Things to do in Missoula
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Missoula
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Mud season into green up. April is the value month, May brings runoff, markets and graduation crowds.
Peak season with long days, floating, patios and the full events stack. Costs and crowds peak in July, smoke is a risk.
Locals favourite stretch. Warm trails, golden larches, Griz football, thinner crowds and falling rates.
Real winter with Snowbowl skiing, hot springs and indoor festivals. Short daylight and winter driving.
What's on
- International Wildlife Film Festival April
Signature wildlife film festival held at the Roxy.
- Zootown Festival Usually a weekend in mid to late June
Flagship music festival at the Fairgrounds.
- Missoula Marathon late June
Nationally loved Boston qualifying course starting in Frenchtown at dawn.
- Montana International Choral Festival July
Held in July in festival years, on a roughly triennial cycle.
- River City Roots Festival late August/early September
Free downtown festival and the city signature celebration.
- Griz Homecoming October
Homecoming weekend usually in October, and the town sells out.
- Big Sky Documentary Film Festival February
Top documentary festival at the Roxy, a genuine reason to visit in winter.
- Missoula Winter BrewFest February
Mid winter street party in Caras Park.
Best things to do in Missoula
M Trail
Steep switchbacks to the concrete M above campus, with an option to continue to the Mount Sentinel summit.
Brennan's Wave
Watch kayakers and river surfers ride a standing wave in the Clark Fork right downtown.
Clark Fork Riverfront Trail
Paved trails on both river banks link Caras Park, the university and downtown in one easy walk.
A Carousel for Missoula
Hand carved and famously fast carousel by the river, with a brass ring grab for a free ride.
Dragon Hollow
Large wooden play structure beside the carousel that makes Caras Park the default family stop.
Smokejumper Visitor Center
Free guided tour of the largest active smokejumper base in the US, from parachute loft to aircraft ramp.
The Wilma
Restored 1921 theatre with top tier sound that draws acts which play much larger rooms elsewhere.
Top Hat Lounge
Smaller and more local than the Wilma, pairing dinner with a 550 capacity live music room.
Where to stay in Missoula
Downtown / Riverfront
first timers, couples, music and food trips
Walk to Higgins Avenue dining, music, Caras Park, markets and the riverfront without a car.
University / East Riverfront
campus visits, Griz games, quieter river access
Greener and quieter, with a pleasant riverfront walk or short bike ride to downtown dining.
Hip Strip / Southside Garden District
character stays and rentals
Residential and local, walkable to the Roxy, Hip Strip shops and over the bridge downtown.
Reserve Street / Airport corridor
road trippers and families who want a pool and parking
Chain hotels with free parking and easy I-90 access, but you will drive everywhere.
Out-of-town bases
a different, destination led trip
Resort and hot springs bases outside town that become the trip themselves, not a Missoula base.
Think twice about
- North Reserve Street corridor around the Reserve Street Bridge
Former large encampment site, now cleared and fenced, still a bleak traffic heavy strip with no walkability and nothing a visitor wants.
- Reserve Street corridor as a food or sightseeing base
Chain dining and big box shopping only. Missoula actual food scene is downtown, the Hip Strip and the Southside.
Best restaurants in Missoula
1889
Special occasion steakhouse named for statehood year, known for bone marrow brulee and Wagyu cuts.
The Keep Restaurant
Fine dining above the country club with the city best panoramic valley view, timed for sunset.
Scotty's Table
Farm to table flagship in the Wilma Building, the natural pre show dinner for a Wilma night.
Plonk
Wine bar and cocktail dinner spot with gnocchi, short rib and a summer rooftop patio.
Boxcar Bistro
French leaning, chef driven bistro in the Old Sawmill District that locals are excited about.
The Camino
Mexican kitchen and agave bar with house made tortillas and a deep mezcal list.
Biga Pizza
Sourdough brick oven pizzas with Montana toppings, in a warm downtown room for everyone.
The Notorious P.I.G. BBQ
Texas and Kansas City style smoked meats served until they sell out, so arrive before 1 pm.
Best bars in Missoula
KettleHouse Brewing Co.
Home of Cold Smoke, the beer locals name as the most Missoula pour in town.
Big Sky Brewing Company
Makers of Moose Drool, with a lawn that hosts concerts in summer.
Bayern Brewing
German style microbrewery with a beer garden, billed locally as the only German microbrewery in the Rockies.
Draught Works Brewery
Patio favourite brewery to start a Missoula brewery evening early.
Stave & Hoop
Cocktail bar locals agree on for a proper mixed drink.
Montgomery Distillery
Downtown distillery listed among the local cocktail stops in Missoula.
Outdoor things to do in Missoula
Grizzly Hackle
Downtown fly shop and guide service since 1988 for full day floats on Missoula trout rivers.
Blackfoot River Outfitters
Guided float trips on the Blackfoot, the river made famous by A River Runs Through It.
Missoulian Angler
Local outfitter running guided fishing on the Blackfoot, Bitterroot and Clark Fork rivers.
Montana Guiding Company
Guiding company offering full day Missoula area fly fishing trips in prime season.
10,000 Waves Raft & Kayak Adventures
Guided half day whitewater on the Alberton Gorge, Montana most popular rafting run.
Zoo Town Surfers
Local outfitter for Alberton Gorge rafting and gentler scenic floats near Missoula.
Adventure Missoula
Rafting operator running Clark Fork trips including the Alberton Gorge in season.
Clark Fork Yacht Club
Rents tubes, rafts, SUPs and kayaks with shuttles for the town float through downtown.
Best hotels in Missoula
The Resort at Paws Up
37000 acre working ranch resort with luxury tents and homes, spa, dining and a full activity programme.
The Wren
Boutique hotel in the former Missoulian building, with unique rooms and coffee in the lobby.
AC Hotel Missoula Downtown
Polished Marriott boutique downtown, steps from the art museum and the riverfront.
DoubleTree by Hilton Missoula Edgewater
Riverfront classic with balconies over the Clark Fork, five minutes from campus and ten from downtown.
Holiday Inn Missoula Downtown
Largest full service downtown hotel, with indoor pool, pet friendly rooms and free parking.
Residence Inn Missoula Downtown
Apartment style suites in the restored Mercantile building, best for longer stays and families.
C'mon Inn
Lodge themed Montana chain hotel with atrium pools and hot tubs, beloved by road tripping families.
Gibson Mansion B&B
Impeccably kept 1903 Victorian B and B with gardens and hosts who orient first timers brilliantly.
Is Missoula expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | $110 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | $245 a person |
| Splurge | $500 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- The Wilma: weeks ahead
- KettleHouse Amphitheater: weeks ahead
- Washington-Grizzly Stadium: weeks ahead
- Grizzly Hackle: weeks ahead
- Blackfoot River Outfitters: weeks ahead
- Missoulian Angler: weeks ahead
- Montana Guiding Company: weeks ahead
- 10,000 Waves Raft & Kayak Adventures: weeks ahead
- Fly fishing guides in June to September book 4 to 8 weeks ahead.
- Rafting and KettleHouse headline shows book 2 to 4 weeks ahead in summer.
- Book lodging months ahead for Homecoming, Brawl of the Wild, graduation and festival weekends.
- Reserve 1889, Scotty's Table, Boxcar Bistro and The Keep 1 to 2 weeks ahead on weekends.
Is Missoula safe?
- Carry bear spray in the Rattlesnake and on day trips, and give bison and moose wide berth.
- Never float at peak runoff in May to early June, and wear the life jacket provided.
- Secure valuables in trailhead cars, as smash and grabs are a known modest issue.
- Winter roads and passes need AWD or snow tyres and daylight margins.
Missoula travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Do not treat Reserve Street chain dining as Missoula food.
- Glacier is 2.5 to 3 hours each way, not a casual day trip from Missoula.
- Avoid the M Trail at noon in July. Go at dawn or in the evening.
- Southgate Mall and big box shopping are for supplies, not a destination.
Getting around Missoula: public transport and more
- Downtown needs no car, excursions do or take a tour.
- Mountain Line buses are zero fare and frequent, and UDASH serves campus.
- Fly into MSO about 10 minutes west of downtown. Amtrak does not serve Missoula.
- Use float and KettleHouse shuttles instead of driving those routes.
Who Missoula suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Great |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Great |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | OK |
Make Missoula your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
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