Mississippi River Border States: The 10 States It Touches

The Mississippi River forms all or part of the borders of 10 U.S. states, from its source in Minnesota to its mouth in Louisiana:

1. Minnesota (source at Lake Itasca)
2. Wisconsin (western border)
3. Iowa (western border)
4. Illinois (western border)
5. Missouri (eastern border)
6. Kentucky (western border – only a short stretch)
7. Tennessee (western border – only a short stretch)
8. Arkansas (eastern border)
9. Mississippi (western border)
10. Louisiana (flows through the state to the Gulf)

Note: The river also drains parts of 31 US states and 2 Canadian provinces via its tributaries, but only these 10 directly border the main stem.