Tributaries of the Missouri River, a major river in the central United States, are listed here in upstream order. These lists are arranged into river sections between cities or mouths of major tributaries for ease of navigation. Two large tributaries (the Platte and Yellowstone) have their own separate lists because they would be too lengthy to include in part of another section.
Data is derived from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographical maps and the USGS National Map.
Waterway | Orientation | Length (km) | Mouth coordinates | Mouth location | Source coordinates | Source location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arrow Creek | Right | 185 | 47°42′52″N 109°49′43″W / 47.714444444°N 109.828611111°W | Chouteau County, Montana | 47°24′03″N 110°36′20″W / 47.400833333°N 110.605555555°W | Judith Basin County, Montana |
Auxvasse Creek | Left | 80 | 38°40′55″N 91°49′23″W / 38.68194444°N 91.82305556°W | Auxvasse Township, Callaway County, Missouri | 38°57′25″N 92°03′57″W / 38.956944444°N 92.065833333°W | Kingdom City, Missouri |
Bad River | Right | 260 | 44°21′16″N 100°22′05″W / 44.3544°N 100.368°W | Fort Pierre, South Dakota | 44°02′06″N 101°39′58″W / 44.035111111°N 101.666083333°W | Haakon County |
Belt Creek | Right | 129 | 47°35′53″N 111°02′55″W / 47.598055555°N 111.048611111°W | Great Falls, Montana | 46°50′46″N 110°41′33″W / 46.846222222°N 110.692611111°W | White Sulphur Springs, Montana |
Blue River | Right | 64 | 39°07′48″N 94°28′15″W / 39.1300042°N 94.470786°W | Kansas City, Missouri | 38°48′31″N 94°40′50″W / 38.8086194°N 94.680513°W | Overland Park, Kansas |
Big Berger Creek | Right | 40 | 38°37′14″N 91°13′43″W / 38.620555555°N 91.228611111°W | New Haven, Missouri | 38°33′30″N 91°26′25″W / 38.558361111°N 91.440194444°W | Boeuf Township, Gasconade County, Missouri |
Big Dry Creek | Right | 165 | 47°30′55″N 106°16′41″W / 47.51528°N 106.27809°W | Circle, Montana | 47°16′20″N 107°08′32″W / 47.272166666°N 107.142305555°W | Jordan, Montana |
Big Muddy Creek | Left | 307 | 48°08′30″N 104°36′43″W / 48.141666666°N 104.611944444°W | Roosevelt County, Montana | 49°02′55″N 104°52′46″W / 49.048527777°N 104.879416666°W | Rural Municipality of Happy Valley No. 10 |
Big Sioux River | Left | 674 | 42°29′27″N 96°26′47″W / 42.490833333°N 96.446388888°W | Sioux City, Iowa | 45°19′18″N 97°02′33″W / 45.3216285°N 97.0425776°W | Roberts County, South Dakota |
Boyer River | Left | 224 | 41°27′11″N 95°55′09″W / 41.4531°N 95.9192°W | Pottawattamie County, Iowa | 42°35′56″N 95°16′34″W / 42.598805555°N 95.276138888°W | Maple Valley Township, Buena Vista County, Iowa |
Cannonball River | Right | 217 | 46°25′45″N 100°35′54″W / 46.429166666°N 100.598333333°W | Sioux County, North Dakota | 46°28′12″N 103°12′24″W / 46.47°N 103.206666666°W | Slope County, North Dakota |
Chariton River | Left | 351 | 39°18′47″N 92°57′29″W / 39.313°N 92.958°W | Keytesville, Missouri | 40°49′50″N 93°30′32″W / 40.830555555°N 93.508888888°W | Humeston, Iowa |
Cheyenne River | Right | 475 | 44°46′15″N 100°43′04″W / 44.770833333°N 100.717777777°W | Stanley County, South Dakota | 43°25′34″N 105°03′32″W / 43.426111111°N 105.058888888°W | Converse County, Wyoming |
Cow Creek | Left | 100 | 47°47′18″N 108°56′06″W / 47.788333333°N 108.935°W | Blaine County, Montana | 48°05′26″N 109°20′03″W / 48.090472222°N 109.334305555°W | Blaine County, Montana |
Crooked River | Left | 113 | 39°13′00″N 93°50′33″W / 39.216666666°N 93.8425°W | Ray County, Missouri | 39°30′24″N 94°16′37″W / 39.506666666°N 94.276944444°W | Clinton County, Missouri |
Cuivre River | Right | 56 | 38°56′00″N 90°41′11″W / 38.9334°N 90.6865°W | St. Charles County, Missouri | 39°01′02″N 90°59′34″W / 39.017222222°N 90.992777777°W | Bedford Township, Lincoln County, Missouri |
Dearborn River | Left | 113 | 47°07′41″N 111°54′37″W / 47.128055555°N 111.910277777°W | Cascade, Montana | 47°18′33″N 112°49′10″W / 47.309166666°N 112.819444444°W | Lewis and Clark County, Montana |
Fishing River | Left | 63 | 39°10′31″N 94°08′27″W / 39.17528°N 94.14078°W | Orrick, Missouri | 39°18′53″N 94°29′45″W / 39.314722222°N 94.495777777°W | Platte Township, Clay County, Missouri |
Floyd River | Left | 180 | 42°28′59″N 96°23′30″W / 42.4830497°N 96.3916957°W | Sioux City, Iowa | 43°14′02″N 95°37′12″W / 43.233888888°N 95.620055555°W | Sanborn, Iowa |
Gallatin River | Left | 193 | 45°56′20″N 111°29′35″W / 45.9389°N 111.493°W | Gallatin County, Montana | 44°51′27″N 110°52′59″W / 44.85739°N 110.8831°W | Park County, Montana |
Gasconade River | Right | 450 | 38°40′28″N 91°32′55″W / 38.674444444°N 91.548611111°W | Gasconade, Missouri | 37°11′55″N 92°43′06″W / 37.198666666°N 92.718361111°W | Seymour, Missouri |
Grand River | Left | 760 | 39°23′02″N 93°06′29″W / 39.384°N 93.108°W | Brunswick, Missouri | 41°01′29″N 94°16′04″W / 41.024611111°N 94.267694444°W | Union County, Iowa |
Grand River | Right | 303 | 45°34′32″N 100°28′02″W / 45.575555555°N 100.467222222°W | Mobridge, South Dakota | 45°45′13″N 102°12′16″W / 45.753666666°N 102.204527777°W | Perkins County, South Dakota |
Heart River | Right | 475 | 46°46′03″N 100°50′31″W / 46.7675°N 100.842°W | Bismarck, North Dakota | 46°56′25″N 103°18′56″W / 46.940194444°N 103.315527777°W | Belfield, North Dakota |
James River | Right | 1,143 | 42°52′17″N 97°17′26″W / 42.8714°N 97.2906°W | Yankton, South Dakota | 46°56′25″N 103°18′56″W / 46.940194444°N 103.315527777°W | Belfield, North Dakota |
Jefferson River | Left | 134 | 45°55′39″N 111°30′29″W / 45.9275°N 111.508056°W | Three Forks, Montana | 45°33′42″N 112°20′15″W / 45.561722222°N 112.337472222°W | Twin Bridges, Montana |
Judith River | Right | 220 | 47°44′06″N 109°38′46″W / 47.735°N 109.646111111°W | Fergus County, Montana | 46°50′56″N 110°16′10″W / 46.849027777°N 110.269444444°W | Judith Basin County, Montana |
Kansas River | Right | 238 | 39°06′55″N 94°36′38″W / 39.115278°N 94.610556°W | Kansas City, Kansas | 39°03′36″N 96°48′05″W / 39.06°N 96.801389°W | Junction City, Kansas |
Knife River | Right | 193 | 47°19′17″N 101°22′08″W / 47.321388888°N 101.368888888°W | Mercer County, North Dakota | 47°11′02″N 103°12′40″W / 47.184027777°N 103.211083333°W | North Billings, North Dakota |
Lamine River | Right | 100 | 38°58′47″N 92°51′05″W / 38.97975°N 92.8513°W | Boonville, Missouri | 38°40′05″N 92°57′17″W / 38.668166666°N 92.95475°W | Richland Township, Dickinson County, Iowa |
Little Blue River | Right | 73 | 39°12′28″N 94°13′07″W / 39.207777777°N 94.218555555°W | Sibley, Missouri | 38°50′08″N 94°32′06″W / 38.835611111°N 94.535055555°W | Belton, Missouri |
Little Missouri River | Right | 901 | 47°34′41″N 102°43′23″W / 47.578138888°N 102.723083333°W | Dunn County, North Dakota | 44°32′25″N 104°59′57″W / 44.5403°N 104.9991°W | Crook County, Wyoming |
Little Muddy River | Left | 154 | 48°08′07″N 103°35′31″W / 48.1353°N 103.592°W | Williams County, North Dakota | 48°32′00″N 103°10′12″W / 48.533361111°N 103.169916666°W | Williams County |
Little Sioux River | Left | 415 | 41°48′11″N 96°03′58″W / 41.803°N 96.066°W | Little Sioux Township, Harrison County, Iowa | 43°39′35″N 95°18′19″W / 43.659833333°N 95.305333333°W | Rost Township, Jackson County, Minnesota |
Loutre River | Left | 92 | 38°42′43″N 91°25′03″W / 38.71199°N 91.41738°W | Hermann, Missouri | 39°05′08″N 91°47′57″W / 39.085611111°N 91.799138888°W | Loutre Township, Montgomery County, Missouri |
Madison River | Right | 295 | 45°55′39″N 111°30′29″W / 45.9275°N 111.508055555°W | Three Forks, Montana | 44°38′32″N 110°51′56″W / 44.642155555°N 110.865488888°W | Park County, Wyoming |
Marias River | Right | 338 | 47°55′48″N 110°29′26″W / 47.929972222°N 110.490611111°W | Chouteau County, Montana | 48°29′12″N 112°13′41″W / 48.486666666°N 112.228055555°W | Glacier County, Montana |
Milk River | Left | 1,173 | 48°03′22″N 106°19′08″W / 48.056111111°N 106.318888888°W | Valley County, Montana | 48°51′20″N 113°01′10″W / 48.8555376°N 113.0195347°W | Glacier County, Montana |
Moreau River | Right | 320 | 45°21′19″N 100°22′31″W / 45.355277777°N 100.375277777°W | Dewey County, South Dakota | 45°08′40″N 102°50′21″W / 45.144388888°N 102.839055555°W | Perkins County, South Dakota |
Mosquito Creek | Left | 97 | 41°10′34″N 95°50′25″W / 41.176°N 95.8402°W | Council Bluffs, Iowa | 41°47′55″N 95°22′51″W / 41.798666666°N 95.380916666°W | Union Township, Davis County, Iowa |
Musselshell River | Right | 470 | 47°22′29″N 107°56′35″W / 47.374722°N 107.943056°W | Winnett, Montana | 46°28′47″N 110°16′21″W / 46.479722°N 110.2725°W | Wheatland County, Montana |
Niobrara River | Right | 915 | 42°46′18″N 98°02′46″W / 42.7717°N 98.0461°W | Niobrara, Nebraska | 42°49′15″N 104°38′50″W / 42.8208°N 104.6472°W | Niobrara County, Wyoming |
Nishnabotna River | Left | 26 | 40°28′57″N 95°41′43″W / 40.4825°N 95.695222222°W | Watson, Missouri | 40°39′09″N 95°37′25″W / 40.6525°N 95.623611111°W | Hamburg, Iowa |
Nodaway River | Left | 106 | 39°54′07″N 94°57′58″W / 39.902°N 94.966°W | Andrew County, Missouri | 40°38′06″N 95°01′09″W / 40.635°N 95.019166666°W | Shambaugh, Iowa |
Osage River | Right | 444 | 38°35′49″N 91°56′43″W / 38.596944444°N 91.945277777°W | Callaway County, Missouri | 38°01′39″N 94°14′39″W / 38.0275321°N 94.2441147°W | Schell City, Missouri |
Peace Creek | Right | 80 | 38°10′28″N 98°13′46″W / 38.174456°N 98.229508°W | Rice County, Kansas | 37°57′59″N 98°38′48″W / 37.966403°N 98.64675°W | Stafford County, Kansas |
Platte River | Right | 499 | 41°03′08″N 95°52′51″W / 41.0523°N 95.8807°W | Plattsmouth, Nebraska | 41°06′50″N 100°40′33″W / 41.1139°N 100.6758°W | North Platte, Nebraska |
Platte River | Left | 275 | 39°15′51″N 94°50′15″W / 39.2642°N 94.8375°W | Farley, Missouri | 41°09′23″N 94°23′02″W / 41.156305555°N 94.383861111°W | Union County, Iowa |
Poplar River | Left | 269 | 48°05′03″N 105°11′08″W / 48.084166666°N 105.185555555°W | Poplar, Montana | 49°15′13″N 106°23′32″W / 49.253611111°N 106.392222222°W | Rural Municipality of Old Post No. 43 |
Redwater River | Right | 177 | 48°03′41″N 105°12′38″W / 48.061388888°N 105.210555555°W | Poplar, Montana | 47°03′37″N 105°52′53″W / 47.060277777°N 105.881388888°W | Prairie County, Montana |
Sixteen Mile Creek | Left | 111 | 46°06′20″N 111°23′52″W / 46.105555555°N 111.397777777°W | Broadwater County, Montana | 46°15′29″N 110°32′42″W / 46.258138888°N 110.544888888°W | Meagher County, Montana |
Smith River | Right | 200 | 47°24′49″N 111°28′43″W / 47.413611111°N 111.478611111°W | Cascade County, Montana | 46°31′43″N 110°58′40″W / 46.528638888°N 110.977861111°W | Meagher County, Montana |
Soldier River | Left | 108 | 41°44′15″N 96°05′52″W / 41.7375°N 96.0978°W | Mondamin, Iowa | 42°16′11″N 95°19′47″W / 42.269694444°N 95.329694444°W | Hayes Township, Crawford County, Iowa |
Sun River | Left | 209 | 47°29′42″N 111°18′43″W / 47.495°N 111.312°W | Great Falls, Montana | 47°37′47″N 112°51′25″W / 47.629722222°N 112.856944444°W | Lewis and Clark County, Montana |
Tarkio River | Left | 130 | 40°09′46″N 95°26′19″W / 40.16278°N 95.43859°W | Holt County, Missouri | 41°11′38″N 95°03′45″W / 41.193877777°N 95.062488888°W | Cass County, Iowa |
rivière Vermillion | Left | 154 | 42°43′59″N 96°53′26″W / 42.732931°N 96.890567°W | Vermillion, South Dakota | 43°23′36″N 97°04′06″W / 43.393456°N 97.068215°W | Turner County |
White River | Right | 933 | 43°42′00″N 99°26′08″W / 43.700111111°N 99.435694444°W | Chamberlain, South Dakota | 42°41′10″N 103°50′14″W / 42.6861°N 103.8372°W | Harrison, Nebraska |
Wolf River | Right | 73 | 39°53′55″N 95°11′30″W / 39.8986°N 95.1917°W | Doniphan County, Kansas | 39°47′38″N 95°38′28″W / 39.793888888°N 95.641111111°W | Powhattan, Kansas |
Yellowstone River | Right | 1,114 | 47°58′42″N 103°58′56″W / 47.978333333°N 103.982222222°W | Williams County, North Dakota | 43°59′18″N 109°55′45″W / 43.988333333°N 109.929166666°W | Park County, Wyoming |
Vermillion River