Longest Rivers in the US

The river systems of the United States are the lifeblood of its geography, serving as critical trade routes, sources of irrigation, and defining borders for many states. From the massive drainage basin of the Mississippi-Missouri system that bisects the country to the rugged, remote paths of the Yukon in the north and the Rio Grande in the south, these waterways span thousands of miles across diverse ecosystems. While the Mississippi is perhaps the most culturally iconic, the Missouri actually holds the title of the longest individual river, highlighting the vast scale of the American interior.

The following table lists the top 20 longest rivers in the United States:

Rank	River	Length (Miles)	Length (Feet)	Primary States
1	Missouri River	2,341 mi	12,360,480 ft	MT, ND, SD, NE, IA, KS, MO
2	Mississippi River	2,340 mi	12,355,200 ft	MN, WI, IA, IL, MO, KY, TN, AR, MS, LA
3	Yukon River	1,979 mi	10,449,600 ft	AK
4	Rio Grande	1,759 mi	9,287,520 ft	CO, NM, TX
5	Colorado River	1,450 mi	7,656,000 ft	CO, UT, AZ, NV, CA
6	Arkansas River	1,443 mi	7,619,040 ft	CO, KS, OK, AR
7	Columbia River	1,243 mi	6,563,040 ft	WA, OR
8	Red River	1,125 mi	5,940,000 ft	TX, OK, AR, LA
9	Snake River	1,040 mi	5,491,200 ft	WY, ID, OR, WA
10	Ohio River	979 mi	5,169,120 ft	PA, OH, WV, KY, IN, IL
11	Colorado River (Texas)	970 mi	5,121,600 ft	TX
12	Tennessee River	935 mi	4,936,800 ft	TN, AL, MS, KY
13	Canadian River	906 mi	4,783,680 ft	NM, TX, OK
14	Brazos River	860 mi	4,540,800 ft	TX
15	Green River	730 mi	3,854,400 ft	WY, CO, UT
16	Pecos River	730 mi	3,854,400 ft	NM, TX
17	White River	722 mi	3,812,160 ft	AR, MO
18	James River	710 mi	3,748,800 ft	ND, SD
19	Kuskokwim River	702 mi	3,706,560 ft	AK
20	Cumberland River	687 mi	3,627,360 ft	KY, TN