River Miles: Cincinnati to New Orleans via the Ohio and Mississippi

Traveling by river from Cincinnati, Ohio, to New Orleans, Louisiana, covers approximately 1,950 miles (3,140 kilometers). The route follows the Ohio River westward from Cincinnati to its confluence with the Mississippi River at Cairo, Illinois, then continues southward on the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico and up the river to New Orleans.

Factors Affecting Distance

This figure represents the navigation-channel distance, which exceeds the straight-line (great-circle) distance of roughly 700 miles. Rivers meander—especially the lower Mississippi with its historic oxbows and cutoffs—adding significant length. Channel improvements, locks and dams on the Ohio, and shifting thalwegs cause the official mileage to vary slightly over time. Commercial tows typically complete the journey in 10–14 days depending on current, traffic, and lock delays.