Tributaries and sub-tributaries are listed hierarchically in order from the mouth of the Tennessee River upstream.

Horse Creek (Tennessee)
Big Sandy River (Tennessee)
White Oak Creek
Duck River (Tennessee)
Buffalo River (Tennessee)
Green River
Little Buffalo River
Piney River (Tennessee)
Little Duck River
Beech River (Tennessee)
Shoal Creek
Bear Creek (Alabama, Mississippi) 
Buzzard Roost Creek (Alabama) 
Colbert Creek (Alabama) 
Cotaco Creek  (Alabama)
Malone Creek (Alabama) 
Mulberry Creek (Alabama) 
Cane Creek (Alabama) 
Dry Creek (Alabama) 
Little Bear Creek (Alabama) 
Spring Creek (Alabama) 
Cypress Creek (Alabama) 
Shoal Creek (Alabama) 
First Creek (Alabama) 
Elk River (Tennessee, Alabama)
Flint Creek (Alabama)
Limestone Creek (Alabama, Tennessee)
Beaverdam Creek (Alabama)
Indian Creek (Alabama)
Barren Fork Creek
Flint River (Alabama, Tennessee)
Paint Rock River (Alabama, Tennessee)
Sequatchie River (Tennessee)
Little Sequatchie River
Mountain Creek (Tennessee)
Lookout Creek (Tennessee, Georgia)
Chattanooga Creek (Tennessee, Georgia)
Citico Creek (Tennessee)
South Chickamauga Creek (Tennessee, Georgia)
North Chickamauga Creek (Tennessee)
Hiwassee River (Tennessee, North Carolina)
Conasauga Creek (Tennessee)
Ocoee River (Tennessee, Georgia)
Nottely River (North Carolina, Georgia)
Piney River (Tennessee)
Clinch River (Tennessee, Virginia)
Emory River (Tennessee)
Little Emory River
Obed River (Tennessee)
Little Obed River
Poplar Creek
East Fork Poplar Creek
Beaver Creek
Powell River (Tennessee, Virginia)
Little Tennessee River (Tennessee, North Carolina)
Tellico River (Tennessee)
Tuckasegee River (North Carolina)
Nantahala River (North Carolina)
Cullasaja River (North Carolina)
Little River (Tennessee)
French Broad River
Little Pigeon River (Tennessee)
Nolichucky River (Tennessee, North Carolina)
Pigeon River (Tennessee, North Carolina)
Swannanoa River (North Carolina)
Holston River (Tennessee)
North Fork Holston River (Tennessee, Virginia)
South Fork Holston River (Tennessee, Virginia)
Watauga River (Tennessee, North Carolina)
Doe River (Tennessee)
Middle Fork Holston River (Virginia)
Tributaries and sub-tributaries are listed hierarchically in order from the mouth of the Tennessee River upstream.
Horse Creek (Tennessee)
Big Sandy River (Tennessee)
White Oak Creek
Duck River (Tennessee)
Buffalo River (Tennessee)
Green River
Little Buffalo River
Piney River (Tennessee)
Little Duck River
Beech River (Tennessee)
Shoal Creek
Bear Creek (Alabama, Mississippi) 
Buzzard Roost Creek (Alabama) 
Colbert Creek (Alabama) 
Cotaco Creek  (Alabama)
Malone Creek (Alabama) 
Mulberry Creek (Alabama) 
Cane Creek (Alabama) 
Dry Creek (Alabama) 
Little Bear Creek (Alabama) 
Spring Creek (Alabama) 
Cypress Creek (Alabama) 
Shoal Creek (Alabama) 
First Creek (Alabama) 
Elk River (Tennessee, Alabama)
Flint Creek (Alabama)
Limestone Creek (Alabama, Tennessee)
Beaverdam Creek (Alabama)
Indian Creek (Alabama)
Barren Fork Creek
Flint River (Alabama, Tennessee)
Paint Rock River (Alabama, Tennessee)
Sequatchie River (Tennessee)
Little Sequatchie River
Mountain Creek (Tennessee)
Lookout Creek (Tennessee, Georgia)
Chattanooga Creek (Tennessee, Georgia)
Citico Creek (Tennessee)
South Chickamauga Creek (Tennessee, Georgia)
North Chickamauga Creek (Tennessee)
Hiwassee River (Tennessee, North Carolina)
Conasauga Creek (Tennessee)
Ocoee River (Tennessee, Georgia)
Nottely River (North Carolina, Georgia)
Piney River (Tennessee)
Clinch River (Tennessee, Virginia)
Emory River (Tennessee)
Little Emory River
Obed River (Tennessee)
Little Obed River
Poplar Creek
East Fork Poplar Creek
Beaver Creek
Powell River (Tennessee, Virginia)
Little Tennessee River (Tennessee, North Carolina)
Tellico River (Tennessee)
Tuckasegee River (North Carolina)
Nantahala River (North Carolina)
Cullasaja River (North Carolina)
Little River (Tennessee)
French Broad River
Little Pigeon River (Tennessee)
Nolichucky River (Tennessee, North Carolina)
Pigeon River (Tennessee, North Carolina)
Swannanoa River (North Carolina)
Holston River (Tennessee)
North Fork Holston River (Tennessee, Virginia)
South Fork Holston River (Tennessee, Virginia)
Watauga River (Tennessee, North Carolina)
Doe River (Tennessee)
Middle Fork Holston River (Virginia)
Tennessee River