What is America’s Great Loop?

The Great Loop is one of the most extraordinary boating journeys in the world — and one of the least known outside of the boating community.

In this course, we cover everything you need to understand what it actually is, where it goes, and why hundreds of boaters quietly complete it every year.

You'll learn how the route works, how to think about the seasons and timing, what kinds of boats make the journey, and what the Looper community looks like from the inside. We'll also trace the historical and cultural highlights along the route because one of the most surprising things about the Great Loop is the way American history unfolds beneath your keel.

This is the course to start with if you're new to the Loop. By the time you finish, you'll have a clear picture of what the journey involves — and whether you want to learn more.

A map of the southeastern United States showing the Great Loop cruise route with various lines indicating different route segments, surrounded by travel guides and pens, with the text 'What is the Great Loop?' overlaid.

What's Covered

  • What the Great Loop is and how it works

  • The route, the waterways, and the seasonal rhythm

  • Mileage, timeline, and what kinds of boats can do it

  • The AGLCA and the Looper community

  • Wildlife, ecosystems, and navigation

  • Cultural and historical highlights along the route

  • What the journey does to the people who take it

Who This Is For

  • Anyone who has heard of the Great Loop and wants to understand it

  • No boating experience required

Access

Included with Free membership