[1] The headwaters of the Maries arise just to the north and west of Dixon in northern Pulaski County (37°59′54″N 92°07′05″W / 37.99833°N 92.11806°W / 37.99833; -92.11806).
The stream flows generally north into Maries County passing the communities of Brinktown and Venus.
It passes under Missouri Route 42 west of Vienna and on into Osage County to the east of Argyle and Koeltztown.
The stream enters a series of entrenched meanders and flows under U. S. Route 63 just southeast of Westphalia.
[2][1] At Westphalia, the river has an average annual discharge of 216 cubic feet per second.