By drainage basin
This list is arranged by drainage basin, with respective tributaries indented under each larger stream's name. All rivers in Kentucky flow to the Mississippi River, nearly all by virtue of flowing to its major tributary, the Ohio River. Also listed are some important tributaries to the few Kentucky rivers that originate in, or flow through, other states.
- Mississippi River
- Obion Creek
- Mayfield Creek
- Ohio River
Ohio River Drainage Basin - Goose Creek
- Massac Creek
- Tennessee River
- Clarks River
- Blood River
- Cumberland River
Cumberland River Drainage Basin - Tradewater River
- Green River
- Panther Creek
- Pond River
- Rough River
- Mud River
- Barren River
- Little Reedy Creek
- Big Reedy Creek
- Bear Creek
- Nolin River
- Little Barren River
- Russell Creek
- Salt River
- Beargrass Creek
- Little Kentucky River
- Kentucky River
Kentucky River Drainage Basin - Eagle Creek
- Elkhorn Creek
- Benson Creek
- Dix River
- Hickman Creek
- Silver Creek
- Red River
- North Fork Kentucky River
- Troublesome Creek
- Lost Creek
- Buckhorn Creek
- Balls Fork
- The Forks of Troublesome
- Willard Creek
- North Fork tributaries at Hazard, Kentucky
- Carr Fork
- Macies Creek
- Leatherwood Creek
- Troublesome Creek
- Middle Fork Kentucky River
- Cutshin Creek
- Greasy Creek
- Beech Fork
- South Fork Kentucky River
- Taylors Creek
- Licking River
Licking River Drainage Basin - Kinniconick Creek
- Tygarts Creek
- Little Sandy River
- Big Sandy River
- Blaine Creek
- Levisa Fork
- Tug Fork
