<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-27</periodOfReport><issuer><issuerCik>0000914713</issuerCik><issuerName>MILLS CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>MLS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001245935</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>GILDENBORN JOSEPH E</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-27</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1400</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>27.17</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5200</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Acquired by Joseph B. and Alma Gildenhorn, as joint tenants by the entirety.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Joseph B. Gildenhorn</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-01</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

