The rivers of Virginia drain in several directions. The largest flow east to the Chesapeake Bay; others belong to river basins in the south and west of the state.
Quick answer: The main rivers of Virginia are the Potomac, James, Rappahannock and York, which flow to the Chesapeake Bay, along with the Roanoke, Chowan, New, Tennessee and Big Sandy systems. State water regulations divide Virginia into river basins named after these rivers. The Potomac, at about 405 miles, is the longest of the Virginia rivers listed by the Chesapeake Bay Program.
Contents
- River Basins in State Law
- Rivers of the Chesapeake Bay
- Rivers That Flow Elsewhere
- Frequently asked questions
River Basins in State Law
Virginia’s water quality standards group surface waters by basin.[1]
| Basin | Subbasins |
|---|---|
| Potomac River | Potomac, Shenandoah |
| James River | Appomattox River |
| Rappahannock River | – |
| York River | – |
| Chesapeake Bay; Atlantic Ocean and Small Coastal | – |
| Roanoke River | – |
| Yadkin River | – |
| Chowan and Dismal Swamp | Chowan, Albemarle Sound |
| Tennessee and Big Sandy | Big Sandy, Clinch, Holston |
| New River | – |
Rivers of the Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay Program lists the major rivers of the Bay watershed by length.[2]
| River | Approximate length |
|---|---|
| Potomac | 405 miles |
| James | 348 miles |
| Rappahannock | 195 miles |
| York | 34 miles |
The Rappahannock is the longest free-flowing river in the Bay watershed.[3] The Susquehanna, Potomac and James rivers together supply more than 80 percent of the fresh water that enters the Bay.[3] The York watershed is dominated by forests, farms and wetlands, and the Rappahannock watershed is mostly rural and forested.[2]
Rivers That Flow Elsewhere
Not all Virginia rivers reach the Chesapeake. The basin list in state law includes the Roanoke, Yadkin and Chowan systems in the south and the New, Tennessee and Big Sandy systems in the west.[1] The Clinch and Holston are subbasins of the Tennessee system.[1]
Frequently asked questions
What are the major rivers of Virginia? The Potomac, James, Rappahannock and York in the east, and the Roanoke, New, Clinch and Holston among others in the south and west.
What is the longest river in Virginia? Among the Bay rivers listed by the Chesapeake Bay Program, the Potomac is longest at about 405 miles, followed by the James at about 348 miles.
How many river basins are there in Virginia? State regulations describe 10 river basins, some divided into subbasins.
Which Virginia river is free-flowing? The Rappahannock, the longest free-flowing river in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
References
- [1] Virginia Administrative Code, 9VAC25-260-360, River basins and subbasins – last checked 11/08/2026
- [2] Chesapeake Bay Program, The Watershed – last checked 11/08/2026
- [3] Chesapeake Bay Program, Bay Facts – last checked 11/08/2026
The Bay itself is described in The Chesapeake Bay in Virginia.