Nauset Lighthouse

My husband and I visited Nauset Lighthouse on 10-31-25. The beach area was so clean and beautiful. I was so lucky to find some special rocks that someone had painted. It made me smile, and yes I took one. The lighthouse was beautiful and well taken care of. Definitely a great place to visit and have lunch. Maybe even go swimming 😳 . There was no charge to visit the lighthouse or beach area when we went, due to the Government shutdown. The bathrooms were not open during our visit.

Once you arrive at the lighthouse by car, you have to pay around $20 for the large parking lot with clean restrooms. The clerk said that the parking ticket was valid for all parking spaces with beach access for that day. The beautiful lighthouse makes a perfect Instagram motif, with the famous Cape Cod Chips brand. Here you'll also find one of the oldest transatlantic submarine cable stations and other small twin lighthouses. The path to the beautiful Nauset Light Beach leads through a beautiful coastal forest. Once you get down there, you'll be greeted by friendly beach patrols at the beach entrance. The beach has very fine sand, and here and there you'll find surfers with a decent swell. If you're lucky, you might see seals. But be careful: where seals swim, there are also the notorious predators, see the signs near the beach.

The iconic Nauset Lighthouse, is situated exactly in the Cape's mid point, in the Eastham, MA. During the off season the parking is free (during the season June to September it is $20), and the restrooms are closed. The lighthouse is easily accessible. You probably noticed this lighthouse on the famous New England Cape Cod's chips. You can walk down to the ocean, the beach is clean, the sand is so soft, and the water is so clean. We have even spotted a seal there. Near the Nauset Lighthouse, there is a trail to non working Three sisters lighthouses. You can walk there around 5 minutes, or you can drive there, as they have a small 30min free parking lot there.

Volunteers tell you the history of the lighthouse before you step inside. Then another guide tells you more when you reach the top. They bring up about 15 people at a time. No admission fee charged, but donations are encouraged. They have a prop Cape Cod Potato Chip bag to take photos with which was cool. Very nice people volunteering. Worth a stop.

We had a lovely time at Nauset Light on Cape Cod. It’s exactly the kind of place you imagine when you think of New England lighthouses. The red & white tower stands out beautifully against the sky, and walking toward it through dunes and scrub gives you that classic coastal vibe. The lighthouse has a rich history. It was originally built in 1877 and then moved to its current Eastham location in 1923. Over time it’s been relocated further from the eroding cliff edge to preserve it. The surrounding area is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore, and there’s Nauset Light Beach just below the cliffs. Take time to walk around, enjoy views from the dunes, maybe hit the beach afterward, and don’t forget your camera — this lighthouse is more than just a landmark; it feels like folklore come to life. Parking can fill up early in the day, so it’s good to arrive early.

We visited on a late Monday afternoon in mid-June 2025. There was plenty of parking in the parking lot. There was no one in the booth during our visit and no way to really pay. I wonder if they were understaffed and just couldn't put someone here. If you have the NPS Pass then you're good. We did sit ours on our dashboard just in case. But it's $25 per vehicle and $15 per person if you're walking or biking in. We were here to get our picture with our potato chip bag like many others were doing during our visit. We saw like 4 or 5 other groups looking to do the exact same time. You kind of unofficially wait in line for your turn. There are different angles you can time but to get the one perfectly with the photo on the chip bag you have to stand like in middle of the road. It was very picturesque in late evening. There are a few kiosks with signs and additional structures. We didn't have much time here so we didn't really explore more than just the light house and then moved onto the three sisters light houses. There is a trail here to walk down to the other light houses but it was easier just to walk back to our car and drive down the street. Overall we would probably visit again and explore more of the area and maybe actually hang out at the beach. It's too bad you can't go up into the light house.

Beautiful Lighthouse! Due to shore erosion, it was moved in 1996 about 300 feet inland. With its distinctive colors (white, red, black), it has been the logo on the bag of the Cape Cod Potato Chips since 1980.

Beautiful beach on Cape Cod National Seashore. What a national treasure. Everyone should visit and enjoy peace and relaxation. This lighthouse is the one on the Cape Cod potato chips bag.