Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse tours

The Hillsboro Inlet Light Station is not in Deerfield Beach, and the City of Deerfield Beach does not run it. The Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society (HLPS) runs the tours and labels the light “Hillsboro Inlet · Pompano Beach, Florida”. Tour boats leave from Pompano Beach. Everything below comes from HLPS’s own pages, checked on Oct. 20, 2026.

• HLPS labels the lighthouse "Hillsboro Inlet · Pompano Beach, Florida"; tour boats leave from Pompano Beach and the HLPS Museum is at Hillsboro Inlet Park. Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society: Home

Lit since 1907

HLPS says the light station was built in 1906 by the Russell Wheel and Foundry Co. of Detroit, and first lit for a full evening on March 8, 1907. It stands 136 feet to the lens room and 147 feet overall. HLPS describes it as “lit since 1907.” The tour on March 13, 2027 is billed as the 120th Birthday Tour. Read HLPS’s history page.

• Hillsboro Inlet Light Station: built 1906 by Russell Wheel and Foundry Co. of Detroit; first lit (full evening) March 8, 1907; 136 feet to the lens room, 147 feet overall. HLPS describes it as "lit since 1907." Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society: Lighthouse History

How the tours work

You cannot drive to the lighthouse for a tour. Tours go by boat from South FL Diving HQ, 101 North Riverside Drive, Pompano Beach. You either become an HLPS member, online or at the dock, or pay the boat ride as a transportation fee. HLPS puts it this way: “Without a membership the boat ride is a $35 per person transportation fee.”

Arrive 30 minutes before your boat. HLPS takes no seat reservations, and boats fill first come, first served. Read the tour rules on HLPS’s site.

• Tours are by boat from South FL Diving HQ, 101 North Riverside Drive, Pompano Beach. Become an HLPS member (online or at the dock), or "Without a membership the boat ride is a $35 per person transportation fee." Arrive 30 minutes before your boat; no seat reservations, first come first served. Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society: Lighthouse Tours

What	What HLPS publishes
Departure	South FL Diving HQ, 101 North Riverside Drive, Pompano Beach
Cost	HLPS membership, or a $35 per person boat transportation fee
Boats	Hourly sail times from 9:00 to 3:00 on tour days
Arrival	30 minutes before your boat; no seat reservations
Museum	Hillsboro Inlet Park, 10 am to 3 pm on tour days, free

The climb

HLPS describes the climb as “167 steps to the catwalk”, “130+ ft straight up”, on narrow, steep stairs that can be hot. Closed-toe shoes are required. HLPS does not allow wet clothing or sandy shoes, and no backpacks or bags. If you are pairing the tour with a beach day, take the tour first or bring dry clothes and shoes.

• The climb is "167 steps to the catwalk", "130+ ft straight up", on narrow, steep stairs that can be hot. Closed-toe shoes required; no wet clothing or sandy shoes; no backpacks or bags. Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society: Lighthouse Tours

The museum

The HLPS Museum and gift shop at Hillsboro Inlet Park is “open on tour days from 10 am to 3 pm, and admission is free.” HLPS lists the museum at Hillsboro Inlet Park and the boats at South FL Diving HQ, so look up both on a map before tour day.

• The HLPS Museum and gift shop at Hillsboro Inlet Park is "open on tour days from 10 am to 3 pm, and admission is free." Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society: Lighthouse Tours

Tour dates

HLPS’s home page lists tour dates through December 2027, with boats sailing hourly from 9:00 to 3:00. The static list on HLPS’s tours page still shows older dates, so we use the home page list. The next tours are Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026 and Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026. Several 2027 tours carry names, such as the New Year Tour on Jan. 9 and the 120th Birthday Tour on March 13. Check the current list on HLPS’s home page.

• Upcoming HLPS tour dates (sail times 9:00 to 3:00 hourly): Nov 15, 2026; Dec 5, 2026; Jan 9, 2027; Feb 13, 2027; Mar 13, 2027 (120th Birthday Tour); Apr 10, 2027; May 8, 2027; Jun 13, 2027; Jul 10, 2027; Aug 21, 2027; Sep 11, 2027; Oct 9, 2027; Nov 13, 2027; Dec 4, 2027. Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society: Home (Next tour list)

Pairing it with a day at the pier

Lighthouse tours run in the daytime, and from Oct. 20, 2026 the Deerfield Beach pier is closed sunset through sunrise until further notice. A tour in the morning and the pier in the afternoon both fit inside daylight. We do not give a drive time between the two; use a map app on the day. Pier hours and fees are on our hours and fees page, and parking near the pier is on our parking page.

• Under "Upcoming operational impacts" the city says: "As of October 20, 2026, we will be CLOSED SUNSET through SUNRISE until further notice, due to maintenance needs." No end date is given. City of Deerfield Beach: International Fishing Pier

Anglers may know the inlet from the tide tables. NOAA’s nearest ocean-inlet tide station to the pier is 8722861, “Hillsboro Inlet, Coast Guard Light Station”. Our fishing page explains which station to use.

Who runs what

• Lighthouse tours, membership and museum: the Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society.
• The Deerfield Beach pier, beach and beach parking: the City of Deerfield Beach.

For more to do around the pier, see things to do and the dated events calendar.

Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Deerfield Beach: International Fishing Pier (operator)