Can you get from the chesapeake bay to lake michigan on a sail boat?

Question

What are the water ways (by sailboat) that can get you from Lake Michigan to the Atlantic or the Golf of Mexico?

Answer 1

I believe your best route from the Chesapeake to Chicago would be to sail up to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and thence up the St. Lawrence Seaway to the Great Lakes, and then down to Chicago.

Doc

Answer 2

As one person said the St. Lawrence to the Atlantic but that is the most challenging. The options are the Erie Canal to the Hudson River then the Intercoastal Waterway or the ocean south. You can also canal to the Illinois River and then the Mississippi south or the Ohio to the Tennesee River (I believe) and a canal (Tomtombee?) that will take you to the Gulf. The canal routes will require dropping the mast.

Answer 3

the fun trip if you got the time would be to go the river route...chicago to new orleans to the gulf and on over to florida! WOW! if i were younger i would go with...

Answer 4

If you dont have a lot of experience I would go through canal

Answer 5

If you are actually asking this question, I dont think you are ready to make the trip...