Boat Route from Lake Huron to Florida: The Great Loop South

Traveling from Lake Huron to Florida by boat is a classic segment of the "Great Loop." Here’s a step-by-step overview of the most common inland/coastal route.

1. Detroit River – Connects Lake Huron (via St. Clair River/Lake St. Clair) to Lake Erie.
2. Lake Erie – Cruise west to the Welland Canal entrance at Port Colborne.
3. Welland Canal (8 locks) – Bypasses Niagara Falls; lifts/lowers vessels 326 ft between Erie & Ontario.
4. Lake Ontario – Follow southern shore to the St. Lawrence River at Kingston.
5. St. Lawrence River / Seaway – Pass Montreal, Quebec City; enter the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
6. Cabot Strait – Cross between Cape Breton Island & Newfoundland; enter the North Atlantic.
7. Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) – South along the sheltered inside passage: Maine → New York → New Jersey → Delaware → Maryland → Virginia → North Carolina (Outer Banks) → South Carolina → Georgia → Florida.
8. Florida Entry Points: Jacksonville (East Coast) or Pensacola (Gulf Coast via Gulf ICW).

Key Considerations

• Lock schedules & fees (Welland, St. Lawrence Seaway).
• Mast height restrictions (fixed bridges on ICW: 65 ft typical).
• Weather windows: avoid hurricane season (Jun–Nov) & winter nor'easters.
• Charts, cruising guides (e.g., Waterway Guide), and real-time NOAA updates are essential.

This 2,000+ nm journey typically takes 4–8 weeks depending on pace and stops.