Fort Williams Park

This was my first time visiting this park and Portland Head Light! Had a great time walking around and photographing the lighthouse through the smoke and fog on a beautiful 80° morning. Also enjoyed a great Caprese Sandwich and a Maine Blueberry Soda from the Bite Into Maine Food Cart! I was very okay with the $6 parking fee for the minimum 2 hours. Downtown parking was $20 more for the same two hours or $25 for all day parking where available.

My friends and I were so excited to see some Maine things and because of the weather it was pretty impossible to happen. We actually ended up calling a lift and her driver took us to this place as a surprise and we were so excited that we were able to see this place. It was so beautiful and definitely a good place to go to if you want to see some real Maine nature. I would definitely say check this place. It'll take lots of pictures. You can do family photos here. You can do visiting photos here. There's so much to do in this big part. It is huge! They did also have a ice cream place but it was closed probably because it was like 40° and then they also had a lobster roll place. But we didn't go check that out. But at least there is some spots there that you can have snacks and lunch.

Definitely worth a visit despite the cloudy weather. The lighthouse is the highlight with spectacular views of the ocean. Unfortunately the lighthouse isn’t open until June. Maybe next time. There’s also a cute little museum shop that isn’t open til June. A great area to bring family and friends for a picnic nearby or to walk on the trail. There are only a few parking spots nearby, otherwise you need to park further away. No wonder this place was a favorite of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to visit. Mine too!

Great, family-friendly park with concession stands for food and drinks. The lighthouse is easily accessible. No public trash cans, and the restrooms are porta-potties. Bring hand sanitizer.

Really nice park, with many places to walk around, enjoy the sunshine and take some pieces of history in. There's the lighthouse, a mansion (abandoned) and old fort. Playground for kids, and picnic tables near the water for a meal. Worth the trip - it was out of our way but I was so happy we made it there.

A well kept and beautiful park to visit. You can park and walk around, picnic, observe birds in the landscape to include shorebirds, and from here drive over to the Lighthouse. A nice place to visit while in the area and enjoy the scenery.

We spent 4 hours walking around ang still had more to see. Mansion, lighthouse, pond, monarch butterfly observatory, bluebird houses, children gardens, off leash dog walking area, well placed picnic tables, we'll marked buildings to learn history, amazing views.

Great park with plenty of areas to walk/run or just lounge around. On a busy day there are tons of people around the lighthouse area. There are a few playground areas set up in the area with easy access to rest rooms and benches as needed. The views are absolutely great

On Mother's Day Sunday, Tony Vanoy Noël Teel Calliope & I visited the Head Lighthouse located in Fort Williams Park in Portland Maine It was free to enjoy the Lighthouse itself is closed to the public. Season doesn't begin until Memorial Day! Because of my handicap plaquard we didn't have to pay fee for parking! We strolled the baby around the park, the cliffs and rock overlooks & the Lighthouse! It was extremely windy & cold! But even still it was a lovely sunny day!

A definite when in Portland. Beautiful lighthouse and interesting history. Please note that there is nowhere to throw trash. You Carry In - You Carry Out. Plan for that. Idea: take an Uber there and get dropped off right at the lighthouse!

Recent Fathers Day visit on a beautiful day. Dog friendly with a leash. Food trucks. Pay to park (10.00 ) for 4 hours. Clean port a potty's. Immaculate grounds. You can walk up to the Fort which has a fence so you can't go inside. Everywhere you walk is easy even for individual s with disability or wheelchair bound. Even with the crowds there was plenty of seating everywhere we walked. Can walk down to the water, some kids were in the water. Beach area was all rock Upper level is Portland Head light which you can also walk too. They also have a trolley going back and forth. Accommodating for everyone of all ages

Great park to visit for the lighthouse, walking paths, and food truck! Paid parking, but very reasonable.

Fort Willams Park is a 90-acre park in Cape Elizabeth, Maine and has numerous historical sites. Fort Williams Park is famous for having the Portland Head Light on its grounds, and the park also houses the decommissioned and largely demolished United States Army post Fort Williams, which was operational during World War I and World War II. Fort Worth Park has trails to walk and there are different parts of the park you can enjoy. The park also has a variety of food trucks so if you're hungry you don't have to worry about leaving the park. Additionally, there is a bus provided in the park to take a tour. The park has a scenic view and the park is free but you do have to pay for parking.

Beautiful on any day. Highly recommend visiting! Walk around the lighthouse to see such beautiful views of the water & rocks

Maine. Fort Williams Park is spread across more than 90 acres of recreational area, providing visitors with a plethora of activities to indulge in. You pay for parking - a minimum of 2 hours - and you can easily spend an entire day here. Go for a walk, have a picnic, bring your outdoor games and more - a really great place to visit to get a true "MAINE" experience!

A must see when in the area as demonstrated by the large number of people in and around the lighthouse, but there is so much more including trails and historical sites to be seen.

Kind of a bummer. We literally just wanted to run up the hill, take a picture and leave. You have to pay for parking. I feel like it used to be free when I lived here. And the minimum time is 2 hours for $5.00 I don't think we were here longer than 15 minutes. We used the porta potty and took our pictures and we left. Not $5.00 worth, and didn't take us 2 hours. Would be nice if you could pick your times in 30 min increments at the very least.

Very serene park numerous trails and lighthouses. It's very family oriented. A lobster roll is never more than 10 miles away! I dug it!

This park in Cape Elizabeth, but a short drive from Portland's city center, features the Portland Head Light, a legacy lighthouse near a rocky beachfront that's quintessentially New England. There's also a lot of recreational area in the park, at least two lobster roll food trucks during the day, and a variety of parking lots. I imagine this is a fantastic place to take kids, dogs, etc. Definitely pay for parking, even if you're not going to be there for long, to save a citation.

Great park with nice trails and view of the headlight. Was a little disappointed in the amount of trash I saw - do better, visitors! The park is crazy busy on weekends and can be overcrowded and hard to enjoy to its fullest potential.

You can find Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth at 1000 Shore Rd, 04107. There are several dedicated parking lots, I think the best way to take in the park is to use the lot closest to the entry then walk to the lighthouse via one of the many trails or roads. The park has several stages of development going on, phased in over years - quite the project and worthy of the scenic landscape. The ultimate destination for tourists is the lighthouse - I have it reviewed in a dedicated Yelp page for Portland Light. Once you've experienced the lighthouse, lightkeeper's house and gift shop walk to the native garden as its well worth seeing - pleasant and fragrant walk due to the flowers. The air here is terrific. You can extend your walk into a hike using the well marked paths.

Cape Elizabeth, Maine is home to Fort Williams Park and Portland Head Light. So history: constructed in 1787 and served through both World War I and World II, Fort Williams was finally decommissioned in 1962. Fort Williams and the surrounding acreage were purchased by the Town of Cape Elizabeth just two years later, in 1964. The former army post is now home to a 90-acre park featuring picnic facilities. small trail- the Cliff Walk begins (or ends, depending on where you start) at Portland Head Light. The .4 mile, one-way gravel trail is rated "easy", Views of Ram Island Ledge Light and Casco Bay Islands can be seen on a clear day. The park includes picnic sites, grills, playing fields, tennis courts, a playground, a beach, sledding hills, historic buildings, and the oldest lighthouse in Maine. It is open year-round, from sunrise to sunset. Dogs are allowed on leash, aside from designated off-leash sections.

Beautiful park to walk around and enjoy of fresh air. Highly reckmend d to gist if you are around. Also there is a Pie truck to offer homemade pie and ice cream made with local fruity.

Beautiful and iconic park since 1964. This is a MUST visit if you are in the area. To be here on a sunny 70 degree day was a gift from the Heavens! Spend an hour enjoying this park and you'll see why the locals love hanging out here! The lighthouse is just one of the attraction. The former gun emplacements are kind of cool to my Army background mind. The coast and crashing waves are by far, the star! The fresh sea air, the sun light and the views refreshed and added years to me!

A beautiful park that is located not too far from the downtown Portland area. There are tons of little trails that are not strenuous at all located throughout the park. Additionally, there is ample parking although you do have to pay for parking (not an outrageous fee). There is the wonderful Bite Into Maine lobster truck located just off the overflow parking lot but there is another lobster truck and gelato/ice cream option right by the lighthouse. The lawns are well maintained and there are beautiful flowers throughout. You could spend at least an hour walking through all the paths and exploring each area of the park. The lighthouse itself is gorgeous, and looks very well maintained for being the oldest lighthouse in Maine! There is a little museum shop and I believe you could go inside the bottom of the lighthouse.

The lighthouse is beautiful, the views and the gardens are magnificent. The park is big and there are so many areas that you can just sit and relax or bring a blanket & a book and just have a laxed afternoon. But I mostly enjoyed seeing the forts and its history and touring the grounds. And you have to be careful not to miss small details. They have a few picnic tables that I seen. I also seen a pie truck which I thought was adorable. There was another truck up above by the parking lot but honestly I'm not sure if it was food or ice cream. There is plenty of parking but it is paid parking, please take note, no matter where you park. There's a meter at the entrance or use the app. They have a children's area and other amenities we did not enter or take part in. It's a great place to spend the day or morning/afternoon. I did not view the sunset from here but I'm pretty sure this would be a phenomenal spot.

I can't believe how much Fort Williams has changed commercially over the past 20 years. Parking is most definitely not free anymore! I remember driving right up to the lighthouse and parking for free back when I first visited. Now you spend 20 minutes looking for parking and another 5 waiting for a limited number of working kiosks to free up to pay for your spot. From there you've got anywhere from a 7-10 minute walk up to the lighthouse, dodging the crowds, cars, and folks lined up to get food at any number of foodie carts along the way. Is all that necessarily bad? No, quite frankly the grounds are better kept now even with all the extra traffic and the park and the lighthouse probably needs the additional funds for maintenance. The fact is all these foodie carts keep folks onsite and there is certainly enough room to roam the lighthouse and the surrounding fort, of course that means parking turnover is lower which will require you to circle a bit more looking for a place to park. But that's a small price to pay to keep this treasure well maintained for years to come. Pro Tip, be careful of the poison ivy on the less travelled pathways!

My friend from Cape Elizabeth told me to stop at Fort Williams Park when I asked for recommendations for the area. I parked outside of the park for free. The gate leading to the park was locked, but someone inside opened it for me. The park and the lighthouse were beautiful! If you're looking for picturesque views of Maine, look no further. There is also a cute little gift shop and a museum, the latter of which I didn't go to.

First time going to this place, there is parking there. Plenty of it you do have to pay it is dog friendly on leash only. They do have one to two food trucks for food, but don't allow any public trash cans. Carry in and carry out. A lot of open space to walk and see the gorgeous sights. Staff helpful and friendly. No dogs on soccer fields. Free to get into the park!

Bottom Line: A large park with scenic views of Casco Bay and home to the iconic Portland Head Light. Fort Williams Park is 90 acres of open space bordering Casco Bay and named for the United States Army post Fort Williams which previously sat on this site. There are still a few remnants of the fort which which was active during both World War I and II. My husband and I visited the park for three reasons - 1) to see the Portland Head Lighthouse, 2) to eat at the Bite Into Maine food truck and 3) to enjoy the scenic Casco Bay. The remnants of the stone circa 1850s Goddard Mansion is also supposed to be a neat site but we only saw it from the distance. The park has various trails that meander throughout and in a back corner there is an off leash area for dogs. In addition to the Bite Into Maine food truck there was another lobster roll food truck and Gorgeous Gelato food truck. If you're planning to picnic know that the park is a pack in and pack out park. In other words, there are not any trash cans or recycling bins so plan to take your rubbish with you. Also, there are not any bathrooms - just a few porta potties.

Fort Williams Park is an incredibly large 90 acre park along Casco Bay in Cape Elizabeth. When I think of Maine, I instantly think of lighthouses. This picturesque park is home to Portland Head Light, which is the oldest lighthouse in Maine and also the most photographed lighthouse in the US. This lighthouse has been been in operation since 1791. Fort Williams Park was once a former military installation. Close by the lighthouse is Battery Blair, which was part of the Harbor Defense of Portland during WWII until the end of 1943. Unfortunately the guns were transferred elsewhere but you can still see the 2 story battery and read about the history on the numerous of plaques/ signs. On another part of the park, you can visit Goddard Mansion. This stone mansion, well what is left of it, was built businessman John Goddard. In 1900, the army acquired this mansion and was used as housing. After 1962, when it was no longer in use by the army, it fell in disrepair and was burned in 1981. When you visit it, you will only see the shell or frame of the home that still stands. Unfortunately parking is not free but it is only $1.50 for 2 hours, which is not very expensive. However, if you are lucky and if it is the right timing you may be able to find free parking right by the lighthouse, as there are very few spots available here. You will also find the handicap parking (free as well) here for those that need it. My husband, our little girl dog and I decided to visit this park when we were visiting Maine for the first time 2 months ago (this park is perfect for dogs with plenty of grass to roam free and mark territory). Because we went at the beginning of November, it was quite cold and windy (especially since this beautiful park is along the coast). Worth a visit if you are visiting the area for the first time and see beautiful views of Casco Bay.

If you are in the area, consider stopping by Fort Williams park for some of the best views! We expected to see a nice view of the lighthouse, but this was so much more! Could have spent all day here.

Beautiful park! The light house and view are breathtaking. There is an abundance of parking. We rode our bikes as did many others. Beautiful paths along the cliffs and through the parks. Many dogs running around with their owners close by. Overall, just a happy and relaxed place.

The busiest of the lighthouses along the Maine coastline, this one is completely accessible as it is the centerpiece of the massive Fort Williams Park. There is plentiful parking though I would imagine it gets quite busy during high season. Parking must be paid at a pay station and I would guess that the Cape Elizabeth are vigilant about it as a revenue generator. YMMV. Once parked, the park is massive with playgrounds, tennis, pickleball and multiple walking trails. There is of course the fort to check out with many captions and explanations. And you wouldn't want to miss the lighthouse itself. Much of the "Cliff Walk" is smooth enough though I don't know if it is all accessible. Polished dirt trails and a few steps here and there. Some of the fences have gates so that if you want to risk life and limb, you can climb down to get a better picture of the lighthouse. I chose not to. [Review 14909 overall, 411 of 2021, number 91 in Maine.]

Wow this park is so beautiful and today was the perfect weather to take it all in. The park is huge! And it's very clean and well-kept. There is plenty of parking but you pay at the meter. Because of COVID, the lighthouse is closed and so was this little ice cream shop. There's a cliff trail you can walk by the water and there is also a big open area where you can have dogs unleashed. There are also a number of picnic tables scattered around.

Gorgeous park area to spend a quick 30-60 minutes. The entire campus has a few different 'park' areas and you do have to pay for parking, but it was maybe $1.50 for 2 hours. Not too bad. We came specifically to see the lighthouse which unfortunately you can't go inside, but was cool to see nonetheless. One the placards mentioned George Washington had either used it or commissioned it! There are some trails and paths around the lighthouse to walk down to the rocks and water, or in the bushes. There's a small museum in front of the lighthouse (you have to pay admission to we skipped this) and a gift shop. There are also a few food trucks outside if you get a hankering. We walked down the rocks to the shore (be careful, definitely a bit slippery) and sat for a while, listening to the waves crashing. They occasionally make the round stones roll under the water which makes an awesome sound (especially if you're an ASMR fan like me!) Only downside is the safety horn that blows about every 30 seconds so *not* the best place to do yoga or relax. Definitely some picturesque views while walking around the park, the lighthouse included.

October 2022 This was our first stop when departing the airport. Late October, Wednesday afternoon - store and museum were closed. Got some great pictures of the lighthouse but did not walk around a great deal. Had to pay for parking Quite a few tour buses Several Food Trucks Great stop #Recommended #VickieTravelz

Fort Williams Park was busy even on a blustery spring day, so I can imagine just how crowded - and GOOD - the place is during the summer months. It's very walkable and very dog friendly. The shore views, rock formations, and lighthouse are definitely photo worthy. Parking starts at $5 for 2 hours and is worth it. Be sure to explore as much of the park as you can manage.

My pup and I had the best day spent at Ft Williams park! It's the most well known lighthouse in Maine. For how many people were there, there is so much space to make it not feel overly crowded. Parking is paid. A bunch of lots to choose from and all have convenient pay stations. Must pay before entering, have your license plate info handy and a credit card. There is a food truck and gift shop, but I brought my own water and snack bars. It's mainly a carry in carry out park, so be prepared and don't litter! There are a dozen outhouses near the parking area. Our favorite area was definitely the leash free area. Huge area to throw a ball around and a couple different paths to explore. There is one trash can to dispose of poo bags near the front of the leash free area by the drinking station. There was bowl there under the spout, but I came prepared with her own bowl. There is a rocky beach area that's not to swim in. Nearby is a cool area to climb rocks are enjoy the water. We easily spent the day here. There are SO many areas to walk around, I believe we logged around 6 miles!

Gorgeous park! Parking isn't free but isn't really that expensive and we spent around an hour in the park on the way out of town. Plenty of places to sit and picnic; they have some onsite food spots too but beware, Bite of Maine always has a long line. Wish they had some real bathrooms but porta pottys it is. Beautiful views and areas to walk- I even bought some art from someone painting near the parking lot. Definitely worth a stop! Only thing I would advise is beware that it seemed to be a deadspot for cell service both for Verizon and AT&T- know your exit strategy before leaving as our GPS on our phones wouldn't work for about 2-3 miles out of the park.

Driving south from Acadia decided to see the Lighthouse in Portland, Maine. The 90 acre park in Cape Elizabeth encompasses numerous historical sites. The famous Portland Head Light completed in 1791, is the oldest in Maine. Goddard Mansion is a prominent ruin built in 1853. A fort used by the US Army operated from 1872 to 1964.

I suppose as a former local who lived in the Portland area for over 30 years, I should put on my Disgruntled Local hat and wax poetically about how they have commercialized this gorgeous and unspoiled place. But you will not find that attitude here. We came here as part of our trip north to visit friends and family because a relative was attending a group picnic. It was overcast when we arrived at 9:30 a.m. and found a parking spot easily near the foot of the hill where the covered picnic area is located. (Always reserved well in advanced.) It costs $2 an hour to park, paid by credit card at a little kiosk, and we needed 3 hours. So six dollars is no more than a trip to a state or national park. The view is of course marvelous from the top of that hill, or from numerous other spots here and there on the grounds. By the time we left after our three hours, the sun was out and the place was crazy busy with cars crawling through the lots looking for a space, like at a mall before Christmas. Our space was swallowed up instantly when we left. If I were living in the area again I wouldn't come at the busiest times like this, and in fact one of our most memorable visits was in the winter with snow in my pictures. We know too many other lovely spots that are less busy. But neither am I going to begrudge the city making a few dollars in parking fees. If it prevents a few people from cruising in, smoking a few cigarettes and dropping trash out their window, I say go for it. And the $2 admission for the little museum doesn't seem excessive either. Having said that, since it seems to be a world class tourist spot these days, perhaps they should invest in a world class rest room building. Just saying.

Decided to enjoy yesterday's very warm weather (80 degrees in October wow!), so I took my dog to Fort Williams. It was so beautiful and a great reminder of why I love living here. Although there were lots of tour buses, it never felt crowded. It actually felt pretty peaceful. There's food trucks, picnic tables and tons of grassy spaces to sit and enjoy the views. Of note, there are lots of porta-pottys, so you should go before you arrive if you're not a fan of them. If your visiting Portland, this is a must see!

Oh my God I can't say enough about how beautiful this park is. The views and the history of this place is amazing! I loved the history signs and the park has beautiful walking paths along the water front. The lighthouse is probably the highlights of this park and one of the prettiest I've ever seen! There is paid parking available and the park has bathrooms available as well. There is plenty of place to sit, play tennis, walk and take in the scenic beauty of the bay and the crashing wages of the Maine shoreline. I had a difficult time leaving and I can't wait to come back again someday

Beautiful seaside park with a lighthouse and cliff walk and during this time of Covid plenty of spacing between people outside. Nice walkways, dog friendly, good for all ages, food trucks, artists, museum for nominal fee, gift shop, forts to explore. No trash or recycling to be found however.

Having landed in Portland Maine on a perfect fall day with time to spare before dinner, this was a natural destination for us to take in the seaside. It's all very 'Maine.' Lots of pretty views here, and the token photo is the one with the lighthouse in the background on the rocky seaside bluffs. You can meander around a small trail and explore a bit, or if you're less mobile, you can get to the lighthouse and back with ease. There were people picking rosehips from bushes to make for tea, photographers stationed all around on a crystal clear day, and a fun little gift shop where we had to talk my kiddo out of a multi-colored stuffed fish. The drive there from downtown Portland was nice too, crossing over a scenic bridge and through the beautiful New England style homes on a wooded road. This may sound like something a kid would say but... I'm still fascinated by travel and the fact that we could go from Missouri to seaside lighthouses in a handful of hours, and it really kicked off our journey into beautiful Maine.

The park itself is very nice. However, they need to change how they monitor parking. In the time it took me to walk the short distance to the kiosk from my car, stand in line to pay, and return to my car to place the slip on my dash, I was ticketed. Now, after paying for parking, I have to dispute a $33 parking fine. Not very visitor friendly.

First time here came from Boston. This view was absolutely beautiful. We came here on a sunny day. People were flying kites. A lot of parking spots. We paid $2/hr for 2 hours. Ate dinner over here too. We got the lobster rolls from bite into Maine( closed at 6). The water was super clear and blue.

Great views, lots of history, and a friendly staff that is very knowledgeable and helpful. The staff was never in a hurry to get away from customers and offered interesting facts and trivia about the lighthouse and it's operational history. The grounds are very well maintained as are the buildings. Take the time to talk to the staff as you tour the museum ($2 adults, $1 kids) and view the history of Fort Williams!

We visited on a cloudy, windy morning in August. The park has beautiful views of the ocean and Lighthouse. The ocean was rough and quite a sight to see smashing into the rocks. Walking around the old bunkers was very cool too. I think we spent a couple hours just wandering around. There is a nice area you can swim and we were prepared for it but the weather didn't cooperate.

This place is absolutely stunning. A great spot to visit during CoVid as there is plenty of space to socially distance while enjoying the beautiful scenery and the path along the cliff. There were a few people who weren't wearing masks but that is definitely not the establishments fault. The views of the ocean and lighthouse are absolutely breathtaking and there is even a spot open where you can climb down the rocks and get closer to the ocean. We parked at a seperate gate where my GPS had guided me and the parking was actually free, however there were only about 5 spots in total there. Overall I highly recommend stopping by if you are in the Portland area. It's a great place for a day trip.

It's so cliche to go to visit lighthouses while in New England but that didn't deter me from visiting this one. I love the landscape and sight of them juxtaposed to the cliffs and ocean. Growing up in Massachusetts, I didn't often visit lighthouses or have much or an appreciation for them but I'm so glad I visited this beautiful headlight. It was probably the prettiest lighthouse that I've ever seen. Four other lighthouses are also visible from this point. The park was nicely maintained and expansive. There is expansive sidewalk and coastal area for visitors to traverse. The Portland Headlight lighthouse is beautiful. I love the history behind it-George Washington commissioned it to be built and it was completed in 1791. The Lightkeeper's cottage is a nice size and has cute architecture. A Lightkeeper lived there until 1986, while was probably when the light was replaced with newer technology and automated. The cliff walk is awesome and I enjoyed trekking up and down it. The walk affords its visitors nice vistas from which to take pictures. There are nice landscaped areas as well as picnic benches to relax and enjoy the scenery while noshing or resting. There is also the remains of a mansion and a fort that we did not explore due to time constraints. The park also boasts tennis courts. This park is a carry on/carry off area devoid of trash receptacles. Keep it clean and respect the environment. When we were there we picked up refuse we found along the route we traveled left by visitors. Not cool. Keep it clean, yo! There is a gift shop with Maine-centric merchandise. Gorgeous Gelato (a local Portland favorite) has a truck there and there is an outstanding lobster roll trailer, Bite Into Maine, situated on top of a hill to the right of the lighthouse area (honestly, the lobster rolls are wicked good). Did I mention that this park is FREE? Donations are happily accepted and gently encouraged. I don't think you will disappointed by a visit here. As it was foggy while we were here the views were still beautiful and striking and I took some great pictures. I look forward to returning when the visibility is better. :)

Fort Williams Park is beautiful, even on a rainy day. There is a fee for parking if you're planning to stay long. I think that 30-60 minutes is enough time here. There's not much to see other than the lighthouse and waves crashing onto the shore. It's a very clean park with lots of history. Overall, nice quick stop if you have time to kill.

Beautiful park to visit. Free entry. Great views. Gorgeous light house. Bring picnic because they have lots of picnic benches overlooking the bay!! Highly recommend for about 3-4 hour scenic hiking.

I love this park at any time of year, even when it is windy and below freezing. There is something about the location and the views that just makes my heart happy. We take family and friends that visit us - no matter what time of year. It is almost always windy, so be sure to bring your coat - even in the summer, especially for the out of town visitors not used to Maine weather. There are plenty of areas to park and there are closer spots for those with handicap permits. There is also a drop off zone as well - please don't try to "sneak" park there, it's dangerous for pedestrians and those needing easy access. This is a popular spot for picture taking as well. We have seen casual photos, serious and professional photographers and photo shoots happening at any given time. Have a picnic, take a quick hike, take some pictures and take a deep breath and take in all of the nature! I highly recommend this place be on your destination check list. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Beautiful! We arrived and only got to see the lighthouse from a distance, because a storm rolled in and the sky got pretty dark and you could hear the thunder. So, we will definitely be back to explore this whole place. We did however drive around to see some of the forts and picnic areas, lighthouse and other buildings, but I need to come back and explore this place. It does have allot of picnic tables and pathways and a swing for the kiddos, so will be back.

I'm surprised that Yelp has Fort Williams and Portland Headlight as two separate things. As a local, I don't see them that way; when you're at one, you're basically at the other. Unless you're intentionally trying to ignore that giant white spire that's flashing light out to the sea and blasting it's fog horn every minute. Fort Williams is a lovely, charming place to bring your family and dog (who doesn't love a swing set or a good trail to meander on?), your friends to skip rocks or for a dip in the ocean (the "beaches" are quite small especially when the tide is in, but definitely manageable if you can brave our Atlantic temps), or your significant other for a picnic (SO. MANY. LUCOUS. GREEN. ROLLING. HILLS. What is this, Ireland?; there are picnic tables and grills, too). If you're the exploring type, you can climb in, around, and on some unfortunately graffitied forts... you can't, however, get inside the Goddard Mansion anymore (I mean, you could try, but there's a giant fence warning against such chavvy behavior). Also - as others have mentioned - it's free and there's loads of parking (two things that can be hard to find in Ye Olde Greater Portlandtown). And, again, it's a positively breathtaking spot to take folks who are generally landlocked or big city dwellers to; absolutely worth coming to at least once in your life (and, if you're fortunate enough to be a local, then as many times as you possibly can when it isn't tourist season, as we all know it can get obscenely busy here June to August).