The Longest Rivers Across America

geography · rivers · United States

Each state has one. Every state in the United States has a longest river, whether it flows entirely within the state's borders or forms part of a state's boundary with another state or country.

Rivers shape states. The longest rivers in each state often define where people live, how they travel, and what crops they can grow. Many of America's biggest cities were built along these important waterways.

Length varies wildly. Some states have truly massive longest rivers that stretch hundreds of miles, while other states have shorter longest rivers because they're smaller or don't have as many major waterways.

Borders and boundaries. Many of the longest rivers in border states actually form the boundary between two states or between the U.S. and another country, making them shared natural dividers.