It is native to the south-central United States, where it occurs in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and eastern Oklahoma.

Etheostoma whipplei has an incomplete lateral line, and the cheeks and breast area appear naked.

[4] The redfin darter's principal habitat is gravely or rubble riffles in small rivers, but in Louisiana and Mississippi it is associated with aquatic vegetation.

[5] Breeding males have vivid red and blue colors on the fins and body, like the Gulf darter (Etheostoma swaini).

Etheostoma whipplei is named after Amiel Weeks Whipple, a United States Army officer on whose expeditions many plant and animal taxa were first described.