Missouri Borders: States, Map & Complete Guide
Fact-checked • Updated January 11, 2026
Missouri borders eight states: Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas to the south, and Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska to the west. This makes Missouri tied with Tennessee for bordering the most states in the U.S. The Mississippi River forms Missouri's entire eastern border, while the Missouri River flows through the state.
Missouri Border Map
Map showing Missouri's boundaries with eight neighboring states and major rivers.
Border Details
Explore each of Missouri's borders in detail. Click any card to learn more.
Iowa
Iowa forms Missouri's entire northern border.
Illinois
The Mississippi River separates Missouri from Illinois.
Kentucky
The Mississippi River creates the border with Kentucky.
Tennessee
Missouri's Bootheel region borders Tennessee.
Arkansas
Arkansas borders Missouri's southern edge.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma borders Missouri in the southwest corner.
Kansas
Kansas forms most of Missouri's western border.
Nebraska
The Missouri River forms part of the border with Nebraska.
Which States Border Missouri?
Missouri shares its borders with eight U.S. states: Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas to the south, and Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska to the west. This makes Missouri tied with Tennessee for having the most state borders in the country.
North: Iowa
Iowa and Missouri are separated by a border located on Missouri's northern edge. The state line runs roughly east-west from Nebraska in the west to Illinois and the Mississippi River in the east.
The Missouri-Iowa border extends for about 310 miles. The border follows a relatively straight line across the top of Missouri, roughly along the Sullivan Line. Missouri counties along this border include Atchison, Nodaway, Worth, Gentry, Harrison, Mercer, Putnam, Schuyler, Scotland, Clark, and Lewis. Major cities near this border include Kansas City and St. Joseph in Missouri.
- About 310 miles east-west
- Sullivan Line boundary
- Missouri counties: Atchison, Nodaway, Worth, Gentry, Harrison, Mercer, Putnam, Schuyler, Scotland, Clark, Lewis
East: Illinois (Mississippi River Border)
Illinois and Missouri are separated entirely by the Mississippi River along Missouri's eastern edge. The river creates a natural boundary running roughly north-south.
The Missouri-Illinois border extends for about 360 miles along the Mississippi River from Iowa in the north to Kentucky in the south. Missouri counties along this border include Clark, Marion, Ralls, Pike, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Louis (city and county), Jefferson, Ste. Genevieve, Perry, and Cape Girardeau. The St. Louis metropolitan area straddles this border, with St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois facing each other across the river.
- About 360 miles along Mississippi River
- Entire border formed by river
- St. Louis metropolitan area on border
East: Kentucky (Mississippi River Border)
Kentucky and Missouri are separated entirely by the Mississippi River in Missouri's southeastern region. The river creates the boundary where Missouri's Bootheel region extends south.
The Missouri-Kentucky border extends for about 25 miles along the Mississippi River. This is Missouri's shortest state border. Only a few Missouri counties touch this border in the Bootheel region, including Mississippi County. The border exists because of the New Madrid earthquakes and subsequent geographic changes in the early 1800s.
- About 25 miles (shortest border)
- Mississippi River boundary
- Bootheel region only
South-East: Tennessee
Tennessee and Missouri are separated by a border in Missouri's southeastern corner, in the region known as the Missouri Bootheel. This unusual extension of Missouri creates a land border with Tennessee.
The Missouri-Tennessee border extends for about 30 miles. The border runs roughly east-west across the top of the Bootheel region. Only three Missouri counties touch this border: Pemiscot, Dunklin, and New Madrid. The Bootheel exists due to a political compromise when Missouri became a state, extending the state south to include rich agricultural land.
- About 30 miles in Bootheel region
- Land border in southeast corner
- Missouri counties: Pemiscot, Dunklin, New Madrid
South: Arkansas
Arkansas and Missouri are separated by a border located on Missouri's southern edge. The state line runs roughly east-west from Oklahoma in the west to Tennessee and the Mississippi River in the east.
The Missouri-Arkansas border extends for about 310 miles. The border follows the 36°30' north parallel (the Missouri Compromise line) for much of its length. Missouri counties along this border include McDonald, Barry, Stone, Taney, Ozark, Howell, Oregon, Ripley, and Dunklin. The border passes through the Ozark Mountains region.
- About 310 miles along 36°30' parallel
- Missouri Compromise line
- Through Ozark Mountains
South-West: Oklahoma
Oklahoma and Missouri are separated by a border in Missouri's southwestern corner. The boundary runs roughly north-south for a short distance where the three states of Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma meet.
The Missouri-Oklahoma border extends for only about 35 miles, making it one of Missouri's shorter borders. Only two Missouri counties touch this border: Newton and McDonald. The border region is part of the Ozark Plateau.
- About 35 miles north-south
- Southwest corner only
- Missouri counties: Newton, McDonald
West: Kansas
Kansas and Missouri are separated by a border located on Missouri's western edge. The boundary runs roughly north-south from Nebraska in the north to Oklahoma in the south.
The Missouri-Kansas border extends for about 270 miles. The border follows a mostly straight north-south line. Missouri counties along this border include Atchison, Holt, Andrew, Buchanan, Platte, Clay, Jackson, Cass, Bates, Vernon, and Barton. Kansas City straddles this border, with parts in both states.
- About 270 miles north-south
- Mostly straight line
- Kansas City spans both states
North-West: Nebraska (Missouri River Border)
Nebraska and Missouri are separated by a border in Missouri's northwestern corner. The Missouri River forms part of this boundary.
The Missouri-Nebraska border extends for about 125 miles. The Missouri River creates the border for much of this distance. Only two Missouri counties touch this border: Atchison and Holt. The border region is relatively flat prairie land transitioning from the Great Plains.
- About 125 miles total
- Missouri River forms much of border
- Missouri counties: Atchison, Holt
Eight Neighbors: Tied for Most in the United States
Missouri borders eight states, making it tied with Tennessee for having the most state borders in the United States. This central location in the country has historically made Missouri an important crossroads. The state's position at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers made it a gateway to western expansion in the 19th century. St. Louis was known as the 'Gateway to the West,' and Kansas City became a major transportation and trading hub. Missouri's many borders reflect its role as a meeting point between North and South, East and West.
Mississippi River: Missouri's Entire Eastern Border
The Mississippi River forms Missouri's entire eastern border with Illinois, Kentucky, and a small section with Arkansas and Tennessee, running for approximately 385 miles total. The river has been crucial to Missouri's development, serving as a major transportation route and economic artery. St. Louis grew into a major city because of its location on the Mississippi River. The river creates a clear natural boundary on Missouri's eastern side, separating it from the states to the east.
The Missouri Bootheel: A Geographic Anomaly
The Missouri Bootheel is a unique geographic feature that extends Missouri's southeastern corner southward, creating land borders with Tennessee and additional length with Arkansas. This distinctive 'boot heel' shape was created through political compromise when Missouri was seeking statehood in 1820. Local landowner John Hardeman Walker successfully lobbied to include this fertile agricultural region in Missouri rather than Arkansas. The Bootheel is characterized by flat, fertile land in the Mississippi River floodplain and is culturally and geographically more similar to the Deep South than to the rest of Missouri.
Key Facts & Statistics
This table shows every border Missouri shares, organized by direction and type.
Missouri borders exactly eight U.S. states—tied for most in the nation
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Geographic features, river boundaries, and topographic data
State border region and geographic information