared in research for this article, so check the town’s tour page before you head over.
Pick Your Boat Trip For Next Summer
No 2027 dates were posted on the pages checked, so there is nothing to book yet. Here are the three groups to watch for new dates.
- Norwalk Seaport Association sells the Greens Ledge and Sheffield Island trip, which cost $110 per ticket in 2026.
- New London Maritime Society sells the Ledge Light trip, which cost $55 per adult in 2026.
- Town of Stratford hosts the Stratford Point open houses, with registration through its recreation department.
Norwalk tickets could not be refunded unless weather cancelled the sailing, so book only when the date is certain. Edinburgh has its own twist on the theme, a lighthouse ship turned hotel at the Port of Leith, with cabins named after Stevenson lighthouses.
Prices and dates here come from 2026 pages and may change, so confirm each one with the organizer before you buy. Once new dates go up, share your boarding time with Avon Limousine and ask for a price on the ride.
