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Virginia (VA)
Virginia Beach
Places to visit in Virginia Beach
Cape Henry Lighthouse
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Cape Henry Lighthouse

See all things to do
See all things to do
Cape Henry Lighthouse
4.5
#14 of 111 things to do in Virginia Beach
Historic SitesPoints of Interest & LandmarksLighthouses
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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About
Dune Restoration Project in Progress The dune at Cape Henry Lighthouse is currently undergoing restoration and the lighthouse tower is temporarily inaccessible for climbing. The project is expected to be completed in spring 2019. During construction, we will remain open with walking tours every hour from 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Cape Henry Lighthouse is the first federally funded public works project of the newly formed United States government. It was authorized by George Washington and overseen by Alexander Hamilton. The Lighthouse is situated near the “First Landing” site where English settlers first set foot on their way to settle in Jamestown. Built with the same Aquia sandstone as much of Washington, D.C, the lighthouse guided sea travelers to safety for almost 100 years. The distinctive black and white striped “New” Cape Henry Lighthouse was built in 1881 but remains closed to the public.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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See what travellers are saying
  • Lisa S
    11 contributions
    Lots of views
    Great views and neat self tour. Cool lighthouse! ***don’t forget your license *** You give your license for brochure and take a van to site… If you forget to turn in brochure…you won’t get your license back.. ..oops
    Visited August 2022
    Written 14 December 2022
  • GwensGramma
    Durham, North Carolina477 contributions
    Fascinating Historical site
    I was very interested in seeing the old Fort Henry Lighthouse near the First Landing of 1607 site. It is on the Fort Pillow military base so there is a guard station to go through before parking, entering a security building then boarding a shuttle bus to the building where we would pay and climb up 76 stairs to see it. Once up to the lighthouse there is a series of signs with the history as well as a spectacular view of the coast. After leaving the lighthouse /gift shop we walked over to the boardwalk to the actual First Landing site.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 3 June 2023
  • Millie R
    6 contributions
    Great view
    This lighthouse was built at the very beginning of the United States' existence. President George Washington authorized the funds to build it, and it was the first federally-funded project! The views of ships coming and going from Chesapeake Bay were great. Like all lighthouse, there's no elevator, so be prepared for a lot of steps. The biggest knock on this site is that it's on a military base and the security to get onto the base is pretty hard core, but go along with it and it's not a hassle.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 14 August 2023
  • Tina S
    9 contributions
    Dolphins, lighthouses, servicemen - what else could you ask for?
    Visited on one of the hottest, most humid days and it was still a great visit. Got to see a dozen dolphins playing from the overlook. Missed visiting the interior of the new one which we hated but that gives us a good reason to revisit!
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 20 August 2023
  • ANITA L
    Southwick, Massachusetts17 contributions
    We survived!
    ALOT of stairs, but worth it. went with my mother & aunt (in.their 80s) & daughter. we all made it to top , great view. they guide was very knowledgeable of history of . only surprise was its inside an active military base and had to go through a security registration process.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 4 October 2023
  • AndreJ
    Lakeshore, Canada19 contributions
    Worth the visit!!
    Very cool experience! You need to drive up to the gate to access. Park your car and shuttle will take you in. Easy process. Very historic tour of the light house. Open to walk up 700+ steps to the top. And walk in a limited area to the boardwalk. Worth the visit to see.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 25 October 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,300 reviews
Excellent
710
Very good
368
Average
143
Poor
35
Terrible
44
BobKPgh
Pittsburgh, PA214 contributions
You better like climbing steps.
Nov 2023 • Couples
The check in procedure to board the shuttle bus is over the top. You have to surrender your drivers license which they keep for a visitors pass to get on the bus. Then you have to sit and listen to threats of what will happen if you violate the rules. The bus drops you off at the gift shop where you can pay $10 to climb 191 steps to the top of the lighthouse. The outside of the historic lighthouse is surrounded by a dense thicket of underbrush so you can't get next to it for photo opportunities. The new lighthouse is off limits to visitors. There is a boardwalk to the beach but it is also off limits to visitors. There are signs threatening arrest for trespass if you are caught using the boardwalk. There are no signs pointing out where visitors could go to see the beach. I later found out that walking to the left of the boardwalk is a legal visitor area. This is not a very friendly place to visit.
Written 14 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
William A
6 contributions
Cape Henry lighthouse, surrounded by America’s finest
Oct 2023 • Couples
Well, I don’t wanna bust nobody’s bubble, but this lighthouse, though it is privately owned, is surrounded by a military base and it’s unannounced. I’m tell you arrive and pull up to the parking area, they take your ID check your vehicle out and wave you through to the guard shack, there you have the empty your pockets, and they use a wand to make sure you Have no metal on your person after that they give you a speech telling you that you’re not to leave the area of the lighthouse because all the property around it is federal property and you will be considered a trespasser if you veer off the private property of the lighthouse, it cost $10 for adults to have this great experience, and you walk up bunches of steps to get to the lighthouse and bunches of steps in the lighthouse and at the top is a ladder to climb to reach the overlook of the lighthouse.
Written 30 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndreJ
Lakeshore, Canada19 contributions
Worth the visit!!
Oct 2023 • Couples
Very cool experience! You need to drive up to the gate to access. Park your car and shuttle will take you in. Easy process.
Very historic tour of the light house. Open to walk up 700+ steps to the top. And walk in a limited area to the boardwalk. Worth the visit to see.
Written 25 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ANITA L
Southwick, MA17 contributions
We survived!
Oct 2023 • Friends
ALOT of stairs, but worth it. went with my mother & aunt (in.their 80s) & daughter. we all made it to top , great view. they guide was very knowledgeable of history of . only surprise was its inside an active military base and had to go through a security registration process.
Written 4 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Big Rob J
Peekskill, NY5 contributions
Turn Back Awful Experience
Sep 2023 • Couples
Unwelcoming, unfriendly, unwelcoming uninformative.

First off you suddenly find yourself a at an Army Checkpoint (had no idea) and are treated like an invading army. ID, chrck if car, a zillion rules and restrictions harshly barked at you. Then to the Check In statin. (30 feet away) where you get more if the same nasty attitude and treated as if your at best an annoyance and at worst an Enemy. Searched. More orders and rules barked at you and Warned (felt more like Threat) of Federal Prosecution if in anyway violate any of the hundreds of things they quickly Bark at you.
Bussed to area near the Lighthises which were not very impressive. We’re back on bus and out in 20 minutes.

Cannot over emphasize how unappealing, unfriendly and rotten sn experience this was. I’ve been too many many Lighthouses and NON were anywhere near as BAD an experience experience as this.

I also feel need to mention that I’m in General a very Pro Servicemen / Patriotic person - but the vast majority of the Personnel (probably 8 people total) we interacted with appeared unprofessional, unkempt and were the most unfriendly, unhappy, nasty attitude Military people I’ve have ever encountered. Disgraceful
Written 21 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tina S
9 contributions
Dolphins, lighthouses, servicemen - what else could you ask for?
Aug 2023 • Friends
Visited on one of the hottest, most humid days and it was still a great visit. Got to see a dozen dolphins playing from the overlook. Missed visiting the interior of the new one which we hated but that gives us a good reason to revisit!
Written 20 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Millie R
6 contributions
Great view
Aug 2023 • Family
This lighthouse was built at the very beginning of the United States' existence. President George Washington authorized the funds to build it, and it was the first federally-funded project! The views of ships coming and going from Chesapeake Bay were great. Like all lighthouse, there's no elevator, so be prepared for a lot of steps. The biggest knock on this site is that it's on a military base and the security to get onto the base is pretty hard core, but go along with it and it's not a hassle.
Written 14 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elaine
3 contributions
Denied entry
Aug 2023
Because my minor grandson did not have a picture ID. Where is it required to have a minor ID? I repeat
Written 12 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Albert W
295 contributions
Vacation stop
Jul 2023 • Couples
This is at fort story in Virginia Beach have your i d ready it’s on a military base a bus will take and bring you back nice gift shop it’s $10 admission and $14 if you climb you can wear sandals and flip flops when climbing 79 steps to platform then 194 to top of lighthouse and 194 back it was hot at top but there is good ventilation on way up there are 2 here the old and new one but you will be instructed on the boundaries so pay attention and don’t lose your pass once they give you pass they keep your i d until you get back
Written 9 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GwensGramma
Durham, NC477 contributions
Fascinating Historical site
May 2023 • Couples
I was very interested in seeing the old Fort Henry Lighthouse near the First Landing of 1607 site. It is on the Fort Pillow military base so there is a guard station to go through before parking, entering a security building then boarding a shuttle bus to the building where we would pay and climb up 76 stairs to see it. Once up to the lighthouse there is a series of signs with the history as well as a spectacular view of the coast. After leaving the lighthouse /gift shop we walked over to the boardwalk to the actual First Landing site.
Written 3 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Cape Henry Lighthouse (Virginia Beach) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Cape Henry Lighthouse