A small coastal waterway is commonly referred to as an "intracoastal waterway." The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is a network of natural and artificial waterways such as inlets, bays, sounds, and canals that run along the coast, providing a navigable route protected from the open sea. It is used for both commercial and recreational boating, allowing smaller vessels to travel safely along the coast. The ICW extends approximately 3,000 miles along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, from Massachusetts down to Texas. It includes narrow coastal passages, marshy waterways, and broader open sounds, offering a sheltered waterway alternative to the ocean coastline.

Thus, the term "small coastal waterway" is often synonymous with or closely related to the concept of an intracoastal waterway.