The average speed of water flow in the Mississippi River is approximately 3 mph.

The Mississippi River flows at an average speed of about 3 mph, though this can vary with water levels, location, and season. This moderate flow rate supports navigation for commercial vessels and helps transport nutrients and sediments, sustaining diverse ecosystems along its path. The river's flow rate also plays a role in flood management and erosion control, impacting cities and agricultural areas along its route from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.