Via the Chickasawhay, it is part of the watershed of the Pascagoula River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

However, older maps continue to call it the Chunky Creek until a point in Lauderdale County.

The Chunky River flows generally southeastwardly through southwestern Lauderdale County and northwestern Clarke County, where it joins Okatibbee Creek to form the Chickasawhay River near the town of Enterprise.

The historic Stuckey's Bridge spans the river in southern Lauderdale County.

Chunky is a name derived from the Choctaw language most likely meaning martin (bird).