Arkansas River

major tributary of the Mississippi River, United States

The Arkansas River is a river in the United States. It flows southeast and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is about 1,469 miles (2,364 km) long. It is the sixth longest river in the United States.

Headwaters of the Arkansas River in Colorado

The Arkansas begins in the state of Colorado. Then, it flows through the states of Kansas and Oklahoma. It flows into the Mississippi River in Arkansas, which is named for the river. Riverboats go up the Arkansas River as far as Oklahoma.

It has several major tributaries. These are the Canadian River, the Cimarron River, and the Salt Fork Arkansas River.