Does the Mississippi River Flow North? No—It Flows South

No. The Mississippi River flows southward from its source at Lake Itasca, Minnesota (elevation 1,475 ft / 450 m) to the Gulf of Mexico (sea level).

• Direction: Generally south-southeast.
• Length: ~2,340 miles (3,766 km).
• States Traversed/Bordered: MN, WI, IA, IL, MO, KY, TN, AR, MS, LA (10 states).
• Gradient: Drops ~1,475 ft over entire course; average slope ~0.0006 ft/ft (very gentle).

Confusion may arise because its major tributary, the Missouri River, flows northward in parts of Montana/North Dakota, and the Red River of the North (separate system) flows north into Lake Winnipeg. But the Mississippi itself is a classic south-flowing river.