Cruising/Navigating - Florida’s AICW
St. Marys River to Key West
Florida’s segment of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) has its beginning in the north at St. Marys River at (MM "713.7"), the Georgia/Florida State Line. Your general course will trend in a near south-southeasterly direction to the vicinity of the Port of Palm Beach (Lake Worth Inlet) where it takes up a nearly southerly heading leading to Miami (Government Cut). From there it is southwesterly to Cross Bank (MM "1153.4") near Plantation Key and the official end of the AICW. Continuing on in a generally southwesterly direction will lead you to Key West.
In the interest of saving time and distance, a better option is to depart the AICW at Government Cut and make use of Hawk Channel. While the distance savings is small (≈10.8 NM), the deeper and more open waters will allow much higher speeds with significant time savings.
Aids to Navigation
Buoys and Marks
Intracoastal Waterway buoys and navigational markers are like most other lateral marks in the U.S. the difference is that yellow triangles or yellow squares are added to the mark to indicate they are ICW markers. The rule is: When proceeding southbound on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (Norfolk, VA to Cross Bank in the Florida Keys) or northbound / westbound on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (Ft. Meyers, FL to Brownsville, TX); markers with yellow triangles are kept to starboard and yellow squares are kept to port at all times.
While Yellow Squares are typically found on green buoys or beacons and yellow triangles are typically found on red buoys or beacons, this is not always the case. Use Caution!
- “Yellow Squares are ALWAYS kept to port”
- and
- “Yellow Triangles are ALWAYS kept to starboard”
Regardless of the Color of the Mark!
Charts
NOAA Charts #11489, #11485, #11472, #11467, #11451, #11445, and #11446 provide coverage of the Florida portion of the AICW.
Chart #11489 covers the AICW from (MM "675.7") at St. Simons Sound, GA to the Tolomato River at Shell Bluff Landing, FL (MM "768.7").
Chart #11485 covers the AICW from (MM "768.7"), Tolomato River to (MM "910.2") at Palm Shores, FL.
Chart #11472 covers the AICW from (MM "910.2"), Palm Shores to (MM "1024.9") at West Palm Beach.
Chart #11467 covers the AICW from Mile (MM "1024.9"), West Palm Beach to (MM "1099.7") in Biscayne Bay.
Chart #11451 covers the AICW from (MM "1099.7") in Biscayne Bay to Plantation Key at (MM "1153.4") and then on to Bahia Honda Key.
Chart #11445 covers the Florida Keys from Bahia Honda Key to Sugarloaf Key via the Hawk Channel.
Chart #11446 covers the Florida Keys from Sugarloaf Key to Key West via the Hawk Channel.
Chart #11489 - St. Simons Sound, GA to Tolomato River, FL
Chart #11485 - Tolomato River, FL to Palm Shores, FL
Chart #11485 - Palm Shores, FL to West Palm Beach, FL
Chart #11467 - West Palm Beach, FL to Miami, FL
Chart #11451 - Miami, FL to Vacca Key, FL and on to Bahia Honda Key, FL
Chart #11445 - Bahia Honda Key, FL to Sugarloaf Key, FL
Chart #11446 - Sugarloaf Key, FL to Key West, FL
Distances and Mileages
All distances along the Florida Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway are given in statute miles unless otherwise noted. Statute miles are used in order to conform to the distances shown on the small craft charts typically used along this route.
The Florida portion of the AICW (southbound) is measured based on increasing mileage between St. Marys River (MM "713.7") and Plantation Key (MM "1153.4") which marks the official end the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
Channels
The Federal project depth for the Florida segment of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway provides for the following depths:
- St. Marys River to Ft. Pierce – 12 feet.
- Ft Pierce to Miami – 10 feet.
- Miami to Cross Bank – 7 feet.
The actual controlling depths in the channels may vary due to shoaling. This reduces the available water depths to less than the Federal project depth until maintenance dredging can be accomplished.
Communications
Bridges – VHF Channel 09.
Found along the shores of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway
Bridges, Locks, and Overhead Power Lines
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway - Florida Bridge Schedule
The following table lists the bridges; their schedules, and restrictions along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) in Florida.
The minimum overhead clearance of fixed bridges over the Florida portion of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway is the Julia Tuttle Causeway Bridge in Miami (mile marker 1087.1) at 56 feet.
This list is believed to be accurate as of January 2021. If any errors or omissions are noted, please e-mail us at with any corrections or recommendations.
AICW - Florida East Coast Bridge Schedule
Fernandina Beach to Jacksonville
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Bridges - FloridaFernandina Beach to Jacksonville |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mile Marker | Bridge | Charted Vert. Clear. | Schedule | Restrictions | VHF |
| 720.7 | Kingsley Creek RR Swing Bridge | 5’ | Normally Open | Closes for RR Traffic. | 09 |
| 720.8 | Amelia Island Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | Twin Spans | |
| 739.0 | Hecksher Drive Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
AICW - Florida East Coast Bridge Schedule
Jacksonville to St. Augustine
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Bridges - FloridaJacksonville to St. Augustine |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mile Marker | Bridge | Charted Vert. Clear. | Schedule | Restrictions | VHF |
| 741.8 | Wonderwood Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | Twin Spans | |
| 744.7 | Atlantic Blvd. Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | Twin Spans | |
| 747.5 | McCormick Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | Twin Spans | |
| 749.2 | J. Turner Butler Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | Twin Spans | |
| 758.8 | Palm Valley Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
| 775.7 | F & M Usina Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
AICW - Florida East Coast Bridge Schedule
St. Augustine to Daytona Beach
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway - FloridaSt. Augustine to Daytona Beach |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mile Marker | Bridge | Charted Vert. Clear. | Schedule | Restrictions | VHF |
| 777.9 | Bridge of Lions Bascule Bridge | 18’ | The draw shall open 0700 - 1800 on the hour and ½ hour except Federal holidays. Other times on demand. | Closed M-F at 0800, 1200, and 1700 |
09 |
| 780.1 | Route 312 Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | Twin Spans | |
| 788.6 | Crescent Beach Bascule Bridge | 25’ | Opens on Demand | 09 | |
| 803.0 | Hammock Dunes Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
| 811.0 | Flagler / Moody Blvd. Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
| 816.0 | L.B. Knox Bascule Bridge | 15’ | Opens on Demand | 09 | |
| 825.0 | Ormond Beach Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
| 829.0 | Seabreeze/Oakridge Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | Twin Spans | |
| 829.7 | Main Street Bascule Bridge | 22’ | Opens on Demand | 09 | |
| 830.2 | Speedway Blvd. Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | 63’ at North Fender | |
| 830.6 | Veterans Memorial Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | Under Re-construction | |
| 835.5 | Dunlawton Avenue Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
AICW - Florida East Coast Bridge Schedule
Daytona Beach to Cape Canaveral
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway - FloridaDaytona Beach to Cape Canaveral |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mile Marker | Bridge | Charted Vert. Clear. | Schedule | Restrictions | VHF |
| 830.2 | Speedway Blvd. Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | 63’ at North Fender | |
| 830.6 | Veterans Memorial Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | Under Re-construction | |
| 835.5 | Dunlawton Avenue Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
| 845.0 | George E. Musson (Coronado Beach) Bascule Bridge | 24’ | The draw shall open on the hour and ½ hour. from 0700 to 1900. Other times on demand. | 09 | |
| 846.5 | Harris Saxon Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
| 869.2 | Allenhurst-Haulover Bascule Bridge | 27’ | Opens on Demand | 09 | |
| 876.6 | NASA RR Bascule Bridge | 7’ | Normally Open | Closes for RR Traffic | 09 |
| 878.9 | Max Brewer Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
| 885.0 | JFK Space Center Bascule Bridge | 27’ | Opens on Demand | Closed M - F 0630 - 0800 and 1530-1700 except Federal holidays. | 09 |
AICW - Florida East Coast Bridge Schedule
Cape Canaveral to Fort Pierce
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway - FloridaCape Canaveral to Fort Pierce |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mile Marker | Bridge | Charted Vert. Clear. | Schedule | Restrictions | VHF |
| 894.0 | Bennett Causeway Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | Twin Spans | |
| 897.0 | Merritt Island Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | Twin Spans | |
| 909.0 | Pineda Causeway Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | Twin Spans | |
| 914.0 | Eau Gallie Causeway Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
| 918.0 | Melbourne Causeway Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | Twin Spans | |
| 943.0 | Wabasso Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
| 952.0 | Merrill Barber Bridge | 66’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
| 953.0 | 17th Street Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
| 964.5 | North Ft. Pierce Bascule Bridge | 26’ | Opens on the Hour and ½ Hour. | 09 | |
AICW - Florida East Coast Bridge Schedule
Fort Pierce to Palm Beach
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway - FloridaFort Pierce to Palm Beach |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mile Marker | Bridge | Charted Vert. Clear. | Schedule | Restrictions | VHF |
| 966.0 | Ft. Pierce Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
| 981.4 | Jensen Beach Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
| 984.9 | Ernest Lyons Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
| 995.9 | Hobe Sound Bascule Bridge | 21’ | Opens on Demand | 09 | |
| 1004.1 | Highway 707 Bascule Bridge | 25’ | Opens on Demand | 09 | |
| 1004.8 | Jupiter Federal Bascule Bridge | 26’ | Opens on Demand | 09 | |
| 1006.2 | Indiantown Road Bascule Bridge | 35’ | Opens on the hour and ½ hour. | Twin Spans | 09 |
| 1009.3 | Donald Ross Bascule Bridge | 35’ | Opens on the hour and ½ hour. | 09 | |
| 1012.6 | PGA Blvd. Bascule Bridge | 24’ | Opens on the hour and ½ hour. | 09 | |
| 1013.7 | Parker Bascule Bridge | 25’ | Opens on the ¼ and ¾ hour. | 09 | |
| 1018.0 | Blue Heron Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
AICW - Florida East Coast Bridge Schedule
Palm Beach to Pompano
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway - FloridaPalm Beach to Pompano |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mile Marker | Bridge | Charted Vert. Clear. | Schedule | Restrictions | VHF |
| 1021.8 | Flagler Bascule Bridge | 24’ | Opens on the ¼ and ¾ hour. | Expect security closures. | 09 |
| 1022.6 | Royal Park Bascule Bridge | 21’ | Opens on the hour and ½ hour. | Expect security closures. | 09 |
| 1024.7 | Southern Blvd. Bascule Bridge | 14’ | Opens on the ¼ and ¾ hour. | Expect security closures. Re-construction is ongoing and is expected to be completed Spring of 2021. New Bridge expected to have a clearance of 21’ closed and 65’ open. |
09 |
| 1028.8 | Lake Worth Bascule Bridge | 35’ | Opens on Demand | 38’ at Center. Bascule leaf overhangs channel above 88’. | 09 |
| 1031.0 | Lantana Bascule Bridge | 21’ | Opens on the hour and ½ hour. | 09 | |
| 1035.0 | Ocean Avenue Bascule Bridge | 21’ | Opens on the hour and ½ hour. | 09 | |
| 1035.8 | Woolbright Avenue Bascule Bridge | 25’ | Opens on Demand | 09 | |
| 1038.7 | George Bush Bascule Bridge | 9’ | Opens on Demand | 09 | |
| 1039.6 | Atlantic Ave. Bascule Bridge | 12’ | Opens on the ¼ and ¾ hour. | 09 | |
| 1041.1 | Linton Blvd. Bascule Bridge | 30’ | Opens on the hour and ½ hour. | 09 | |
| 1044.9 | Spanish River Blvd. Bascule Bridge | 25’ | Opens on the hour and ½ hour. | 09 | |
| 1047.5 | Palmetto Park Bascule Bridge | 19’ | Opens on the hour and ½ hour. | 09 | |
| 1048.2 | Camino Real Bascule Bridge | 9’ | Open on the hour and every 20 minutes thereafter. | 09 | |
| 1050.0 | Hillsboro Blvd. Bascule Bridge | 21’ | Opens on the hour and ½ hour. | 09 | |
AICW - Florida East Coast Bridge Schedule
Pompano to Ft. Lauderdale
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway - FloridaPompano to Ft. Lauderdale |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mile Marker | Bridge | Charted Vert. Clear. | Schedule | Restrictions | VHF |
| 1055.0 | 14th St. Bascule Bridge | 15’ | Opens on the ¼ and ¾ hour. | 09 | |
| 1056.0 | Atlantic Blvd. Bascule Bridge | 15’ | Opens on the hour and ½ hour. | 09 | |
| 1059.0 | Commercial Blvd. Bascule Bridge | 15’ | Opens on the hour and ½ hour. | 09 | |
| 1060.5 | Oakland Park Bascule Bridge | 22’ | Opens on the ¼ and ¾ hour. | 09 | |
| 1062.6 | Sunrise Blvd. Bascule Bridge | 25’ | Opens on the hour and ½ hour. | On the first weekend in May, the draw need not open from 1600 to 1800 on Saturday and Sunday, and, on the first Saturday in May, the draw need not open from 2145 to 2245. | 09 |
| 1064.0 | Las Olas Blvd. Bascule Bridge | 24’ | Opens on the ¼ and ¾ hour. | On the first weekend in May, the draw need not open from 1600 to 1800 on Saturday and Sunday, and, on the first Saturday in May, the draw need not open from 2145 to 2245. | 09 |
AICW - Florida East Coast Bridge Schedule
Ft. Lauderdale to Miami
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway - FloridaFt. Lauderdale to Miami |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mile Marker | Bridge | Charted Vert. Clear. | Schedule | Restrictions | VHF |
| 1065.9 | SE 17th Street (Brooks Memorial) Bascule Bridge | 55’ | Opens on the hour and ½ hour. | 09 | |
| 1069.4 | Dania Beach Blvd. Bascule bridge | 22’ | Opens on the hour and ½ hour. | 09 | |
| 1070.5 | Sheridan Street Bascule Bridge | 22’ | Opens on the ¼ and ¾ hour. | 09 | |
| 1072.2 | Hollywood Beach Blvd. Bascule Bridge | 25’ | Opens on the hour and ½ hour. | 09 | |
| 1074.0 | Hallandale Beach Blvd. Bascule Bridge | 26’ | Opens on the ¼ and ¾ hour. | 09 | |
| 1076.5 | William Lehman Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | Construction Clnc Reducttion to 63' until July 2021. | |
| 1078.0 | N.E. 163rd St. (Sunny Isles) Bascule Bridge | 30’ | The draw opens M-F 0700 - 1800, on weekends and Federal holidays from 1000 to 1800, on the ¼ and ¾ hour. Other times on demand | Twin Spans | 09 |
| 1081.4 | Broad Causeway Bascule Bridge | 16’ | The draw shall open from 0800 - 1800 on the ¼ and ¾ hour. Other times on demand. | 09 | |
| 1084.6 | West 79th Street Bascule Bridge | 25’ | The draw shall open M-F 0700 to 1900 on the hour and ½ hour. Other times on Demand. | 09 | |
| 1087.0 | Julia Tuttle Causeway Bridge | 56’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
| 1088.6 | Venetian Causeway Bascule Bridge | 12’ | The draw shall open M-F 0700 - 1900 except Federal holidays) on the hour and ½ hour. Other times on demand. | 09 | |
| 1088.7 | McArthur Causeway Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | Twin Spans | |
| 1089.2 | Dodge Island Causeway Bridge | 65’ | Fixed Bridge | ||
| 1089.3 | Dodge Island RR Bascule Bridge | 22’ | Usually Open | Closes for RR Traffic | 09 |
The Florida AICW Bridge List as well as the entire AICW Bridge List (Norfolk to Miami) can be downloaded for your personal and private use below. The ZIP files contain the schedules in Adobe (.pdf) file format:
AICW Florida Bridge Schedule - Download
AICW Bridge and Lock Schedule (Norfolk to Miami) - Download
Florida’s East Coast Long Term Temporary Bridge Restrictions
Temporary Long Term Bridge Restrictions
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway - Florida |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mile Marker | Bridge | Charted Vert. Clear. | Restrictions | ||
| 1020.8 | Flagler Memorial Bascule Bridge | 17’ | POTUS restrictions - Mariners may assume that once the news media announces that the President of the United States will be visiting Mar-a-Lago that Flagler Memorial will be on an hourly schedule. The following temporary bridge regulations will be in place Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays and includes tug and barge traffic. Flagler Memorial Bridge will be allowed to remain closed to navigation from 1415 to 1730 with the exception of a once an hour opening at 1415, 1515, 1615, and 1715, weekdays only. At all other times bridge will operate per their published regulation. | ||
| 1022.6 | Royal Park Bascule Bridge | 21’ | POTUS restrictions - Mariners may assume that once the news media announces that the President of the United States will be visiting Mar-a-Lago that Royal Park Bridge will be allowed to remain closed to navigation from 1415 to 1730 with the exception of a once an hour opening at 1430, 1530, 1630, and 1730, weekdays only. At all other times bridge will operate per their published regulation. | ||
| 1024.7 | Southern Blvd. Bascule Bridge | 14’ | Southern Boulevard Bridge, which is closest to Mar-a-Lago, will be allowed to remain closed to navigation whenever the presidential motorcade is in transit. At all other times the bridge shall operate under the normal operating schedule. Southern Boulevard Bridge replacement - There will be floating equipment in the vicinity of the bridge thru 2021. |
||
AICW - Florida Locks
None.
AICW - Florida Overhead Cables and Power Lines
Quite a few overhead cables cross Florida’s Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. A few cable crossings, (3), are noted with a minimum authorized clearance of 80’. These are located between (MM "720..8") and (MM "746.9"). All other clearances for overhead cables and power lines along the Florida AICW are higher.
Caution - Many of the overhead cables over the waterway carry high voltage, and an extra margin of safety should be allowed during threatening weather.
Tides
The tides along the east coast of Florida are semi-diurnal from St. Marys River south to Plantation Key exhibiting (2) equal high and low tides every ≈24 hours 50 minutes. South of Plantation Key, the tides are Mixed-Semi-Diurnal exhibiting (2) unequal high and low tides every ≈24 hours 50 minutes.
Beginning at St. Marys River with tides of 5.8 feet, the tidal range decreases southbound. St. Johns River is 4.9 feet, Port Canaveral 3.6 feet, Ft. Pierce 2.6 feet, Port Everglades 2.5 feet, Miami 2,4 feet, Bahia Hionda Key 1.2 feet, and Key West is 1.3 feet.
Entrances, Inlets, and Passes
There are numerous Entrances, Inlets, or Passes between the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the East Coast of Florida. From St. Marys Entrance in the north to Miami in the south.
While many of these are only suitable for shallow draft vessels with local knowledge, some can be considered navigable for most vessels. We have listed them on the next page along with useful information on each to aid you in deciding if you wish to use a particular inlet.
NEXT - Florida’s East Coast - Entrances, Inlets, & Passes
