Enjoyed a nice scenic walk in Fort Williams Park where you can see the iconic Portland Head Lighthouse. First off, I'd recommend looking at the website for the park's basic information before visiting. The park has several parking lots throughout which was nice. This huge park offers several trails to walk on, lots of grass areas to enjoy a picnic, many beautiful photo opportunities of the water and lighthouse, and a cute gift shop. It also has tours of its museum and of the park itself, which you can buy tickets on their website. Another nice thing they have are several food trucks and outdoor seating, so you can enjoy your food with a stunning view. Overall, this park on Cape Elizabeth, ME is the perfect spot to enjoy a peaceful time with friends, family, and even pets! It is definitely a spot to visit if you're in the area! read more

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What's not to love about this place; Fort Williams Park is worth the short trip just outside Portland, ME. in Cape Elizabeth. It's a beautiful scenic 90 acre space over looking the Atlantic Ocean. The iconic Portland headlight and historic Fort ruins (former US Army post) are especially notable. The park offers many trails, plant species and wildlife! If you go on the Cliff Walk you get panoramic views of the entire Casco Bay. There are also places to picnic and play various sports. It'd be a great place to spend a summer day! read more

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I love this park! One of the more photogenic lighthouses I've seen. Park was clean and beautiful. Parking is cheap. Was around $7 for two hrs. It is 2hr parking minimum at the parking spot closest to the lighthouse, keep that in mind. I went here before June, so the museum and museum shop wasn't open. Drive slow as you venture through the park as there aren't a lot of sidewalks so people are walking kinda everywhere. Few food trucks planted around the park, I went to one that had Blueberry Pie ice cream, wow what a treat! Great park! read more

Fort Williams Park - Parks Near Me - Cape Elizabeth, Maine

This was such a Beautiful area. It was chilly and windy when I went but beautifuland enjoyablenonetheles. It looks like it can get quite busy but I was passing through on my trip. Lots of room to park read more

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**November 2025: Saturday Morning Visit** Visiting a lighthouse in Maine was a priority on this trip, so I did a little bit of research and saw that this lighthouse (the Portland Head Lamp) was not only the oldest lighthouse in Maine, but that it was also commissioned by George Washington! It's housed at Fort Williams Park and while we were there for the lighthouse there are other attractions like Fort Williams Museum and Cape Elizabeth History Center there as well. We parked as close as possible to the lighthouse and noticed that that was privately owned. The lowest number of hours you can purchase was 2 hours for $6. Since it was super windy and 30 some degrees we only stayed in the area for 20 mins or so. You can't go inside the lighthouse but you walk right up to it and see the coast. The view from the base of the lighthouse was beautiful and if it wasn't so cold I'd probably stay longer to enjoy the view. Note: They don't have trash cans there. Worth a visit! and maybe next time I'll see some of the other attractions at the park. read more

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Beautiful park with the beautiful Portland Head Light Lighthouse. Multiple parking lots (advice: don't come in a day where there's a marathon like we did - the parking was tough). There are a couple of foos trucks onsite, including the Cousins Maine Lobster truck. Plenty of picnic tables to sit at. Rows of outhouses for bathrooms available. Bring bug spray and sunscreen! read more

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On Mother's Day Sunday, Tony Vanoy Noël Teel Calliope & I visited the Head Lighthouse located in Fort Williams Park in Portland Maine It was free to enjoy the Lighthouse itself is closed to the public. Season doesn't begin until Memorial Day! Because of my handicap plaquard we didn't have to pay fee for parking! We strolled the baby around the park, the cliffs and rock overlooks & the Lighthouse! It was extremely windy & cold! But even still it was a lovely sunny day! read more

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Came around 530pm and was told by the park rangers that the park will close around sundown/sunset, so we had about 30 minutes left. This park is truly beautiful. The light house over looks the beautiful ocean and on a rock cliff. I wish we had more time to explore, but even with the small amount of time we had, we enjoyed it very much, Definitely a must place to come and see. You can easily spend the whole day here, great place to even have a picnic. read more

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A definite when in Portland. Beautiful lighthouse and interesting history. Please note that there is nowhere to throw trash. You Carry In - You Carry Out. Plan for that. Idea: take an Uber there and get dropped off right at the lighthouse! read more

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Truly a breathtaking experience. It is almost spiritual to be in Fort Williams Park and see the rocky cliffs and shoreline along with the Portland Head Lamp, which is truly one of the most iconic lighthouses in north America. The park is open daily, year around, sun-up to sundown and is free to visitors. If you are in the area, this is a must-see as it is quintessential New England! read more

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Fort Willams Park is a 90-acre park in Cape Elizabeth, Maine and has numerous historical sites. Fort Williams Park is famous for having the Portland Head Light on its grounds, and the park also houses the decommissioned and largely demolished United States Army post Fort Williams, which was operational during World War I and World War II. Fort Worth Park has trails to walk and there are different parts of the park you can enjoy. The park also has a variety of food trucks so if you're hungry you don't have to worry about leaving the park. Additionally, there is a bus provided in the park to take a tour. The park has a scenic view and the park is free but you do have to pay for parking. read more

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We spent a great morning at the park. We walked in the park, Enjoying Beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean. Cheap and easy parking. The drive in was easy, and we got to explore the surrounding area as well. read more

Friendly and knowledgeable staff and with the exception of way to many steps it was a great time and place to visit.

Recent Fathers Day visit on a beautiful day. Dog friendly with a leash. Food trucks. Pay to park (10.00 ) for 4 hours. Clean port a potty's. Immaculate grounds. You can walk up to the Fort which has a fence so you can't go inside. Everywhere you walk is easy even for individual s with disability or wheelchair bound. Even with the crowds there was plenty of seating everywhere we walked. Can walk down to the water, some kids were in the water. Beach area was all rock Upper level is Portland Head light which you can also walk too. They also have a trolley going back and forth. Accommodating for everyone of all ages read more

A must see when in the area as demonstrated by the large number of people in and around the lighthouse, but there is so much more including trails and historical sites to be seen. read more

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Kind of a bummer. We literally just wanted to run up the hill, take a picture and leave. You have to pay for parking. I feel like it used to be free when I lived here. And the minimum time is 2 hours for $5.00 I don't think we were here longer than 15 minutes. We used the porta potty and took our pictures and we left. Not $5.00 worth, and didn't take us 2 hours. Would be nice if you could pick your times in 30 min increments at the very least. read more

Fort Williams Park - Proof I was here - Parks Near Me - Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Breathtaking views of the light house. Nice clean park with nice walking trails around the park. read more

Fort Williams Park - Beautiful views. - Parks Near Me - Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Cape Elizabeth, Maine is home to Fort Williams Park and Portland Head Light. So history: constructed in 1787 and served through both World War I and World II, Fort Williams was finally decommissioned in 1962. Fort Williams and the surrounding acreage were purchased by the Town of Cape Elizabeth just two years later, in 1964. The former army post is now home to a 90-acre park featuring picnic facilities. small trail- the Cliff Walk begins (or ends, depending on where you start) at Portland Head Light. The .4 mile, one-way gravel trail is rated "easy", Views of Ram Island Ledge Light and Casco Bay Islands can be seen on a clear day. The park includes picnic sites, grills, playing fields, tennis courts, a playground, a beach, sledding hills, historic buildings, and the oldest lighthouse in Maine. It is open year-round, from sunrise to sunset. Dogs are allowed on leash, aside from designated off-leash sections. read more

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You can find Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth at 1000 Shore Rd, 04107. There are several dedicated parking lots, I think the best way to take in the park is to use the lot closest to the entry then walk to the lighthouse via one of the many trails or roads. The park has several stages of development going on, phased in over years - quite the project and worthy of the scenic landscape. The ultimate destination for tourists is the lighthouse - I have it reviewed in a dedicated Yelp page for Portland Light. Once you've experienced the lighthouse, lightkeeper's house and gift shop walk to the native garden as its well worth seeing - pleasant and fragrant walk due to the flowers. The air here is terrific. You can extend your walk into a hike using the well marked paths. read more

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Beautiful and iconic park since 1964. This is a MUST visit if you are in the area. To be here on a sunny 70 degree day was a gift from the Heavens! Spend an hour enjoying this park and you'll see why the locals love hanging out here! The lighthouse is just one of the attraction. The former gun emplacements are kind of cool to my Army background mind. The coast and crashing waves are by far, the star! The fresh sea air, the sun light and the views refreshed and added years to me! read more

Very serene park numerous trails and lighthouses. It's very family oriented. A lobster roll is never more than 10 miles away! I dug it! read more

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Beautiful location! There is a lot of area to walk around and explore, some food trucks if you get hungry and countless photo opportunities. If you come near evening, it's quite peaceful. read more

Beautiful on any day. Highly recommend visiting! Walk around the lighthouse to see such beautiful views of the water & rocks read more

Fort Williams Park - Parks Near Me - Cape Elizabeth, Maine

A beautiful park that is located not too far from the downtown Portland area. There are tons of little trails that are not strenuous at all located throughout the park. Additionally, there is ample parking although you do have to pay for parking (not an outrageous fee). There is the wonderful Bite Into Maine lobster truck located just off the overflow parking lot but there is another lobster truck and gelato/ice cream option right by the lighthouse. The lawns are well maintained and there are beautiful flowers throughout. You could spend at least an hour walking through all the paths and exploring each area of the park. The lighthouse itself is gorgeous, and looks very well maintained for being the oldest lighthouse in Maine! There is a little museum shop and I believe you could go inside the bottom of the lighthouse. read more

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Maine. Fort Williams Park is spread across more than 90 acres of recreational area, providing visitors with a plethora of activities to indulge in. You pay for parking - a minimum of 2 hours - and you can easily spend an entire day here. Go for a walk, have a picnic, bring your outdoor games and more - a really great place to visit to get a true "MAINE" experience! read more

Fort Williams Park - A walk to the Portland Head Light - Parks Near Me - Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Great park with nice trails and view of the headlight. Was a little disappointed in the amount of trash I saw - do better, visitors! The park is crazy busy on weekends and can be overcrowded and hard to enjoy to its fullest potential. read more

I can't believe how much Fort Williams has changed commercially over the past 20 years. Parking is most definitely not free anymore! I remember driving right up to the lighthouse and parking for free back when I first visited. Now you spend 20 minutes looking for parking and another 5 waiting for a limited number of working kiosks to free up to pay for your spot. From there you've got anywhere from a 7-10 minute walk up to the lighthouse, dodging the crowds, cars, and folks lined up to get food at any number of foodie carts along the way. Is all that necessarily bad? No, quite frankly the grounds are better kept now even with all the extra traffic and the park and the lighthouse probably needs the additional funds for maintenance. The fact is all these foodie carts keep folks onsite and there is certainly enough room to roam the lighthouse and the surrounding fort, of course that means parking turnover is lower which will require you to circle a bit more looking for a place to park. But that's a small price to pay to keep this treasure well maintained for years to come. Pro Tip, be careful of the poison ivy on the less travelled pathways! read more

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Great park to visit for the lighthouse, walking paths, and food truck! Paid parking, but very reasonable.

Beautiful park to walk around and enjoy of fresh air. Highly reckmend d to gist if you are around. Also there is a Pie truck to offer homemade pie and ice cream made with local fruity. read more

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My friend from Cape Elizabeth told me to stop at Fort Williams Park when I asked for recommendations for the area. I parked outside of the park for free. The gate leading to the park was locked, but someone inside opened it for me. The park and the lighthouse were beautiful! If you're looking for picturesque views of Maine, look no further. There is also a cute little gift shop and a museum, the latter of which I didn't go to. read more

Fort Williams Park - Parks Near Me - Cape Elizabeth, Maine

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Bottom Line: A large park with scenic views of Casco Bay and home to the iconic Portland Head Light. Fort Williams Park is 90 acres of open space bordering Casco Bay and named for the United States Army post Fort Williams which previously sat on this site. There are still a few remnants of the fort which which was active during both World War I and II. My husband and I visited the park for three reasons - 1) to see the Portland Head Lighthouse, 2) to eat at the Bite Into Maine food truck and 3) to enjoy the scenic Casco Bay. The remnants of the stone circa 1850s Goddard Mansion is also supposed to be a neat site but we only saw it from the distance. The park has various trails that meander throughout and in a back corner there is an off leash area for dogs. In addition to the Bite Into Maine food truck there was another lobster roll food truck and Gorgeous Gelato food truck. If you're planning to picnic know that the park is a pack in and pack out park. In other words, there are not any trash cans or recycling bins so plan to take your rubbish with you. Also, there are not any bathrooms - just a few porta potties. read more

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Fort Williams Park is an incredibly large 90 acre park along Casco Bay in Cape Elizabeth. When I think of Maine, I instantly think of lighthouses. This picturesque park is home to Portland Head Light, which is the oldest lighthouse in Maine and also the most photographed lighthouse in the US. This lighthouse has been been in operation since 1791. Fort Williams Park was once a former military installation. Close by the lighthouse is Battery Blair, which was part of the Harbor Defense of Portland during WWII until the end of 1943. Unfortunately the guns were transferred elsewhere but you can still see the 2 story battery and read about the history on the numerous of plaques/ signs. On another part of the park, you can visit Goddard Mansion. This stone mansion, well what is left of it, was built businessman John Goddard. In 1900, the army acquired this mansion and was used as housing. After 1962, when it was no longer in use by the army, it fell in disrepair and was burned in 1981. When you visit it, you will only see the shell or frame of the home that still stands. Unfortunately parking is not free but it is only $1.50 for 2 hours, which is not very expensive. However, if you are lucky and if it is the right timing you may be able to find free parking right by the lighthouse, as there are very few spots available here. You will also find the handicap parking (free as well) here for those that need it. My husband, our little girl dog and I decided to visit this park when we were visiting Maine for the first time 2 months ago (this park is perfect for dogs with plenty of grass to roam free and mark territory). Because we went at the beginning of November, it was quite cold and windy (especially since this beautiful park is along the coast). Worth a visit if you are visiting the area for the first time and see beautiful views of Casco Bay. read more

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First time going to this place, there is parking there. Plenty of it you do have to pay it is dog friendly on leash only. They do have one to two food trucks for food, but don't allow any public trash cans. Carry in and carry out. A lot of open space to walk and see the gorgeous sights. Staff helpful and friendly. No dogs on soccer fields. Free to get into the park! read more

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The lighthouse is beautiful, the views and the gardens are magnificent. The park is big and there are so many areas that you can just sit and relax or bring a blanket & a book and just have a laxed afternoon. But I mostly enjoyed seeing the forts and its history and touring the grounds. And you have to be careful not to miss small details. They have a few picnic tables that I seen. I also seen a pie truck which I thought was adorable. There was another truck up above by the parking lot but honestly I'm not sure if it was food or ice cream. There is plenty of parking but it is paid parking, please take note, no matter where you park. There's a meter at the entrance or use the app. They have a children's area and other amenities we did not enter or take part in. It's a great place to spend the day or morning/afternoon. I did not view the sunset from here but I'm pretty sure this would be a phenomenal spot. read more

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The busiest of the lighthouses along the Maine coastline, this one is completely accessible as it is the centerpiece of the massive Fort Williams Park. There is plentiful parking though I would imagine it gets quite busy during high season. Parking must be paid at a pay station and I would guess that the Cape Elizabeth are vigilant about it as a revenue generator. YMMV. Once parked, the park is massive with playgrounds, tennis, pickleball and multiple walking trails. There is of course the fort to check out with many captions and explanations. And you wouldn't want to miss the lighthouse itself. Much of the "Cliff Walk" is smooth enough though I don't know if it is all accessible. Polished dirt trails and a few steps here and there. Some of the fences have gates so that if you want to risk life and limb, you can climb down to get a better picture of the lighthouse. I chose not to. [Review 14909 overall, 411 of 2021, number 91 in Maine.] read more

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Beautiful park! The light house and view are breathtaking. There is an abundance of parking. We rode our bikes as did many others. Beautiful paths along the cliffs and through the parks. Many dogs running around with their owners close by. Overall, just a happy and relaxed place. read more

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Wow this park is so beautiful and today was the perfect weather to take it all in. The park is huge! And it's very clean and well-kept. There is plenty of parking but you pay at the meter. Because of COVID, the lighthouse is closed and so was this little ice cream shop. There's a cliff trail you can walk by the water and there is also a big open area where you can have dogs unleashed. There are also a number of picnic tables scattered around. read more

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Gorgeous park area to spend a quick 30-60 minutes. The entire campus has a few different 'park' areas and you do have to pay for parking, but it was maybe $1.50 for 2 hours. Not too bad. We came specifically to see the lighthouse which unfortunately you can't go inside, but was cool to see nonetheless. One the placards mentioned George Washington had either used it or commissioned it! There are some trails and paths around the lighthouse to walk down to the rocks and water, or in the bushes. There's a small museum in front of the lighthouse (you have to pay admission to we skipped this) and a gift shop. There are also a few food trucks outside if you get a hankering. We walked down the rocks to the shore (be careful, definitely a bit slippery) and sat for a while, listening to the waves crashing. They occasionally make the round stones roll under the water which makes an awesome sound (especially if you're an ASMR fan like me!) Only downside is the safety horn that blows about every 30 seconds so *not* the best place to do yoga or relax. Definitely some picturesque views while walking around the park, the lighthouse included. read more

Fort Williams Park - Maine in one photo. - Parks Near Me - Cape Elizabeth, Maine

If you are in the area, consider stopping by Fort Williams park for some of the best views! We expected to see a nice view of the lighthouse, but this was so much more! Could have spent all day here. read more

October 2022 This was our first stop when departing the airport. Late October, Wednesday afternoon - store and museum were closed. Got some great pictures of the lighthouse but did not walk around a great deal. Had to pay for parking Quite a few tour buses Several Food Trucks Great stop #Recommended #VickieTravelz read more

Fort Williams Park - Parks Near Me - Cape Elizabeth, Maine