Standing guard where the Potomac River meets the Chesapeake Bay, Smith Point Light has guided mariners since 1802, making it one of Virginia’s oldest navigational aids. The current structure—a caisson-style lighthouse planted directly in the water—replaced earlier shore-based towers. Still an active aid to navigation, it flashes its beacon nightly for passing vessels.

The lighthouse is not open to the public, as it sits offshore and is accessible only by boat. Photographers will find the best light during golden hour, when the structure glows against the wide-open water. Nearby, visitors can explore Reedville’s fishing heritage, take a ferry to Tangier Island, or paddle the calm tributaries of Virginia’s Northern Neck.

Explore Nearby

• Point Lookout State Park — State Park in Maryland
• Janes Island State Park — State Park in Maryland
• Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway — Scenic Byway in Maryland
• Colonial Parkway — Scenic Byway in Virginia
• Douglas Point Special Recreation Management Area — Public Land in Maryland