The Lighthouse Circuit

Access, tours, hours, fees, and closures change often. Always verify with the official source before driving.

Tier 1

New Point Loma Lighthouse

Point Loma Light Station (1891)

San Diego · San Diego County · Southern California

The 'replacement' story — why the old lighthouse failed and how the new one solved the problem — is a compelling engineering narrative. Visible from Cabrillo NM.

Active aidPublic accesseasy
Labels
Tier 1–3
Editorial browse cues for prominence and context—not circuits, checklists, or achievements.
Active aid
The light currently serves navigation. It does not mean the tower, grounds, or interior are open to visitors.
Public / restricted access
Some approved visitor access versus a legal viewpoint, special arrangement, or no ordinary public entry. Always check the official guidance.
Flagship 12
The curated statewide circuit. It is separate from the editorial tier labels.

Your lighthouse passport

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Check in at New Point Loma Lighthouse to collect your digital stamp. Add your name if you like.

Lighthouse Circuit is here to inspire real visits. To collect a location-verified stamp, you’ll need to be at the lighthouse with location access enabled. Need help adding past visits? Email us and we’ll be happy to add them manually.

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From the field

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New Point Loma Lighthouse, the active Coast Guard aid at the peninsula's tip
Photo: U.S. Navy / PH2 Dutkiewicz· Public domain· Wikimedia Commons

Visit essentials

Access

drive-up (within Cabrillo National Monument; exterior view only)

Current hours

Visible during Cabrillo NM hours (daily 9am–5pm). Tower not open to public (active USCG).

Reservations

Not required

Fees

$20/vehicle (Cabrillo NM entrance fee)

Accessibility

Visible from road within Cabrillo NM. Tower interior not open to public.

The light

Year first lit

1891

Current structure built

1891

Tower height

70 ft

Focal plane

88 ft

Optic

Active LED beacon; original Fresnel lens removed

Light characteristic

Fl W 15s (flashing white every 15 seconds)

Stewardship & location

Owner

U.S. Coast Guard

Manager

USCG (tower); NPS Cabrillo National Monument (grounds)

Coordinates

32.6654, -117.2430 Map

The story

Built 1891 to replace Old Point Loma Lighthouse, which was too high and frequently obscured by fog. Located at lower elevation on the Point Loma headland. Active USCG aid to navigation.

The visit

Visible from road within Cabrillo NM. Tower not open. Best visited in combination with Old Point Loma Lighthouse.

Make a day of it

Base yourself in

San Diego

Food / coffee

Point Loma Seafoods, Mitch's Seafood

Stay nearby

Humphreys Half Moon Inn, downtown San Diego hotels

Nearby lighthouses

Old Point Loma Lighthouse at Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

★ Flagship 12

San Diego, Southern California

Tier 1InactivePublic accesseasy⚠ Verify

The oldest lighthouse structure on the West Coast and one of the most historically significant in the United States. Its deactivation story — too high, too foggy — is a foundational lesson in lighthouse engineering.

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Sources

Image rights: NPS images generally public domain. Wikimedia Commons has CC-licensed images.

Research confidence: high · Last verified 2026-05-13