The Watab River, also known as Watab Creek, is a tributary of the Mississippi River in Stearns County in central Minnesota in the United States. It is named from the Ojibwe language wadab-ziibi (river with spruce-roots) due to the exposed spruce roots once found along its banks. It rises in Watab Lake and flows northeast where it merges with County Ditch Number 12 before flowing east and into the Mississippi River at Sartell.
The North Fork Watab River rises in Pillager Lake, flows northeasterly to Stump Lake, then southeasterly near Collegeville, merging with South Fork Watab River near St. Joseph, then to Rossier Lake and finally flowing into Watab Lake.
The South Fork Watab River flows southeast from Big Watab Lake to Little Watab Lake, and through a pond before flowing northeast and into North Fork Watab River.