A continuous water route spanning approximately 7,000 miles, the Great Loop steers boaters along the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico as well as through the waterways of Mississippi, Illinois, Michigan, and New York. Many of those who cruise the Great Loop, known as “Loopers,” belong to America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association. The association maintains numerous resources for individuals interested in cruising the Loop, including a map which shows the best seasons to cruise each part of the loop.
According to the association’s map, boaters should consider traveling along the coast from Florida to New Jersey during the spring before spending the summer months cruising through the regions of New York, Canada, and the waterways of the upper Midwest. Boaters can complete the remainder of the Loop during the fall and winter, when the conditions are ideal to travel down the Mississippi River and along the Gulf Coast.