Guide Rankings Geography Updated June 20, 2026

Mississippi River States

Aerial view of the Mississippi River winding through a flat floodplain with forested banks and farmland on both sides

Mississippi River States

Ranking - Geography

Quick Answer

Mississippi River States

  1. 1

    Illinois borders the most Mississippi River miles of any state at approximately 581 miles, with the river forming its entire western edge. The Mississippi touches 10 states in total, from Minnesota at the source to Louisiana at the Gulf.

  2. 2

    Minnesota (575 mi) contains the river's source at Lake Itasca and has the longest through-state section. Louisiana (220 mi) holds the final miles before the river empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

  3. 3

    Kentucky has just 51 miles of Mississippi River border, the shortest of any state on the river. Tennessee's 112 miles include Memphis — more than Kentucky — yet Tennessee still ranks as the second-shortest.

Map

Mississippi River States Map

river miles
No data
The Mississippi runs 2,340 miles from Lake Itasca in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Illinois (581 mi) and Missouri (480 mi) have the longest river borders; Kentucky (51 mi) and Tennessee (112 mi) the shortest.
Mississippi River States Map
Rank State river miles
1 Minnesota 575
2 Wisconsin 195
3 Iowa 315
4 Illinois 581
5 Missouri 480
6 Kentucky 51
7 Tennessee 112
8 Arkansas 320
9 Mississippi 340
10 Louisiana 220

The Mississippi runs 2,340 miles from Lake Itasca in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Illinois (581 mi) and Missouri (480 mi) have the longest river borders; Kentucky (51 mi) and Tennessee (112 mi) the shortest.

Mississippi River States Table

River Position

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Print-ready table — Mississippi River States

Upper Mississippi River States

Aerial view of the Mississippi River near Wabasha, Minnesota with bridge crossings, wooded islands, and broad river channels
The upper Mississippi in Minnesota and Wisconsin spreads into a broad, island-filled corridor with navigation pools, side channels, and bridge crossings. This northern reach includes the river's longest through-state segment in Minnesota.

Five states border the upper Mississippi: Minnesota (575 mi), Wisconsin (195 mi), Iowa (315 mi), Illinois (581 mi), and Missouri (480 mi). Illinois has the most river miles of any of the 10 states, with the river forming its entire western border from the Wisconsin line to Cairo.

Minnesota (575 mi) is the only upper-section state where the river flows through the interior rather than forming a state line, with its source at Lake Itasca in the northwest. Missouri (480 mi) borders the upper section along its eastern edge, with St. Louis at the midpoint.

Order (N→S)
1
State
Minnesota
River Miles
575
River Position
Through-state (source)
Major City on River
Minneapolis
Order (N→S)
2
State
Wisconsin
River Miles
195
River Position
East bank
Major City on River
La Crosse
Order (N→S)
3
State
Iowa
River Miles
315
River Position
West bank
Major City on River
Davenport
Order (N→S)
4
State
Illinois
River Miles
581
River Position
East bank
Major City on River
Rock Island
Order (N→S)
5
State
Missouri
River Miles
480
River Position
West bank
Major City on River
St. Louis

Lower Mississippi River States

Towboat pushing barges along the Mississippi River through a wide channel bordered by green banks
On the lower Mississippi, the river becomes a major freight corridor for barges carrying grain, fuel, and bulk commodities. This section includes Memphis, Vicksburg, Baton Rouge, and the approach to the Gulf of Mexico.

Five states border the lower Mississippi, south of Cairo, Illinois: Kentucky (51 mi), Tennessee (112 mi), Arkansas (320 mi), Mississippi (340 mi), and Louisiana (220 mi). Arkansas and Mississippi state face each other across the river with the two longest lower-section borders.

Kentucky has the shortest river frontage of any Mississippi state at 51 miles, limited to its far western tip. Tennessee's 112 miles include Memphis, the largest city on the lower section. Louisiana (220 mi) contains the river's final miles before it reaches the Gulf of Mexico.

Order (N→S)
6
State
Kentucky
River Miles
51
River Position
East bank
Major City on River
Wickliffe
Order (N→S)
7
State
Tennessee
River Miles
112
River Position
East bank
Major City on River
Memphis
Order (N→S)
8
State
Arkansas
River Miles
320
River Position
West bank
Major City on River
Helena
Order (N→S)
9
State
Mississippi
River Miles
340
River Position
East bank
Major City on River
Vicksburg
Order (N→S)
10
State
Louisiana
River Miles
220
River Position
Through-state (mouth)
Major City on River
New Orleans

Quick Answers

What states does the Mississippi River flow through?
Ten states: Minnesota (source), Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana (Gulf mouth). Minnesota and Louisiana are the only two through-states; the other eight are border states where the river forms a state line.
How many states does the Mississippi River border?
The Mississippi River flows through or borders 10 states. Eight of the 10 serve as border states where the river forms the state line between neighbors. Minnesota contains the source at Lake Itasca and Louisiana contains the Gulf mouth — both are through-states.
Which state has the most miles of the Mississippi River?
Illinois has the most Mississippi River miles of any state at approximately 581 miles, with the river forming its entire western border from Wisconsin to Cairo. Missouri ranks second with approximately 480 miles.
Which state has the fewest miles of the Mississippi River?
Kentucky has the shortest Mississippi River border at approximately 51 miles, confined to its far western tip known as the Jackson Purchase. Tennessee ranks second-shortest at 112 miles.
Does the Mississippi River flow through Tennessee?
The Mississippi River forms Tennessee's western border for approximately 112 miles, from the Missouri line south to the Mississippi state line. Memphis, Tennessee's largest city, sits on the east bank of the river at this stretch.
Where does the Mississippi River start and end?
The Mississippi River starts at Lake Itasca in Minnesota (rank 1, source state) and ends at the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana (rank 10, mouth state). Its total length is approximately 2,340 miles.

Methodology

River miles are approximate estimates from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and USGS records, with border sections counted for both flanking states, so state totals exceed the river's full length of 2,340 miles. The upper Mississippi runs from Lake Itasca, Minnesota to Cairo, Illinois; the lower section from Cairo to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana.

Sources

Information is cross-referenced with official state archives.
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