[4] The waters of the Embarras reach the Gulf of Mexico via the Wabash, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers.

The upper reaches of the Embarras include the detention ponds near the intersection of Windsor Road with U.S. Route 45 in southeastern Champaign; the southern portion of the University of Illinois campus, including the small creek near the Vet Med Building; and Meadowbrook Park in south Urbana.

The Embarras flows generally southward through Douglas, Coles, Cumberland, and Jasper Counties.

Along its course, the Embarras passes the towns of Villa Grove, Camargo, Charleston, Greenup, Newton, Ste.

The only population of harlequin darters (Etheostoma histrio) in Illinois is found in the Embarras River.