Love lighthouses? So do I!
& lucky for us, the Cleveland area is home to 15+ of them! While some can only be viewed from afar or on a boat, there are plenty of others you can get right up close to! The list starts with downtown, then the west, followed by east side.
DOWNTOWN
Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Lighthouse
This is Downtown Cleveland’s main lighthouse that can be easily seen from Wendy Park, the old Coast Guard Station, or even Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The only way to get close to it is by boat.
Cleveland East Breakwater Lighthouse
This tiny lighthouse is definitely not a traditional one but if you’re viewing Harbor West, you’ll see this one, too!
Another small, non-traditional lighthouse that can only be viewed from afar or from a distance at Lakefront Nature Preserve or E 55 Marina.
WEST SIDE
This lighthouse is the first lighthouse to see heading west from Cleveland. It can be viewed from afar best from the Mile Long Pier. They do also offer cruises that will take you inside of it as well.
This lighthouse is one of the few that you can get right up close to as it sits right by Main Street Beach in downtown Vermilion.
This is a smaller lighthouse you can get a close view of from the fishing pier in downtown Huron.
This is not a traditional lighthouse but if you’re heading to Cedar Point, go check it out as it’s only accessible by paying for parking.
Sandusky Breakwater Lighthouse
This is also a small, non-traditional lighthouse that can be viewed from afar at Cedar Point.
My ABSOLUTE favorite lighthouse along Lake Erie. This is located at Marblehead Lighthouse State Park & is the largest lighthouse along Lake Erie that you can get right up close to. During the summer, they open it up for tours & you can go to see the beautiful view from up top.
This is probably the most adorable lighthouse along Lake Erie that you can get up close to. It’s much smaller than a traditional one but they also have dates during the summer where you can go inside of it.
Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial
Located in Put-in-Bay which requires a ferry ride, this lighthouse can be accessed up close. They also offer tours to climb to the top in the summer.
Another lighthouse to visit in Put-in-Bay. A nontraditional one but a lighthouse nonetheless & you can climb to the top when the building is open.
EAST SIDE
Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light
From Cleveland, this is the first lighthouse along Lake Erie heading east. It is most accessible by heading to Headland Dunes State Nature Preserve or Headlands Beach State Park. The nature preserve is a little closer. You’ll follow a boardwalk path to the beach & the lighthouse is to the right. You can see it from a view or walk the beach to get a closer look.
Fairport Harbor Marine Museum & Lighthouse
This lighthouse is also in Fairport Harbor right in town! It is attached to a museum you can visit for free when they’re open. I do believe they also have days & times you can climb up to the top but I couldn’t find concrete info on that. I’d recommend checking out the website. This lighthouse is still great to view & take pics of while you’re in town.
The Ashtabula Lighthouse can only be viewed from afar or by boat/kayak. I am not 100% certain if they ever have boat tours but it is far from shore. The best view to get a glimpse of it is at Lake Shore Park in Ashtabula. This park is worth a visit in itself as the grounds are beautiful with some animals to see & a playground right by the lake.
Conneaut West Breakwater Lighthouse
Ohio’s farthest east lighthouse is in Conneaut, which is very close to the Pennsylvania border. This lighthouse can be viewed from Conneaut Harbor Boat Ramp or Conneaut Township Park. It’s a small lighthouse & very much at a distance at both locations. Conneaut Township Park includes a beach with an accessible boardwalk path. There is also a playground.
