Because it has thousands of caves. The Missouri Speleological Survey counts 8,000 as of March 1, 2026, and a Conservation Department podcast says Missouri is second in the nation behind Tennessee. Read on October 30, 2026.
By the It’s Missouri Editorial Team. Last reviewed October 30, 2026.
How Many Caves?
- The Missouri Speleological Survey fact page gives 8,000 caves as of March 1, 2026, says the count keeps changing, and lists 4,670 mapped caves.
- A Missouri Department of Conservation podcast transcript, undated on the page, says over 7,500 and “closer to 7,600,” and that Tennessee has 10,000. The two counts differ, so we print both.
Which Caves Can I Tour?
See the Missouri caves guide for the state-park and private show caves, with prices and hours as printed.
Is the Nickname Official?
The pages we read do not say the nickname is official.
More Missouri Guides
Sources
Checked October 30, 2026 by It’s Missouri. Cite this page: It’s Missouri (https://itsmissouri.com/answers/why-is-missouri-called-the-cave-state/), checked October 30, 2026. Free to quote with a link.