The main stems of 38 rivers in the United States are at least 500 miles (800 km) long. The main stem is “the primary downstream segment of a river, as contrasted to its tributaries”. The Missouri River is the longest river in the United States at 2,540 miles long. Together with the Mississippi River, it forms the fourth largest river system in the world. The Map of this River begins in Western Montana and flows to the Mississippi River just north of St. Louis.
The Mississippi River is the 2nd longest river in North America. It has a total length of 2,339 miles (3,765 km) from its source to the sea. It starts flowing in the state of Minnesota and flows south to the Gulf of Mexico.
United States Rivers Water Flows Map
River | Length (km) | Length (miles) | Drainage area (km²) | Outflow | Countries in the drainage basin |
Missouri River | 3,767 | 2,341 | 1,300,000 | Mississippi River | USA |
Mississippi River | 3,734 | 2,320 | 2,981,076 | Gulf of Mexico | USA |
Colorado River | 2,334 | 1,450 | 637,137 | Gulf of California | USA, Mexico |
Columbia River | 2,000 | 1,243 | 668,000 | Pacific Ocean | USA, Canada |
Ohio River | 1,579 | 981 | 528,100 | Mississippi River | USA |
Arkansas River | 2,364 | 1,469 | 435,123 | Mississippi River | USA |
Snake River | 1,735 | 1,078 | 278,450 | Columbia River | USA |
Saint Lawrence River | 1,197 | 744 | 1,344,200 | Gulf of St. Lawrence | USA, Canada |
Rio Grande | 3,051 | 1,896 | 471,900 | Gulf of Mexico | USA, Mexico |
Yukon River | 3,190 | 1,982 | 854,700 | Berin Sea | USA, Canada |