Big Sable Point Lighthouse
2025 Season Dates
Open 7 Days a Week: June 25 - September 7
Mondays: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Tuesday - Sunday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fall Season: September 11 - October 26
Thursday - Sunday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Climb the Light: $8 for adults and $5 for students 17 and under; free for active service and veterans.
Children must be at least 40" tall to climb. For the safety of our guests, children may not be carried up the stairs.
Bus Days at Big Sable Point
July 12 & 24
August 2, 14 & 30
12-4:30 p.m.
Enjoy a bus ride out to Big Sable Point Lighthouse! Making accessibility a priority, we offer multiple bus days where visitors can ride out to Big Sable and skip the 2-mile walk.
Bus Day Tickets: Adults $6 roundtrip, $3 one-way; Students (17 & under) $4 roundtrip, $2 one-way (Tower climb ticket not included.)
Park in the main parking lot at the entrance of Ludington State Park. Follow the signage to the state park office, where there will be a tent where you can pay and wait for the bus to arrive.
Round-trip tickets are available out to Big Sable Point until 4 p.m., after which you can purchase one-way tickets until 4:30 p.m.
The last bus from the lighthouse will leave at 4:45 p.m. sharp, and tickets can be purchased at that bus stop. If you depart the lighthouse after 4:45 p.m., you will need to walk the 1.8 miles back.
West Shore Bank is one of our generous sponsors for three bus days!
Fall Bus Day: October 11, 2025
Join Lakeshore Keepers and the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum on Saturday, October 11, for a special Bus Day tour! This is a ticket event - please click on a time slot below to register.
Guests will hop aboard shuttle buses at Ludington State Park for a tour of Big Sable Point Lighthouse and the Maritime Museum in downtown Ludington. Total tour time is 3 hours and 40 minutes, with a tour leaving at 10:00 a.m., 11:10 a.m., and 1:40 p.m.
Register for the 10:00 a.m. departure
Register for the 11:10 a.m. departure
Register for the 1:40 p.m. departure
Explore the sights and take in the history! At Big Sable Point Lighthouse, you’ll have the opportunity to climb the iconic 112-foot tower and take in panoramic views of Lake Michigan and the dunes. You can also walk on the beach and browse the gift shop.
Your tour will also take you to the Maritime Museum, where you’ll view authentic images and artifacts among various interactive exhibits, including Fresnel lenses from the Ludington lighthouses.
Cost: $50 per person, includes bus transportation, entrance into the lighthouse and museum, a bottle of water, and a candy bar
Limited space available for this ticketed event. Register online only to reserve your spot.
(Individuals must be 40 inches to climb the tower at Big Sable Point Lighthouse.)
Nestled among jack pines, and a nearly 2-mile walk along a breathtaking trail, stands Big Sable’s noble black and white tower. At 112 feet tall, this historic beacon is a huge attraction for its owner, Ludington State Park. The 1867 lighthouse and grounds are operated by Lakeshore Keepers, which proudly manages four historic lighthouses within a 50-mile stretch of Lake Michigan’s shoreline. Since 1987, SPLKA's mission has been restoration, preservation, education, and increased accessibility of its lighthouses.
Coordinates: Latitude: 44.05772, Longitude: -86.51448
This camera was made possible with the support of Friends of Ludington State Park!
