List of rivers of North Carolina

By drainage basin

This list is arranged by drainage basin, with respective tributaries alphabetically indented under each larger stream's name.

Atlantic Ocean

Chowan and lower Roanoke drainage basins

Roanoke River

Roanoke River
- Dan River

Albemarle Sound

Pamlico and Neuse drainage basins

Pamlico River

Pamlico River
- Pungo River

Tar River

- Tar River
  - Kennedy Creek
  - Tranters Creek
    - Cherry Run
    - Mitchell Branch
    - Maple Branch
    - Aggie Run
    - Pocoson Branch
    - Pea Branch
    - Poley Branch
    - Horsepen Swamp
    - Haw Branch
    - Briery Swamp
      - Great Branch Meadow Branch
    - Pinelog Branch
    - Turkey Swamp
      - Bear Grass Swamp
    - Collie Swamp
    - Flat Swamp
  - Bear Creek
    - Chapel Branch
  - Chicod Creek
    - Juniper Branch
      - Bates Branch
    - Cow Swamp
      - Cabin Branch
      - Cross Swamp
  - Grindle Creek
    - Whichard Branch
      - Mill Branch
  - Moyes Run
    - Cannon Swamp
    - Baldwin Swamp
  - Phillippi Branch
  - Barber Creek
  - Hardee Creek
    - Meeting House Branch
      - Bell Branch
  - Greens Mill Run
    - Reedy Branch
    - Fomes Branch
  - Parker Creek
  - Schoolhouse Branch
  - Harris Mill Run
  - Johnsons Mill Run
  - Bryan Creek
  - Sains Branch
  - Tyson Creek
    - Lawrence Run
  - Conetoe Creek
    - Mitchell Swamp
      - Knight Canal
    - Lewis Canal
    - Crisp Creek
    - Fountain Fork Creek
  - Otter Creek
  - Cheeks Mill Creek
  - Town Creek
    - Bynum Mill Creek
    - Cokey Swamp
      - Sasnett Mill Branch
      - Beaverdam Branch
      - Millpond Branch
      - Cabin Branch
      - Deloach Branch
      - Dickson Branch
      - Parker Branch
      - Little Cokey Swamp
    - Corn Creek
    - Williamson Branch
    - Cattail Swamp
      - White Swamp
        Cattail Branch
  - Jerrys Creek
  - Cromwell Canal
  - Hendricks Creek
    - Holly Creek
  - East Tarboro Canal

Fishing Creek

- - Fishing Creek
    - Deep Creek
      - Longs Branch
      - Savage Mill Run
      - Indian Branch
      - Marsh Swamp
        Cow Haul Swamp
        
        Burnt Coat Swamp
        Breeches Swamp
        Jacket Swamp
        
        Beaverdam Swamp
        
        Dog Pond Branch
        
        Martin Swamp
    - Rocky Swamp
      - Jack Horse Swamp
    - Beaverdam Swamp
      - Black Swamp
      - Pinelog Branch
    - Little Fishing Creek
      - Bear Swamp
      - Porter Creek
      - Reedy Creek
        Bobbitts Branch
      - Bens Creek
      - Big Branch
      - Walkers Creek
        Dowlins Creek
    - Crooked Swamp
    - White Oak Swamp
    - Shocco Creek
      - Little Shocco Creek
      - Cabin Branch
      - Lees Branch
      - Buzzard Branch
    - Maple Swamp
    - Hogpen Branch
    - Bobs Branch
    - Gunters Creek
    - Reedy Branch
    - Long Branch
    - Buffalo Branch
    - Gum Pond Branch
    - Mill Branch
    - Wolfpit Branch
    - Black Branch
    - Possumquarter Creek
    - Richneck Creek
    - Bridle Creek
    - Horse Creek
    - Phoebes Creek
    - Owens Creek
    - Rocky Creek
    - Matthews Creek

Swift Creek

- - Swift Creek
    - Leggett Canal
    - White Oak Swamp
    - Moccasin Creek
    - Lane Swamp
    - Flat Rock Branch
    - Gideon Swamp
    - Sandy Creek
      - Tumbling Run
        Jumping Run
        
        Terry Branch
      - Red Bud Creek
      - Shelley Branch
      - Deer Branch
      - Richland Creek
        Crabtree Creek
      - Devils Cradle Creek
        Flatrock Creek
      - Buffalo Creek
      - Weaver Creek
      - Dickies Creek
      - Cattail Creek
      - Martin Creek
      - Pounder Branch
  - Penders Mill Run
    - Raccoon Branch
  - Key Branch
  - Walnut Creek
  - Beech Branch
    - Falling Run
  - Buck Swamp
  - Gay Branch
  - Hornbeam Branch
    - Compass Creek
  - Cowlick Branch
  - Goose Branch
  - Stony Creek
    - Pig Basket Creek
    - Little Peachtree Creek
    - Big Peachtree Creek
      - Back Swamp
      - Beaverdam Branch
      - Bear Creek
      - Wildcat Branch
  - Maple Creek
    - Polecat Branch
      - Hicks Branch
  - Grape Branch
  - Sapony Creek
    - Big Branch
    - Little Sapony Creek
    - Henry Branch
      - Gabe Branch
    - Bear Branch
  - Jacob Branch
  - Long Branch
  - Turkey Creek
    - Coker Creek
    - White Creek
  - Biddie Toe Creek
  - Cypress Creek
    - Long Branch
  - Crooked Creek
  - Cedar Creek
    - Big Branch Creek
    - Camping Creek
    - Brandy Creek
  - Jumping Run
  - Wolfpen Branch
  - Sycamore Creek
  - Fox Creek
  - Coole Creek
  - Bear Swamp Creek
  - Buffalo Creek
  - Lynch Creek
  - Billys Creek
  - Kings Creek
  - Buffalo Creek
  - Tabbs Creek
  - Taylors Creek
    - McGee Creek
  - Middle Creek
  - Ford Creek
  - Gibbs Creek
  - Sand Creek
  - Fishing Creek
    - Coon Creek
    - Hachers Run
  - Aycock Creek
    - Johnson Creek
  - Bollens Creek
    - Boulding Creek
  - Cattail Creek
  - Jackson Creek
  - Rocky Creek
  - Owen Creek
  - North Fork Tar River
  - Shelton Creek
    - Fox Creek
  - Cub Creek
    - - Moore Swamp

Neuse River

Neuse River
- Swan Creek
- Broad Creek
  - Brown Creek
- Brown Creek
- Orchard Creek
- South River
  - Hardy Creek
  - Big Creek
  - Mulberry Creek
  - Old House Creek
  - Dixon Creek
  - Coffee Creek
  - Royal Creek
  - Little Creek
  - Eastman Creek
  - Southwest Creek
  - Doe Creek
  - Buck Creek
  - Duck Creek
  - Neal Creek
  - Elishu Creek
  - Miry Gut
  - West Fork
  - East Fork
    - Rich Island Gut
- Pierce Creek
- Berrys Creek
- Garbacon Creek
- Whittaker Creek
- Greens Creek
  - Camp Creek
    - Smith Creek
      - Morris Creek
  - Kershaw Creek
- Adams Creek
  - Godfrey Creek
  - Delamar Creek
  - Sandy Huss Creek
  - Dumpling Creek
  - Cedar Creek
    - Jonaquin Creek
    - Cullie Creek
  - Kellum Creek
  - Kearney Creek
  - Issac Creek
  - Back Creek
- Courts Creek
- Great Neck Creek
- Long Creek
- Dawson Creek
  - Tarkiln Creek
  - Granny Gut
  - Deep Run
  - Wheeler Gut
  - Fork Run
- Clubfoot Creek
  - Mitchell Creek
    - Big Branch
    - Snake Branch
  - Gulden Creek
  - Mortens Mill Pond
    - East Prong
    - West Prong
- Gatlin Creek
- Sassafras Branch
- King Creek
- Cherry Branch
- Alligator Gut
- Gum Branch
- Handcock Creek
  - Still Gut
    - Reeds Gut
  - Cohooque Creek
    - Still Gut
    - Barney Branch
    - Spe Branch
  - Little John Creek
  - Jacks Branch
  - Dolls Gut
  - Shop Branch
  - Deep Branch
  - Moebucks Branch
- Mill Creek
- Beard Creek
  - Caraway Creek
  - Purifoy Gut
  - Cedar Gut
  - East Prong
- Slocum Creek
  - Anderson Creek
  - Tucker Creek
    - Sandy Run
      - Miry Branch
    - Goodwin Creek
    - Daniels Branch
  - Mill Creek
    - Hunters Branch
  - Alligator Gut
  - Cedar Creek
  - East Prong
    - Sandy Branch
    - Caps Branch
  - Southwest Prong
    - Wolf Pit Branch
    - Black Swamp Creek
    - East Branch
    - West Branch
- Lower Duck Creek
- Otter Creek
  - Crooked Run
- Goose Creek
  - Cypress Creek
  - Alexander Swamp
  - Black Creek
  - Simmons Branch
  - Deep Run Branch
  - East Fork
  - West Fork
- Upper Broad Creek
  - Deep Run
  - Sasses Branch
  - Mill Swamp
    - Morgan Swamp
  - Possum Swamp
    - Savannah Bridge Swamp
- Northwest Creek
- Duck Creek
- Scotts Creek
- Trent River
  - Lawson Creek
  - Brice Creek
    - East Prong
    - West Prong
    - Great Branch
    - Lees Branch
    - Black Branch
    - Georges Branch
  - Hoods Creek
  - Wilson Creek
  - Reedy Branch
  - Rocky Run
  - Miry Hole Branch
  - Island Creek
  - Scott Creek
  - West Prong Raccoon Creek
  - Mill Creek
  - Goshen Branch
  - Little Hell Creek
  - Mill Run
  - Long Branch
  - Beaverdam Creek
  - Jumping Creek
  - French Branch
  - Crooked Run
  - Musselshell Branch
  - Resolution Branch
  - Beaver Creek
  - Chinquapin Branch
  - Poplar Branch
  - Pocoson Branch
  - Little Chinquapin Branch
  - Jack Cabin Branch
  - Mill Branch
  - Cypress Creek
  - Reedy Branch
  - Black Swamp
  - Tuckahoe Creek
  - Joshua Creek
  - Beaverdam Swamp
  - Horse Branch
  - Running Branch
- Smith Creek
- Mills Branch
- Rennys Creek
- Bachelor Creek
  - Caswell Branch
  - Round Tree Branch
  - Beech Tree Branch
  - Jumping Run
  - Beaverdam Branch
  - Deep Branch
  - Rollover Creek
  - Hollis Branch
- Swift Creek
  - Little Swift Creek
    - Fisher Swamp
      - Beaverdam Swamp
    - Pine Tree Swamp
    - Bushy Fork
  - Bear Branch
  - Mauls Swamp
  - Palmetto Swamp
  - Clayroot Swamp
    - Creeping Swamp
      - Polland Swamp
    - Indian Well Swamp
    - Thorofare Swamp
  - Fork Swamp
  - Simmon Branch
  - Horsepen Swamp
  - Gum Swamp
- Pinetree Creek
- Taylor Creek
- Turkey Quarter Creek
- Core Creek
  - Flat Swamp
  - Mill Branch
  - Grape Creek
- Village Creek
- Halfmoon Creek
- Grinnel Creek
- Alum Springs Branch
- Contentnea Creek
  - Eagle Swamp
  - Little Contentnea Creek
    - Middle Swamp
      - Sandy Run
    - Pinelog Branch
    - Oldwoman Branch
    - Jacob Branch
      - Black Swamp
        Langs Mill Run
    - Thompson Swamp
      - Lighter Knot Swamp
    - Ward Run
  - Polecat Branch
  - Wheat Swamp
    - Hallam Branch
  - Mussel Run
  - Beaverdam Run
  - Rainbow Creek
    - Sowell Run
    - Horsepen Branch
  - Shepherd Run
  - Poorhouse Run
  - Panther Swamp Creek
  - Tyson Marsh
    - Spring Branch
    - Reedy Branch
    - Mink Point Branch
    - Jacks Fork
  - Mill Run
    - Washington Branch
  - Fort Run
    - Lewis Branch
    - Lang Branch
  - Nahunta Swamp
    - Appletree Swamp
    - Cow Branch
    - Beaver Branch
    - Mill Branch
    - Button Branch
      - Buzzard Branch
      - Hams Prong
    - Beaver Dam
    - The Slough
      - Exum Mill Branch
        Jimmy Prong
      - Mocassin Run
      - Long Branch
    - Poplar Branch
    - Buck Meadow Branch
    - Perkins Old Mill Branch
  - Beaman Run
    - Howell Swamp
  - Water Branch
  - Watery Branch
  - Toisnot Swamp
    - Goss Swamp
    - Whiteoak Swamp
      - Buck Branch
      - Mill Branch
    - Little Swamp
    - Beaverdam Creek
    - Whiteoak Swamp
  - Black Creek
    - Aycock Swamp
    - Mill Run
    - Great Swamp
      - Juniper Swamp
        White Oak Swamp
        
        Brandy Branch Swamp
    - Cedar Creek
    - Lee Swamp
    - Robin Swamp
  - Hominy Swamp
  - Bloomery Swamp
  - Shepard Branch
  - Mill Branch
  - Little Swamp
  - Marsh Swamp
  - Buckhorn Branch
  - Little Creek
  - Mill Branch
  - Turkey Creek
    - Haw Branch
      - Camp Branch
    - Big Branch
    - Driving Branch
    - Press Prong
    - Wolfharbor Branch
  - Moccasin Creek
    - Bull Branch
    - Little Creek
    - Beaverdam Creek
- Mosley Creek
  - Alligator Branch
  - Snake Hole Branch
    - Little Snake Hole Branch
  - Harrys Branch
  - Folley Branch
- Beaverdam Branch
- Bone Gray Branch
- Stonyton Creek
  - Jericho Run
  - Briery Run
    - Taylors Branch
- Southwest Creek
  - Heath Branch
  - Mill Branch
  - Strawberry Branch
  - Mott Swamp
  - Spring Branch
  - Clarks Branch
  - Hornpipe Branch
  - Horse Branch
  - Turkey Branch
    - Deep Run
      - Toms Branch
      - Gray Branch
- Adkin Branch
- Peter Creek
- Falling Creek
  - Gum Swamp Creek
  - White Marsh Run
  - Moseley Creek
    - Groundnut Creek
  - Jumping Run
- Whitleys Creek
- Squirrel Creek
- Manley Branch
  - Vernon Branch
- Belch Branch
- Bear Creek
  - Mill Branch
  - Meeting House Branch
  - West Bear Creek
    - Peters Branch
    - Old Mill Branch
  - Little Marsh Run
  - Mill Run
  - Hullett Branch
    - Drew Branch
      - Hinson Branch
  - Seneca Branch
- Hardy Mill Run
  - Trotters Creek
    - Frank Nunn Branch
    - Bens Branch
    - Tar River
    - Jacks Branch
  - Dalys Creek
    - Panther Creek
    - John Benton Branch
- Cox Creek
  - South Prong
  - West Prong
- Mill Creek
  - Still Creek
- Walnut Creek
- Walker Mill Run
  - Powell Run
- Sleepy Creek
  - Cabin Branch
  - Tommy Reed Creek
    - Burnt Mill Branch
- Pine Level Branch
- Green Branch
- Fellows Branch
- Stoney Creek
  - Billy Branch
  - Reedy Branch
  - Howell Branch
  - Stoney Run
- Carroway Creek
- Poplar Branch
- Little River
- Walnut Creek
- Crabtree Creek
  - Marsh Creek
  - Bridges Branch
  - Pigeon House Branch
  - Big Branch
  - Beaverdam Creek
  - Mine Creek
  - House Creek
  - Hare Snipe Creek
  - Richland Creek
  - Sycamore Creek
  - Reedy Creek
  - Haleys Branch
  - Stirrup Iron Creek
  - Coles Branch
  - Turkey Creek
- Ellerbe Creek
- Eno River
  - Little River
- Flat River
North River
Newport River
White Oak River
New River