Great Loop planning has gotten complicated with all the routing options and timing advice flying around. As someone who has completed the Loop and talked to hundreds of fellow Loopers, I learned everything there is to know about this incredible circumnavigation of eastern North America. Today, I will share it all with you.
Planning Your Route
Probably should have led with this section, honestly. Most Loopers travel counterclockwise, heading south on the Atlantic ICW in fall, crossing the Gulf in winter, ascending the rivers in spring, and transiting the Great Lakes in summer. This pattern follows favorable weather windows throughout the journey.
Your vessel determines route options. Boats with masts over 65 feet must take the Erie Canal route, while shorter vessels can choose the scenic but lock-intensive Canadian route through the Trent-Severn and Ottawa Rivers. Each option has its champions, and both are worth doing.
Vessel Requirements
That’s what makes proper vessel selection endearing to us Loopers—get the right boat and the whole trip flows smoothly. Great Loop boats need modest draft, typically four feet or less for comfortable clearance. Air draft matters for bridge clearances; 19 feet or less opens all routes. Trawlers, cruising sailboats with tabernacled masts, and loop-specific designs dominate the fleet.
Carry fuel capacity for 300-mile range minimum. Some stretches, particularly the rivers, have limited fueling options that close unexpectedly. Generators become near-essential for the long days and remote anchorages where shore power doesn’t exist.
The River Experience
River cruising differs dramatically from coastal work, and many Loopers love it most. The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and Ohio/Mississippi rivers feature locks, barge traffic, and current to manage. Lock etiquette and communication protocols require learning before arrival—show up unprepared and you’ll know it fast.
Spring floods can close rivers entirely. Monitor river stage forecasts and don’t fight the current. Many Loopers wait out high water rather than risk the debris and powerful flows of flood stage rivers. Patience beats bravado every time on the rivers.
Great Lakes Crossing
Lake Michigan, Huron, and Erie offer open-water sailing conditions in summer. Weather windows matter here; the lakes build significant seas quickly when the wind picks up. Most Loopers hop between harbors, waiting for favorable conditions rather than making heroic crossings. The harbors are charming anyway.
The Community
America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association connects thousands of Loopers through online resources, rendezvous events, and a buddy network that spans the entire route. The camaraderie among Loopers creates lasting friendships and invaluable local knowledge sharing. By the end, you’ll have friends in every port you visit.
