List of tributaries of the Missouri River

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.

Table of primary tributaries Waterway Orientation Length (km) Mouth coordinates Mouth location Source coordinates Source location Arrow Creek Right Chouteau County, Montana Judith Basin County, Montana Auxvasse Creek Left Auxvasse Township, Callaway County, Missouri Kingdom City, Missouri Bad River Right Fort Pierre, South Dakota Haakon County Belt Creek Right Great Falls, Montana White Sulphur Springs, Montana Blue River Right Kansas City, Missouri Overland Park, Kansas Big Berger Creek Right New Haven, Missouri Boeuf Township, Gasconade County, Missouri Big Dry Creek Right Circle, Montana Jordan, Montana Big Muddy Creek Left Roosevelt County, Montana Rural Municipality of Happy Valley No. 10 Big Sioux River Left Sioux City, Iowa Roberts County, South Dakota Boyer River Left Pottawattamie County, Iowa Maple Valley Township, Buena Vista County, Iowa Cannonball River Right Sioux County, North Dakota Slope County, North Dakota Chariton River Left Keytesville, Missouri Humeston, Iowa Cheyenne River Right Stanley County, South Dakota Converse County, Wyoming Cow Creek Left Blaine County, Montana Blaine County, Montana Crooked River Left Ray County, Missouri Clinton County, Missouri Cuivre River Right St. Charles County, Missouri Bedford Township, Lincoln County, Missouri Dearborn River Left Cascade, Montana Lewis and Clark County, Montana Fishing River Left Orrick, Missouri Platte Township, Clay County, Missouri Floyd River Left Sioux City, Iowa Sanborn, Iowa Gallatin River Left Gallatin County, Montana Park County, Montana Gasconade River Right Gasconade, Missouri Seymour, Missouri Grand River Left Brunswick, Missouri Union County, Iowa Grand River Right Mobridge, South Dakota Perkins County, South Dakota Heart River Right Bismarck, North Dakota Belfield, North Dakota James River Right Yankton, South Dakota Belfield, North Dakota Jefferson River Left Three Forks, Montana Twin Bridges, Montana Judith River Right Fergus County, Montana Judith Basin County, Montana Kansas River Right Kansas City, Kansas Junction City, Kansas Knife River Right Mercer County, North Dakota North Billings, North Dakota Lamine River Right Boonville, Missouri Richland Township, Dickinson County, Iowa Little Blue River Right Sibley, Missouri Belton, Missouri Little Missouri River Right Dunn County, North Dakota Crook County, Wyoming Little Muddy River Left Williams County, North Dakota Williams County Little Sioux River Left Little Sioux Township, Harrison County, Iowa Rost Township, Jackson County, Minnesota Loutre River Left Hermann, Missouri Loutre Township, Montgomery County, Missouri Madison River Right Three Forks, Montana Park County, Wyoming Marias River Right Chouteau County, Montana Glacier County, Montana Milk River Left Valley County, Montana Glacier County, Montana Moreau River Right Dewey County, South Dakota Perkins County, South Dakota Mosquito Creek Left Council Bluffs, Iowa Union Township, Davis County, Iowa Musselshell River Right Winnett, Montana Wheatland County, Montana Niobrara River Right Niobrara, Nebraska Niobrara County, Wyoming Nishnabotna River Left Watson, Missouri Hamburg, Iowa Nodaway River Left Andrew County, Missouri Shambaugh, Iowa Osage River Right Callaway County, Missouri Schell City, Missouri Peace Creek Right Rice County, Kansas Stafford County, Kansas Platte River Right Plattsmouth, Nebraska North Platte, Nebraska Platte River Left Farley, Missouri Union County, Iowa Poplar River Left Poplar, Montana Rural Municipality of Old Post No. 43 Redwater River Right Poplar, Montana Prairie County, Montana Sixteen Mile Creek Left Broadwater County, Montana Meagher County, Montana Smith River Right Cascade County, Montana Meagher County, Montana Soldier River Left Mondamin, Iowa Hayes Township, Crawford County, Iowa Sun River Left Great Falls, Montana Lewis and Clark County, Montana Tarkio River Left Holt County, Missouri Cass County, Iowa rivière Vermillion Left Vermillion, South Dakota Turner County White River Right Chamberlain, South Dakota Harrison, Nebraska Wolf River Right Doniphan County, Kansas Powhattan, Kansas Yellowstone River Right Williams County, North Dakota Park County, Wyoming

Mouth to Kansas City Gasconade River Big Piney River Spring Creek Roubidoux Creek Osage Fork Gasconade River Beaver Creek Auxvasse Creek Osage River Maries River Niangua River Little Niangua River Greasy Creek Pomme de Terre River Little Pomme de Terre River South Grand River Tebo Creek Big Creek Weaubleau Creek Sac River Little Sac River Turnback Creek Clear Creek Little Osage River Marmaton River Marais des Cygnes River Bull Creek Pottawatomie Creek Moreau River North Moreau Creek South Moreau Creek Cedar Creek Moniteau Creek Perche Creek Lamine River Blackwater River Salt Fork Blackwater River Heaths Creek Muddy Creek Richland Creek Flat Creek Haw Creek Little Chariton River Middle Fork Little Chariton River East Fork Little Chariton River Chariton River Mussel Fork Chariton River Walnut Creek Blackbird Creek Grand River Locust Creek Medicine Creek Thompson River Honey Creek Weldon River Shoal Creek Big Creek Grindstone Creek East Fork Grand River Middle Fork Grand River Fishing River East Fork Fishing River Little Blue River Blue River Indian Creek Coffee Creek Wolf Creek

Kansas City to Plattsmouth Kansas River Wakarusa River Delaware River Soldier Creek Big Blue River Fancy Creek Little Blue River Mill Creek Turkey Creek West Fork Big Blue River Republican River White Rock Creek Prairie Dog Creek Sappa Creek Beaver Creek Medicine Creek Red Willow Creek Frenchman River Stinking Water Creek South Fork Republican River North Fork Republican River Arikaree River Smoky Hill River Solomon River North Fork Solomon River Cedar Creek Beaver Creek Bow Creek South Fork Solomon River Covert Creek Medicine Creek Saline River Mulberry Creek Spillman Creek Wolf Creek Big Timber Creek North Fork Smoky Hill River Platte River Little Platte River Third Fork Platte River Castile Creek One Hundred and Two River Nodaway River East Nodaway River West Nodaway River Middle Nodaway River Wolf River Big Nemaha River Muddy Creek North Fork Big Nemaha River South Fork Big Nemaha River Tarkio River Little Nemaha River South Fork Little Nemaha River Nishnabotna River West Nishnabotna River Walnut Creek East Nishnabotna River Weeping Water Creek Keg Creek James Creek

Platte River Basin Platte River Salt Creek Oak Creek Stevens Creek Middle Creek Antelope Creek Elk Creek Beal Slough Haines Branch Cardwell Branch Lynn Creek Deadman's Run Little Salt Creek Elkhorn River Maple Creek Logan Creek North Fork Elkhorn River Cache Creek South Fork Elkhorn River Shell Creek Loup River Cedar River North Loup River Calamus River Goose Creek Middle Loup River South Loup River Mud Creek Dismal River South Branch Middle Loup River Middle Branch Middle Loup River North Branch Middle Loup River Prairie Creek Wood River Buffalo Creek North Platte River Birdwood Creek Blue Creek Rush Creek Horse Creek Cherry Creek Box Elder Creek Rawhide Creek Laramie River North Laramie River Chugwater Creek Richeau Creek Sybille Creek Fourmile Creek Little Laramie River Sand Creek Horseshoe Creek La Bonte Creek La Prele Creek Casper Creek Bates Creek Sweetwater River Sage Hen Creek Long Creek Willow Creek Little Sweetwater River East Sweetwater River Sage Creek Medicine Bow River Little Medicine Bow River Rock Creek Wagonhound Creek Pass Creek Encampment River North Fork Encampment River Douglas Creek Pinkham Creek Canadian River Michigan River Illinois River Owl Creek South Fork Michigan River North Fork North Platte River Roaring Fork North Platte River Grizzly Creek Buffalo Creek Little Grizzly Creek South Platte River Lodgepole Creek Muddy Creek Cottonwood Creek Beaver Creek Bijou Creek East Bijou Creek West Bijou Creek Kiowa Creek Box Elder Creek Cache La Poudre River South Fork Cache La Poudre River Big Thompson River Little Thompson River Dry Creek North Fork Big Thompson River St. Vrain River Boulder Creek Left Hand Creek Clear Creek North Clear Creek Cherry Creek Bear Creek Deer Creek Plum Creek North Fork South Platte River Craig Creek Horse Creek Tarryall Creek Middle Fork South Platte River South Fork South Platte River

Plattsmouth to Pierre Mosquito Creek Boyer River Willow River East Boyer River Soldier River East Soldier River Middle Soldier River Little Sioux River Maple River Elk Creek West Fork Little Sioux River Mill Creek Ocheyedan River Little Ocheyedan River Floyd River West Branch Floyd River Little Floyd River Perry Creek Big Sioux River Rock River Little Rock River East Branch Rock River Beaver Creek Slip-up Creek Split Rock Creek Silver Creek Flandreau Creek Medary Creek Bullhead Run Indian River Vermillion River James River Wolf Creek Pierre Creek Rock Creek Shue Creek Timber Creek Snake Creek Mud Creek Moccasin Creek Foot Creek Elm River Pipestem River Kelly Creek Snatch Creek Bazile Creek Niobrara River Verdigre Creek Redbird Creek Eagle Creek Keya Paha River Shadley Creek Crazy Hole Creek Holt Creek Plum Creek Minnechaduza Creek Snake River Steer Creek Bear Creek Leander Creek Rush Creek Pine Creek Butte Creek Ponca Creek Choteau Creek Randall Creek Garden Creek Platte Creek Castalia Creek Edgerton Creek White River White Thunder Creek Little White River Pine Creek Cut Meat Creek Scabby Creek Black Pipe Creek Porcupine Creek Potato Creek Medicine Root Creek No Flesh Creek Wounded Knee Creek Slim Butte Creek American Creek Crow Creek Knoll Creek Chaney Rush Creek Chapelle Creek Bad River War Creek White Clay Creek Dry Creek Big Prairie Dog Creek Mitchell Creek North Fork Bad River Dirty Womans Creek Mexican Creek South Fork Bad River

Pierre to Bismarck Okobojo Creek Mail Shack Creek Cheyenne River Fishgut Creek Rudy Creek Straighthead Creek Spotted Bear Creek Cherry Creek Belle Fourche River Alkali Creek Bear Butte Creek Cottle Creek Vanocker Creek Whitewood Creek Whitetail Creek Fantail Creek Redwater River Spearfish Creek Blacktail Creek Kara Creek Elk Creek Boxelder Creek Bogus Jim Creek Rapid Creek Victoria Creek Castle Creek Heely Creek North Fork Rapid Creek Buskala Creek Spring Creek Battle Creek French Creek Sidney Creek Glen Erin Creek Laughing Water Creek Beaver Creek Well Pole Creek Lame Johnny Creek Flynn Creek Fall River Hot Brook Horsehead Creek Cascade Creek Hat Creek Plains Creek Red Canyon Creek Hawkwright Creek Pleasant Valley Creek Moss Agate Creek Lance Creek Black Thunder Creek Little Thunder Creek Antelope Creek Dry Fork Cheyenne River Stove Creek Moreau River Virgin Creek Little Moreau River Red Earth Creek Bear Creek Irish Creek Thunder Butte Creek Beaver Trap Creek Flint Rock Creek Deep Creek Rabbit Creek Peggy Creek Beverly Creek North Fork Moreau River South Fork Moreau River Battle Creek Grand River High Bank Creek Firesteel Creek Black Horse Butte Creek Thunder Hawk Creek Willow Creek North Fork Grand River Buffalo Creek Lightning Creek Crooked Creek Trunk Creek Staadt Creek Spring Creek South Fork Grand River Flat Creek Lodgepole Creek Box Spring Creek Big Nasty Creek Skull Creek Sioux Creek Atterbury Creek Tall Prairie Chicken Creek Oak Creek Fourmile Creek Porcupine Creek Beaver Creek Cannonball River Cantapeta Creek Dogtooth Creek Cedar Creek Hay Creek Brushy Creek Duck Creek Snake Creek Morris Creek Sheep Creek Thirtymile Creek Apple Creek Heart River Sweetbriar Creek Big Muddy Creek Haymarsh Creek Antelope Creek Heart Butte Creek Green River Ash Creek South Branch Heart River