Guide to Lighthouse Boat Tours
and Ferries in Connecticut

Sheffield Island light

Sheffield Island Lighthouse

(Heading Eastward)

Below is a list of boat tours and cruises that offer specific lighthouse cruises in addition to other cruises from Greenwich eastward to Groton, Connecticut, here in New England. You may find while some may offer specific lighthouse cruises, some will pass by specific lighthouses as part of charters, narrated wildlife and historic tours, ferrying passengers, fishing tours and other types of excursions. For additional convenience, you'll also find ferry info that provides access to some of the islands you will find lighthouses stationed. Enjoy!

Greenwich Parks Ferry
Provides ferry from Greenwich to the lighthouse and the surrounding grounds from the ferry dock. Call ahead to find where to purchase tickets.

100 Arch Street
Greenwich, CT
(203) 618-7672

Email: gnpnr@greenwichct.org 

Lighthouse: Great Captain Island Light

 

Norwalk Seaport Association
Provides ferry access to and from Sheffield Island from Norwalk, hosts events, and tours of Sheffield Island Lighthouse. Also provides special Norwalk Harbor cruises to view Pecks Ledge Light and Greens Ledge Light, and view Sheffield Island Light from the boat during the summer.  

4 North Water St  
Norwalk, CT 06854
(203) 838-9444

Lighthouses: Pecks Ledge Light, Greens Ledge Light, Sheffield Island Light

 

Maritime Aquarium
In addition to marine life study, seals, birding, and TGIF cruises, they offer a 3-hour Greens Ledge Lighthouse Tour, aboard their research vessel the Spirit of the Sound. It is the first vessel in the nation with quiet hybrid-electric propulsion. To celebrate National Lighthouse Day in early August, they have a 2.5 hour cruise around the Norwalk Islands to view the three lighthouses in the region.

10 North Water Street
Norwalk, CT 06854
Phone: (203) 852-0700

Lighthouses: Pecks Ledge Light, Greens Ledge Light and Sheffield Island Light

 

Charter My Sea Ray
For those who are looking for a private personal charter experience along Long Island Sound. As part of their Lighthouses Tour, they provide a close up view of Greens Ledge Light, Pecks Ledge Light, and Sheffield Island Light.

144 Water St.
Norwalk, CT 06854
Email: chartermysearay@yahoo.com
Phone: (203) 943-6946

Lighthouses: Pecks Ledge Light, Greens Ledge Light, Sheffield Island Light

 

 

Bridgeport - Port Jefferson Ferry
Although it does not provide access to Tongue Point Light, visitors can get fairly close photographs of this lighthouse.

330 Water Street Dock
Bridgeport, CT 06604
(631) 473-5138
(888) 44 – FERRY

Lighthouse: Tongue Point Light

 

Connecticut River Museum
In addition to exploring the museum, they provide lots of wildlife and eco tours on the RiverQuest, a 64-foot eco-tour boat. There are unique public day sails on a special replica of an Adriaen Block sailing vessel of 1614, the Onrust. They also offer a peaceful lighthouse cruise out of the mouth of the Connecticut River

67 Main Street Essex, CT 06426
Phone: (860) 767-8269 
Email: crm@ctrivermuseum.org

Lighthouses: Lynde Point, Old Saybrook Breakwater

 

Faulkner’s Light Brigade
In the early fall, there is an annual open house with a shuttle provided for the public to explore the grounds and lighthouse.

47 Driveway
Guilford, CT 06437
(203) 453-8400

Lighthouse: Faulkner Island Light

 

Argia Mystic Cruises
Offers day sails at 9:30 a.m., Noon, and 3:00 p.m. and sunset cruises aboard the 81-foot sailing schooner Argia, out of Mystic Connecticut.

Schooner Wharf
12 Steamboat Wharf
Mystic, CT 06355
Phone: (860) 536-0416

Lighthouses: Morgan Point, Mystic Seaport’s replica of Brant Point, North Dumpling (NY), Latimer Reef (NY),

 

Mystic Seaport
There is a river cruise aboard an old coal fired steamboat from the Mystic Seaport waterfront that also gets a very close view of New London Ledge lighthouse.

75 Greenmanville Ave, Mystic, CT 06355
Phone: (860) 572-0711
Email: info@mysticseaport.org

Lighthouse: New London Ledge Lighthouse

 

New London Maritime Society
Provides boat tours out to New London Ledge Lighthouse, and provides special lighthouse tours for small groups to climb the tower of New London Harbor Lighthouse. In August, they also provide two trips out to Race Rock Lighthouse in New York.
150 Bank St # L
New London, CT 06320
Email: nlmaritimesociety.org
Phone: (860) 447-2501

Lighthouses: New London Ledge Lighthouse, New London Harbor Lighthouse, and Race Rock Lighthouse (NY)

 

Cross Sound Cruises
Provdes lighthouse cruises between southeast Connecticut and Long Island Sound lighthouses; the Classic Lighthouse Tour, the Long Island Lights Tour, and the Lights and Sights Cruise.
2 Ferry St, PO Box 33, New London, CT 06320
OR
41270 Main Road, Orient Point, NY 11957
Phone: (860) 444-4620
Email: info@longislandferry.com

Lighthouses: Avery Point, New London Ledge Lighthouse, New London Harbor Light, Morgan Point Lighthouse, Watch Hill light (RI), Race Rock (NY), Little Gull (NY), and North Dumpling (NY), Bug (NY), Orient Point (NY), Latimer Reef (NY) and Plum Island (NY)

 

 

Block Island Express
Leaving out of New London, CT, and Orient Point, NY. From these two locations, they provide a fast ferry to Block Island in Rhode Island. They also promote special bicycle tours around Block Island.
Phone: (860) 444-4624 or (401) 466-2212 (Block Island)

 

Books to Explore

Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Southern New England:
Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts

This book provides special human interest stories from each of the 92 lighthouses in southern New England, along with plenty of indoor and outdoor coastal attractions you can explore, and of course, lighthouse tours.

Look inside!

book of lighthouses, tours, attractions, and contact information in southern New England

 

 

book of the rise and demise of the largest coal schooners

Available in paperback, hardcover, and as an eBook for all devices.

my ebook on apple books

Enjoy a -20% discount on the hardcover version. Published and distributed by IngramSpark.

The Rise and Demise of the Largest Sailing Ships: Stories of the Six and Seven-Masted Coal Schooners of New England

In the early 1900s, New England shipbuilders constructed the world’s largest sailing ships amid social and political reforms. These giants of sail were the ten original six-masted coal schooners and one colossal seven-masted vessel, built to carry massive quantities of coal and building supplies, and measured longer than a football field!

This book, balanced with plenty of color and vintage images, showcases the historical accounts that followed these mighty ships. These true stories include competitions, accidents, battling destructive storms, acts of heroism, and their final voyages.

 

 

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