The
North East River is a tributary of the
Chesapeake Bay in
Maryland. Entirely tidal, it extends for about from the town of
North East southwest past
Charlestown to the main body of Chesapeake Bay between Carpenter Point and Red Point. The river is fed by North East Creek and its tributaries, which reach as far north as just east of
Nottingham, Pennsylvania. The North East River is entirely within
Cecil County, Maryland, though its watershed extends into
Chester County, Pennsylvania. Its watershed area in MD (excluding water) is , with 6% impervious surface in 1994. On the 1612
John Smith map, it was referred to as Gunter's Harbour.