We aren’t called ol’ Rocky Top for nothin’. We have the largest underground lake in the United States, as well as the largest number of caves in the state, PLUS the largest cave room. Needless to say, Tennessee is doing pretty dang good on the cave front. If you live in Nashville, we’ve put together a quick list of caves near Nashville that are within driving distance, just for you. Grab your bestie and plan a day trip – the time has come.

1. Bell Witch Cave - Adams

Www78 / Wikimedia
This is one ghost story you won't want to miss...it deals with a jealous poltergeist and a couple of murders. Don't lose your head now...
Historic Bell Witch Cave, 430 Keysburg Rd, Adams, TN 37010, USA
Cameron Daigle / Flickr
Known as one of the most haunted places in the United States, the Bell Witch Cave is roughly half an hour from the city proper. You can go on a tour, indulge in a horror story, and head home when you have a couple of goosebumps to show for it.

2. Cumberland Caverns - McMinnville

Denlah / Wiki
Known as a "show cave," Cumberland Caverns is about eighty-five miles away from Music City. Quite a few schools plan educational field trips out to the site, so you may run into a scholar or two.

Related Stories

Venture Nearly 350-Feet Deep Below The Earth At These One Of A Kind Caverns Near Nashville

Venture Nearly 350-Feet Deep Below The Earth At These One Of A Kind Caverns Near Nashville

 The Next Lunar Eclipse Will Be Visible From Nashville And You Won't Want To Miss Out

The Next Lunar Eclipse Will Be Visible From Nashville And You Won't Want To Miss Out

 These 7 Rooftop Bars Have Sensational Views Of Nashville

These 7 Rooftop Bars Have Sensational Views Of Nashville
Cumberland Caverns Road, Cumberland Caverns Rd, Tennessee 37110, USA
J. Stephen Conn / Flickr
As the second-longest cave in Tennessee, Cumberland Caverns is so massive it actually makes the list for the entire WORLD. Yep. You heard it here first guys — Cumberland Caverns is epic. And only an hour and a half away.

3. Dunbar Cave State Park - Clarksville

Katie Labor / Flickr
Boasting 110 acres, Dunbar Cave used to be a party place for your grandparents back in the day but has since been turned into a state reserve.
Dunbar Cave State Park, 401 Old Dunbar Cave Rd, Clarksville, TN 37043, USA
Brent Moore / Flickr
The cave is not currently accessible in all its eight-mile-deep glory, but it joins Cumberland Caverns as one of the longest caves in the world. Do you hear that? Two. Tennessee has TWO.

Have you visited any of these caves near Nashville? What was your experience? Feel free to share your thoughts. The next time you’re looking for “caves near me,” we hope this list comes in handy!

And while you’re in the area, don’t forget to check out these unique vacation rentals near Nashville, TN.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Caves Near Nashville

Tori Jane | June 22, 2022

What are some of the best Nashville-area caves to visit?  

Some of the best caves near Nashville TN include:

  • Cumberland Caverns
  • Bell Witch Cave
  • Dunbar Cave State Park

 

With more than 10,000 caves in Tennessee, there are plenty in Nashville and in the surrounding area to check out ASAP. They are fascinating, beautiful, and mysterious, sometimes enticing hikers to come closer and then leaving them with more questions than they arrived with. Some of our favorite caves near Nashville include Kentucky’s amazing Mammoth Cave National Park, where you can explore an incredibly enormous, 420+ miles of underground cavern amazingness. It has the honor of being the largest known cave system in the world! It can be found just an hour and a half away from Nashville and makes for an amazing day (or longer) trip. Speaking of great day trips in Tennessee, another Nashville-area cave demands your attention as well. It’s Cumberland Caverns, an amazing cave system located just 85 miles away from the city.  

How many caves in Nashville are there?  

As we mentioned above, there are quite literally 10,000 known caves scattered all over the state of Tennessee. In fact, Tennessee is the cave capital of the United States, as no other states have quite as impressive a number of caverns. Notable caves in Tennessee include amazing gems like Craighead Caverns, which contains the single largest underground lake in the United States, and Tuckaleechee Caverns is world-famous for both its beauty and its closeness to the Great Smokies.  

Are there any caverns near Nashville worth adding to my bucket list? 

Absolutely! In fact, there are numerous caves all over the country worth adding to your bucket list, though most of the ones you add might just be in Tennessee anyway! Some of our favorite caverns near Nashville include amazing slices of geological wonder like the eerie but epic Bell Witch Cave, which is thought to be the “origin” of the infamous Bell Witch haunting. It might still be one of the most haunted places in Tennessee, and it just so happens to be a super-cool (and creepy) cave.  

Related Articles