List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem)
Table
The primary source for watershed and discharge data in the table below is Rivers of North America. Conflicting data from other sources, if the difference is greater than 10 percent, is reported in the notes.

List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem)

Section Title: Table
Table Section Text: The primary source for watershed and discharge data in the table below is Rivers of North America. Conflicting data from other sources, if the difference is greater than 10 percent, is reported in the notes.

#	Name	Mouth	Length	Source coordinates	Mouth coordinates	Watershed area	Discharge	States, provinces, and image

1	Missouri River	Mississippi River	2,341 mi 3,768 km	45°55′39″N 111°30′29″W / 45.92750°N 111.50806°W	38°48′49″N 90°07′11″W / 38.81361°N 90.11972°W	529,353 mi2 1,371,017 km2	69,100 ft3/s 1,956 m3/s	Montanas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, MissourimA wide river flows across a plain.

2	Mississippi River	Gulf of Mexico	2,202 mi 3,544 km	47°14′22″N 95°12′29″W / 47.23944°N 95.20806°W	29°09′04″N 89°15′12″W / 29.15111°N 89.25333°W	1,260,000 mi2 3,270,000 km2	650,000 ft3/s 18,400 m3/s	Minnesotas, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, LouisianamA small river flows from a lake.

3	Yukon River	Bering Sea	1,979 mi 3,185 km	59°35′00″N 133°47′00″W / 59.58333°N 133.78333°W	62°35′55″N 164°48′00″W / 62.59861°N 164.80000°W	324,000 mi2 839,200 km2	224,000 ft3/s 6,340 m3/s	British Columbias, Yukon Territory, AlaskamSunset over a large river flowing through mountains.

4	Rio Grande	Gulf of Mexico	1,759 mi 2,830 km	37°47′52″N 107°32′18″W / 37.79778°N 107.53833°W	25°57′22″N 97°08′43″W / 25.95611°N 97.14528°W	340,000 mi2 870,000 km2	1,300 ft3/s 37 m3/s	Colorados, New Mexico, Texasm, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, TamaulipasmA small river winds through mountains under a rainbow.

5	Colorado River	Gulf of California	1,450 mi 2,330 km	40°28′20″N 105°49′34″W / 40.47222°N 105.82611°W	31°48′57″N 114°48′22″W / 31.81583°N 114.80611°W	248,000 mi2 642,000 km2	1,400 ft3/s 40 m3/s	Colorados, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California, Sonoram, Baja CaliforniamA large river flows through a deep canyon.

6	Arkansas River	Mississippi River	1,443 mi 2,322 km	39°15′30″N 106°20′38″W / 39.25833°N 106.34389°W	33°46′30″N 91°04′15″W / 33.77500°N 91.07083°W	160,200 mi2 414,910 km2	35,500 ft3/s 1,004 m3/s	Colorados, Kansas, Oklahoma, ArkansasmA large river flows through a brightly lit city at night.

7	Columbia River	Pacific Ocean	1,243 mi 2,000 km	50°13′00″N 115°51′00″W / 50.21667°N 115.85000°W	46°14′39″N 124°03′29″W / 46.24417°N 124.05806°W	279,548 mi2 724,024 km2	273,000 ft3/s 7,730 m3/s	British Columbias, Washingtonm, OregonmA large river flows through a wooded gorge.

8	Red River	Atchafalaya and Mississippi rivers	1,125 mi 1,811 km	34°34′35″N 99°57′54″W / 34.57639°N 99.96500°W	31°01′10″N 91°44′52″W / 31.01944°N 91.74778°W	65,590 mi2 169,890 km2	30,100 ft3/s 852 m3/s	Oklahomas, Texas, Arkansas, LouisianamOxbow bend in a river seen from an airplane

9	Snake River	Columbia River	1,040 mi 1,674 km	44°07′49″N 110°13′10″W / 44.13028°N 110.21944°W	46°11′10″N 119°01′43″W / 46.18611°N 119.02861°W	108,000 mi2 281,000 km2	55,300 ft3/s 1,565 m3/s	Wyomings, Idaho, Oregon, WashingtonmA river winds across a plain at the foot of jagged snow-covered mountains.

10	Ohio River	Mississippi River	979 mi 1,575 km	40°26′34″N 80°01′02″W / 40.44278°N 80.01722°W	36°59′12″N 89°07′50″W / 36.98667°N 89.13056°W	204,000 mi2 529,000 km2	308,400 ft3/s 8,733 m3/s	Pennsylvanias, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, KentuckymModest skyscrapers, their images reflected in the water, line the bank of a wide placid river.

11	Colorado River of Texas	Gulf of Mexico	970 mi 1,560 km	32°40′47″N 101°43′51″W / 32.67972°N 101.73083°W	28°35′41″N 95°58′59″W / 28.59472°N 95.98306°W	39,900 mi2 103,341 km2	2,600 ft3/s 75 m3/s	Texass, mA small stream flows through an arid plain populated with low shrubs. Much of the surrounding soil is red.

12	Tennessee River	Ohio River	935 mi 1,504 km	35°57′33″N 83°51′01″W / 35.95917°N 83.85028°W	37°04′02″N 88°33′53″W / 37.06722°N 88.56472°W	40,880 mi2 105,870 km2	71,000 ft3/s 2,000 m3/s	Tennessees, Alabama, KentuckymA wide river curves through an urban landscape replete with bridges, tall buildings, and wooded areas near the water.

13	Canadian River	Arkansas River	906 mi 1,458 km	37°01′11″N 105°04′33″W / 37.01972°N 105.07583°W	35°27′12″N 95°01′58″W / 35.45333°N 95.03278°W	47,130 mi2 122,070 km2	6,100 ft3/s 174 m3/s	Colorados, New Mexico, Texas, OklahomamA small stream in arid country flows under a railroad bridge high above the water.

14	Brazos River	Gulf of Mexico	860 mi 1,390 km	33°16′07″N 100°00′37″W / 33.26861°N 100.01028°W	28°52′33″N 95°22′42″W / 28.87583°N 95.37833°W	44,620 mi2 115,566 km2	8,800 ft3/s 249 m3/s	Texass, mA train crosses a bridge over a wide river.

15	Green River	Colorado River	760 mi 1,230 km	43°09′13″N 109°40′18″W / 43.15361°N 109.67167°W	38°11′21″N 109°53′07″W / 38.18917°N 109.88528°W	44,900 mi2 116,200 km2	6,100 ft3/s 172 m3/s	Wyomings, Colorado, UtahmView from an airplane: A river meanders this way and that through a reddish-brown landscape.

16	Pecos River	Rio Grande	730 mi 1,175 km	35°58′34″N 105°33′29″W / 35.97611°N 105.55806°W	29°41′59″N 101°22′17″W / 29.69972°N 101.37139°W	44,000 mi2 113,960 km2	71 ft3/s 2 m3/s	New Mexicos, TexasmA large river flows through a canyon.

17	White River (Arkansas)	Mississippi River	720 mi 1,159 km	35°50′20″N 93°36′16″W / 35.83889°N 93.60444°W	33°57′05″N 91°04′53″W / 33.95139°N 91.08139°W	27,872 mi2 72,189 km2	34,600 ft3/s 979 m3/s	Arkansass, m, MissouriA wide placid river flows by a low wooded hill.

18	James River	Missouri River	710 mi 1,140 km	47°28′53″N 99°51′32″W / 47.48139°N 99.85889°W	42°52′17″N 97°17′26″W / 42.87139°N 97.29056°W	20,942 mi2 54,240 km2	854 ft3/s 24.2 m3/s	North Dakotas, South DakotamA small stream winds through a town.

19	Kuskokwim River	Bering Sea	702 mi 1,130 km	63°05′16″N 154°38′33″W / 63.08778°N 154.64250°W	60°04′59″N 162°20′02″W / 60.08306°N 162.33389°W	48,000 mi2 124,319 km2	67,000 ft3s 1,900 m3/s	Alaskas, mMen and boats along the shore of a very wide river.

20	Cimarron River	Arkansas River	698 mi 1,123 km	36°54′24″N 102°59′12″W / 36.90667°N 102.98667°W	36°10′14″N 96°16′19″W / 36.17056°N 96.27194°W	19,510 mi2 50,540 km2	1,500 ft3/s 42 m3/s	Oklahomas, m, Colorado, Kansas A medium-sized river winds through a flat plain dominated by brown grasses.

21	Cumberland River	Ohio River	696 mi 1,120 km	36°50′42″N 83°19′26″W / 36.84500°N 83.32389°W	37°08′36″N 88°24′27″W / 37.14333°N 88.40750°W	17,930 mi2 46,430 km2	30,400 ft3/s 862 m3/s	Kentuckys, m, Tennessee Several canoes pass under a bridge over a wide river in a forest.

22	Yellowstone River	Missouri River	678 mi 1,091 km	43°59′18″N 109°55′45″W / 43.98833°N 109.92917°W	47°58′42″N 103°58′56″W / 47.97833°N 103.98222°W	70,400 mi2 182,336 km2	12,800 ft3/s 362 m3/s	Wyomings, Montana, North DakotamLarge waterfall encased in ice

23	North Platte River	Platte River	665 mi 1,070 km	40°38′23″N 106°24′19″W / 40.63972°N 106.40528°W	41°06′50″N 100°40′33″W / 41.11389°N 100.67583°W	34,885 mi2 90,352 km2	770 ft3/s 21.9 m3/s	Colorados, Wyoming, NebraskamCanoers run rapids on a boulder-strewn river in the mountains.

24	Milk River	Missouri River	625 mi 1,005 km	48°51′20″N 113°01′10″W / 48.85556°N 113.01944°W	48°03′26″N 106°19′07″W / 48.05722°N 106.31861°W	22,332 mi2 57,839 km2	670 ft3/s 18.9 m3/s	Alberta, Montanas, mA small river winds through a rocky, grass-covered plateau. Hills rise in the distance.

25	Ouachita River	Black River	605 mi 974 km	31°41′56″N 94°19′57″W / 31.69889°N 94.33250°W	31°37′53″N 91°48′25″W / 31.63139°N 91.80694°W	24,886 mi2 64,454 km2	29,800 ft3/s 843 m3/s	Arkansass, LouisianamA lock and dam on a medium-sized river

26	Saint Lawrence River	Gulf of Saint Lawrence	600 mi 965 km	44°05′55″N 76°23′28″W / 44.09861°N 76.39111°W	49°40′00″N 64°30′00″W / 49.66667°N 64.50000°W	620,000 mi2 1,600,000 km2	440,000 ft3/s 12,600 m3/s	New Yorks, Ontarios, QuebecmA large ship travels along a large river bordered by vegetation on one bank and urban development on the other.

27	Gila River	Colorado River	600 mi 960 km	33°10′47″N 108°12′22″W / 33.17972°N 108.20611°W	32°43′11″N 114°33′19″W / 32.71972°N 114.55528°W	57,850 mi2 149,832 km2	210 ft3/s 6 m3/s	New Mexicos, ArizonamA shallow river with a sandy bed flows through an arid landscape.

28	Sheyenne River	Red River of the North	591 mi 951 km	47°41′46″N 100°29′52″W / 47.69611°N 100.49778°W	47°01′25″N 96°49′31″W / 47.02361°N 96.82528°W	8,800 mi2 23,000 km2	288 ft3/s 8.2 m3/s	North Dakotas, mA small river rushes away from the base of a dam.

29	Tanana River	Yukon River	584 mi 940 km	63°02′57″N 141°51′52″W / 63.04917°N 141.86444°W	65°09′38″N 151°57′37″W / 65.16056°N 151.96028°W	44,000 mi2 114,000 km2	41,800 ft3/s 1,185 m3/s	Alaskas, mA shallow braided river flows over a plain partly covered by green plants and grasses. Jagged snow-covered mountains rise in the distance.

30	Smoky Hill River	Kansas River	576 mi 927 km	38°57′01″N 102°34′49″W / 38.95028°N 102.58028°W	39°03′36″N 96°48′04″W / 39.06000°N 96.80111°W	19,260 mi2 49,900 km2	1,542 ft3/s 43.7 m3/s	Colorados, KansasmA small, muddy river, as seen from a bridge, meanders between tree-lined banks.

31	Niobrara River	Missouri River	568 mi 914 km	42°49′15″N 104°38′50″W / 42.82083°N 104.64722°W	42°45′58″N 98°02′50″W / 42.76611°N 98.04722°W	12,600 mi2 32,600 km2	1,700 ft3/s 49 m3/s	Wyomings, Nebraskam A small river flows through a field of grass and yellow flowers.

32	Little Missouri River	Missouri River	560 mi 900 km	44°32′25″N 104°59′57″W / 44.54028°N 104.99917°W	47°36′38″N 102°52′24″W / 47.61056°N 102.87333°W	8,310 mi2 21,500 km2	450 ft3/s 13 m3/s	Wyomings, Montana, South Dakota, North DakotamA small river meanders through a landscape of forests, bluffs, and rocky outcrops.

33	Sabine River	Gulf of Mexico	553 mi 890 km	32°48′29″N 95°55′14″W / 32.80806°N 95.92056°W	29°59′08″N 93°47′26″W / 29.98556°N 93.79056°W	9,756 mi2 25,268 km2	8,400 ft3/s 238 m3/s	Texass, LouisianamA wide river flows under a highway bridge.

34	Red River of the North	Lake Winnipeg	550 mi 890 km	46°15′52″N 96°35′55″W / 46.26444°N 96.59861°W	50°23′47″N 96°48′39″W / 50.39639°N 96.81083°W	111,000 mi2 287,500 km2	8,300 ft3/s 236 m3/s	North Dakotas, Minnesotas, ManitobamA small river flows through a prairie landscape; brown grasses and leafless trees line the banks.

35	Des Moines River	Mississippi River	525 mi 845 km	44°05′02″N 95°41′17″W / 44.08389°N 95.68806°W	41°22′52″N 91°25′21″W / 41.38111°N 91.42250°W	12,018 mi2 31,127 km2	6,400 ft3/s 182 m3/s	Minnesotas, Missouri, IowamA placid river flows through a prairie landscape.

36	White River (Missouri River)	Missouri River	506 mi 815 km	42°41′10″N 103°50′14″W / 42.68611°N 103.83722°W	43°42′50″N 99°28′01″W / 43.71389°N 99.46694°W	10,200 mi2 26,418 km2	570 ft3/s 16 m3/s	Nebraskas, South DakotamA small stream flows through grasses and shrubs at the base of a rocky hill.

37	Trinity River	Galveston Bay	506 mi 815 km	32°47′54″N 96°53′52″W / 32.79833°N 96.89778°W	29°44′35″N 94°42′12″W / 29.74306°N 94.70333°W	17,970 mi2 46,540 km2	7,800 ft3/s 222 m3/s	Texass, mA middle-sized river flows by a factory with two tall smokestacks.

38	Wabash River	Ohio River	503 mi 810 km	40°21′07″N 84°45′57″W / 40.35194°N 84.76583°W	37°47′53″N 88°01′38″W / 37.79806°N 88.02722°W	32,950 mi2 85,340 km2	1,001 ft3/s 28 m3/s	Ohios, Indianam, IllinoismA middle-sized river with sandy and grassy banks flows under a bridge

Sentence(s)