Cape Cod's Most Charming Lighthouses Thrive On This Beautiful Beach-Bound Road Trip

Before modern navigation systems like GPS and sonar became available, lighthouses were the final word on survival at sea. When you visit a lighthouse, you're standing at the edge between land and sea, but also between safety and danger. There's no better place to feel the gravity of this threshold than in Cape Cod, nicknamed the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" because of its turbulent waters having resulted in over 3,000 shipwrecks, according to the National Park Service. All along the Cape, lighthouses were built to guide ships through sea storms. Though many of these lighthouses are no longer in use, you can still visit them and even explore inside.

Touring multiple lighthouses (and the quaint towns that harbor them) is one of the best experiences you can only have on Cape Cod. The Cape is relatively compact, so it's easy to tick off several of its historic lighthouses in a single, scenic road trip. A good starting point is the Cape Cod Visitor Center in Barnstable, then take coastal roads up the Cape's arm, stopping at lighthouses that each have their own story — from the classic red and white of the Nauset Light to the squat Race Point Lighthouse among the dunes. Plus, as you make your way along the Cape Cod National Seashore, you can easily unwind at some of its delightful beaches.

Starting from the Cape Cod Visitor Center, drive about 15 minutes east to the West Dennis Light. While guests can stay at the inn it sits above, the lighthouse is also open for tours during the summer. Drive another 25 minutes along the southern coast of the Cape to the Chatham Lighthouse overlooking the Chatham barrier islands, a particularly treacherous site for seafarers. The current Chatham Lighthouse was built in the 1870s (originally as a pair, but the other was moved to Nauset). Free tours are typically offered on Wednesdays in the summer, with great views over the bay.

The Nauset Light, another 30 minutes up the coast in Eastham, was the other lighthouse originally in Chatham. It's one of the most famous views on the Cape — you might recognize the red-and-white structure from Cape Cod Potato Chips bags. The Nauset Light offers free tours throughout the summer months. Also in Eastham are the Three Sisters Lighthouses, named so because they "looked like three ladies in white dresses and black hats," according to Christine Ebert, of the Nauset Light Preservation Society, on Boston.com. These three lighthouses — tucked inland, since they've been decommissioned — can be explored from outside, with occasional, scheduled interior tours.

From Eastham, drive another 35 minutes up to the Cape's tip for two more lighthouses. The Race Point Lighthouse sits in a wild Cape Cod stretch with sandy dunes and spectacular sunsets just outside Provincetown. It requires some walking across dunes to reach, and you can tour it on select Sundays during the summer. The final stop on this route, the Long Point Light Station is the most remote of the lighthouses, requiring hiking a couple of miles along the Provincetown Causeway (or take the 10-minute Long Point Shuttle Ferry from Provincetown).

The Cape Cod Visitor Center in Barnstable is a helpful landmark for starting your road trip, but don't expect too much from the small building. You can get information here, but for a thorough dive into Cape Cod history and to pick up souvenirs, stop by the Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham, about five minutes from the Nauset Light. It has an auditorium and museum, plus some discovery activities for children.

All along your trip, there are lovely beaches, which many of the lighthouses sit right on. At the West Dennis Light, the West Dennis Beach is a great place to relax and fuel up before embarking deeper into the Cape. In the Nauset Light's hometown of Eastham you'll find one of the best beaches in America, Coast Guard Beach, just three minutes down the shore from the lighthouse. It's a top-tier swimming spot during the summer, where you're likely to see endangered birds and even seals. At the tip of the Cape, Herring Cove and Race Point beaches are wilder spots, known for whale watching, tidal pools, and hiking paths through the dunes.

If you're looking forward to seeing inside the lighthouses, note that they often only offer tours on select dates. Also, for those planning to see some of the more remote lighthouses (namely, the two at the tip), bring sturdy shoes and prepare for a hike. Out-of-towners flying in can rent a car at the Cape Cod Gateway Airport, which is about 10 minutes from the visitor center in Barnstable. The airport has flights connecting from New York City; Washington, D.C.; Boston; and a few other local spots.