Bluebird's Great Loop Diaries

America’s Great Loop

What is The Great Loop?

The Great Loop is a continuous waterway that lets you circumnavigate the eastern U.S. and part of Canada, covering nearly 6,000 miles. It passes through the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Great Lakes, inland rivers like the Mississippi and Tennessee, and the Gulf of Mexico. You’ll cruise through cities, farmland, swamps, and coastal beauty—all from your own floating home.

We are lifetime members of America’s Great Loop Cruising Association and have benefited from all their support and information at: https://www.greatloop.org

Because of our height, we will go from St. Petersburg, Florida to Baltimore (where we winter over) and then to New York City (via the North Atlantic Ocean!). From there, we will go up the Hudson to the Erie Canal and exit about halfway into the Oswego Canal to cross Lake Ontario into Canada. We will then follow the Trent-Severn Canal system into Georgian Bay, off Lake Huron, on our way to Killarney Provincial Park, Mackinac Island, and Lake Michigan. We will cross into the Illinois River south of Chicago and make our way to the Mississippi Rive just north of St. Louis on our way to the Ohio River and Paducah, Kentucky. We will then take the rivers and canals down to Mobile Bay and back across the Gulf of Mexico to St. Petersburg, completing our loop sometime in December 2025

Quick Facts & Fascinating Trivia

  • Origin: First documented as a recreational boating adventure in the mid-20th century, but routes have existed for centuries—traveled by explorers, traders, and commercial vessels.
  • The America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association (AGLCA): The go-to club for Loopers! They offer resources, maps, forums, and that coveted white-and-gold burgee for those who complete the journey.
  • Number of Loopers: Each year, around 150–200 boats attempt the Loop. About 150 boats complete it annually. Some take a year, others stretch it over several.
  • Most Loops Completed: Some die-hard Loopers have done it 5, 6, even 8+ times! They’re called “Gold Loopers” or “Platinum Loopers” depending on how many successful loops they’ve completed.
  • Fun Looping Terms:
    • Looper: A person currently on the Great Loop.
    • Gold Looper: Someone who has completed the route.
    • Platinum Looper: Someone who has completed it more than once.
    • Looping in Place: A clever excuse when your engine breaks down for two weeks in a marina with great shrimp tacos.