You can visit Nubble Lighthouse year-round as a multi-season attraction. Your destination is York, Maine, and Cape Neddick. Follow your phone’s GPS, or look for signage for the lighthouse once you arrive in York. One of the biggest draws is its easy access, with its own free parking lot.

It’s open 24/7, and I’ve arrived at dawn, during the day, or at sunset for nighttime shots, and I’ve always been happy. I even got engaged there! But that is another story…

The Lighting of Nubble Lighthouse

You’ll notice in the first and last images that in the first shot at Christmas, the Lighthouse and other buildings are all lit up for Christmas. Photographers from all over will show up to get the Christmas lights lit, and I will warn you now, the parking lot can fill to overflowing. If you run into this, you may have to drive down to Long Sands Beach and pay for parking down there and walk the 1.2 miles back to the lighthouse (yes, I’ve done it! and got a ticket for assuming they don’t ticket after dark, WRONG).

If you arrive between July to later in August you may find the lighthouse lit up for a special “Christmas in July” celebration during York Days, (If you’re visiting in summer, don’t miss York Days (usually the first weekend of August) for the rare Christmas in July lighting)

During the summer (April 29th through October 18th, varies) If you arrive with an appetite, on the side of the parking lot is Fox’s Lobster Restaurant. Fried seafood and lobster rolls to enjoy at their picnic tables.

Winter Magic: The Christmas Lights and Full Moon

The Christmas lights are lit on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving annually and will be on from dusk to dawn until late January/early February. Many photographers will choose this time to come and photograph the lighthouse with snow on the ground. My shot below was when we didn’t have any snow, but I wasn’t going to not take the shot.

As the night sky envelops the landscape, the Nubble Lighthouse stands proudly, its classic white structure accentuated by the vibrant glow of Christmas lights adorning its exterior. This display is a rare spectacle, reserved for this particular night and the Christmas holiday, creating a magical ambiance against the backdrop of the darkening sky.

Pro tip: Remember that you will not be the only one there at this magical time. As cold as it will be, there will most likely be a fair number of people there. The best time for few to no people will be at dawn. Late afternoon to sunset is easy, so you will share it with more people.

Romantic Rhythms: Valentine’s Day at the Nubble

The heart was part of a nationwide “Floral Art Project” to create a COVID-19 memorial, and added a white heart to the red oil house in front of the lighthouse in 2021. It doesn’t appear to be a permanent event, so it was just a matter of right place, right time.

Spring Awakening: A Drone’s View in May

For the big picture, I love the view I get from my drone. It provides a view most people will never see themselves. Since I have my Part 107 certification, I’m also allowed to sell my images from my Mavic 3 Pro. It provides high-resolution images, which equate to high-quality prints.

You can see between the drone image above and below that I can photograph Nubble Lighthouse year-round, whether with my drone or from the Sohier Park parking lot. I also have an article on my other blog titled: A Perfect October Day in Kittery, Maine: Lighthouses, Lobster Rolls & Leaf-Peeping, and this will talk about other lighthouses and places of interest along Maine’s coast.

Although the weather wasn’t ideal, the winds were light, so I launched my drone and managed to capture some beautiful winter shots. I had to land quickly, however, as I needed to stand outside my car to keep an eye on the drone. Consequently, I found myself as cold as the drone, and the temperature was below freezing..

Summer Serenity: Golden Hour and Azure Skies

Other Locations to get a view of Nubble Lighthouse Year-Round

Two other locations to capture unique views of Nubble are from Long Sands Beach to the south of Nubble and the Shore Road to the north of the lighthouse. My first image was when a full moon was rising, and Lisa and I stopped for dinner at the Sun and Surf Restaurant. We came out, and I saw the moon rising. I quickly set up my tripod and shot this unusual point-of-view of the lighthouse, compressing the distance between the moon and the lighthouse to make the moon seem giant-sized.

The second image was from Shore Road. You take Main Street (which is 1A) north after leaving Nubble. You won’t have a view for a while, but when you see the Cape Neddick Lobster Pound, you should start to slow down, and the view of the lighthouse will be on your right.

There were two buildings and an empty parking lot on the west side of the road. You might be able to park there and walk back across the road to get your shot.

Nearby Places to Visit

Long Sands & Short Sands Beach: Just a few minutes from the Nubble, these beaches offer two distinct vibes. Long Sands is perfect for that classic “endless horizon” shot, while Short Sands is tucked into the downtown area with a backdrop of Victorian-style storefronts.

The Goldenrod: A trip to York isn’t complete without watching the Goldenrod taffy machines in the window. It’s a summer staple that has been serving saltwater taffy since 1896—great for “lifestyle” photography.

Wiggly Bridge & Steedman Woods: Located near York Harbor, the Wiggly Bridge is often called the smallest suspension bridge in the world. It leads into Steedman Woods, offering a peaceful, wooded contrast to the rocky Atlantic coast.

Mount Agamenticus: For photographers who want a literal bird’s-eye view without launching a drone, drive to the summit. On a clear day, you can see the Isles of Shoals and even the White Mountains of New Hampshire

Cape Neddick Lobster Pound Restraunt: If you do take that drive north on the Shore Road, stop at the Cape Neddick Lobster Pound and catch a great meal and step out back to get a shot of their building completely covered with lobster buoys.

Jeff “Foliage” Folger Photographer & New England Fall Foliage Guide

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